9 Times Beloved Childhood Stars Ended Up in Jail

Hollywood is a tough industry to be in, and for some stars, it became a little too much to bear that it affected their personal lives. Some of the choices these stars made landed them in jail and drastically changed the flow of their careers.

After years of making movies and TV shows as children, some actors end up making headlines for entirely different reasons later on in life. With the demands of a job as a child star and skipping childhood in the process, they are thrust into the life of a grown-up so early on, and not a lot are able to cope and end up spiraling out of control.

For these nine beloved childhood celebrities, their circumstances led them to trouble. Some of them were forced into a life of crime after leaving the industry, while some were thrust into the limelight too much they needed to find a coping mechanism to survive. Ultimately, they all ended up spending some time in jail and it changed them and their careers forever.

1. "Diff'rent Strokes" Cast Member Dana Plato

Dana Plato was given two choices when she was 13 years old: to pursue a career in acting or figure skating. She chose the former and was cast on "Diff'rent Strokes" for the role of Kimberly Drummond, which she played from 1978 to 1984.

Her short-lived career as an actress was plagued with controversy, with many claiming she suffered from substance abuse. She also fell pregnant, and they wrote her off the show when the network discovered this.

She eventually had her child and married the child's father, which led to her downward spiral. Plato had trouble finding work, turning to B-movies and adult films to earn money.

After a while, she and her husband divorced, and she lost custody of her child. The actress also claimed her accountant stole most of her money, which left her with no choice but to rob a Las Vegas video store with a pellet gun.

Plato was sentenced to five years of probation but was arrested after being found to be forging prescriptions. Years later, in 1999, the actress tried to revive her career.

In an interview on Howard Stern's radio show, she tried to convince listeners that she was sober. Unfortunately, the show received calls from listeners who insisted she was still under the influence.

Because of the calls, the studio became tense, and the actress became defensive. A day after the interview, Plato passed away. She was found in her RV while visiting her family in Oklahoma.

2. "Star Wars" Star Jake Lloyd

Jake Lloyd, who played the popular villain Anakin Skywalker in "Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace," was arrested in South Carolina for engaging in a high-speed chase with local police. He drove for 25 miles before crashing on the side of a road where law enforcement was able to catch up with him.

When he was apprehended, it was clear that Lloyd was intoxicated. He was charged with driving without a license, failing to stop for officers, resisting arrest, and reckless driving. Unlike most stars, he did not post bail immediately and remained in jail for more than a day.

While Lloyd was best known for his performance as Anakin, he claimed his school life was a "living hell." Most would assume that a role in something as big as the "Star Wars" franchise would lead to more projects, but Lloyd's last onscreen appearance was in the film "Madison” in 2005.

3. Famous Child Actress Amanda Bynes

Every '90s kid grew up with Amanda Bynes in the early 2000s, having starred in hits like "All That," "The Amanda Show," and movies like "What a Girl Wants" and "Sydney White." She caught everyone off guard when she retired from acting in 2010 and then suddenly took it back altogether shortly after.

That summer, she was arrested for criminal possession of illegal substances, tampering with evidence, and reckless endangerment. This began a series of strange behavior for the former child actress, who once wore a platinum blonde wig to court and threatened to sue the NYPD for sexual harassment and making a false arrest.

In 2012, she was arrested for drunk driving in Los Angeles, particularly in West Hollywood, refusing to take a test to see if she was under the influence. Days later, she was accused of hitting another car on the freeway and fleeing the scene.

Four months later, the actress was flagged for another hit-and-run on Ventura Boulevard. She was charged with two counts of hit-and-run and faced up to a year in jail if convicted for both. She pleaded not guilty.

Bynes' agent, publicist, and lawyer dropped her shortly after. By the end of the year, she settled with her two victims for an undisclosed amount.

2013 wasn't any easier for her, and in May, she pleaded no contest to driving with a suspended license and was sentenced to three years on probation. She was also ordered to pay $1400 in fines.

A couple of days later, Bynes was arrested on drug charges for tossing paraphernalia out of a 36th-floor window. She was taken to the hospital for a psychiatric evaluation and spent the night in Central Booking, New York.

4. '80s Actor Joey Cramer

Joey Cramer, starred in the '80s films "Runway," "Flight of the Navigator," and "Stone Fox," Years after stepping away from the limelight, he was accused of robbing a bank in Canada.

Then 42, he was charged with disguising his face with the intent to commit an offense, robbery, flight from a peace officer, and dangerous operation of a motor vehicle.

By the time law enforcement arrived at the bank, the suspect had already fled the scene with the stolen money. He was disguised with a wig, a bandana, sunglasses, a dark jacket, and a black shoulder bag.

Although he had already left the scene, the police quickly identified a suspect. The day after, they located him in a vehicle and when they tried to stop him, he fled. He was ultimately arrested and booked in jail.

This was not his first misdemeanor. In 2008, he was convicted of careless use or storage of a firearm and was given three months of probation. Months later, he was sentenced to six months in jail and 12 months probation for possessing drugs for the purpose of trafficking.

Three years later, in 2011, he was jailed for 25 days and given a one-year probation after being convicted of uttering threats and possessing a weapon for a dangerous purpose. Unfortunately, only three months after, he was sentenced to six months in prison and an 18-month probation, this time for using a forged document.

5. Brian Bonsall of "Family Ties"

Brian Bonsall played Michael J. Fox's younger brother, Andy Keaton, on the crowd-favorite sitcom "Family Ties." After leaving the show, he appeared on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" from 1992 to 1994 and in a couple of movies.

Bonsall chose to pursue a career in music after his stint as a child actor. However, before pursuing a professional career in music, he first had a couple of run-ins with the law due to substance abuse. He was once arrested after getting into a fight at a Colorado apartment in 2010.

The former actor admitted to being drunk during the altercation and not remembering what happened and was held in the Boulder County Jail. This wasn't his first drunken run-in, as he was under probation in 2007 for a physical altercation with his girlfriend. He was also accused of violating the terms of his probation.

6. Pop Icon Leif Garrett

Former teen heartthrob Leif Garrett was arrested and booked for drug possession. He was seen "shaking and sweating" on a subway platform by police officers, which led to his arrest.

Garrett is best known as a 1970s actor and singer whose hit songs include "I Was Made for Dancing" and a cover of "Surfin' USA." After finding fame, he suffered from drug abuse for years. In 2006, he was arrested and sentenced to three months in jail after refusing treatment.

7. Disney Star Lindsay Lohan

Lindsay Lohan found fame as a child star on the Disney Channel, where she starred in many of their hit movies and TV shows. By the time she reached adulthood, she was exposed to substances that would ultimately get her in trouble with the law several times since January 2007.

From 2007 to 2012, the "Parent Trap" actress checked into five different treatment centers for a total of 250 days. She appeared in court 20 times in front of four judges, who charged her with violating her probation a total of four times, ultimately sentencing her to six months in jail.

2007 was a rough year for Lohan, who had to enter a drug rehab program for the first time in January. Months later, in May, she was arrested on a misdemeanor drunk driving charge in California. She then checked into rehab again, but by July, she was arrested again, this time after a woman accused her of trying to run her down with a car.

In August, Lohan checked into a treatment center for the third time. She pleaded guilty to her charges and was sentenced to serve a day in jail, render ten days of community service, and undergo three years of probation. She was also ordered to pay a hefty fine and enroll in an alcohol education program.

By October, the actress checked herself into the Los Angeles County jail. She only served 84 minutes of jail time, after a sheriff released her due to overcrowding at the jail.

Two years later, in March 2009, she was served an arrest warrant for probation violations. However, the judge dropped the warrant days later after discovering that the paperwork was not updated and that Lohan was actually complying with her probation terms.

In October 2009, the judge extended Lohan's probation so she could complete the imposed alcohol counseling program. The "Freaky Friday" actress was warned that she would get jail time if the court discovered she had not been attending meetings.

By May 2010, Lohan missed a court hearing. She was given an arrest warrant, but it was later withdrawn after she posted a $100,000 bail through her lawyer. Days later, when she finally appeared in court, the judge ordered Lohan to wear a bracelet that detects alcohol, a drinking ban, and undergo random drug testing every week.

Two months after the hearing, Lohan needed to go to jail for 90 days for missing the required alcohol counseling sessions, which meant she violated her probation terms. She was also required to spend three months in a drug and alcohol rehab program after she completed the jail term.

Lohan spent July 20 to August 2, 2010, in jail. She was released after less than two weeks behind bars before being taken to a hospital to begin her rehab. Despite previously being ordered 90 days, she was released from rehab after 23 days.

Two days later, a new judge took over Lohan's case and allowed her to live in her West Hollywood home. At the time, she claimed to have learned her lesson. However, weeks later, she failed one of her random drug tests and was set to appear in court again.

Lohan was once again cuffed and driven back to jail. She was released that same night after another judge overturned the decision and she posted a $300,000 bail. She was fitted with another alcohol detection bracelet and checked into rehab once more days later.

In 2011, Lohan visited a jewelry store and walked out with a necklace valued at $2500. She was charged with felony grand theft for the incident, and by April, she spent a total of five hours in police custody before posting a $75,000 bail.

The actress was sentenced to 120 days in jail for violating her probation by being charged with theft. Aside from jail time, she was also imposed 480 hours of community service.

The felony theft charge was ultimately reduced to a misdemeanor. She served her time in home confinement. Lohan went back and forth with the judges until finally, in March 2012, her felony probation ended.

While she went on informal probation for two more years, she has stayed out of significant trouble since. Lohan has tried to turn her life back around in recent years, and has stayed under the radar.

8. Brad Renfro

Brad Renfro is best known for his work on "The Client." He appeared in several other films, the most significant including "Sleepers," "Ghost World," and "Bully."

In 2006, Renfro was sentenced to 10 days in prison for drunk driving. He pleaded no contest to a drunk driving charge in Los Angeles and was immediately taken to jail to fulfill his 10-day sentence. In addition to jail time, he was also fined, ordered to take 18 months of alcohol education classes, and given a five-year probation.

This was not his only run-in with the law; he was once caught on Los Angeles' Skid Row trying to purchase drugs. He pleaded guilty and was admitted to a rehab program for nonviolent drug offenders. He was also arrested for grand theft in August 2000.

9. "Diff'rent Strokes" Star Gary Coleman

Gary Coleman was once the highest-paid child actor for his time on "Diff'rent Strokes." He was small in stature, yet so charming that he was perfect for the character of Arnold Jackson on the hit show.

His character was an African American orphan adopted by a wealthy benefactor, Philip Drummond. He became a pop culture icon, with his common line on the show, "Whatchoo talkin' 'bout, Willis?" becoming a known catchphrase around the country.

He went on to star in a couple more films and shows before he ultimately left the industry. His struggles began when he was almost 18 when he discovered that his trust fund, which was supposed to hold almost $18 million, only had $220,000 in it.

Ultimately, a case was filed in court between Coleman's parents and his agent. Coleman won the suit but only received $3.8 million from it.

Coleman suffered from depression following the incident. He went from being an actor to working as a security guard, and eventually became known for his hot temper.

He had several run-ins with the law, one being an incident involving a woman who sought an autograph from him. He allegedly punched the woman and pleaded "no contest" to the charge.

Years later, Coleman was arrested for domestic violence against then-girlfriend Shannon Price. They ended up getting married, but their troubles never ended until their relationship ended.

By 2010, Coleman was allegedly charged with domestic violence again and was placed in jail for a night. However, it was discovered that the actor was actually arrested for an outstanding warrant after failing to appear in court.

The actor's lawyer, Randy Kester, told the press: "This is a lot less serious than it seems. He was not arrested for assault." Despite the clarification, he did not disclose Coleman's outstanding case, for which he failed to appear in court.

It also did not discount that law enforcement was called to his home for an unnamed "civil disturbance." It was then that a misdemeanor warrant for failure to appear was discovered.

The actor was asked to pay $1,725 in bail for his arrest and was released from Utah County Jail. He downplayed rumors of his marital problems with his wife Shannon Price, joking, "My wife would kill me if I said anything like that!"

A couple of months later, Coleman passed away on May 28, 2010, at the age of 42 after suffering from an intracranial hemorrhage. His death came after a fall in his own home, and after years of struggling with his health.

Being a Hollywood star is a challenging occupation, and generations of actors can attest to this. Not many get to rebuild their lives and pick up where they've left off, but there are also success stories of celebrities who were able to turn their lives around for good.