Child Actor Justin Cooper Recounts Receiving Disturbing Fan Mail as a Child Star

Justin Cooper, who gained fame as a child actor in the 1990s, has revealed that his mother intercepted disturbing fan mail he received from incarcerated individuals during the peak of his career.

Cooper, best known for his role as Jim Carrey's son in the 1997 comedy "Liar Liar," shared his experiences on the "Not So Little Rascals" podcast. He credited his mother with doing a "really good job" of shielding him from the negative aspects of fame.

"She would tell me later on about, like, prison mail that I would get that she never showed me," Cooper said. "Letters from people in jail."

He recalled that these letters often came from inmates who considered themselves fans and would comment on his appearance. "Dudes in jail talking about how they're such a big fan of me ... and you're such a cute kid," he recounted.

Cooper emphasized his mother's protective role, noting that she "never, ever left me alone with anybody on set." He contrasted her approach with that of other parents in the industry, stating, "You know, there's a lot of acting parents you hear of back in the day that are just like, 'OK, ya, go. Do whatever they tell you to do. Bye!' and my mom was not like that."

As an example of his mother's dedication, Cooper mentioned an incident involving comedian Don Rickles, who was slated to play a role in "Dennis the Menace Strikes Again." Cooper's mother reportedly approached Rickles to ensure he would refrain from using offensive language around her son.

Cooper eventually stepped away from acting when the audition process began to feel like a chore. He described the travel time and the demands of auditions conflicting with his desire to focus on homework and social activities. "After a while of me kind of just being like, I got another audition, my mom was like, 'Look, if you don't want to do it anymore, you don't have to,'" he said.

He expressed concern that his decision to leave acting might have disappointed his mother, given her significant involvement in his career. Cooper noted that while his relationship with his mother was generally strong, it experienced some strain in high school when he began experimenting with marijuana. "I stopped acting, I started smoking weed," he said, recalling his mother's discovery of his stash, which he admitted "put a little strain" on their relationship temporarily.

Throughout his early acting career, Cooper acknowledged his mother's constant support, attending auditions and helping him with his lines.