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Mom on Film: Child Actors Who Survived Celluloid Growing Pains

A career with longevity cannot be guaranteed, not for teachers, stockbrokers, engineers, doctors, writers or athletes. Even the best-laid plans seem to have a way of going awry. Acting is a particularly uncertain career. Even less certain is the career of a child actor who always runs the risk of becoming "that kid who used to be a star." If her or his appeal as a youngster stems primarily from looking the part, then a career in film is almost guaranteed to be short-lived. We all know that looks can change drastically at the onset of adolescence, and not always, in Hollywood terms, for the better.

Remember, Macaulay Culkin? Maybe talent that seemed so great in one so young no longer appears quite as prodigious when compared with peers equally mature, equally talented and, perhaps, just a little hungrier for success, a little more willing to go the extra mile to land the roles. Some child actors, however, are able to successfully bridge the divide between childhood and adult roles. Some even continue to make films, as adults, that are appropriate for audiences of all ages.

Here's a sampling of child actors who succeeded in crossing that divide. In an effort to keep this piece "family friendly" the list includes their childhood films, as well as films made as adults, which could fall under the category of family fare.

Child Stars Who Continue to Shine:

Jodie Foster

Kid Success: Tom Sawyer; Bugsy Malone; Freaky Friday (the original); Candleshoe

Adult Success: Little Man Tate (also Directed); Maverick; Nell (also Produced); Contact

Secret of Success: Her enormous intelligence coupled with huge talent. She infuses her characters with such strength, intelligence, tenacity and, simultaneously, fragility, that her creations are absolutely believable. I want our children to know her work because she represents Hollywood at its best.

Mickey Rooney

Kid Success: A Midsummer Night's Dream; Captain's Courageous; Boy's Town; Girl Crazy; National Velvet

Adult Success: It's A Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World; Pete's Dragon; The Black Stallion; Night at the Museum

Secret of Success: Tenacity. Aside from talent, Mickey Rooney's life in movies continues because he simply refuses to quit. He is a bona fide constellation in the Hollywood firmament, in part because of the sheer number of performances under his belt. He has been a performer since infancy, beginning with appearances in his parents' vaudeville act, and despite a roller coaster ride of a career since then, he is still making movies at the ripe old age of 87.

Drew Barrymore

Kid Success: E.T.

Adult Success: Ever After; Olive, the Other Reindeer (voice); Curious George (voice)

Secret of Success: Drew Barrymore is one of those actresses who seems to have succeeded almost despite herself. Her well-documented car wreck of a youth, which, considering her ancestry may have been inevitable, might have destroyed the career of a less talented actress (check the Celebrity column for examples). But, maybe in part because of that same ancestry, and because she really is talented and intelligent (despite her sometimes ditzy demeanor), she has survived. Interestingly, she has made more family-friendly movies as an adult than she did as a child. I guess it really is never too late to have a happy childhood.

Kurt Russell

Kid Success: The Horse in the Grey Flannel Suit; The Computer Wore Tennis Shoes; Now You See Him, Now You Don't; The Strongest Man in the World

Adult Success: Sky High; Dreamer: Inspired by a True Story

Secret of Success: Kurt Russell is charming. I mean the man still has dimples! He also has range that always, somehow, surprises me. He may never be counted among the great actors, but Kurt Russell will be around for a long time because we need leading males (in the movies as in real life) who don't have to chew the scenery to create a role, and because the audience simply likes him.

Sue "Mom on Film" Harvey is a mother of three who shares her passion

for film with bi-weekly, family-friendly movie recommendations.

Read more of Sue's

pieces here.

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