Uncover the Heartbreaking Stories Behind 25 Child Stars Who Vanished Too Soon

Scotty Beckett was a prolific child actor, appearing in numerous films and starring as a member of the Our Gang comedies. As an adult, his life was a tragic story of decline, marked by alcoholism, drug addiction, and multiple arrests for crimes including drunk driving and assault. In May 1968, after being severely beaten, he checked into a Los Angeles nursing home for his injuries. Two days later, he was found dead in his room with an empty bottle of pills and a suicide note, a grim end at age 38 for a man whose life had spiraled out of control after his early fame.

Jonathan Brandis was a major teen idol in the 1990s, starring in the sci-fi series seaQuest DSV and films like The NeverEnding Story II. As he transitioned into adulthood, he grew increasingly frustrated with his waning career and the difficulty of finding meaningful roles. In November 2003, friends found him after he had hanged himself in his Los Angeles apartment building. He was rushed to the hospital but died the following day, a tragic suicide at the age of 27.