Remember back in the day when you saw your favorite stars be adorable and talented on your television sets or on the big screen? These actors seemed so innocent when they were young. Their talent shined everywhere and made us feel good. We even thought they would be able to break through the child star curse.

However, these days, it almost seems impossible for these former young actors to not get bit by the child star bug. There are very few of these celebrities that make it out in this crazy business like saints. Can you blame them? We can’t imagine how much pressure are on these stars before they’re even eighteen.

It also doesn’t come to a surprise on how dangerous it might be to have all that fame and fortune at such a young age. Hollywood entices this poor naïve group with drugs and alcohol. Not to mention, their self-esteem is at such a vulnerable stage while billions of people are reading about them in the tabloids. It’s almost unavoidable for something to go wrong.

While these terrible phases come and go as these stars grow up, take a look at these 15 former child stars still stuck in the deep end:

15 Dustin Diamond

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You probably remember watching Screech as the loveable and goofy dork from Saved By The Bell. After playing the nerdy character for thirteen years on four Saved By The Bell series', Diamond couldn’t escape his child stardom after cameo appearances and stand-up comedy. Even in 2006, he directed and released his own adult film called, Screeched – Saved By The Smell. But, according to an interview with the Oprah Winfrey Network, he actually had a stunt double.

Zoinks, someone can’t let go of being Screech. Years later, Diamond has surfaced the news after being charged for stabbing a man on Christmas Day 2014. NBC news stated last June that the former child star has been sentenced to four months in jail for the barroom stabbing.

14 Lindsay Lohan

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Poor Lindsay Lohan has sadly become the poster child of young actors gone bad. We loved her in classic movies like The Parent Trap and Freaky Friday. Now, she’s become the butt of major jokes when anyone mentions any former child star.

Her downfall began back in 2007, when the then 21-year-old went to rehab for the second time that year after being arrested for driving under the influence. For the next eight years, Lohan has been on a rollercoaster with multiple visits to rehab facilities and has appeared at least 20 times in court. She even spent a short stint in jail sometime in 2012.

The worst part is that Lohan had attempted many times to pick up her acting career with mediocre movies such as Machete and Liz & Duck. However, critics have not been impressed with her recent performances. Maybe it’s best to take a break from acting and see Lohan improve her health first. Back in May, she finished her community hours for her 2012 reckless driving case and currently, she’s probation free for the first time in 8 years.

13 Jake Lloyd

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Jake Lloyd is a name we haven’t heard in Hollywood since the 90s. George Lucas chose the child actor to play a young Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars Episode I: The Phantom Menace. Only eight years old at the time, Lloyd was hit with worldwide fame. His life became insanely busy. After going through the stress of endless interviews and constant bullying at school, Lloyd ended his acting career in 2001.

According to Daily Mail, the former child star has admitted how the Star Wars fame turned his life “into a living hell.” He destroyed all of his Star Wars memorabilia and refuses to watch the film that made him famous. We feel bad for these child actors who deal with so much pressure. This year, Lloyd was arrested for speeding and evading police. In attempt to use a name for Jake Broadbent with the police, the Stars Wars star was still recognized and his story floated around the Internet. Some stars unfortunately will never escape their child stardom!

12 Amanda Bynes

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As a child, Amanda Bynes quickly rose to fame with Nickelodeon shows like All That and The Amanda Show. The aughts wouldn’t have been amazing if it wasn’t for her. She brought us great movies from Big Fat Liar to She’s The Man and even starred in the TV series What I Like About You with Jennie Garth. Around 2010, fans were disappointed to hear that she was taking a break from acting, but still hoped the best for her.

We actually thought Bynes would make it out of the film industry normal until 2012. Amanda Bynes was back in the news after being pulled over and ticketed for talking on a cell phone. That’s when the downward spiral began that baffled many of her fans. She got charged for a DUI in 2012, arrested for criminal possession of marijuana in 2013, and then expelled from the Fashion Institute of Design & Merchandising in 2014. Bynes has undergone a few psychiatric evaluations as well. In late 2014, she was placed on psychiatric hold until her mother received conservatorship a few weeks later. Hopefully, 2015 will be the year for Amanda Bynes acting normal again!

11 Shia LaBeouf

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Shia LaBeouf first won our hearts when he starred as the goofy younger brother, Louis Stevens. on the classic Disney Channel show, Even Stevens. When his Even Stevens fame earned him a Daytime Emmy Award, LaBeouf continued acting with big hits like Transformers and Indiana Jones.

However, even if LaBeouf’s acting career remains stable, the former child actor has faced lots of controversy over his bizarre behavior. Back in 2005, the then 19-year-old threatened a neighbor with a knife after the neighbor allegedly insulted his mother. He has done it all from spilling about his on-set romances to plagiarizing comic book writer Daniel Clowes. Our favorite act will always be in 2014 when he wore a paper bag over his head on the red carpet at the Berlin Film Festival with eye-holes and the words, “I am not famous anymore.”

Recently, the young man has become a YouTube viral sensation after freestyle rapping and then accused of plagiarism again from the Anomalies.

10 Miley Cyrus

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We are all aware of how Miley Cyrus managed to completely erase her Hannah Montana persona. Parents started to question her behavior in 2009, when the former Disney star sang her hit, Party In The USA, during the Teen Choice Awards. What once was a rather innocent song turned controversial as soon as she danced beside a pole on top of a makeshift ice cream truck.

Since then, Cyrus has had no problem shocking the world with her latest actions. From twerking with Robin Thicke to acting rather provocative in her recent music videos, we’re waiting to see what the 22-year-old will be like when she finally matures. Right now, she’s just being Miley!

9 Darius McCrary

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This former Family Matters star is known for playing Eddie Winslow, opposite of Jaleel White’s Steve Urkel. Throughout the years, McCrary has dipped his acting hands in a variety of roles including his first big role in comedy adventure film, Big Shots, and as a photographer in the soap opera, The Young and the Restless. His most recent acting stint was playing a recurring character in Charlie Sheen’s Anger Management.

We never thought we would hear any negative news about this former star until his name popped up last March. In Michigan, McCrary was arrested for failing to pay child support. According to People, he paid $5,500 in back support to avoid jail time and immediately jumped on social media to reassure fans that he really loves his son.

8 Mary-Kate and Ashley Olsen

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The Olsen twins started their acting career at the age of nine months when they both played Michelle Tanner on the family sitcom, Full House. It didn’t take long for the twins to win America over with the famous catchphrase, “You got it, dude!” Even after the show ended, the twins built their movie franchise and became the youngest self-made millionaires before they were 10 years old.

While the Olsen twins still remain successful as fashion designers, they have floated in the news recently with controversy over the new Netflix reboot, Fuller House. They seem to even be in a feud against John Stamos as well, as he admitted that he even tried to get the twins fired on Full House back when it first started. Sadly, there has been confirmation that the youngest sassy Tanner sister will not be seen on the new show. Oh, nuts! We still hope the Olsen twins will change their mind and reprise their role as Michelle Tanner (even for a very short appearance) on Fuller House.

7 Edward Furlong

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Edward Furlong did pretty good for his first film role as a young John Connor in Terminator 2: Judgment Day. He won both a Saturn Award and a MTV Movie Award for that role and he was only thirteen too! From there, Furlong continued acting in various films and even was featured in an Aerosmith music video in 1993.

However, throughout the 2000s and 2010s, Furlong has faced many legal troubles arrested many times for substance and domestic abuse. As TMZ stated, the actor has even admitted he is broke between paying child support, his layers and publicist. Sadly, we haven’t seen him in a theatrically released film in about ten years. Maybe one day he’ll be able to turn his film career around once again like he did back in 1998, beside Edward Norton in American History X.

6 Ariana Grande

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We remember watching this Nickelodeon star not too long ago on Victorious and Sam & Cat. She was only sixteen when she slowly gained her fame. Her music career then began with the soundtrack, Music From Victorious, in 2011. After signing a record with Republic Records, Grande has exploded on the scene as a grande American pop star.

With hits like Bang Bang and Problem, we can’t help to notice how Grande’s diva personality has caused quite the news buzz. Her most recent controversy was reported on TMZ when she appeared to be licking donuts for sale in a shop and then said, “I hate America.” Even after she apologized on social media for her actions, many people are getting tired of this pint-size girl’s diva attitude.

5 Orlando Brown

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We all got to know the hilarious Orlando Brown when he played Eddie Thomas on That’s So Raven. Its been a while since we've seen this former child star on the Disney Channel or let alone, his nonexistent music career.

While he continues to make rare appearances on TV shows and movies, Brown has only caught attention from the media when it comes to disobeying the law. Since 2007, he has been arrested for marijuana possession and for a DUI while driving with his pregnant girlfriend. In 2012, he was also arrested twice for failing to show up to his court appearance. Last year, his latest trouble with the law occurred when he was arrested for disturbing the peace and public intoxication. When will Disney Channel stars ever escape the woes of the child stardom curse?

4 Maia Campbell

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Here’s a child star that is best known for working alongside LL Cool J on the sitcom, In The House. While Campbell’s character seemed all together on the show, the young actress faced her own trouble with bipolar disorder. The show’s end led to her life spiraling down to drug addiction and multiple arrests. In 2012, Campbell admitted in an episode of Fix My Life series of her shame on the way she behaved and changed her ways by being two years sober.

Sadly, when we fast-forward to 2015, it seems like the former teen star has returned to her old ways. According to TMZ, Campbell was arrested for a causing a drunken scene at a Waffle House. If you think that’s bad, this is the second time she has been busted at a restaurant after using rather foul language in a Burger King earlier this year.

3 Justin Bieber

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We all remember how Justin Bieber was recognized when he first posted cover songs under the YouTube username, kidrauhl. It wasn’t long for the thirteen-year-old to be discovered in the music industry and become the next pop sensation. Girls all over the world went crazy for the singer who brought big hits like Baby and Boyfriend.

But, Bieber has caused much controversy when he was arrested in 2014 for suspicion of driving under the influence. 2014 wasn’t a great year for the Bieber. He admitted to authorities for consuming alcohol, smoking marijuana and taking prescription drugs (keep in mind – he was only 20 years old at the time). It wasn’t until his deposition was shared by TMZ that made many people upset and annoyed by the young star giving quite the attitude to authorities. Hopefully, the remainder of 2015 can help bring Biebs around again.

2 Taylor Momsen

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Taylor Momsen almost stole the show with her adorable portrayal of Cindy Lou Who in Dr Seuss’ How The Grinch Stole Christmas. Many fans will definitely remember her the most as Jenny Humphrey in the hit teen drama series, Gossip Girl. Momsen then decided to quit acting completely to focus on her rock band, The Pretty Reckless.

She might not have fallen in the deep end like other former child stars, however as a 22-year-old lady, many individuals find Momsen as a provocative hard rocker. Even if Momsen thinks she not close to being a wild child, there are many instances that caused some trouble from being fully naked on her band’s Going To Hell album cover and then making jokes on how Marilyn Mason told her to “worship satan” (according to her interview with Kerrang! magazine). It seems like she won’t change her mischief ways anytime soon, but we’re all waiting for the day she takes a break from wearing that really dark makeup.

1 Jeremy Jackson

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If you were a fan of the 90s hit TV show, Baywatch, then you literally watched Hobie Buchannon grow up on the famous action drama series. Jackson admitted to having a drug problem that ultimately led him to make the decision to leave Baywatch.

After being arrested for a methamphetamine raid, the former Baywatch actor spent a long time in rehab and later admitted he’s been clean since 2000. We thought everything was smooth sailing for Jeremy Jackson until a recent incident with the cops this year.

A few months ago, according to TMZ, Jackson was arrested for allegedly robbing an Airbnb and then recognized for stabbing a man the day before. If you think that’s crazy, the only reason why Jackson stabbed the guy was because he says that the man robbed him of $2,300. And he thought it was best to do the same by robbing him as well with some old fashioned breaking and entering. We can’t help but find this whole story very fishy.

Sources: usatoday.combusinessinsider.com

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