Demi Moore Stood By Her Dying Mother's Side Despite Ugly Childhood under Mom's Care

Actress Demi Moore has had a difficult life. She faced gruesome abuse from the caregivers around her, including her mother. However, she rose above it, and here's how.

Demi Moore was born Demi Gene Harmon on November 11, 1962, in Roswell, New Mexico. Her acting career started early when she appeared in "General Hospital" as a teenager. Her breakout role came in 1990 when she featured in the hit movie, "Ghost."

While a child, Demi endured a difficult childhood under her mother's care. Her mother neglected her so severely that she had to earn money to take care of herself. This neglect unaffected her negatively, and she spiraled despite her successful career.

TOXIC CHILDHOOD

Demi's family moved 30 times when she and her brother were children; they eventually settled in Los Angeles. Demi's parents broke up before she was born. She was raised by her mother, Virginia, and stepfather, Danny Guynes, who both drank heavily.

One day her mother overdosed on pills to try and commit suicide due to the toxic relationship she had with Danny. Demi was forced to try and save her life. "Something very deep inside me shifted then, and it never shifted back. My childhood was over," she said.

Moreover, Demi's mother used to take her to bars to attract men. She also recalled being sexually abused in her home when she was 15 years old by a man who claimed to have paid his mother $500 in exchange for her.

Explaining whether she thought her mother accepted the money from the man, Demi said, "I think, in my deep heart no. I don’t think it was a straightforward transaction. But she still did give him the access, and put me in harm’s way.”

THE FATHER SHE KNEW WAS NOT HER REAL DAD

Demi found out that Danny was not her real father from her aunt after she asked her mother two weeks earlier. Her mother claimed that Danny was her real father, but her aunt introduced her to Charles, her real father, in Texas.

“I was never supposed to know he existed,” Demi said. “He was never involved in my life. My mother left this man before I was born...while she was pregnant. When I was born, Danny was there. That’s why, for me, he’s my father,” she added.

When Demi was 15, Danny and Virginia broke up. Two years later, Danny committed suicide. Reflecting on his death, Demi said, “I feel this man chose the best way for himself. He was in so much pain. I accept and love him for whatever he needed to do. I strongly believe that some of us have to die for others to live.”

FENDING FOR HERSELF AS A TEEN

Following her parents' split and Danny's death, Demi dropped out of high school and began living by herself when she was 16 years old. She worked as a debt collector for a time and tried modeling. Her interest turned to acting, which became her lifelong career.

Neither Demi nor Virginia cared much about school. Virginia stressed the importance of reaching her goals as fast as possible instead of academic achievement. A neighbor who was a german actress influenced her decision to pursue acting full time, which led her to major success.

CARING FOR DYING MOM AFTER HER SUCCESS

Demi attempted to help her mother's alcohol addiction by paying for rehab, but Virginia abruptly left and didn't complete the treatment. Despite her painful past, Demi believed her mother wanted what was best for her and wanted her to have a good life, even though it was better for her to live by herself.

In an effort to take care of her mother, Demi moved her whole family to a motel in New Mexico. Being at the motel was difficult for her daughters, Rumer, 9, Scout, 6, and Tallulah, 4. Her marriage to actor Bruce Willis was also suffering at this stage.

Bruce tried to keep his daughters entertained by buying them toys often, but the time at the motel remained difficult for her children. “All they could do was go to the pool," Demi said. But she stayed at her mother's side for three months before she died of cancer and a brain tumor at the age of 54.

HER FAILED LOVE LIFE

Demi and Bruce met in 1987 on the set of the film "Stakeout." They had difficulties during their marriage, but Bruce said, “I still love Demi. We're very close, we have three children whom we will continue to raise together, and we're probably as close now as we ever were.”

After her divorce from Bruce, Demi married fellow actor Ashton Kutcher in 2005. They started dating in 2003 and have a 13 year age gap. “But I'm telling you: we couldn't feel it. We were totally in sync from our very first conversation,” Demi said.

In 2011, rumors circulated that Ashton was unfaithful, and the couple finalized their divorce in 2013. Demi revealed that she suffered a miscarriage during the early years of their marriage. “I was wracked with guilt and convinced what had happened was my doing,” she added.

FINDING RECOVERY FOR HERSELF

Demi spoke about her journey to recovery while accepting the Woman of the Year Award from "Peggy Albrecht Friendly House," a women's recovery center. "I was spiraling down a path of real self-destruction, and no matter what success I had, I just never felt good enough,” she said.

Demi believed that it might have been divine intervention when two people she barely knew presented her with an opportunity that felt a lot like an ultimatum. This gave her a chance to fix her life before destroying it, which left her feeling grateful.