The Curse Of Being An Ex Child Star Strikes Twice

By Michael Musto Fri., Aug. 3 2012 at 11:10 AM

I've always talked about how difficult it must be to be a former child star, trying to reconfigure your career as you look for other ways to get the thrill of acceptance you once got just for stepping in front of a camera.

It's rough!

And now, Tatum O'Neal--whom I love--is back in rehab for coke use, as daddy Ryan visits her to work out their issues, hopefully not for a reality show.

(By the way, having a celebrity parent adds to the curse 100 times over. You're in their shadow, and if you over-shadow them, God help you.)

What's more, The Enquirer ran a story saying that Macaulay Culkin is a heroin addict and is also addicted to a bunch of prescription pills.

Culkin's people flatly denied that as unmitigated fiction, which prompted The Enquirer to stand by their story and even offer to administer a blood test to prove it.

Poor Macaulay grew up with that horrible father squeezing him like a lemon, and that--combined with some bad breaks--may well have led to a less than contented adulthood.

In any case, I'm eternally grateful that I wasn't a child star.

In fact, no one even noticed me!

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williamHK topcommenter

Loved her "Paper Life" book, almost as good as Patty Duke's "Call Me Anna." And how can anyone think Macauley looks good? They say he never got over Mila...

anonTWO

I've read O'Neals first memoir that was published a few years ago.

The Oneal family was/is one giant ball of dysfunction.

Daddy ONeal was JEALOUS of his daughter's success. She was only a ten year old child when she won that Oscar and Daddy was JEALOUS.

Mama Oneal was an amphetamine addict who neglected her children because of her substance abuse.

latenitebump topcommenter

@anonTWO

i have to say brooke shield´s mom was an alcoholic and pimped brooke out to almost--if not--child pornographic heights (pretty baby). yet! brooke turned out to be a well balanced person (i assume; except she had one failed married).

and we can not forget dee--danielle spencer-- from the hit tv series what´s happening. her career began at 9 y. o. and today, she is a veterinarian. african-american and female.

so, let´s stop blaming whom or whatever for these junkies` habits.

nostradavid topcommenter

1 Like

Being wealthy and having all the drugs you want is a curse?

sign me up!

Used2BMelinda9 topcommenter

They're both probably self-medicating for depression or other mental health issues which is why it's so difficult to stop. Tatum should get as far away from her dad as possible.

yrs truly,

Armchair Psychologist

SavannahMontgomery topcommenter

Jeezus, you/I must be telepathic...I recently thought about Tatum...don't know why.

And the Macaulay Culkin thing reminded me of when I was in Angus McIndoe....a few years ago, and the "gang" invaded it for about 10 min and left just as quickly...giggling.

exackerly topcommenter

Well, for every Tatum O'Neal there's a Jodie Foster or a Brooke Shields, who have had generally happy lives (with a bump here or there). I think it's not so much the child stars themselves who have the problems, it's the people around them.

bwaybill

@exackerly But Jodie and Brooke kept their careers going, so they didn't need to turn to other stuff.

exackerly topcommenter

@bwaybill Tatum had a pretty good career for a while there. But with a father like that, it's not surprising she hit the wall sooner rather than later.

latenitebump topcommenter

1 Like

or maybe, they could control their substances better.

latenitebump topcommenter

maybe, they are both secretly gay.

i think the home alone star looks fantastic. he´s, probably, happy in his bliss. at least, he can afford his habit.

SavannahMontgomery topcommenter

@latenitebump Happy? You forget the daddy issues.

latenitebump topcommenter

@SavannahMontgomery

don´t know what you mean but bliss in his high!

lucy in the sky with diamonds. strawberry fields forever!

ladybug9

And this whole syndrome is why the Tantrums & Tiaras mom should be in prison.

ladybug9

I love Tatum too!

The Curse Of Being An Ex Child Star Strikes Twice

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