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Raven was born, on December 10^th 1985 as Raven-Symone Christina Pearman, and was signed with Ford Modelling Agency at the age of two. She is most noted for her acting, R&B singing talents, and song-writing.  Her most prominent roles as a youngster are perhaps as Olivia Kendall (step-daughter of Denise Huxtable) in The Cosby Show, and as Raven Baxter in her show called, ‘That’s so Raven.’ As a child, her talent was truly remarkable, which is why it was not surprising when she won an award of Exceptional Performance by a Young Actress for The Cosby Show.

What’s she up to now?

Recently, she’s been basking in the limelight quite a lot, having been nominated by the Nickelodeon’s  Kids Choice Award, for best TV Actress. She went on to win Best Female R&B Vocal Performance for Girl Get It.  In addition to this, Raven has made numerous TV appearances, has had a remarkably successful tour, and has had her voice immortalised on the animated series, Kim Possible. Raven plans to release her fifth album later this year, which is quite an impressive feat for someone who’s still only twenty-three years old.

Michael Jackson

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To introduce Michael Joseph Jackson is tantamount to explaining who Prince William is.  He was born in Indiana, on August 29^th 1958, the seventh of nine children. Michael starting singing at the age of five and has since received just about every singing award there is. I’ve read everything I could find on him, and still failed to come up with any new revelations, as Michael’s younger life was more or less lived under the strict scrutiny of the public. The only thing that I did not know, was that he supports thirty-nine charities, (more than any other celebrity) and that he gave the 1.5 million dollars settlement he received from Pepsi Cola, to a charity for burns victims (this is subsequent to the severe burns he received in public, while filming the Pepsi Cola advert).

What’s he up to now?

His adult life has been tightly wrapped in court battles and allegations of child abuse. After his not-guilty verdict, he temporarily moved to Bahrain and consequently fell off the face of paparazzi earth.

Last year, however, in what everyone expects to be a timely return for the king of pop, he re-released Thriller 25, which went on to become the best selling catalog album for 2008. In addition to this, he also launched an online game with Sony, in which players can complete with other players all over the world in an attempt to get the biggest amount of combination dance moves. In an interview on his fiftieth birthday last August, he said that he was busy writing and raising his three kids.

Recently back from Bahrain, he’s now reportedly renting a $100,000 a month house in Los Angeles. Everyone is waiting for his next move. Is this a ‘watch-this-space’ advent for the singer?

Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen

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They were born in California on the thirteenth of June, 1986, and began their acting careers a year later in the television series, Full House. They both played Michelle Tanner.

Where are they now?

Well, very alive and kicking.  They’ve got several television programs to their name, and even a few made-for-TV films. They’re involved in several commercial endorsements, and even a bout with anorexia (Mary-Kate), didn’t dull the public’s sparkling impression of the twins. It’s not surprising then, that they are worth an estimated 11 million dollars. They have been extremely popular with pre-teen girls and milked this market with all types of franchises in books, toys, dolls, magazines and more.

Their continuous film stints have not been very successful, but because of their involvement with fashion design, they have been constantly photographed in popular glossy magazines, which have kept them firmly placed in the public eye. The sisters now have a successful clothing range at Wal-Mart for little girls, and a separate couture fashion label, called The Row.

Brook Shields

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Brook Shields, a direct descendant from Italian royalty, began to work as a model when she was just a child. She progressed into a blossoming modeling career because of her natural and innocent beauty, and at the age of fourteen she became the youngest fashion model to appear on Vogue.

She secured her first major movie appearance in the controversial film Pretty Baby when she was twelve years old, and went on to make several other successful films and TV programs (remember Suddenly Susan? I loved that show). Through the years, she hasn’t really been out of the public eye, and her marriage to Andre Agassi (now divorced and re-married) secured her a place in the annals of celebrity lifestyle, regardless of the unfortunate event of suffering from post partum depression, and the slight dip in her acting career.

What is she doing now?

As sprightly as ever, her career has picked up again after her successful triumph over post partum depression. She has appeared in several prime time TV shows, including, Nip/Tuck, and has now got a main role in the US hit show Lipstick Jungle.

Macaulay Culkin

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Macaulay Culkin was born in New York on August 26^th 1980, and is the third of seven children from a working-class family. His most remembered role as a child is probably Home Alone, even though his first main part came at the age of four, when he appeared in a stage production of Bach Babies.

At the height of his career as a child, he was regarded as the most successful child-actor since Shirley Temple.

What is he doing now?

He’s made a few more films after Home Alone, but sadly, it appears that so far, this is/has been the height of his career. I’ve seen him in an episode of Will and Grace and was really impressed by his performance. His teenage life was plagued by furious custody battles between his now-separated parents, which resulted in him seeking (and receiving) emancipation at the age of fifteen. Subsequently, he had a run-in with the law for possession of marijuana.  He’s tipped for a few good roles this year, so we wait with bated breath.

Barry Williams

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Barry Williams was born, Barry William Blenkhorn, on September 30^th 1954. At the age of thirteen his made his first television appearance in an episode of Dragnet.  Two years later he was cast as Greg Brady (the eldest child) in the fabulous TV show, The Brady Bunch. After the end of the show, Barry failed to make it big in TV, but played various guest roles and eventually toured with musicals such as Grease and The Sound of Music.

What is he doing now?

In the early nineties, Barry finished his very successful autobiography, Growing Up Brady: I was a Teenage Greg. It spent three months on the New York Times bestseller list, which is kind of a surprise, considering its slightly cheesy title. Williams has spent ages trying to revive and market (and milk) the name ‘Greg Brady.’ He tried various shows, a pop quiz, online fan site, a reality show, and even a song entitled, The Real Greg Brady (after Eminem’s, The Real  Slim Shady), but so far, The Brady Bunch seems sadly, to have been the high point of his career.

Dustin Diamond

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Dustin Diamond is best known for his role as Screech, from Saved By The Bell (a show I spent quite a number of hours watching). He was born in California on January 7^th 1977. Despite being molested by a family member as a child, he managed to have a very successful career as an actor and played the character of ‘Screech’ Powers for more than twelve years.  Later, his work as a stand-up comedian and musician also received impressive reviews.

What is he doing now?

After several TV appearances (game shows, reality shows etc.,) Dustin released his own video, teaching the public to play Chess. After stints on celebrity reality game shows, Dustin proved that he was slightly out of control, by his obvious inability to get along with quite a number of other contestants. With later allegations of sex tapes and rumors of destitution, it doesn’t look like he’ll be able to revive his previous successful television career.

Gary Coleman

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Gary Coleman is best remembered for his role as Arnold Jackson in the sitcom Diff’rent Strokes. He was born on February 8^th 1968, in Illinois. At four foot, eight inches tall, it was possible for him to play young roles even when he was no longer a child, a feature which worked in his favour for a very long time. He’s also had memorable roles in The Facts of Life, Good Times and The Jeffersons.

What is he doing now?

At the height of his career, he was paid as much as $100.000 per episode, but only received about a quarter of it, after paying his adoptive parents, advisors and lawyers. He later sued his parents and manager for misappropriation of his $ 8.3 million trust fund and won a settlement of a little over a million dollars. However, six years later he filed for bankruptcy.   After a few court appearances for several minor offences, Coleman seems to have settled down into a life where he’s no longer the star of the show.

Being a child star is not always a good thing, as we’ve seen lately with quite a few public breakdowns in the news. Sure, there are many kids’ roles on TV and in films which require children actors to play them, but this early exposure can sometimes steal their childhood in the same way that abuse can.   My youngest daughter has said that she wants to become an actress, but apart from occasional photo shoots with me, I think I’m going to let her have her childhood first, know what real life is, then go into acting as a person who knows what having a normal life is all about. Sometimes it seems as though this is the very thing missing from the lives of these and other young stars.