The Most Successful Former Child Stars
"Is Money the Only Thing That Determines Success?"
Transitioning to adulthood is a challenging process; add the fact that you're constantly in the limelight and you've created a recipe for potential disaster. The tabloids will tell you child actors are cursed: sure they're cute now, but with too much fame and fortune and too little supervision they'll quickly slide into a downward spiral of scams, drug addiction and court hearings while the general public stands by just waiting for the next train wreck to sweep the supermarket checkout line. The reality, though, is that the great majority of child actors are not disasters-in-the-making. They grow up to be healthy, contributing members of society, and would definitely be considered successful. What would you consider a successful transition into adulthood? Would it be for your young performer to continue his career in the entertainment industry? Is it measured by her notoriety or wealth? Perhaps he would take the skills learned in the business and parlay that into something else like a governmental position? Or maybe success is even simpler: a healthy young person who is equipped to face the demands of adult life. Regardless of your definition, it is clear that yesterday's young actors are truly today's superstars...and in more than one form. We're sure you know the success stories of people like Jodie Foster, the two-time Emmy Award winner who started acting in commercials at the age of two, or Academy Award-winner Natalie Portman who had her first break-out role at the age of thirteen (and both of these women are college graduates). Then there's Ron Howard who went on to become a successful director, a Neil Patrick Harris, father of two and successful television and Broadway star as well as producer and director. Hollywood has churned out many more success stories you may not have considered.
You can read about them in our article "Most Successful Former Child Actors Today." Are they truly the most successful? It depends on your own personal definition of success.
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