So many children who entered the industry at a young age are not given the opportunity to express their experiences and traumas. Whether this is because of signed agreements or the need to internalize, a surplus of stories go untold. A variety of traumas are not just conducted during the years in the industry, the after affects also contribute to the hardships within these child actors’ lives.
Paul Peterson, a well-known child actor from the 1950s, depicts a wonderful representation on how being raised within the industry can lead to adverse effects later on in life. Peterson began acting when he was just 10 years old, starring in The Mickey Mouse Clubhouse in 1955 but later had his acting breakthrough playing Jeff Stone in The Donna Reed Show until 1966. Peterson continued his acting career into his 20s and concluded as the effects of being raised in-front of a camera emerged.
Peterson struggled with post-childhood burnout, alcoholism and narcotic use alongside having trouble with his finances. To create an avenue for child stars to express their traumas, past or present, Peterson created a non-profit called “A Minor Consideration”. This non-profit was made in 1980 in hopes of ensuring child actors get their correct earnings and to work towards advocating for legislation to prevent child actor abuse.
Although the idea was there, Peterson struggled to bring in donations and keep the doors of this non-profit open. Unfortunately, his poor decisions followed him into his late adulthood as he pleaded guilty to smuggling pregnant women from the Marshall Islands alongside committing many acts of fraud. He is still serving today and is scheduled to be released around 2028 to 2031 depending on behavior.
Many questions arise that if Peterson was raised in a different environment, one less public, would his actions in his adulthood be the same? The lifetime of his career are arguably the most formative years of a person’s life. These years shape us into who we are and the values we carry. The role models that surround us directly impact the habits we adopt. Had Peterson lived a simplistic childhood, built on fostering good relationships and positive ideals, would he still be in prison today?
It is hard to predict the future when so much damage has already been caused, however; taking preventative action today with children in the industry is something we can do to avoid situations like Paul Peterson.
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