Even the most sincere actors can become corrupted by Hollywood if they go the wrong turn. Some movie stars break into the spotlight at a very young age, and the fame and wealth that come with success can occasionally be too much for them to manage.
Here are eight instances of young actors who had their life ruined by fame.
1. Drew Barrymore
Success came to Drew when she was only seven years old, thanks to the role of Gertie in Steven Spielberg’s “Alien.” Today we know her as the star of Charlie’s Angels, a slew of romantic comedies, and the severely underrated zombie mom from “Santa Clarita Diet.” But due to early success, young Drew’s life started rolling downhill. When she was 9, Drew became addicted to smoking; at 11, she started drinking; at 12, she smoked her first joint, and by 13, Drew started using cocaine. All this mess lead to a suicide attempt, but rehab came in clutch. Fortunately, the actress was able to take her life back and even wrote a book called The Lost Little Girl.
2. Shia LaBeouf
Shia’s TV career began quite early, but it was never easy due to his father’s heavy drinking. At the age of 19, LeBeouf started butting heads with the law, doing drugs, and having anger issues. Despite all that, Shia managed to achieve financial success, starring in three parts of “Transformers” and other box-office blockbusters. Since 2013, the actor has been the focus of internet memes and even several scandals, almost as if he wanted to remind us that Shia is still alive and kicking.
3. Miley Cyrus
Miley became famous thanks to the TV series “Hannah Montana.” The popularity slammed her over the head and probably knocked a screw loose because she changed her image to look more mature and sexy when she was only 17 years old. Now she is 28, but she still loves to astound the audience with her antics. Miley may look like a grown woman, but her behavior suggests otherwise.
4. Lindsay Lohan
When she was 11, Lindsay starred in a remake of the classic comedy “The Parent Trap,” which has kickstarted her movie career and made the actress a fan-favorite. But after a few more roles, she got cocky and slipped. Alcohol, drugs, and crazy parties — all became staples of Lohan’s teenage years. Cue in the inevitable arrests and rehab visits, and you’ll see the big picture here. Today Lindsay’s more into her music career, which sounds like a much safer path for her.
5. Macaulay Culkin
Macaulay Culkin started climbing the Hollywood ladder way too quickly. Playing Kevin McCallister in Home Alone and getting a Golden Globe nomination was a terrific start. He could have built a brilliant career, but subsequent films did not have such wild success. Eventually, Culkin’s parents divorced, which wasn’t all that great for his mental health. In 2004 he was arrested for drug possession, and in 2012 attempted suicide. Today the former star is finally living a quiet life and even occasionally appears in some weird projects.