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  3. These Child Stars Died Way Too Young

These Child Stars Died Way Too Young

Allvipp Newsroom / April 13, 2025 - 01:00 pm

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Pinterest Jonathan Brandis Died Too Young
(© IMAGO/ZUMA Wire)

Jonathan Brandis

Jonathan Brandis became famous as a child when he starred in the 1990 miniseries Stephen King's It. He went on to star in the NBC show SeaQuest DSV, and other small rolls like Full House, Who's the Boss?, and Saved By The Bell, but when the roles did not keep coming his way, he fell into a severe depression. His friends reported that Jonathan was severely disappointed that his role in the war film Hart's War was significantly cut from the final edit, as he had hoped it would jump-start his career. He hung himself in November of 2003 - the actor was only 27 years old...

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Pinterest Stand By Me Movie Cast Now: Actor River Phoenix Chris today now age 2020 2021 death
(© imago images / Mary Evans)

River Phoenix

Perfectly handsome River Phoenix was one of THE up and coming Hollywood actors of his generation when he died in 1993. The 23-year-old Stand By Me actor overdosed on heroin and cocaine right outside of the "Viper Room", a club owned by fellow actor Johnny Depp. The recording of his brother Joaquin's 911 call was heard all over the planet back then... Rest in peace, River.

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Pinterest Poltergeist actress Heather O'Rourke died at age 12 (1975-1988).
(© imago images / ZUMA Wire)

Heather O'Rourke

The set of Poltergeist was said to have been cursed after countless terrifying close calls took place. A couple of years after the movie Poltergeist came out, Heather O'Rourke passed away, surely way too early at 12 years old. The girl who had been discovered by director Steven Spielberg and starred in Happy Days died after being rushed into emergency surgery to repair an acute bowel obstruction...

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Pinterest 'Jaws: The Revenge' (USA 1987).
(© imago images / Mary Evans)

Judith Barsi

Judith Barsi was an incredible talent whose death was a huge loss for Hollywood and the countless lives she touched. She had begun acting at age 3 and impressed everyone she worked with on films like Punky Brewster, Jaws: The Revenge, and Growing Pains. Hollywood director Don Bluth had been ecstatic to have Judith do voice acting for All Dogs Go To Heaven and in The Land Before Time as lovable "Ducky." He said he had planned to use her extensively in his future projects because she was "absolutely astonishing. She understood verbal direction, even for the most sophisticated situations." 

Devastatingly, Judith and her mother were callously murdered by Judtith's emotionally destructive and alcoholic father on July 28th, 1988. Judith was only 10 years old.

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Pinterest Club 27: These Stars Died At Age 27 Anton Yelchin actors musicians artists list 2021
(© Getty Images)

Anton Yelchin

The Star Trek and Charlie Bartlett actor died in 2016 in what can only be described as a freak accident: He'd gotten out of his car in his steep driveway outside his home in California and when it rolled backward and trapped him against a pillar and a security fence...The actor, only 27 years old, was honored posthumously when the third installment of the Star Trek franchise was dedicated to his memory.

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Pinterest 'POLTERGEIST' cast: Dominique Dunne, Craig T. Nelson, Oliver Robins, JoBeth Williams, and Heather O Rourke, 1982.
(© imago images / Everett Collection)

Dominique Dunne

Dominique Dunne was another rising star taken too soon. She was also in the hit film Poltergeist. She was landing starring roles in films like Diary of a Teenage Hitchhiker and CHiPs and was rehearsing for the miniseries V with a co-star when her abusive ex-boyfriend John Sweeny tricked her into exiting her home and strangling her to death. Tragically, due to poor handling of the trial by the presiding judge who was ranked Los Angeles' 4th worst judge, Sweeny was sentenced 6 years for her murder and only served 3 years prison time.

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Pinterest Sawyer and Sullivan Sweeten in 2004
(© Getty Images)

Sawyer and Sullivan Sweeten

Before they were a year old, the adorable twin's Sawyer (L) and Sullivan (R) Sweeten started appearing on TV as the children of Ray Romano on his sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond, which aired from 1996 until 2005. Apparently, Sawyer became depressed after the run of the show had ended, like so many other child stars. Tragically, Sawyer shot himself at the age of 19...

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Pinterest Corey Haim in 'License To Drive' 1987.
(© imago images / Mary Evans)

Corey Haim

Corey Haim was a treasured 80's star and one half of the world-dominating acting duo "The Two Corey's" with Corey Feldman. He starred in hits like License to Drive, Dream a Little Dream, and The Lost Boys. 

His death is a story all too familiar in Hollywood, Corey passed away on March 10th, 2010 from pneumonia after a long battle with addiction. 

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Pinterest Brad Renfro at the The Jacket Los Angles Premiere , Pacific ArcLight Theaters, Hollywood, CA 02-28-05 , 11068592.jpg, ta
(© IMAGO/YAY Images)

Brad Renfro

In 1994, he starred alongside Tommy Lee Jones and Susan Sarandon in the adaptation of John Grisham's The Client when he was just 11 years old. As a teen, he started taking drugs and like many child stars before him, died at the age of 25 from a heroin overdose.

They had their whole lives and careers ahead of them: these up-and-coming actors were taken from us way too early. 

From River Phoenix to Corey Haim, these celebrity deaths shocked the world. They were incredible performers, but for many, the fame and spotlight was too much for them...

These Child Stars Died Too Young

In our gallery, we have a look at the child stars who are no longer with us...rest in peace, all.

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