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Child Star Quit Acting Over Bullying
27 Sep
Summary
- Child actor Justin Cooper left Hollywood due to burnout and bullying.
- Fame led peers to wrongly assume arrogance in high school.
- Cooper now reflects on the challenges of child stardom.
Justin Cooper, who starred in 90s films like 'Liar Liar' and 'Dennis the Menace Strikes Again!', has opened up about his decision to step away from acting in his teenage years. He recently shared on 'The Not So Little Rascals' podcast that burnout was an initial factor.
Transitioning to public school during puberty, Cooper found auditions less frequent and the process tedious. He recalled feeling overwhelmed by the commute, homework, and the desire for a normal teenage social life, leading his mother to support his decision to stop.
Cooper also detailed experiencing bullying for the first time upon entering public high school after attending a private school. He felt misunderstood, as peers wrongly assumed he was arrogant due to his past fame, a perception he actively tried to avoid.
He expressed how ironic it was that his attempts to blend in were misinterpreted as him thinking he was better than others. Cooper chose to avoid discussing his acting past to prevent drawing further attention.
