Former Child Stars Who Shockingly Killed Offscreen

The stereotype of a former child star ending up in trouble with the law seems more and more common these days, and for some pretty terrible crimes.

Of course, there are plenty of former child stars who are doing fine, such as Peter Billingsley who played Ralphie in A Christmas Story. Today, he’s a film and TV producer behind projects like Marvel’s Iron Man and Netflix’s F is for Family.

But for every Peter Billingsley out there, however, there’s a Jake Lloyd. You’ll remember Lloyd as Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode I — The Phantom Menace.

A couple of years ago, Lloyd was arrested for reckless driving after driving over 100 MPH and crashing his car into some trees.

Then there’s Edward Furlong. He played a young John Connor in Terminator 2: Judgment Day back in the ’90s. In 2009, 2012, and 2013. However, Furlong was arrested on domestic violence charges for three separate instances.

Some former child stars, though, have been found guilty of crime’s as bad as murder, and we’ve compiled a list of them below, from a list previously posted by Ranker.

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Johnny Lewis

Starred on: Sons of Anarchy, 7th Heaven

Johnny Lewis is most well-known for his role as  Kip “Half-Sack” Epps in the FX series Sons of Anarchy.

Before that, while he was still a teenager, Lewis got his acting start on shows like 7th Heaven and Malcolm in the Middle.

He eventually landed meatier roles on Boston Public, American Dreams, and The O.C. before landing on Sons of Anarchy.

In 2012, according to police reports, Lewis broke into the home his 81-year-old landlady, Catherine Davis, and murdered both her and her cat. He then, according to eyewitnesses, assaulted another person before falling to his death attempting to flee the scene.

Many presumed that his past troubles with substance abuse contributed to his actions, but an autopsy report came back reflecting that he had no alcohol or drugs in his system at the time.

Brandy Norwood

Starred on: Thea, Moesha

Brandy was only about 14 when her first album, self-titled, was released to wide critical acclaim. The year prior however, in 1993, she made her TV acting debut in the ABC series Thea, playing the title character’s daughter.

She would go on to be a singing sensation, as well as starring in her own show, Moesha, on the now defunct UPN network.

In 2006, Brandy was involved in a freeway pile up and, as a result, her car struck another car driven by 38-year-old Awatef Aboudihaj, which caused the woman to be struck by another car and killed.

To be clear, Brandy was never charged in the incident, due to “insufficient evidence.” She was not legally held responsible for the death of Aboudihaj.

However, eyewitnesses at the scene reportedly said that the singer was repeatedly saying, “I should have stopped,” which did lead to the thought that she caused the accident that led to Aboudihaj’s death.

Amy Locane

Starred on: Spencer (AKA Under One Roof), Melrose Place

Back in the mid-1980s, Amy Locane starred on the short lived family sitcom Spencer, which was later re-titled Under One Roof.

She had been doing commercials most of her childhood and was cast on the show when she was around 14.

Later, she would go on to star on Melrose Place, one the biggest primetime soaps of the ’90s.

In 2006, Locane was involved in car accident that caused the death of Fred Seeman. According to police, Locane was going over 50 MPH in a 35 MPH speed zone, and her blood-alcohol level was three times the legal limit.

The vehicle she was driving struck Seeman’s car and killed him.

Locane was convicted of “vehicular homicide and assault by auto” and sentenced to prison time. She was released in 2015.

Robert Blake

Starred on: Little Rascals (Our Gang)

Robert Blake is maybe the most famous former child star to have been held responsible for another person’s death.

Back in the late-1930s and early-1940s, Blake starred in over 40 Our Gang, or Little Rascals, shorts.

He was such a hit in the films, he eventually rose to become the lead character.

After the Our Gang shorts ended, Blake went on to star in films with Hollywood legends like Laurel & Hardy, and Humphrey Bogart.

In the mid-1970s, Blake starred in Baretta playing Detective Anthony Vincenzo “Tony” Baretta. That series ran for 82 episodes before ending in 1978.

In 2002, Blake was charged with the shooting murder of his wife, Bonnie Lee Bakley. He ended up being acquitted of the charge but was later found liable in a civil “wrongful death” lawsuit.

Felicia Pearson

Starred on: The Wire

Felicia Pearson is a flip-flop on our list, as she was actually convicted of murder before she was an actress.

At the age of only 14 years old, Pearson was convicted of murder in the second degree, in connection with the death of a girl named Okia Toomer.

She was sentenced to severe to consecutive eight-year prison terms but was released after only six years.

A chance meeting with Michael K. Williams, who played Omar Little on The Wire, lead her to meet the show’s producers, which in turn led to her auditioning and being offered a role on the show.

Her performance on the show caused horror author Stephen King to label her “perhaps the most terrifying female villain to ever appear in a television series.”