Uncovering Hollywood’s Greatest Child Stars Who Lost All Their Money Before They Could Even Spend It

By: Ben Campbell | Published: Mar 06, 2024

There has been enough controversy surrounding child stars that the term “child stars” itself now conjures up ideas and images of abuse. Hollywood continues to benefit from (and at times exploit) the likes of young actors like Miley Cyrus, the Olsen twins, and Macaulay Culkin. But exploitation of child actors has a long history, reaching all the way back to the 1920s.

Child stars from the Golden Age of Hollywood faced serious issues due to their acting careers. These difficulties were often monetary and, sadly, the people to blame were their very own parents.

Jackie Coogan Becomes an Overnight Sensation

When Charlie Chaplin’s film The Kid hit theaters in 1921, child actor Jackie Coogan became an overnight sensation. He was only five years old, and he had played the starring role. It was not long before he found himself in another lead role in 1922’s Oliver Twist.

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Jackie Coogan hanging onto a fence and smiling in the film The Kid.

University of Washington/Wikimedia Commons

Coogan was adored by the American public. Within the span of a few years, he had a huge career in Hollywood. His face was everywhere, printed on lunch boxes and pencil cases. He even had a doll made in his own image.

Coogan Couldn't Claim His Millions Until He Turned 21

Coogan’s starring roles and huge endorsements brought in millions of dollars in revenue. But due to the laws of the time, Coogan didn’t actually own any of the millions he had worked for!

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Jackie Coggan riding a wagon with a dog on the back in Peck's Bad Boy (1921).

Associated First National Pictures/Wikimedia Commons

It was his parents—who were also his business managers—who were in charge of all that money. At least, until Coogan turned 21. Once he did turn 21, he would legally be able entitled to all the millions he had made since he began acting at five years old.

A Tragedy in Coogan’s Family

Only a few years before Coogan turned 21, he was involved in a terrible car accident, of which he was the sole survivor. His father and four other people died from the crash.

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A photo of child actor Jackie Coogan in costume in 1923.

Source: Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons

Coogan’s father, up until his death, was the main one responsible for the child star’s money. Upon his passing, Coogan’s mother and stepfather gained responsibility. This would end up changing Coogan’s world — and the laws of the time.

Coogan Lost All His Money

Once Coogan turned 21, he learned about his financial situation. His money had been spent by his mother and stepfather to fund their lavish lifestyle. Unknowingly, it was his money that had paid for their expensive cars and clothes.

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Child actor Jackie Coogan with a clown in a still from the 1923 movie “Circus Days.”

Source: Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons

Immediately, Coogan sued them for spending the money that was supposed to be his. Eventually, this case led to the California Child Actors’ Bill, which is often called the Coogan Law.

The Creation of the Coogan Law

The Coogan Law states that a parent or guardian still controls a child’s earnings — but 15% of the earnings must be kept aside in a trust fund. Once this child comes of age, they will be able to, at the very least, have this money.

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Child actor Jackie Coogan with an adult actor in movie still from 1925’s “The Rag Man.”

Source: Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons

This law was put in place to try to save child actors from their parents or guardians who may not have the best intent when it comes to finances. In a way, this was supposed to keep child actors from becoming victims of their own parents.

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Loopholes of the Coogan Law

Unfortunately, loopholes in this new law were quickly found. Parents and managers alike were able to find ways to abuse the system and steal money from their children.

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A still featuring Jackie Coogan in the 1925 film “Old Clothes.”

Source: Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons

Not until 2000 were these loopholes closed. For 60 years, these loopholes allowed Hollywood’s child stars to remain victims of their parents’ greedy lifestyles.

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Diana Serra Cary: Coogan’s One-Time Rival

Right around the time Coogan was popular, Diana Serra Cary appeared in the limelight. Cary, known to many in the 1920s as Baby Peggy, became a sensation.

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A photo of a young Diana Serra Cary in 1923.

Source: Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons

As a child actor, she starred in over 150 short comedy films and three feature-length ones. Similar to Coogan, she was beloved around the nation — and earned an ample amount of money, thanks to her work.

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Cary and Coogan’s Similar Situation

Unfortunately, Cary soon found herself in a similar situation as her fellow child star, Coogan. During Coogan’s trial — which was highly publicized — she had a conversation with her mother, who was in charge of her own finances.

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A movie still from the 1922 film “Fools First”, showing Claire Windsor, Diana Serra Cary, and Richard Dix sitting down outside together.

Source: Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons

Her mother reportedly snapped at her, saying, “I suppose now you’re getting ready to do the same thing to your father and me?” Eventually, when Cary came of age, she learned that most of her money had been spent by her parents. She had nothing left. 

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Cary Supported Other Child Stars

Though Cary didn’t end up suing her mother, she did spend the rest of her career writing and supporting other child actors, including Coogan. In 1990, she became a member of the nonprofit A Minor Consideration, which was created for children in the entertainment industry.

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Former child actress Diana Serra Cary in 2012.

Source: Gazebo/Wikimedia Commons

This nonprofit and the work done by fellow member and child actor Paul Petersen would eventually lead to the 2000 revision of the Coogan Law.

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Shirley Temple

In the 60 years before the Coogan Law was finally revised, many famous child stars realized that their parents had abused their financial earnings. Shirley Temple, who was a massive child star throughout the 1930s and into the 1940s, found herself in a situation similar to both Coogan and Cary.

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A black and white candid photo of Shirley Temple walking with her mother and holding her hand down the street, cars parked behind them, in 1945.

Source: Los Angeles Times/Wikimedia Commons

Temple was coined “America’s Sweetheart.” She was the number one box office star for four years. She was beloved. However, by the time she came of age to inherit her money, she learned that most of it was completely gone.

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Judy Garland

Judy Garland, who began her storied career as a child actress in the 1930s, also fell prey to her mother’s unwise financial decisions.

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A close-up of Judy Garland in 1943.

Source: Public Domain/Wikimedia Commons

Garland’s mother was able to find a loophole in the law by saying she needed to be paid from her daughter’s earnings. By acting as Garland’s manager, she took a percentage of Garland’s money.

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