Every child’s idol is either his/her father or his/her favourite character from his/her favourite TV show. A kid looks up to his idol at every moment of his childhood; most of you might have experienced it as well. I used to look up to my favourite child actors at my time. After growing up, I looked them up on the internet and received a huge blow, because in reality some of those have gone to the worst side any person can wander off to. It demolished my beautiful childhood memories about them.SmashingLists is providing some of the famous child celebrites who went to the dark side after growing up.
10. Paris Hilton
Paris Whitney Hilton, 30 is a producer, model and an actress. She started her career at the age of 19 by modelling, mostly at charity events. She has participated in different fashion shows such as, Ford Models in New York, Models 1 Agency in London, Nous Model Management in Los Angeles, and Premier Model Management in London. In acting career she wasn’t a success. She has made cameo appearances in several films notably Zoolander, Wonderland, and The Cat in the Hat. Her musical career is not going well as well. Hilton is an example of the modern trend of the ‘celebutante’, a celebrity who gains fame not because of their talent or work but because of their inherited wealth and odd/unusual lifestyle. On August 28, 2010 she was arrested on suspicion of cocaine possession in Las Vegas. In order to avoid being convicted of felony, Hilton pleaded guilty to two misdemeanors on September 17, 2010. Under the terms of the plea bargain, she was sentenced to one year probation, 200 hours community service, $2,000 fine and ordered to complete a drug abuse program. Clark County District Attorney David Roger said that: “If she is arrested for anything besides a minor traffic violation she will spend a year in jail. There will be no discussion. The court will have no discretion. In 2003, a homemade sex video of her leaked on the internet which is considered as a publicity stunt. Now after all these bad acts what would her fans think of her even though I don’t think she has many.
9. Brad Renfro
Brad Barron Renfro (1982-2008), was an American actor. He started his career at the age of 12 in the lead role of Joel Schumacher’s “The Client”. After his big break he was starred amongst many famous actors in different movies making him a successful actor of his time. Renfro and his cousin were arrested and charged on June 3, 1998, with drug possession. They were carrying two small bags of cocaine and a bag of marijuana. He tried to avoid the trial by agreeing to be screened randomly for drugs. Once again Renfro was arrested alongside his friend Harold Bond who were trying to steal a 45-foot yacht from the Fort Lauderdale Harbour. Brad got arrested again on January 14, 2002, for violation of his probation on charges of public intoxication and driving without a license in Knoxville. As a result he was put into a three month substance abuse treatment program. He was arrested yet again in December 2005 for the possession of heroin. Renfro admitted that he was using heroine at that time. He pleaded guilty to the charges in court, for which he was sentenced to probation. In 2006, he committed the same crime for which he spent 10 days in jail. He died in 2008 due to an overdose of heroin.
8. Todd Bridges
Todd Anthony Bridges, 46 is an American actor and a former child star. Many know him by his childhood character’s name Willis Jackson from the series Different Strokes. Todd was the first African-American child actor to have a lead role on a successful TV series, “The Waltons”. During his 20s, he fought off a crack cocaine addiction. In 1988, he had been charged and arrested for the attempted murder of a Los Angeles drug dealer named Kenneth “Tex” Clay, but was acquitted of all charges due to testimony of a witness who said that Todd was not present at the time of shooting. In 1993, Bridges was yet again involved in a murder scene against David Joseph Kitchen, who had brought a 15 year old girl to his house. According to bridges, David tried to attack him with a sword to which he defended himself by stabbing David in the chest, due to which he was again said not guilty because of self-defence act. His legal troubles started from 1983 till 1997, in which he was arrested for concealing a weapon, for making a bomb threat against a car dealership, putting a gun on his mechanic during a dispute over a bill. In a positive change of pace, in 2001 Bridges made headlines by rescuing a woman who had fallen out of her wheelchair while fishing.
7. Drew Barrymore
Drew Blyth Barrymore, 36 is an American actress film director, screenwriter, producer and model. She belongs to “Barrymore Family” of American actors and is the granddaughter of John Barrymore. Barrymore’s career started when she was barely 11 months old. She was cast in a dog food commercial. She started her acting career in 1980, in Altered States. Barrymore got her big break in 1981, when she appeared as the younger sister of Elliott in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, which made her famous. She is considered to be a very good actor from the beginning. And much has been expected from her as she belongs from the famous Barrymore family. But having a rich and famous family doesn’t mean that “I’m king of the world” thing. Even though she never went to jail but her pre-teen years were very troubling. The world was aghast when cutesy Gertie in E.T grew up hard and fast and turned into a crazed addict. The press hounded young Drew as she puffed on her first cigarette aged nine, was boozing/drinking alcohol at age eleven and smoking marijuana at 12. She was hooked on cocaine before she barely hit her teens. A suicide attempt at age 14 put her back in rehab, followed by a three-month stay with singer David Crosby and his wife. But this new is too old that most people don’t remember it. But her fans from that era must be hurt by the concept that what a mere dog food advertising baby has become in her early teen.
6. Haley Osment
Haley Joel Osment, 23 is an actor and a former child star. Haley started acting in 1994, in the movie “Forest Gump”. In 1999 he rose to fame amongst the children and adults as well with his performance as Cole Sear in “The Sixth Sense” which made him nominated for academy award for actor in a supporting role .And that was his entrance to the big Hollywood productions such as Steven Spielberg’s A.I. Artificial Intelligence. The Actor has many fans that look up to him for his work. But sadly on July 20, 2006; 18 year old Hayley was charged after he crashed his car while returning from a concert while drunk. He overturned his car and before had struck a brick mailbox near his home. The accident didn’t result in some serious damage but it did include a broken rib, fractured right shoulder blade, cuts, and abrasions. He was charged with illegal marijuana possession of October 19, 2006. He was sentenced to 3 years in probation 60 hours in an alcohol rehabilitation and education program, a fine of $1500, and a minimum requirement of 26 Alcoholics Anonymous meetings over a six-month period. Now he personally might have not been blown but his fans sure are. Because the image of one young, cute and innocent child has been perished by these acts.