Some of the most recognizable names in Hollywood are child actors. Incidentally, all the actors and actresses on this list were once in show business, one way or another, and, sadly, they’ve all passed away. The worst part about that is that they left this world way too soon. Their causes of death range from heart attacks at 21, to horrifying accidents, but, again, every person on this list still had so much to see, so many wonderful things to experience.
Ugh… this is a sad subject, and some of the causes of death may hit too close to home, so you’ve been warned. But still, let’s get on with it.
Heather O’Rourke
When she was only 5 years old, Heather, was discovered by Steven Spielberg, while she was eating lunch with her mom at the MGM studio. Steven decided to cast her in the controversial horror movie Poltergeist. 7 years later, O’Rourke died from complications during a surgery to remove an acute bowel obstruction at the age of 12.
Judith Barsi
Do you remember «Ducky» from the critically acclaimed children’s animated movie «The Land Before Time»? Well, she was voiced by Judith Barsi, who also appeared in a few commercials and TV shows. In 1988, at the age of 10, Barsi and her mother were both shot and killed by her father, who then killed himself.
Jonathan Brandis
As a 90’s kid myself, I loved «SeaQuest» and when the name Jonathan Brandis popped up, I immediately remembered the good old times. Brandis starred on that show when he was 17 years old and died just 10 years later, in 2003. He was found barely alive, hanging from the neck in his home. The medics couldn’t save him, and he died the next day.
Ashleigh Aston Moore
Ashleigh is probably best known for her role as the younger version of Rita Wilson’s character in «Now and Then». Moore passed away in 2007, at age 26, due to overdosing on heroin.
Michael Cuccione
Cuccione was part of a parody boy band, “2ge+her” (together), that had a show on MTV in the 90’s. He was “the baby” in that band. He even starred on Baywatch as a special guest, due to his “cancer wish”. And yeah, he met the Hoff. Michael died in 2001 at the age of 16 after surviving Hodgkin’s disease at age 9, but the residual respiratory problem still got to him. David Hasselhoff himself gave the eulogy at his funeral.
J. Madison Wright Morris
You’ve seen JMW in «Grace Under Fire» and she was doing great. Sadly, after getting a heart transplant in 2000, she still couldn’t handle living and died of a heart attack in 2006 at the age of 21. Just one day after her wedding. Her story deserves a movie.
Rob Knox
Rob played Marcus Belby in «Harry Potter and the Half-Blood Prince» and was supposed to appear in «Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows». Tragically, Knox was stabbed to death in 2008 at the age of 18, while trying to defend his younger brother from a dick with a knife.
Michelle Thomas
Adorable «Family Matters» star, Michelle Thomas, aka Urkel’s girlfriend – Myra Monkhouse, died in 1998 at the age of 30 from a rare form of stomach cancer.
Dana Hill
Hill played Audrey Griswold in «National Lampoon’s European Vacation» in 1985. She died in 1996 at the age of 32, due to her Type 1 diabetes.
Anton Yelchin
Anton is best known for playing Pavel Chekov in JJ Abram’s “Star Trek” reboot. Probably the most unfair (as if death can ever be fair) and unfortunate death on this list is Anton Yelchin’s incomprehensible accident. In June of 2016, Anton Yelchin died at his home in Los Angeles after being hit by his own car. He probably forgot to pull the hand brake and while he was standing behind the car, it suddenly rolled down his steep driveway, and pinned the poor guy to his brick mailbox. Such a stupid little thing cost him his life.
