Child Stars or Doomed Disasters?
By byfaithonly
@byfaithonly (10698)
United States
March 13, 2007 1:40pm CST
I'm sure we've all heard the horror stories that accompany so many child stars. Did you know that Jackie Coogan (starring with Charlie Chaplin in 1921) was the first child star and over his career as a child star earned millions of dollars that was supposed to have been put into a trust fund but instead his mother and step-father had spent it all? The court battle that followed was the start of "Coogan's Law" which is to protect the earnings of child actors.
Over the years there have still been many well known child stars that ended up penniless, on drugs, and dead from suicide.
My question is this, if your child had the opportunity to "be a star" would you agree to it or would you make them wait until they were older? Do you think the pressures of stardom can affect a child later in life? Do you think your child would be different and you would be able to "protect" them?
12 people like this
22 responses
@slickcut (8141)
• United States
13 Mar 07
if i had a child that wanted to be a star or that was a star,I would never leave that child alone with anyone.I would be by their side at all times...I would also set upa trust fund for them so that the money that they earn would be used for their education and that it would be put into something that they could draw funds for later on..Thats good that that "coogans" law is in effect.I think it is wrong to steal from anyone exspecially your own children.I do know that it does happen though,and that seems such a shame.....I am happy i did not have a child that wanted to be in the movies....
3 people like this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
13 Mar 07
I too am happy none of my children had a desire to go into the "industry". I do think had they or if any of my grandchildren ever wanted to with all the nightmare stories I would do everything in my power to stop them from getting involved.
2 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
13 Mar 07
Yes it is sad... I don't really agree with the idea of parents making money from their children. It sort of deprives them of a childhood. :/
3 people like this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
13 Mar 07
I agree totally - they are attempting to get better "rules" in place and yes we do need "children" in films and such but personally I think the very first thing they need is a guardian that is going to have to answer to everyone but is souly for the support and protection of the child, not in it for money.
3 people like this
@lordwarwizard (35747)
• Singapore
14 Mar 07
It's really sad when you think about it - aren't parents supposed to love their own children?
1 person likes this
@gberlin (3836)
•
13 Mar 07
My kids who are adults now never express a desire to become child actors. If they had, I hope that my wife and I would have used our best judgement and as Christians, sought God's guidance in handling the money for our kids. I think that their is a temptation for parents to use the money for themselves which is not fair to the child actors. I hope this does not happen nowadays.
3 people like this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
13 Mar 07
I'm not exactly sure how the law works but my understanding is that money earned by children has to be put into a trust fund until they are a certain age. There are however still parents getting around this by doing things like being "hired" as the child's agent or manager. I'm not sure but I believe the Jackson 5 (Michaels family) had that problem, the father got a large pay check to promote the 5.
2 people like this
@cjsmom (1423)
• United States
14 Mar 07
I would have to do a lot of praying before I'd even consider allowing CJ to become a 'star'; even at that, I don't think I would. Granted, there are some that have made a fairly easy transition from child star to adult but not many. The parents at the beginning probably had good intentions and thought they could handle everything; but then, the dreaded, 'green monster' - greed, popped it's ugly head (at least, that's what I call it).
1 person likes this
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
14 Mar 07
Amen, lots of prayer. I saw/heard an interview of Melissa Gilbert, it was really sweet, she was crying and said she owed a lot of her success both as a child and an adult to Micheal Landon and the control he had over the set of Little House - he insisted that the children have fun and kept a close eye on "everyone" on the set.
@villageanne (8553)
• United States
13 Mar 07
I would not encourage my child to do this as I think it may make them think they are better then other people and that is not the attitude I want my kids to have. I belive that this life is a place to learn and to make choices that will determine what happens to us when we die. Using this fact as my basis, I would encourage my kids (and did encourage them) to gain Spiritual knowledge and make right choices that will have more of an impact on their Eternal life than just here on earth. I like to look at the big picture not just the present time picture. Does that make sense?
@byfaithonly (10698)
• United States
13 Mar 07
Yep, makes sense to me at least. I've been setting here thinking about all the solid christian children I've known and can't think of a one that went into the entertainment business at a young age. I'm sure there are but right now the youngest I can think of is Amy Grant, she had her first professional recording when she was 16.
2 people like this
@mobyfriend (1017)
• Netherlands
14 Mar 07
Just with anything else in rasing your kids you need common sense to tackle this question. No way I would have it drop out fo school for an uncertain career. Let's face it 90% of the actors is without a job. There always exceptions like the Olson Twins but nevertheless showbizz is full of hazards. I'm not against it but people tend to lose control of their sense when the dollar signs get in their eyes.
1 person likes this
@rogue13xmen13 (14403)
• United States
14 Mar 07
Natalie Portman, Jodie Foster, and a few others are the only ones who went to college and made it out of the "child star" craze alive. Most of them end up in jail or washed-up.
1 person likes this
@linda345 (2661)
• Canada
14 Mar 07
If my child had wanted to try to become a star I would have supported them. I would have made sure that there was no one there to take advantage of them and I would have made sure the money was taken care of properly. My daughter did think of modelling for awhile. One of our neighbours was a former model. I had her go to a few of the modelling agencies with her. She was able to tell me which were ok and which ones to watch out for.
1 person likes this
@smkwan2007 (1036)
• Hong Kong
14 Mar 07
My decision is to prevent my very young children from being a star. Once they enter the world of movie making and become famous. They may not take normal life, studying, learn serious matters for their growing. In the end they become wealth people without knowing what is value of life, caring for others. These are not I want for my children. Maybe, after they have receiving proper education in high school is the better time for them to explore into the life of acting.
1 person likes this
@charms88 (7538)
• Philippines
14 Mar 07
Here's what happened to my daughter, faith. A talent scout offered to take pictures of my daughter and suggested to do commercial for hair shampoo. My daughter has a very long brown hair. I refused their offer right away. Its not that I don't like my daughter not to be in the TV commercial. But she is STILL YOUNG. I've seen many mothers, because of poverty, kept forcing their children to work in show business. Faith, children are still ignorant of what's behind the entertainment world. Your life will be exposed. The media will explore all aspects of your life and strip your character down to your soul. I would rather stay poor than to let my children work there.
1 person likes this
@acquaria (719)
• Italy
14 Mar 07
I don't have still any child,but I'm so shocked to see mothers that are disposed to do everything only to income their children in the show-entertainment career.It's a horrible thing because the children have to growth as their coetaneus,they must to play,to study and to do all the things that a child do.I can't understand the choose of these kind of parents,they damage the life of their children because the show business is so dangerous.
1 person likes this
@monica1981 (466)
• United States
14 Mar 07
I think that if a child wants to be a star there is nothing wrong with allowing them to get a taste of showbiz by taking them to an audiotion. As for after that, if they were to get a part, I don't know. I think being a chid actor can really screw someone up badly. When you're young you really don't have the coping skills you need in order to deal with all of the stress. I remember feeling really bad for Haley Joel Osmet when he wasn't awarded the oscar for sixth sense and he started to cry. The other problem with child actors is you never know if they'll make it past being a child actor. Yes Jodie Foster and Drew Barrymore made it, but there are hundreds who didn't, who most people don't remember.
1 person likes this
@getzdharan (130)
• India
14 Mar 07
i would allow my child if he has that ability bcos he will learn abt life money people very soon .
so he becomes aware of it and would lead the rest of life in a meaning full way after this part is whare life starts
1 person likes this
@deebomb (15304)
• United States
14 Mar 07
My granddaughter wants to be a star. She is 20 and in her first year in college. I am doing what I can to dicsourage her. We have gotten her to decide to be a drama teacher instead. Now she wants to be a cake decorater. I'm sure Glad. I wouls not encouages any child to be a star. Look at the lives those people have. They are not happy. Thier lives look like soap operas.
1 person likes this
@albert2412 (1782)
• United States
14 Mar 07
I know that the world is a hard place and we need money to get by, but having our children make money so that they can have an easier life later on is not a good idea. Every child needs time in life to explore the world and to play. If we take this time away from our children they will be unhappy adults later on in life.
@kathy77 (7486)
• Australia
14 Mar 07
Oh no I never heard this story about Jackie Coogan, I loved his movies he was so great and funny!! That is disgusting how his mother and step-father were allowed to do this to him. Yes if my child had the opportunity to be a star I would agree to it, but they would have to be at least 12 before starting and yes I believe that I would be able to protect my child as a star.
1 person likes this
@Modestah (11179)
• United States
14 Mar 07
Our middle child won a large beautiful baby contest when she was 18 mo's old, I decided then and there that we would not repeat that kind of activity again. I just thought it would be a fun thing to do, but so many people were just nasty about it. the little girl who went before the judges directly after our daughter got runner up, well after the contest her father yelled at her :( she was only 15 mos old.
The dirty looks from other parents when my daughter received the medal, gifts and savings bond were enough to steal your breath away. Granted I think my little girl was just precious, but so were all the others there. I truly think the deciding factor was because when she went in front of the judges she did a curtsy, and it melted their hearts. Could also be because she had a black eye from hitting her nose on a table edge.
1 person likes this
@Surfcin712 (2)
• United States
14 Mar 07
I would never allow my child to become a child star. Not only are the pressures of their life damaging to their mind, the attention from everyone could also serve to raise a very spoiled and selfish adult. The child, of course, will be different. The only way to protect them, is to prevent the situation. Public media can almost never be a good influence these days. However, there are some parents willing to put their child in the spotlight and although it's hard to admit, the entertainment industry would falter if child stars were to be banned.
1 person likes this
@Professor2010 (20162)
• India
3 Feb 12
Well friend
I am not in favor of making a kid as child star, why not wait till he/she is adult, my view though!!
Here in India, we have child stars both in movies, big screen !!
And also on small screen, the TV, they do very well and shine day by day.
Best of luck.
Professor
Professor
