RSS
Home
When good actors go
Print
Email
RSS
Subscribe
Photo: A&M Films
An actor's career is like an earthquake, the ground is always shaking, and at any moment their respective career could split apart. Actors come and go filtering in young, either aging like wine or having careers that turn to vinegar. It is clear why an actor my disappear if their careers were built on bad films or typecasting, but some actors seem to disappear from sight when they had real talent with an immense amount of potential. While many things factor into any actor's career: personal decisions, professional ones, extracurricular activities sometimes legal but often not. Acting is an art, but many actors lose sight of their profession and then lose their careers, the toughest sight is when good actors seem to go without any warning.
In the eighties an infamous group of young actors were dubbed "the brat pack." The standouts of the group were the individuals who were cast in director John Hughes classic teen angst story, The Breakfast Club (Emilio Estevez, Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy, Anthony Michael Hall, and Judd Nelson), though a few other members were left out of the film, coincidentally or ironically, depending on the definition, they went on to have sustained careers (Rob Lowe, Demi Moore). Still, The Breakfast Club teens had their fame and then basically disappeared. Estevez had minor success inThe Mighty Ducks, a children's movie that made quacking a classroom phenomenon, but it was not until recently that some of the members have resurfaced. Ringwald is just now coming back with a series on ABC family, and Michael Hall has had minor success with his television show, The Dead Zone as well as supporting roles in big films, The Dark Knight. Why such the long wait? It seems stars of the brat pack caliber had to age, live out their previous status in order to reinvent themselves, unless they take it upon themselves to do the reinventing. Estevez did comeback as well with his underwhelming film Bobby, but that was over-praised and poorly conceived. Nelson has had numerous, forgettable roles, but many were attempts at reinventing an image, such as playing a serial killer in Cabin by the Lake. Still, when actors make such an impact early on they essentially peak, and it is hard to step out of a shadow that seems to loom without ever letting go.
Moving to a more recent past, actor Macualay Culkin was a massive child star with one obvious strength, acting talent. Culkin seemed to disappear in his teens, and only resurfaced to marry at a young age, and do an amazing job acting in the film Saved. Though, Culkin's fall from stardom is partially not his fault. Culkin's parents become enthralled with his career, mainly the monetary gain, and Culkin soon became and exploitation, which is unfortunate because he is gifted. The Culkin family must have a well in their backyard with some kind of special water because the entire family is filled with gifted actors, Kieran, Rory, Christian, the family is like the Von Trapp's except their home life is probably a touch less musical. Culkin's former costar, Elijah Wood (The Good Son) began his career as a child, but unlike Culkin, Wood has been able to crossover into adult stardom. With a little help from director Peter Jackson, some actual talent, and a legion of fans only equatable to that of Star Wars, Wood has been able to sustain a career, and develop into a better actor then when he started, fulfilling his potential.
So many young stars struggle with the baggage that comes with fame, and then they either disappear or end up on a reality show. Corey Feldman and Corey Haim were once considered true talents, The Lost Boys was great, but now they are both jokes. Feldman can be seen ranting on any given celebrity exploitation along side Todd Bridges and Charro. Haim is still battling drugs and alcohol. The same is true for so many, the spotlight casts such a glare that it turns many into vampires of sorts, only coming out at night while the life is sucked from them, Lindsay Lohan.
Fame can be tough, but it is a perk to be famous. Actors need the ability to sustain a career, but talent is not enough it also takes a strong will and sensibility. While many will fade or disappear, the best hopefully will overcome the strain of public eye. In the end, if actors can't act they should not be famous, but if they have the talent, the work should come first, and the perks need to be considered secondary to making substantial films.
To learn more about child stars log on to: members.tripod.com/~former_child_star/
Related Articles:
Comments
