Growing Pains: Child Stars
Growing Pains: Child Stars
So this week saw the passing of someone I felt that I grew up with, Gary Coleman, I was a huge fan of Different Strokes. I was saddened when I heard the news, in part because of how attached I felt to his character as a child. However also because of how troubled the rest of his life was after the show ended. Which made me thing about all the child stars that I grew up with. So I decided to do my own version of “What ever happened to?”...
Let us start with the rest of the cast of Different strokes and the infamous Todd Bridges ( Willis Jackson). When the show went off the air in 1986, it did not take Todd long to head down the wrong path. He was arrested in 1988 for attempted murder and later acquitted, there was also a slew of drug charges to follow. He had a brief stint on the painful Skating with Celebrities and later kicked Vanilla Ice's ass on Celebrity Boxing. He now does public speaking events throughout the U.S. warning kids about the dangers of drugs. Finally there was Dana Plato (Kimberly Drummond), the older sister of the two boys. Addicted to alcohol and drugs for years her life ended tragically on May 8th 1999. She was a guest on the Howard Stern radio show the day before, May 7th, where she sat through many grueling call ins from listeners calling her a lier, druggy and a has been. The next day she was found dead in her RV from an apparent suicide due to a drug overdose.
In my house The Facts of Life was also a staple, every week we sat to watch the silly goings on of these 4 girls and their house nanny, it was just good clean fun. I had my first girl crush on Nancy Mckeon (Jo Polniaczek ). She was tough, gritty and cute, I was a tom boy so I guess I related. Maybe not the cute part, head gear is not so cute. She has acted in many small roles over the years and now has a role on Lifetimes Division. Mindy Cohn (Natalie Greed) was my next favourite...Loved her quirky O.C.D. She now does voice overs for for cartoons, she is the voice of Velma on the WB's What's New Scooby Doo. Kim Fields (Tootie) is currently a director and radio host and Lisa Whelchel (Blaire Warner) is an award wining author. No tragic drug ridden dramas here. We so can not forget a young man who appeared on this show, you may have heard of him, George Clooney (George Burnett ), and we all know where he is now. Hand cuffed to my bed post wearing nothing but a smile...
So what is it about Child actors? We all know how well Alex P. Keaton has done and Mike Seaver is now a family man and Evangelist. Luke Brower is a huge A-list actor. So how does Julie Cooper end up hooked on drugs and have sex with her father? Or Nicholas Bradford who started smoking pot at the age of ten? (your going to want to google these ones...) Should there be an age law? Is it just a case of too much too fast? How much are the parents to blame? Don?t want to spoil their meal ticket...Hmmm made me think.
Someone Get My Agent on The PHONE!!! Martini...
1 oz gin (vodka is great too)
1⁄2 oz raspberry liqueur
3 oz pink lemonade 1 oz soda water
Add all ingredients, except soda water, to shaker. Shake and pour over ice; top with soda water. Garnish with seasonal fruit and a good TV show...
Cheers
Dee
www.cocktaildeeva.com
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