10 Child Stars Whose Parents Ruined Their Lives

Top 10 Child Stars Whose Parents Ruined Their Lives

Welcome to WatchMojo, and today we’re counting down the child stars whose parents made their lives miserable, or much worse.

#10: Demi Lovato

Demi Lovato did not have much of a relationship with her late father, and it’s an issue that has stemmed from her difficult childhood. Problems began when Lovato was just a baby, with her mother, Dianna De La Garza, fleeing the romantic relationship when Lovato was just eighteen months old. Lovato later revealed much in a personal essay, saying that she held a lot of resentment towards him through much of her life. Patrick died in 2013 without a reconciliation with his daughter. However, Lovato displayed some acts of forgiveness in recent years, penning a “gratitude letter” in 2020 and naming a scholarship program in Patrick’s honor.

#9: Taylor Momsen

Taylor Momsen is a former child actor turned musician, known for playing Cindy Lou Who in “How the Grinch Stole Christmas” and Jenny Humphrey on “Gossip Girl.” She was seven years old when “The Grinch” was released but had already been working for years, having been signed to Ford Modeling when she was just two. Momsen resented her parents for this decision, telling Revolver magazine, “No 2-year-old wants to be working, but I had no choice.” She also stated “I didn't have a real life” and complained about being “in and out of school.” As a result, she never had any real friends growing up. However, Momsen later clarified that she loved her parents despite the unconventional and difficult childhood.

#8: Gary Coleman

Gary Coleman was a major attraction in the late ‘70s and ‘80s, playing Arnold Jackson on the popular sitcom “Diff’rent Strokes.” As a result of his success, Coleman became the highest paid child actor on TV, but he saw very little of this money. The sitcom ended in 1986, when Coleman was eighteen years old. Just three years later, he took both of his parents and his financial advisor to court, claiming that they had misappropriated his earnings. The judge settled in defense of Coleman and awarded him $1.3 million, the modern equivalent of $3.2 million. Unfortunately, he lost all of this money over the course of a decade owing to medical problems and some bad business decisions.

#7: Michael Jackson

When it comes to problematic parental figures, it doesn’t get more infamous than Joe Jackson. The father of pop icon Michael Jackson, and patriarch of the Jackson dynasty, was a deeply controlling manager. The truth about Jackson’s behavior began to emerge in the late ‘80s and early ‘90s, with Michael revealing uncomfortable truths in a 1993 interview with Oprah. According to him, Joe was both physically and mentally abusive, often overworking his children and whipping them with a belt as a form of punishment. Joe admitted to whipping the children, claiming that such punishment was common at the time.

#6: Shirley Temple

Some child stars break through the cute novelty to become genuine cultural figures, and Shirley Temple was undeniably one of them. Temple began acting with Educational Pictures at just four years old after she was spotted by a casting director at a dance school. Temple described her early roles as “a cynical exploitation of childish innocence” and reported instances of on-set mistreatment, like locking children in windowless sound booths. Temple retired in 1949 at the age of 21. By that time, she had earned $3.2 million - the modern equivalent of $41 million. However, she only received $44,000, as her father George had refused to put her money in a court-ordered trust and kept it for himself.

#5: Judy Garland

You may know Frances Gumm better as Judy Garland, the multitalented performer who stunned on stages, behind microphones, and in front of cameras. Garland was so renowned as a young performer that she received the Cecil B. DeMille Award for lifetime achievement at just 39. But Garland led a very troubled and tragic life. Her mother Ethel was very involved in her career and worked as her manager. In Garland’s own words, “Mother decided we had to be stars. She started to drag us to anyplace someone important might see us.” It worked, but at what cost? Garland faced insurmountable pressure in the industry and developed both mental health issues and substance use disorder. She passed away at just 47 following an overdose.

#4: Aaron Carter

The Backstreet Boys made their famous debut in 1996, with Nick Carter being one of the five famous members. The success of this band eventually helped Carter’s younger brother Aaron to enter showbiz, and he also became popular. But according to Carter, his parents often exploited him for money. Carter’s father also allegedly coerced him into signing a check by shooting a gun near his ear, causing Aaron to lose most of his hearing. Carter also claims that he received only a small portion of his earnings, and when he turned eighteen he was ordered to pay millions in taxes. Carter then suffered a very troubled and controversial adulthood before drowning at age 34.

#3: Ariel Winter

Ariel Winter became a household name playing Alex Dunphy on the wickedly popular TV comedy “Modern Family.” The series debuted in September 2009, when Winter was only eleven years old. Unfortunately, her time on the show was marred by a messy family custody battle, as her sister Shanelle fought to take custody of Winter from their mother Chrisoula. Shanelle claimed that Chrisoula was both mentally and physically abusive towards them. Shanelle eventually won the legal battle in the court system and was awarded guardianship of Ariel.

#2: Jennette McCurdy

In 2022, former Nickelodeon star Jennette McCurdy released a memoir titled “I’m Glad My Mom Died,” which should tell you all you need to know. The book received praise from critics, about its raw vulnerability and emotional power. McCurdy was candid about the physical and emotional abuse that she suffered at the hands of her mother and claims that she was under constant stress owing to her erratic behavior. McCurdy also reveals that she was financially manipulated and that she developed an eating disorder when her mother began controlling her diet.

#1: Macaulay Culkin

Macaulay Culkin was one of the most popular child actors in movie history and the first to cross the million dollar salary mark. But despite the fame and riches, Culkin’s early life was not easy. He was managed by his father Kit, who used to work on Broadway. Culkin claims that his father was jealous of his success and that he was both physically and mentally abusive towards him. Culkin also took his parents to court when he was a teenager to prevent them from managing his multi-million dollar earnings. His childhood experiences drove a permanent wedge between Culkin and his father and they have remained estranged ever since.