12 Child Stars Who Committed Suicide

While some child actors make the transition from child stars to healthy adults with good careers, whether or not in the acting industry, others struggle to lead a life that gives them happiness, and sadly, they make the choice to end their own lives. Here's a look at twelve highly successful child stars who tragically made the choice to commit suicide.

1. Jonathan Brandis

Beginning with a modeling career at the age of two, Jonathan Brandis then moved on to appearing in commercials until he landed his role of Kevin Buchanan on the TV soap opera One Life to Live at six years old.

From there, he had many guest appearances on a variety of TV series, including Full House and The Wonder Years, before being cast as Lucas Wolenczak in SeaQuest DSV/2032.

Although he found additional roles once the series ended, it was nothing like the fame he experienced on Seaquest. Depressed, Brandis turned to drugs and alcohol before hanging himself at the age of 27.

2. Matthew Mindler

Known for his role as River in My Idiot Brother, Matthew Mindler had a few other acting jobs before going off to Millersville University in Pennsylvania for his freshman year of college.

Nineteen-year-old Mindler was initially reported as missing when he didn't return to his dorm. A search began, and his body was found a few days later, not far from campus.

Mindler had taken his own life by ingesting sodium nitrate, which he bought for $15 off of Amazon. He had previously suffered from anxiety.

3. John Paul Steuer

Although he spent three years on the TV series Grace Under Fire portraying Quentin Kelly, Star Trek fans will always remember John Paul Steuer for his role as Worf's son on Star Trek: The Next Generation.

After leaving the acting industry at 12 years of age, Steuer went on to be a musician and a restaurateur. At the time of his death, he was a member of the band P.R.O.B.L.E.M.S. Thirty-three-year-old Steuer's death was ruled a suicide by a self-inflicted gunshot to the head.

4. Scotty Beckett

One of the youngest child stars ever, Scotty Beckett, captured everyone's hearts with his adorable looks and his roles in the Our Gang series back in the 1930s. His career continued, being cast in many major motion pictures, including The Charge of the Light Brigade, Marie Antoinette, and Ali Baba and the 40 Thieves.

He began having problems with the law when he was 19, which resulted in multiple arrests. After two failed suicide attempts, he successfully ended his life at the age of 38 with a drug overdose.

5. Lee Thompson Young

After portraying Martin Luther King in A Night of Stars and Dreams for a community theater, 10-year-old Lee Thompson Young knew what he wanted to do with his life. After more theater appearances, he got an agent and moved to New York.

He landed the lead role in Disney Channel's The Famous Jett Jackson. From there, he went on to act in numerous movies and TV shows, including Scrubs, Smallville, and Friday Night Lights.

In his late teens, Young was diagnosed with bipolar disorder in addition to suffering from depression. Young took his own life at age 29 with a gunshot to the head.

6. Chet Allen

With an absolutely incredible singing voice, Chet Allen starred as Amahl in Gian Carlo Menotti's opera Amahl and the Night Visitors, which aired on TV for the first time in 1951. He appeared in the 1952 film Meet Me at the Fair, starring Dan Dailey and Diana Lynn.

Once his voice changed, so did his life. His mental health deteriorated, and he was in and out of mental hospitals for years. At the age of 45, Allen ended his life by taking five times the fatal dosage of his anti-depressants.

7. Dana Plato

Dana Plato had several acting credits under her belt before landing the role of Kimberly Drummond on the highly successful TV series Diff'rent Strokes. It was during her time on the show that she began to use drugs.

Her time on the show was cut short when she found out she was pregnant. Unsuccessful in continuing her career, life continued on a downward spiral with her mother's passing, a divorce, and loss of custody of her son. After problems with the law, Plato ended her life with a drug overdose at 34 years of age.

8. Trent Lehman

Starring in the TV sitcom Nanny and the Professor, Trent Lehman was eight years old when he played the part of Butch in the series. Also appearing in The Christine Jorgensen Story, Lehman became despondent when he was 20 years old after being a victim of a burglary and ending a long-time relationship. He ended his life by hanging himself.

9. Sawyer Sweeten

Twins Sawyer and Sullivan Sweeten were mere babies when they were cast as Geoffrey and Michael Barone on the long-running TV series Everybody Loves Raymond. The show ran from 1996 to 2005, and viewers got to watch the twins grow up in front of their eyes.

When the series ended, their parents decided to give acting a break and let their kids lead normal lives. This didn't sit well with Sawyer, who became depressed and introverted. Shortly before his 20th birthday, Sawyer took his own life with a self-inflicted gunshot.

10. Andrew Koenig

Viewers of the TV series Growing Pains were always guaranteed a laugh when Mike Seaver's friend "Boner" showed up. Portrayed by Andrew Koenig (son of Star Trek's Walter Koenig,) had a great comedy instinct about him.

Although best known for his role in Growing Pains, Koenig appeared in numerous movies and TV shows, including G. I. Joe and InAlienable. In his adult years, he suffered from depression, but stopped taking his medication a year before he ended his own life at 41 years old by hanging from a tree.

11. Rusty Hamer

After appearing in several Abbott and Costello movies, 6-year-old Rusty Hamer landed the role of Danny Thomas's son on the TV series Make Room for Daddy (later titled The Danny Thomas Show.)

The show ran for 11 seasons, and a spin-off series, Make Room for Granddaddy, had Hamer return to reprise his role. This would be the end of his acting career. He became depressed and didn't cope well with the transition into a normal lifestyle, turning to alcohol. Living a life of poverty, his depression deepened, and he shot himself at 42 years of age.

12. Houston Tumlin

Although he only had one acting credit to his name, Houston Tumlin made a big impression when he played Will Ferrell's oldest son in Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby.

As an adult, he joined the army and served with pride, being awarded the Army Achievement Medal as well as the Army Commendation Medal. Upon returning home from the service, he suffered from mood swings and depression along with PTSD. At 28 years of age, Tumlin decided to end his life by shooting a bullet into his head.

Sadly, due to various reasons, child stars have opted to end their lives. Hollywood and fans mourn them as tragedies that never should have happened.