Shaun Weiss, a former child actor who later faced drug addiction and homelessness, has spoken out about the challenges young actors face in Hollywood, particularly in light of the recent death of Hayden Panettiere. Weiss, who was making an estimated $60,000 a week at the height of his childhood career, believes that the responsibility for a child star's well-being ultimately lies with their parents, not the entertainment industry.
"You can't really count on Hollywood to police young people," Weiss told The Daily Mail. "It's the parents, really. And what happens, and I know this happened in my situation, the parenting dynamic gets incredibly messed up when the kid is the breadwinner, because you know, like in my own situation, my parents really they lost authority with me when I started paying for things."
Weiss highlighted that the financial success of a child actor can warp family dynamics, diminishing parental authority. He also suggested that the focus should be on raising a healthy and balanced child, implying that entering show business at a young age may not always be conducive to that goal.
Recounting his own experiences, Weiss recalled instances where adults on set were aware of his underage drinking but chose to look the other way. "When I was younger and I when I was on sets and adults, I wouldn't say people were offering me things, but they knew I was doing things and everyone just sort of looked away," he said.
He specifically mentioned being a series regular on the show "Mr. Rhodes" at age 16, where producers and writers were aware of his alcohol consumption before shows. Weiss believes that an adult intervention at that time could have made a significant difference in his life.
Panettiere, who died recently after a suspected overdose, had been open about her struggles with opioid and alcohol addiction, including allegations of being given medication at a young age to help with interviews. Weiss, who has been sober for six years after battling his own addiction to drugs like heroin and methamphetamine, empathizes with Panettiere's struggles.
Weiss advised parents considering show business for their children to proceed with caution. He recommends enrolling children in acting classes and stage plays to learn the craft but questions the motivation behind pursuing professional acting before the age of 18. "Trying to get them paid professionally for it before they're 18," he stated, "It always reeks of something... are the parents hoping that the kids will pay the bills?"
He described his own descent into addiction in his mid-30s, which followed personal tragedies including the death of his father and the end of his engagement, ultimately leading to homelessness. After a period of legal trouble and a court-ordered rehab stay, Weiss has been sober since January and now champions sobriety for other young actors. He even sells autographed items on his website to benefit children actors striving to stay off drugs.