Child Stars

Decent · #1 10-15-2007, 12:40 AM

http://members.tripod.com/~former_child_star/

Ever wonder what happened to your favorite child star? Check out this website. I was amazed to find out that the kid from A Christmas Story, (NOT Ralphie but the kid he beat up), is now a porn star. I think it was because of his characters names. In that movie he was called "Flick", in The Toy he was Eric Bates, or as the butler called him "Master Bates". Think about it, lol.

Decent · #2 10-23-2007, 11:46 PM

I think it would be cool, if there's a star you remember from your own childhood to put up a "Where they are now" post.

I'll start and mine is with Danny Bonaduce, the red headed kid brother from The Partridge Family. I had such a crush on him, lol!

Danny Bonaduce (b. 1959)
Then:
Smart, smart-mouth Danny Partridge, The Partridge Family.
Now:
Smart, smart-mouth radio guy/reality star.
FYI: Bloodied Survivor alum Jonny Fairplay during an unscripted back flip at an awards show; Los Angeles prosecutors declined to press charges (2007).
Divorcing wife and Breaking Bonaduce costar Gretchen Bonaduce (2007).
Tapped as cohost of Adam Carolla's syndicated radio show (2007).
Shot steroids, did rehab, attempted suicide, admitted to an extramarital affair, screamed at his couple's therapist and generally acted like a wild man (albeit a frequently observant, knowing wild man) in VH1 reality series, Breaking Bonaduce (2005).
Lost longtime gig as morning drive-time host on Los Angeles' Star 98.7 during Breaking Bonaduce first-season shoot (2005).
Pounded Barry Williams in a boxing match (2002).
Pounded Donny Osmond in a boxing match (1994).
Pounded a transvestite in an unsanctioned 1991 scuffle, resulting in his arrest. Reached a deal with prosecutors in which he agreed to pay $3,000 to cover the gentleman's busted nose.
Checked into rehab in 2001 for alcohol abuse.
Checked back into rehab in 2005 for alcohol abuse.
Arrested on suspicion of coke possession (1990).
Arrested on suspicion of coke possession (1985).
Hosted daytime talk show, The Other Half, with fellow former child star Mario Lopez (2001-2003).
Penned the autobiography Random Acts of Badness (2001).
Married second-wife Gretchen the very night he met her on a blind date (1990). Links:

C'mon, Get Happy!
The Partridge Family Temple
IMDb.com credits

Copyright 1997-2007 Former Child Star Central
Here's his myspace page:
http://www.myspace.com/bonaduce

A link to his credits on IMDB:
http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0093697/

A link to a bunch of Danny Bonaduce vid-clips

http://www.searchforvideo.com/music/d/danny-bonaduce/

I tried to find a mug shot and couldn't, lol

Roogle · #3 10-24-2007, 12:07 AM

I love these. Parents exploiting kids for monetary gain. And they wonder why they grow up with problems.

I miss dana plato. She was hot.

__________________
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Rusty · #4 10-24-2007, 07:09 AM

I was in LOVE with Luke Halpin in the Flipper series.

Luke Halpin (b. 1947)
Then:
Marine-savvy teen Sandy Ricks, Flipper.
Now:
Marine-savvy technician/pilot for film/TV productions.
FYI:
Lives in Florida. Just like Flipper did.
Eulogized Bebe, one of the Flipper dolphins, thusly to UPI: "Flipper lives on in the hearts of children all over the world" (1997).
Cameoed in 1996 big-screen Flipper movie, starring Elijah Wood.
Starred in 1963 big-screen Flipper movie, and its 1964 sequel, Flipper's New Adventure. Links:

Morty's TV: Flipper
Wikipedia: Luke Halpin
Flipper: Roadside Pet Cemetery
IMDb.com credits

Sun Shine · #5 10-24-2007, 07:22 AM

I have two I was dreamy eyes over.

Donny Osmond (b. 1957)
Then:
The Osmonds' resident teen idol ("One Bad Apple," "Puppy Love").
Now:
Surprisingly resillient singer/actor/game-show host.
FYI: Hosted ABC reality flop, The Great American Dream Vote, canceled after two air dates (2007).
Brother of Jimmy, Marie and various lesser Osmonds.
Has cohosted two series with Marie--the variety show Donny and Marie (1976-79), and the talk show Donny & Marie (1998-2000).
Hosted $25,000 Pyramid update, Pyramid (2002-04), sans Marie.
Earned 18 gold records as a member of the Osmonds.
Made TV debut, at age 6, with his older brothers on The Andy Williams Show (1962).
Made it back onto the pop charts as a "mystery artist" at age 31 with the hit, "Soldier of Love" (1989).
Starred in Broadway flop Little Johnny Jones, which opened and closed all in one night (1982).
Lost a boxing match to Danny Bonaduce (1994).
Suffered from panic attacks, even before the Bonaduce thing. Links:

OFFICIAL SITE: Donny Osmond
OFFICIAL SITE: Osmond Family
IMDb.com credits

David Cassidy (b. 1950)
Then:
Keith Partridge, The Partridge Family.
Now:
Entertainer/Vegas impresario.
FYI:
Half-brother of Shaun Cassidy, who like David, isn't actually a former child star. David was an adult (age 20) when he debuted on The Partridge Family in 1970, just as Shaun was an adult (age 19) when his pop-singing, pin-up career began with the 1977 debut of The Hardy Boys. Both, however, were teen idols, hence we decided to include them in our database. We're giving that way.
Produced/cocreated the Las Vegas tribute show, The Rat Pack Is Back.
Nominated for an Emmy for a 1973 guest shot on Police Story. Links:

OFFICIAL SITE
C'Mon, Get Happy!
IMDb.com credits

Slacker · #6 10-24-2007, 07:37 AM

Todd Bridges (b. 1965)
Then:
Willis Jackson, Diff'rent Strokes.
Now:
Actor/motivational speaker/figure skater.
FYI:
Founder, Todd Bridges Youth Foundation.
Showed off his moves on Fox reality series, Skating with Celebrities (2006).
Showed off his jab to Vanilla Ice on Fox reality special, Celebrity Boxing (2002).
Arrested in 1997 for allegedly ramming a friend's car with his car following a dispute over a video game.
Arrested in 1993 for allegedly stabbing a boarder at his home. (No charges filed.)
Arrested in 1990 on suspicion of cocaine possession. (No charges filed.)
Arrested in 1989 for allegedly shooting at a man at a Los Angeles crack house. (Acquitted of attempted murder and assault with a deadly weapon charges.)
Arrested in 1989 for allegedly skipping out on a $500 auto-repair bill.
Arrested in 1988 on suspicion of reckless driving.
Pleaded no contest in 1986 to charge of making bomb threats against an auto detailer.
Accused Los Angeles Police Department of harassing him in 1984.
Married, with one kid. Sightings (submitted by you, the fans):

Sounds More Like Mr. Drummond
"Can you confirm or deny what I thought I saw back in 1990? I was driving 18-wheelers for a company called Schneider, and I swear I saw Todd Bridges driving a truck for J.B. Hunt. He was trying to back a truck into a hole, and didn't look like he knew what he was doing, and then he got out and started yelling at other drivers like it was their fault. I've always wondered if it was him or a look-alike. Hope you can help." (Posted: June 2005)
We'll Say "Hey" Next Time We're at Sam's Town
"I taught Todd Bridges how to bowl [when] he was a youngster living in [San Francisco] in the late '70s. Give him my regards." (Posted: June 2005)
It's the Little Moments that Make Life So Precious
"About a month ago, I saw Todd Bridges at a commercial audition in West Los Angeles." (Posted: November 2000)
Bowling for Willis
"I used to bowl with [Todd Bridges] about five years ago in the NBAC, an amateur bowling club in the San Fernando Valley. He even participated in an annual event at Sam Town's in Las Vegas." (Posted: March 1999) Links:

OFFICIAL SITE: Todd Bridges Youth Foundation
Sitcoms Online: Diff'rent Strokes
IMDb.com credits

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Maryland Chat

Slacker · #7 10-24-2007, 07:38 AM

Dana Plato (1964-1999)
Then:
Good-girl Kimberly Drummond, Diff'rent Strokes.
Now:
Died May 8, 1999, of what authorities ruled a suicide by intentional drug overdose. She was 34.
FYI: Per the National Enquirer, was the subject of a wrongful-death suit filed by son Tyler Lambert against Robert Menchaca, the man who was with Plato on the day of her death (2006).
Appeared on Howard Stern's radio show the day before her death; declared she'd "never been happier."
Attempted to revive her career by posing nude for Playboy in 1989.
Attempted to revive her career by acting nude in the 1997 softcore flick, Different Strokes: The Story of Jack and Jill and Jill.
Arrested for a botched armed robbery of a Las Vegas video store. Entertainer Wayne Newton posted her $13,000 bail (1991).
Arrested for forging a Valium prescription (1992).
Post-Strokes, worked in Vegas revue and at a Vegas dry cleaners.
Frequently claimed to have been cast, at about age 8 or 9, in the Linda Blair role in The Exorcist. Screenwriter/producer William Peter Blatty said in Former Child Stars: The Story of America's Least Wanted that he had no such recollection of Plato being offered Regan.
Frequently claimed to have turned down the Brooke Shields role in Pretty Baby. Tributes:

From Paul Petersen (The Donna Reed Show):
"Dearest Dana, you teach a hard lesson. In life, too much too soon. In death, the press gives you too much...and too late. How does the death of a troubled girl push a war off the news? What does it say about us? For years we in A Minor Consideration have been honest about our approach to the needs of kids grown far from fame. We deal in guilt and shame. I wonder, Dana, if people listened to the folks from 20/20 and Dateline and Larry King Live. Will they watch Leeza and Sally and say, 'What a shock,' or will they say, 'I knew this was going to happen. Why didn't I pay more attention?' Hold your children close, my friends. Tell them about Dana. Tell them the truth. Yes, there is a sound when a tree falls in the forest and no one's there to hear. There's a sound when a tender young sapling falls, too." (Posted: 1999) From Krista Errickson (Hello, Larry):
"Dear Dana, not many know the pain we suffered under the helm of Tandem/TAT [a production company]. I did try, tried to reach out to you from that long distance to lend you my helping hand. To tell you, it's okay, I understand. But I couldn't reach you. I couldn't tell you there was a better, more friendly world out there. That education and knowledge were the best revenge. I only wish, and hope, the laughter we shared in our cross-over shows (especially about Kim [Richards], and her damned lip gloss fits) will never die. You are in my heart, and shaken to my knees about your death. We will always watch [your son] Tyler for you, and keep vigilant of your image that you never seemed to be able to master yourself. We'll do it for you. Rest in Peace, my friend." (Posted: 1999) Links:
Dana Plato Tribute Site
A Minor Consideration: In Memory of Dana Plato
Owen Keehnen Interviews: Dana Plato
Sitcoms Online: Dana Plato Memorial Site
Sitcoms Online: Diff'rent Strokes Articles by FORMER CHILD STAR CENTRAL editor Joal Ryan:
"Report: Dana Plato Wrongful Death Suit Filed" (E! Online, 2006)
"The 'Diff'rent Strokes' Kids: Cursed?" (E! Online, 1998)
"'Diff'rent Strokes' Kid Dana Plato Dead" (E! Online, 1999)
"Dana Plato: Suicide" (E! Online, 1999)

Quote:

Originally Posted by Roogle