Former child stars whose early fame came with very public personal challenges

'Don't put kids in show business': The child stars who struggled to adjust to adulthood

Following the untimely death of Hayden Panettiere, her fellow Scream star Rose McGowan warned about the pressures of growing up in Hollywood, saying: "Don’t put kids in show business."

From early fame and global recognition to battles with mental health, addiction, legal issues and intense public scrutiny, many former child stars have faced difficult journeys away from the spotlight.

Here are 5 young performers whose childhood success came with very public personal challenges.

Lindsay Lohan

Lindsay Lohan became a household name as a child after starring in The Parent Trap before becoming one of cinema's biggest names with films including Freaky Friday and Mean Girls.

As a young adult, Lohan faced intense media scrutiny, multiple legal issues including DUI arrests, and struggles with substance abuse.

She later stepped away from Hollywood for periods of time, rebuilt her career and returned to acting with projects including Falling for Christmas and Freakier Friday.

Macaulay Culkin

Macaulay Culkin became one of the most famous children in the world after starring as Kevin McCallister in classic Christmas movie Home Alone and its sequel.

After becoming a millionaire before his teenage years, Culkin stepped away from acting at the age of 14 and became the subject of intense public interest.

He later spoke openly about his difficult relationship with fame, family pressures over his wealth and his decision to take control of his own life away from Hollywood.

Amanda Bynes

Amanda Bynes rose to fame as a child performer on All That before leading her own Nickelodeon series The Amanda Show.

As an adult, Bynes faced legal problems, including arrests and driving-related incidents, before publicly discussing her mental health struggles.

Her parents managed her personal and financial affairs when she was placed under a legal conservatorship from 2013 to 2022.

Shia LaBeouf

Shia LaBeouf became famous as a teenager starring in Disney Channel series Even Stevens before moving into blockbuster films, notably starring in the Transformers franchise.

In adulthood, LaBeouf faced several controversies – including numerous arrests and accusations of physical, mental and emotional abuse from his former partner FKA Twigs that were settled in a lawsuit last year.

Edward Furlong

Edward Furlong became a star at just 13 years old when he played the role of John Connor in the movie Terminator 2: Judgment Day.

Despite early success, Furlong later struggled with substance abuse and legal issues, including arrests connected to domestic violence allegations.

He has since worked towards getting clean and revealed in 2022 that he had been sober for the past four years.