Murder. Assault. Sexual grooming. Growing up in Hollywood seems to have devastating consequences,
especially for these child stars. What exactly did these cute, charming kids get themselves into?
Having starred in "Diary of a Wimpy Kid" as a child before making appearances in shows
like "Supernatural," "iZombie," and "'Riverdale" as he got older,
it seems that Ryan Grantham had a promising future. But in September 2022,
he was sentenced to life in prison for killing his 64-year-old mother, Barbara Waite. The actor
was charged with second-degree murder, which comes with an automatic life sentence in Canada.
According to CBC News, the then-21-year-old actor shot his mother with a rifle on March 31,
2020, in their Squamish, British Columbia home as she played the piano. The next day,
he lit candles around her covered body and hung rosary beads from her piano. He then loaded his
car with weapons and drove toward Ottawa in a plot to kill the Canadian Prime Minister,
Justin Trudeau. Grantham also reportedly wanted to open fire at his school,
Simon Fraser University. Instead, he went to the Vancouver Police Department and
confessed to the killing. He stated during his 2022 sentencing hearing,
"I cannot explain or justify my actions. I have no
excuse. It hurts me to think about how badly I've wasted my life."
In the early '00s, Orlando Brown was known for playing Eddie Thomas on the Disney Channel's
"That's So Raven." However, in more recent years his name has been associated with legal troubles
and substance misuse. In 2016, TMZ reported that the star had been arrested in Torrance,
California for assaulting his then-girlfriend in a police station parking lot, of all places.
Brown had reportedly driven into the location during the argument, where a witness spotted the
altercation and alerted nearby authorities. Once he was apprehended and locked up,
police then found methamphetamine on the actor. The star was subsequently charged with
drug possession with intent to sell, having contraband in jail, and domestic battery.
Two years later, he was arrested in Las Vegas for burglary after changing the locks of Legends
Restaurant & Venue, owned by former Death Row Records singer, Danny Boy. Brown was caught on
camera entering the kitchen of the premises before covering the lens with a rag. According to TMZ,
the two used to be friends, with the "Come When I Call" performer pressing charges against Brown as
he thought it would be for the actor's own good. In 2021, the former Disney star said that
he conquered his drug addiction after attending a Christian-based rehab facility.
"Go, Eddie! It's your birthday! Shake your booty now! Aye!"
Jeremy Jackson was 10 years old when he scored the role of Hobie Buchannon in "Baywatch."
By the time he was 35, he was arrested for stabbing a woman in her arm, legs, and back,
as reported by ET. The violent incident took place in Los Angeles, California in 2015,
when Jackson was accused of attempting to steal a vehicle that belonged to the woman's
boyfriend. He was later picked up at a hotel and charged with assault with a deadly weapon,
as well as criminal threats. He eventually bonded out and made a beeline to a rehab facility.
Per TMZ, in 2017, Jackson received a 270-day sentence in the L.A. County Jail and five
years probation, after pleading no contest to the crime. During an episode of E!'s "Child
Star Confidential" released over a decade earlier, he explained how it was easy for
him to get sucked into a terrible lifestyle after his "Baywatch" success. He explained.
"I had the fame, I had the girls, I had the money, and I threw it away. My drug
of choice was crystal meth, and it was big-time downhill from that point on."
Actor Lillo Brancato was given a ten year prison sentence in 2009. The actor's first film was
1993's "A Bronx Tale" when he was 17 years old. From there, some of his other work included the
film, "Crimson Tide," as well as "The Sopranos." Four years prior to his sentencing, the actor
tried to break into the house with a man named Steven Armento, according to The New York Times.
They were confronted by a neighbor, a 28-year-old off-duty police officer named Daniel Enchautegui.
During the encounter, Armento shot and killed officer Enchautegui, which earned him a life
prison sentence. Brancato had already been locked up for three years at the time of sentencing,
and while he initially faced a murder charge and life in prison due to the fatal altercation,
he was eventually acquitted of murder. During sentencing, Judge Justice Marcus told Brancato,
"While I accept that verdict, in sentencing you, I cannot ignore the fact that as a
result of the attempted burglary of which you were convicted, a brave, young police officer is dead."
Brancato was released from prison in 2013 and has since resumed his acting career.
"Suppose so."
In 2021, at the age of 34, Jared "Drake" Bell, of "Drake & Josh" fame, was accused of sexually
grooming a minor who he met online. Per the Associated Press, despite originally submitting
a non-guilty plea, the actor later pleaded guilty to felony attempted child endangerment, as well as
disseminating matter harmful to juveniles. Before sentencing, Bell stated via Zoom,
"I accept this plea because my conduct was wrong."
The California-born actor-slash-singer was accused of having met the young fan online when she was
12. She alleged that Bell began grooming her via online chats and that she went on to attend one
of his Ohio concerts when she was 15 — to which the child endangerment charge relates. The woman,
who was 19 years old during the trial, also claimed that Bell started sending
her sexual messages after she turned 15, and they exchanged explicit photos. She added a
claim of having engaged in sexual contact with the Nickelodeon star several times.
"I'm sorry that the victim was harmed in any way, but that was, obviously, not my intention."
Bell received two years probation for his actions. As of 2022, the charges and guilty
plea have seemed to affect Drake's career in a major way, as his acting output has slowed down.
Marcus T. Paulk, who played mischievous little brother, Myles Mitchell, on the '90s sitcom
"Moesha," made headlines in 2013 after walking into a Los Angeles jail and turning himself in
to the police. At the time, he was accused of punching and kicking his girlfriend,
Andi Roxx, so severely that she required hospital treatment for internal injuries.
Three months later, the former child actor was charged with domestic violence
and battery and was staring at a four-year prison stint. However,
after accepting a plea deal in 2014, he didn't serve any time at all. According to TMZ,
he instead agreed to attend a year-long treatment program for domestic violence
and was ordered to maintain a 100-yard distance from his ex-girlfriend, Roxx.
Unfortunately, that wasn't the last time Paulk got himself into trouble.
One year after he managed to avoid jail time, he was arrested in Scottsdale,
Arizona one night before the Super Bowl on a DUI charge as well as possession of
marijuana. Paulk later pleaded guilty to the DUI while the weed charge was dropped. He
was sentenced to 12 months of probation and had to complete an alcohol program.
Edward Furlong became a child superstar after starring alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in
"Terminator 2." Sadly, as the years went on, drugs would highly affect his acting career.
The actor also experienced legal run-ins as well. One of which took place in 2013 when he
allegedly assaulted his ex-girlfriend in West Hollywood, according to TMZ. The woman already
had a protective order against the actor in place, which Furlong violated during the assault.
The incident brought the actor just under three months in jail. He was subsequently
given five years probation, sent to domestic violence counseling,
and had to complete 90-days in a drug rehabilitation program.
During a 2022 interview with the Daily Mail, Furlong shared that he was four years sober.
He shared that he had successfully kicked his drug habit after getting arrested for
possession of an illicit substance and entering another rehabilitation facility in 2017. He
also explained what went wrong after having so much early acting success. He explained,
"When I was younger, I didn't have too many people looking out for me and I was left to
run wild. I didn't know how to manage my money ... I was never a normal teenager. I had a very
un-normal life. I was almost destined for [drug addiction]."
"Yeah, major drag, huh."
Before he was even 10 years old, Robert Blake already had a string of movies under
his belt. Later, in his adult life, he became a major Hollywood star,
appearing in critically acclaimed films such as David Lynch's "Lost Highway," and Richard Brookes'
adaptation of "In Cold Blood." For decades, he was also a mainstay of television, starring in
a variety of shows like "Rawhide" and "Baretta." But everything changed for the actor in May 2001
after his 44-year-old wife Bonny Lee Bakley was found shot and killed as she sat in his vehicle.
After a lengthy year-long investigation, the actor was arrested. Per CNN, he pleaded not guilty to
one count of murder and two counts of solicitation of murder. In 2005, after a 12-week trial, he was
acquitted of the crime. Still, in 2008, he lost an appeal against a civil suit filed by Bakley's
family where a Los Angeles court found him liable for his wife's death. Per BBC News, he was ordered
to pay a reduced award of $15 million in damages — half of what was originally asked of him.
As a child, Joey Cramer was exchanging dialogue with Sarah Jessica Parker when
he starred in the 1986 Disney film, "Flight of the Navigator." However, as a 42-year-old man,
his life would look a lot different. In 2016, he was arrested for robbing a bank in British
Columbia. The Guardian shared the story and reported that Cramer had walked into a bank
wearing sunglasses, a wig, and a bandana. Based on previous interactions that Cramer
had with the authorities, his attempts to conceal his identity didn't fool them
at all. In a statement published by the outlet, a constable on the case explained,
"Despite the fact that a disguise was used during the robbery, the suspect was quickly
identified by some of our officers, who had recently dealt with him on an unrelated matter."
Per Coast Reporter, Cramer was sentenced to two years less than
a day after already being locked up for six months, which was credited to him.
He received two years probation on top of that and had to complete counseling
and treatment for substance misuse. Speaking to the Daily Star in 2020,
the actor suggested that serving time gave him the chance to get clean and start afresh. He said,
"It was such a relief when I got arrested ... I've come
out the other side and I embrace who I am now."
"Come on. Let's get out of here."
Brian Bonsall was brought onto the '80s sitcom, "Family Ties" as Andy Keaton mid-way through the
show's run, seemingly to add a cuteness factor.
But the star's actions after the show ended were anything but cute. In 2007,
he was accused of having assaulted his girlfriend in Boulder, Colorado.
The former child actor claimed self-defense after saying she stabbed him in the arm — something
she denied. But a 25-year-old Bonsall still pleaded guilty to charges of second-degree
assault and false imprisonment. Per 19 News, the victim said that he poured a
drink on her face as she slept, choked her, and wouldn't let her leave. Eventually,
the troubled actor received two years probation after pleading guilty to third-degree assault.
National Domestic Violence Hotline at 1−800−799−7233.
You can also find more information, resources, and support at their website.