For one reason or another, some celebrities go on to lead successful careers, while others just seem to suddenly disappear from the limelight. In some cases, these stars choose to leave the limelight for personal reasons, but for others, it’s not quite that simple.
Here are some child celebrities who sadly, passed away too soon:
1. Thuy Trang
Remember the “Mighty Morphin’ Power Rangers”? Thuy Trang played Trini, the Yellow Ranger in the hit series.
After playing the Yellow Ranger, she went on to be a part of the 1996 film “The Crow: City of Angels”, and “Spy Hard”. Sadly, she died back in 2001, because of a car accident near Bakersfield, California. She was 27 when she passed away.
2. Lee Thompson Young
Lee Thompson Young was famous for being the titular character in the Disney Channel Movie “The Famous Jett Jackson”. He also had a number of roles which gave him a steady career, being cast in “Friday Night Lights” and he also had an ongoing role in the show “Rizzoli & Isles”. However, the young actor was also dealing with bipolar disorder.
When he didn’t show up on the set of “Rizzoli & Isles”, police were then called to do a well-being check. He was found dead, with a self-inflicted gunshot wound to the head.
Go to the next page to learn more about celebrities who died too young.
3. Matthew Garber
British child actor Matthew Garber was famous for playing Michael Banks in the 1964 film “Mary Poppins”. He then starred in two other Disney films, “The Three Lives of Thomasina”, and “The Gnome-Mobile”.
Sadly, the young actor died from pancreatitis in 1976 after complications arising from hepatitis that he unknowingly acquired when he went to India. He was posthumously declared a Disney Legend back in 2004.
4. River Phoenix
One of the most popular child actors of his generation, River Phoenix was all set for movie stardom. He starred in films such as “Stand by Me”, “My Own Private Idaho”, “Running on Empty”, and he played a young Indiana Jones in “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”.
However, stardom and drug abuse got the better of the young star, and he passed away in a night club called The Viper Room after taking a deadly concoction of cocaine and morphine.
5. Heather O’Rourke
If you’ve ever watched the horror film “Poltergeist”, then you’ll recognize Heather O’Rourke as the little girl who creepily says “They’re here”.
She also starred in a number of “Poltergeist” sequels, and had a recurring role in the hit show “Happy Days”. Sadly, she died at the very young age of 12, on February 1, 1988. Her death was caused by a cardiac arrest and septic shock caused by a misdiagnosis.
Sources: youtube.com
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