30 Child Stars Who Tragically Died Young

Top 30 Child Stars Who Tragically Died Young[a]


Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re looking at the young performers who sadly left us all too soon.

Christopher Pettiet [b]

Sadly, the struggle to cope with the pressures of fame is a recurring theme in this list. Christopher Pettiet seemed on course for a bright future with a role in the Western series “The Young Riders,” and the cult favorite “Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead.” However, underlying substance use disorder was something he constantly grappled with. By the late '90s, Pettiet’s career had dwindled to guest spots and bit parts. The actor never got to add further credits to his name. On April 12, 2000, Pettiet passed away from the combined effect of multiple substances, leaving his career as an unfortunate case of unrealized potential.

J. Madison Wright Morris

Though her onscreen career was brief, this young actress’s story remains deeply moving. Best known for her role in the short-lived sci-fi series “Earth 2,” Morris walked away from show business as a teenager. While still in high school, she was diagnosed with restrictive cardiomyopathy, a disease of the heart muscle. Despite the challenges ahead of her, Morris pursued her education, earning a teacher’s degree and finding love along the way. But two weeks after her wedding, her brave journey came to an end – she passed away from a heart attack just a week shy of her 22nd birthday.

Bridgette Andersen

Hollywood really can be brutal, even to young performers. Bridgette Anderson tasted fame and success at just 7 years old with the cult hit “Savannah Smiles,” successfully auditioning over sixty other child stars, including a young Drew Barrymore. But sustaining that early success is never easy, and before the end of the decade, Andersen’s career had completely faded. The former actress ultimately dealt with substance use disorder, living with it beyond her teenage years. Tragically, Andersen never got the opportunity to reclaim her career, passing away from an overdose at only 21 years of age.

Sammi Kane Kraft

Sammi Kane Kraft lit up the screen as part of the 2005 remake of “The Bad News Bears,” building upon her athletic skills to compete in the Junior Olympics. She would also explore other ventures in show business, fronting her own band to carve another path in the entertainment industry. However, this multi-talented star’s potential was cut short by fate. In the early hours of October 9, 2012, tragedy struck when Kraft lost her life in a car crash – she was just 20 years old. It was a heartbreaking loss of a performer who seemed destined for so much more.

Jon Paul Steuer [c]

“Grace Under Fire” was among ABC’s highest-rated successes. However, lead star Brett Butler’s erratic behavior led to the show’s downfall. Jon Paul Steuer, Butler’s onscreen son, was pulled from the series after alleged inappropriate conduct from Butler. While protecting a young performer was the right thing to do, Steuer never found his way back to the screen again. After multiple attempts to break into the music industry, he shifted gears and became a restaurant owner in 2015. But this venture would be Steuer’s last. On New Year’s Day 2018, the former child star passed away from a self-inflicted gunshot wound. Steuer’s former bandmates paid tribute shortly after, thanking him for a “lifetime” of great memories.

Michelle Trachtenberg [d]

Among the more prominent child actors of her generation, Michelle Trachtenberg rose to fame with lead roles in “The Adventures of Pete & Pete,” “Harriet the Spy,” and “Buffy the Vampire Slayer.” The actress graduated to adult-oriented roles with “Gossip Girl,” cementing her name in the pop culture landscape of the era. However, Trachtenberg’s onscreen appearances became increasingly rare over the last decade. By 2024, concerns grew over her health, even while she maintained she was “happy and healthy.” On February 26, 2025, the actress’s death sent shockwaves through the industry. Fans and former co-stars paid tribute to Trachtenberg, mourning the loss of a talent gone too soon.

Skye McCole Bartusiak[e]

Bartusiak seemed to be a rising child star in the early to mid-aughts. After a memorable appearance alongside Mel Gibson in “The Patriot,” she secured more high-profile roles in “24” and “Boogeyman.” However, that would be the height of her commercial success, as Bartusiak’s later career largely comprised independent films and small roles. Her name resurfaced again in 2014, but under tragic circumstances. Bartusiak was found unresponsive by her boyfriend, later ruled as an overdose – she was 21. Her time may have been fleeting, but Bartusiak’s legacy will live on through the warmth and spirit she brought to the screen.

Bobby Driscoll [f]

Though his voice has brought Peter Pan to life for children across generations, Driscoll never got his own fairy tale ending. Hailed as a “Wonder Child” after multiple leading roles in his youth, Driscoll struggled to transition into adult roles. Amid scandals, a history of bad behavior, and a stint in rehab, the actor became a pariah in the industry. Ultimately, it was his substance use disorder that solidified his exile. Looking back on his career with bitterness, Driscoll remarked, “I was carried on a silver platter—and then dumped into the garbage.” “Peter Pan” may have immortalized his voice, but the actor passed away in obscurity at the young age of 31.

Gary Coleman

Best known as Arnold Jackson in “Diff’rent Strokes,” Coleman’s iconic catchphrase remains a lasting piece of pop culture history. At the peak of his career, he was the highest-paid child star on TV. However, the actor was mainly in the news for the wrong reasons later in life – from legal troubles to financial woes, and a tumultuous personal life. Sadly, Coleman was in the press for the final time in 2010. A tragic fall down the stairs resulted in his untimely demise at the age of 42. His death remains a somber reminder of Hollywood’s failure to properly support one of its most influential young performers of all time.

Ashleigh Aston Moore [g]

Beginning her career as a preteen on TV’s “The Odyssey,” Ashleigh Aston Moore broke out as the beloved Chrissy in the coming-of-age classic “Now and Then.” Despite receiving glowing reviews for the film, Moore never reached the big leagues like her young castmates. After a few more roles, she stepped away from the industry in 1997 and kept a low profile. Details about her whereabouts were scarce until 2007, when news of her death from an accidental overdose surfaced. Although this left fans heartbroken, many choose to remember Moore for the impact she made as Chrissy. Her “Now and Then” co-star Thora Birch shares this sentiment, saying Moore “still lives on as Chrissy to me.”

Kevin Clark

This young actor was excellent as rebellious drummer Freddy Jones in Richard Linklater’s “School of Rock.” But regardless of how great he was, Clark ultimately decided against a career in acting, and the 2003 film remained his only credit. Fittingly, he became a professional musician instead. Unfortunately, Clark was killed in an accident in May 2021 at the age of 32. He was riding his bike in the dark morning hours when a car hit him. He was taken to the hospital afterward, but there was nothing they could do to save his life.

Matthew Garber

Basically anyone who was around in the ‘60s knew the name Matthew Garber. He starred as Michael Banks in Disney’s “Mary Poppins,” which was not only hugely successful financially, but also touched countless audiences emotionally. Garber was even given the “Disney Legend” honor in 2004. But this came nearly thirty years after his death. During a visit to India in 1976, the actor contracted hepatitis. Though he made it back home to England, the condition had worsened, and he couldn’t recover. In June 1977, at only 21 years old, he passed away due to pancreatitis.

Cameron Boyce

Speaking of Disney, Cameron Boyce was a very popular star of theirs. Throughout the 2010s, he starred in the Disney Channel sitcom “Jessie” and the Disney Junior’s “Jake and the Never Land Pirates.” Perhaps most famously, he played Carlos in the “Descendants” movies. The third film from the latter franchise was a posthumous release however, as it aired in August 2019, about one month after Boyce’s tragic death at 20. He suffered from epilepsy, and passed in his sleep from a seizure. The autopsy ruled it a “sudden unexpected death in epilepsy.”

Dana Hill

A successful voice actress, Dana Hill played Max Goof in the ‘90s sitcom “Goof Troop.” The show didn’t last long, airing between September and December of 1992. But she was already an established child actor, having received a Young Artist Award for the CBS movie “Fallen Angel.” Hill lived with Type I diabetes, and it caused debilitating health issues throughout much of her life. In May of 1996, around the time of her 32nd birthday, she fell into a diabetic coma. She soon had a huge stroke and never recovered, passing away in July of that same year.

Anissa Jones

This young girl from Indiana became a household name in the mid ‘60s for playing Buffy Davis on “Family Affair.” Jones was eight years old when audiences first saw her in the role, and she remained with the series until its conclusion in 1971. She subsequently disappeared from the spotlight and wasn’t seen on television again. In August 1976, Jones suffered a fatal overdose. She was just 18. A toxicological study later found large amounts of illicit substances in her system, including a sedative known as secobarbital. Jones’s family sued the doctor who prescribed the drug, and were awarded close to $80,000.

Michelle Thomas

A popular sitcom actress, Michelle Thomas notably found success on both “The Cosby Show” and “Family Matters.” She was most recognized for her work in the latter, playing Myra Monkhouse in 55 episodes of the show. Shortly before the iconic series concluded, Thomas was diagnosed with a type of abdominal cancer that remains very hard to treat. The news came in August of 1997, just one month shy of her 29th birthday. Though she continued to work and had multiple surgeries, Thomas only made it another sixteen months before passing away on December 23, 1998, at 30 years old.

Rob Knox

Most people will know Rob Knox from “Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince,” in which he played Marcus Belby. However, he had been working in the industry since he was 11, and served as an uncredited extra in the 2004 version of “King Arthur.” Knox was also reportedly supposed to appear in “The Deathly Hallows,” but he was killed before getting the chance to do so. He and his brother Jamie were by a London bar when an armed man began intimidating Jamie. Knox, then only 18, came to his sibling’s defense, and was stabbed to death. The attacker, named Karl Bishop, was sentenced to life in prison.

Nikita Pearl Waligwa

In 2016, Nikita Pearl Waligwa starred in “Queen of Katwe,” a biographical sports movie about Ugandan chess player Phiona Mutesi. She played Phiona’s friend Gloria, who helped her learn and master the game. That same year, Waligwa learned that she had a brain tumor. The film’s director, Mira Nair, is said to have helped move the actress from Uganda to India so that she could seek better treatment. She fought the cancer for nearly five years but eventually succumbed to the disease in February 2020, at the age of 15.

Dana Plato

An enormous teen star, Dana Plato was most well known for playing Kimberly Drummond on “Diff'rent Strokes.” She appeared in 140 episodes, and her work on that sitcom notably got her a Young Artist Award nomination. Plato also appeared in the enormously controversial “Night Trap” video game, which was uncommon for celebrities at the time. On May 7, 1999, the 34 year old was a guest on “The Howard Stern Show,” where she discussed her problems with substance use. She died of an overdose the following night while in Oklahoma with her boyfriend. She was eventually said to have taken her own life.

Sawyer Sweeten

Between 1996 and 2005, Sawyer Sweeten starred as Geoffrey Barone on “Everybody Loves Raymond.” When the show began in September 1996, he was just one year old. When it ended in May of 2005, Sweeten was 10. In other words, fans watched him grow up in real time, right in front of their eyes. But nearly ten years later, in April 2015, Sweeten took his own life. He was less than a month away from turning 20. Many of his peers released touching statements in which they praised his kindness and talent.

Brittany Murphy

When she was young, Brittany Murphy convinced her single mother to take the family from New Jersey to California so she could break into the entertainment industry. They went to L.A. in 1991, and Murphy immediately found work on the short-lived Fox sitcom “Drexell's Class.” She later achieved enormous fame playing Tai Frasier in “Clueless.” Sadly, Murphy passed away in 2009 at the age of 32. The official cause of death given was pneumonia, anemia, and prescription substance use. And the circumstances of her passing are still shrouded in mystery. Many believe there’s more to the story, including some who say mold may have played a part in her death.

Lee Thompson Young

This actor initially found success on “The Famous Jett Jackson.” The show debuted in October 1998, when Young was 14 years old. Unlike some child stars, he continued booking gigs as he got older, and found a steady job on “Rizzoli & Isles.” But he was also struggling with mental health issues, including depression. When he didn’t come to work one day, authorities made their way to his residence, where they discovered he was deceased. Young had taken his own life at the age of 29, and his “Rizzoli & Isles” character Barry Frost was subsequently killed off.

Brad Renfro

When Brad Renfro was 11 years old, he starred as young Mark Sway in the Joel Schumacher legal thriller “The Client.” The movie grossed over $100 million and launched his career. He would later appear in notable motion pictures like “Apt Pupil” and “Ghost World.” But Renfro also dealt with substance use disorder, and was first arrested at just 15 for possession of illicit substances. He would face numerous legal troubles throughout the 2000s, including multiple arrests for driving under the influence. He passed away from accidental drug intoxication in January 2008, at the age of 25.

Heather O'Rourke

Six time Young Award Artist nominee and one time winner Heather O'Rourke is best known as the little girl who wonderfully played Carol Anne Freeling in the “Poltergeist’ movies. The series’ third entry, “Poltergeist III,” was released a little over four months after her untimely death in 1988. The young actress had been feeling sick, and was taken to the hospital on the morning of February 1 as her condition worsened. She was then diagnosed with intestinal stenosis. Basically, her digestive organ had narrowed and therefore couldn’t function properly. Doctors performed surgery, but O’Rourke was already in septic shock, and went into cardiopulmonary arrest. She passed away at 12 years old.

Anton Yelchin

This future star was just a baby when he moved from the Soviet Union to America in September of 1989. About twelve years later, Anton Yelchin portrayed Bobby Garfield opposite Anthony Hopkins in “Hearts in Atlantis.” He went on to have a very successful career in film and TV. In June 2016, the 27 year old wasn’t at a rehearsal as planned. So his friends decided to look for him at his home. It was there that they found Yelchin deceased, having been crushed to death by his car, pinned between a brick pillar and fence. The driverless vehicle had rolled down the steep driveway, causing the tragic accident.

Josh Ryan Evans

The recipient of two Soap Opera Digest Awards and a Daytime Emmy nomination, Josh Ryan Evans found acclaim as Timmy Lenox on “Passions,” a popular soap opera. Evans was born with a type of dwarfism and suffered from a congenital cardiac condition. He was in the hospital getting treatment for the latter in early August 2002, but he tragically died during a procedure at the age of 20. In a bizarrely tragic coincidence, the episode of “Passions” in which his character Timmy dies aired on the exact same day that Evans actually passed away.

Jonathan Brandis

Jonathan Brandis notably brought young Bill Denbrough from “It” to life. And he was also very successful outside of the miniseries. In fact, he was nominated for six Young Artist Awards throughout his career, and won one for his performance in the NBC sci-fi program “seaQuest DSV.” But his career began to slow by the late ‘90s, and he reportedly fell into a deep depression. He turned to alcohol as a result, becoming a heavy drinker. On November 11, 2003, at the age of 27, Brandis attempted to take his own life. He initially survived and was rushed to the hospital, but succumbed to his injuries the next day.

Judith Barsi

The following is a very disturbing story, so take heed. Judith Barsi was an enormously successful actress who appeared in dozens of movies and TV shows throughout the ‘80s. She was perhaps most famous for her role as Ducky in the animated classic “The Land Before Time.” But her father, József Barsi, was an alcoholic who severely mistreated his wife and daughter. It grew so bad that young Judith broke down, and protective services were called. Her mother Maria promised them that she was going to end things with József and leave with Judith. Sadly, that never happened, as József killed both Maria and Judith before taking his own life.

Corey Haim

One of the biggest stars of the 1980s, Corey Haim was a teen idol who often starred in movies alongside Corey Feldman. Unfortunately, Haim had a difficult life, being mistreated and beginning substance use at an early age. By 2001, he had reportedly been in and out of rehab 15 times. He was also broke, and developed a prescription substance use disorder. In March of 2010, Haim began suffering flu-like symptoms, and collapsed in the early morning hours of March 10. He later died at the hospital. It was ruled a natural death from pneumonia exacerbated by other factors. He was 38 years old.

River Phoenix

The eldest of the famous Phoenix family, River began acting at 10 years old. He became a household name with “Stand by Me,” released the same month that he turned 16. He won further acclaim with roles in “Running on Empty” and “My Own Private Idaho”. In the final days of his life, he embarked on a substance binge with John Frusciante of the Red Hot Chili Peppers. On the night of October 30, 1993, Phoenix was in L.A.’s famous Viper Room when he began feeling sick. He made his way outside and collapsed on the sidewalk. Although he was rushed to hospital, attempts to save him were unsuccessful.


Is there a name we forgot about? Let us know in the comments.

[a]NOTE TO VO ARTIST: Pls voice everything in blue (including the line after #1)!

[b]PET-it / pettit https://youtu.be/jcV820jr7Ac?si=0aHxNflQi6vjmS-l&t=16
[c]STOY-yur https://youtu.be/mDQkXlszGys?si=fNeEVB1icR7_vn6I
[d]TRACK-TIN-burg https://youtu.be/v11fsC-5rHA?si=Wlg_uA_y4xOIPb5o
[e]sky muh-COLE bar-TOOZY-ack https://youtu.be/94oMJIgGBdU?si=PXw_MME7PVdto-rI&t=2
[f]DRISS_cull https://youtu.be/6k2bUf5E6xU?si=yeRPEmQUc_cwGfdB
[g]ashley ASS-tin more https://youtu.be/Mgpw68axWi0?si=4nqgcwaC9hAUQelB&t=96