Discuss: Which dead celebrities do you miss? Child actors who died young include some of the most recognizable names in Hollywood, as well as some who starred on stage and screen many decades ago. All of the actors and actresses listed here were in the business as kids, and sadly, all passed away way too early in their lives. Their causes of death vary from health-related problems, from suicide to accidents, but every child actor listed here was taken from this Earth way too soon.
The untimely death of a star is always a tragedy, and when it comes to child actors who died at a young age, it's especially tragic. This list is, unfortunately, proof positive that no matter how famous you are, you are not immune from pain and sadness in life. The names here on this list are among the most famous people who died young.
Some of the child actors listed here died very young, like 'Poltergeist' star Heather O'Rourke, who passed away in 1988 at the age of 12 during surgery to repair an acute bowel obstruction. Other stars, like River Phoenix, died in their early 20s (in Phoenix's case, he died of drug-induced heart failure). Sometimes drug abuse was involved, sometimes not. Actor Brad Renfro battled addiction demons in the last years of his life. After starring in 'The Client' as a young teen, Renfro died of a heroin overdose in 2008.
Child actors who committed suicide are also included on this list. In August of 2013, for example, former Disney star Lee Thompson Young, who apppeared on the show 'Famous Jett Jackson' and had a part in the TV crime drama 'Rizzoli & Isles,' took his own life at the age of 29. In November of 2003, 'seaQuest DSV' star Jonathan Brandis committed suicide at the age of 27.
If you're looking for more information about famous celebrities who died young, check out these lists of members of the '27 club' (who died at age 27) and the most depressing celebrity trainwrecks of all time.
http://www.ranker.com/list/30-child-actors-who-died-young/celebrity-lists,
Anissa Jones
'Family Affair' star died in 1976 at age 18. After finally receiving her share of royalties from 'Family Affair', Jones sank into a life of drugs and alcohol and died from a massive overdose of barbiturates, phencyclidine, cocaine and methaquaalone.
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Brad Renfro
The star of The Client died in 2008 at age 25 from a heroin overdose. Renfro's death from acute heroin/morphine intoxication was ruled accidental.
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Bridgette Andersen
Savannah Smiles star died in 1997 at age 21. Andersen's death was ruled an accidental drug overdose.
Carl Switzer
Alfalfa from the Our Gang comedies died in 1959 at age 31. Switzer was shot during an altercation with a man he believed owed him money.
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Dana Plato
The 'Diff'rent Strokes' star died in 1999 at age 35 while visiting her fiancé's mother in Moore, OK. Plato took a lethal dose of Lortab and Valium before laying down for a nap and never woke up. The death was eventually ruled a suicide.
Heather O'Rourke
"Carol Anne" from Poltergeist died in 1988 from complications during surgery to remove an acute bowel obstruction. She was 12.
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Jonathan Brandis
The star of seaQuest DSV died in 2003 at age 27. Brandis was found alive, but unconscious, hanging from the neck in his home. The friend who happened upon the scene summoned paramedics immediately, but the star of Ladybugs died at Cedars-Sinai hospital the next day.
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Judith Barsi
The young star of Jaws: The Revenge and The Land Before Time (voice of Ducky) died in 1988 at age 10. In a murder-suicide carried out by her father, Judith and her mother were shot, killed, and subsequently set on fire before he shot himself to death in the family's garage.
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Lee Thompson Young
Disney child star Lee Thompson Young died in 2013 at age 29. The titular character on Disney's The Famous Jett Jackson, Thompson Young's death by gunshot to the head was ruled a suicide.
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River Phoenix
The child and teen star of Stand by Me and Explorers died in 1993 at age 23 after speedballing cocaine and morphine. The scene unfolded in front of The Viper Room, a legendary Sunset Strip music venue, while then-owner Johnny Depp was performing onstage with the Red Hot Chili Pepper's Flea and the Butthole Surfer's Gibby Haynes. As news circulated through the club about Phoenix's collapse outside, the show stopped and he was never revived.
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