# Child Actors that didn't crash and burn **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 15, 2013, 12:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-that-didnt-crash-and-burn/652964 "2013-03-15T00:52:47Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 12
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2026, 5:29pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-that-didnt-crash-and-burn/652964/221 "2026-07-01T17:29:42Z")
Robert Blake had a successful career after the “Our Gang” movies of his childhood. Darla Hood was another “Our Gang” cast member, who did fine for herself as a nightclub singer. ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2026, 5:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-that-didnt-crash-and-burn/652964/222 "2026-07-01T17:34:13Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Robert Blake had a successful career after the “Our Gang” movies of his childhood. One could argue he eventually crashed and burned in the public eye, just kinda post-career. ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2026, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-that-didnt-crash-and-burn/652964/223 "2026-07-01T20:23:48Z")
> [@Kent\_Clark](#): > > I can think of a couple of members of the original Mickey Mouse Club (1955 era) who had problems later on, but most of them, especially Annette, Bobby, Tommy and Cubby went on to be productive and relatively unscrewedup. Doreen went on to pose nude for a men’s magazine (_ **Genesis** _?) back in the '70s. She was … memorable! ---
**Author:** ![terentii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/terentii/32/212_2.png) [@terentii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/terentii)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2026, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-that-didnt-crash-and-burn/652964/224 "2026-07-01T20:32:13Z")
I don’t think Jackie Cooper has been mentioned yet. He was the youngest Best Actor Oscar nominee at age nine for _Skippy_ (1931). _A former **Our Gang** star, he successfully transitioned to adult roles, starred in TV hits like **The People’s Choice** and **Hennesey** , twice won Emmys for directing, and played Perry White in the 1978–87 **Superman** films. He also served with distinction as a U.S. Navy officer, retiring as a captain._ Be that as it may, I’ll always think of him as the Candidate for California Senator who murdered his campaign director in an episode of _ **Columbo** _. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2026, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-that-didnt-crash-and-burn/652964/225 "2026-07-01T20:38:10Z")
Well, yeah, but prior to that he had a movie and TV career up until 1997. That’s a pretty good run. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2026, 8:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-that-didnt-crash-and-burn/652964/226 "2026-07-01T20:59:27Z")
You’ll note I didn’t mention Doreen. And yes, I saw that pictorial. It was in _Gallery_. If she hadn’t worn her mouse ears the whole thing would have blown over. ---
**Author:** ![digs](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/digs/32/14889_2.png) [@digs](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/digs)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2026, 10:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-that-didnt-crash-and-burn/652964/227 "2026-07-01T22:56:34Z")
> [@TreacherousCretin](#): > > **Ken Osmond** also did well after _LITBeaver_. And grew up to be Alice Cooper, despite dying in Vietnam! Sidenote: Now I want to see the show Lit Beaver! ---
**Author:** ![nearwildheaven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/90db22/32.png) [@nearwildheaven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nearwildheaven)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2026, 11:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-that-didnt-crash-and-burn/652964/228 "2026-07-01T23:11:57Z")
He married well, at least as of 2002. ---
**Author:** ![Newtosite](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/newtosite/32/8623_2.png) [@Newtosite](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Newtosite)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2026, 11:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-that-didnt-crash-and-burn/652964/229 "2026-07-01T23:39:05Z")
Yes. So the joke is that because she played twins, she was bipolar in real life? ---
**Author:** ![kaylasdad99](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kaylasdad99/32/3398_2.png) [@kaylasdad99](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/kaylasdad99)\ **Post date:** [July 1, 2026, 11:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-that-didnt-crash-and-burn/652964/230 "2026-07-01T23:49:56Z")
Nobody said it was a _good_ joke. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2026, 7:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-that-didnt-crash-and-burn/652964/231 "2026-07-02T07:13:54Z")
The four stars of Bugsy Malone Fat Sam (John Cassisi). Not really an actor, played himself, went on to play himself in real life. Bugsy Malone (Scott Baio). Not really an actor, played himself, when on to fame successfully playing himself as Chachi. Blousey Brown (Florrie Dugger). Played a character not really herself, didn’t like doing so, and went on to an ordinary life being herself instead of acting like someone else. Tallulah (Jodie Foster). Actress. Good Actress. Went on to continue being a successful actress. [Bugsy Malone After They Were Famous - Part 1 - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bNSj_G71aVk) ---
**Author:** ![Tamerlane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/tamerlane/32/7602_2.png) [@Tamerlane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Tamerlane)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2026, 7:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-that-didnt-crash-and-burn/652964/232 "2026-07-02T07:25:10Z")
> [@Melbourne](#): > > Fat Sam (John Cassisi). Not really an actor, played himself, went on to play himself in real life. Another one that [crashed and burned later in life](https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/former-citigroup-exec-gets-2-years-prison-taking-bribes-n472526), albeit not in the typical child star pattern. ---
**Author:** ![Melbourne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/b5e925/32.png) [@Melbourne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Melbourne)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2026, 10:24am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-that-didnt-crash-and-burn/652964/233 "2026-07-02T10:24:03Z")
… I just take that as normal career progression. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [July 2, 2026, 12:03pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-that-didnt-crash-and-burn/652964/234 "2026-07-02T12:03:32Z")
> [@Chefguy](#): > > Well, yeah, but prior to that he had a movie and TV career up until 1997. That’s a pretty good run. He had the reputation of being strange and difficult as an adult. ---
**Author:** ![Robot\_Arm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/robot_arm/32/18280_2.png) [@Robot\_Arm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Robot_Arm)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2026, 4:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-that-didnt-crash-and-burn/652964/235 "2026-08-06T04:10:05Z")
**Danielle Brisebois** played Edith’s young cousin, Stephanie, on the last season of _All in the Family_. She became a singer and songwriter after retiring from acting, and was nominated for an Academy Award in 2015 for Best Original Song. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 6, 2026, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-that-didnt-crash-and-burn/652964/236 "2026-08-06T18:07:22Z")
Dean Stockwell. Busy as a child actor in the 40s. Walked away for about six years (he didn’t like acting as a kid) in the early 50s,then returned in 1956. Dropped out again for a couple of years, then worked regularly through 2014. ---
**Author:** ![Loach](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/loach/32/350_2.png) [@Loach](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Loach)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2026, 1:04am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-that-didnt-crash-and-burn/652964/237 "2026-08-07T01:04:24Z")
> [@Robot\_Arm](#): > > **Danielle Brisebois** played Edith’s young cousin, Stephanie, on the last season of _All in the Family_. She became a singer and songwriter after retiring from acting, and was nominated for an Academy Award in 2015 for Best Original Song. And she’s half of New Radicals. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/DL7-CKirWZE/maxresdefault.jpg "New Radicals - You Get What You Give (Official Music Video)") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DL7-CKirWZE) ---
**Author:** ![fedman1](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/e495f1/32.png) [@fedman1](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/fedman1)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2026, 2:10am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-that-didnt-crash-and-burn/652964/238 "2026-08-07T02:10:53Z")
Elizabeth Taylor was **12 years old** while filming the 1944 classic movie _**[National Velvet](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/National_Velvet_(film))**_, turning 13 shortly after production ---
**Author:** ![Disinfectus](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/disinfectus/32/11085_2.png) [@Disinfectus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Disinfectus)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2026, 2:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-that-didnt-crash-and-burn/652964/239 "2026-08-07T02:52:49Z")
> [@Loach](#): > > And she’s half of New Radicals. I always thought that was a great song, and was really surprised when I learned of her involvement. ---
**Author:** ![F.U.Shakespeare](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/aca169/32.png) [@F.U.Shakespeare](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/F.U.Shakespeare)\ **Post date:** [August 7, 2026, 3:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-that-didnt-crash-and-burn/652964/240 "2026-08-07T03:17:33Z")
I too always loved that song, and did not know the connection until now. Another child actor I posted about recently who’s doing well: Pamelyn Ferdin. [Pamelyn Ferdin, a Great ‘Cutie’ - Cafe Society - Straight Dope Message Board](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/pamelyn-ferdin-a-great-cutie/1027779) [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-that-didnt-crash-and-burn/652964.md?page=11) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/child-actors-that-didnt-crash-and-burn/652964.md?page=13)