The "New" Child Stars

In the wake of the death of former child star Gary Coleman, it's a good time to look at how the term "child star" has changed over the years. Coleman is more being remembered for a lack of a career than a successful one. His "Whatcha talking 'bout Willis," from Different Strokes will forever be used, even by generations that have never even heard of the show. This leads to the question- what is the best way for a child star to transition into more adult roles? Today's young stars have learned from their predecessors, and in some ways have to grow up faster than ever, if only to make important decisions that will affect their careers. 

Young stars like the Nick Jonas, Ashley Tisdale, and Zac Efron have all made moves to take their careers to the next level. Tisdale and Efron, in their twenties, have moved beyond their Disney roots to movies like Seventeen Again and Picture this; While Jonas took on a solo project to showcase his musical talents with a completely different sound than the Jonas Brothers with Who I am. These moves lead to rumors like "they don't appreciate their Disney roots," or "the Jonas Brothers are breaking up." But looking at Coleman's career, can you blame these "kids" for wanting to be taken seriously? The six actors from the television series, Friends have all gone in their own directions, but will forever be known as "the cast of Friends." This is not necessarily a bad thing considering the immense success of the show. One has to consider that young stars are not always trying to "break away" or ungrateful, but passionate about what they do. Along with that passion comes a desire for versatility in roles and being renowned for at least producing serious work. So the next time you read a negative article about a young star's work, or go to criticize them think of their personal reasons for producing a music video or choosing to star in a certain movie. Look beyond the money, fame, and management; look at the person behind the music or the role.