Not very many child celebrities make it intact through adulthood. The fame or at least the spoils of it usually end up getting them. On a bright note though, there are those who managed to survive fame and use it to their advantage through adulthood.

They start out fine enough in show business, sometimes raking in money more than their adult counterparts.  But somewhere, somehow, many end up lost and penniless, with nothing to show for all the long hours working instead of playing.  This is oft-repeated story in the business but fortunately some chose the right way.

Shirley Temple

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The ultimate example of a child celebrity who came and went with a clean name and a picture of success.  Even as her movie career faded because of the inability of the audience to accept her other than a cute precocious child with curly hair, she exercised prudence in judgment and shifted careers without much fanfare. She made wise decisions in marriage, family , and career.  she eventually ended up in politics particularly as an ambassador and diplomat.

Ron Howard

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Ron Howard was young star twice over.  He first captured the audience’s attention when he was 6 years old in The Andy Griffith Show.  He came back older and gained fame once again in American Graffiti and Happy Days. He eventually chose his own destiny and became a director and the rest is history.

Drew Barrymore

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

The seven-year old Drew Barrymore was launched in the Steven Spielberg movie “E.T- Extra Terrestrial”.  Her personal life as a teenager was marred by drug addiction.  After several rehabs and relationships later, she finally put everything in order and became a successful producer and director.  She remains to be a popular actress and still indulges in some occasional naughty behavior. Her marriage and motherhood seemed to have tamed her quite a bit.

Jodie Foster

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Jodie Foster started her career at three years old as a Coppertone girl in a TV commercial.  She was a television actress before she became a movie star. Her first blockbuster as an adult was “The Silence of the Lambs”.  She remains to be one of the most respected actresses today.

Stardom at a very young age has not been good for many but these child celebrities prove that it is possible to survive and prevail over unexpected popularity even at such a tender state.

Teresa is a researcher-writer who covers a wide range of topics in search of useful information.

Originally posted on March 30, 2013 @ 1:05 pm