Dee Jay Daniels, the former child star from "The Hughleys," is under arrest in California. The actor played the lovable Michael Hughley in the hit sitcom headed up by funnyman D.L. Hughley. The TV son's arrest is no laughing matter however. Charges include "premeditated murder" and "gang activity" in connection with a fatal stabbing. The "possession of marijuana" part of his case is the least of Daniels' worries.
"The Hughleys" aired on television from 1998 to 2002. The series was about a middle-class African-American family trying to "keep it real" while living in a predominantly white suburb. Dee Jay, born Dorjan Lyndell Daniels, also had acting roles on such popular shows as "Family Matters," "Cold Case," "Coach," "ER," "Grace Under Fire," and "The Wayans Bros."
Daniels, now 23, faces life in prison if he is convicted. The actor is currently being held in the San Joaquin County jail. The case states that he allegedly stabbed a 26-year-old man to death outside of a club along with three other men.
Sadly, the curse of the child stars rides again. It's no secret that the cute kids that make us laugh as children often have dramatically different lives as adults. Some child stars like Raven Simone of "The Cosby Show" easily make positive transitions into adulthood. Others like Drew Barrymore may stumble at first and then recover. Many don't fare so well. Long after "The Parent Trap," Lindsay Lohan is still trying to regain her former glory days.
Unfortunately, the story of a child star running afoul of the law still seems to be a common one. Just this week, former Nickelodeon actress Amanda Bynes was charged with DUI. She then made the extremely bad decision to tweet the President, yes Barack Obama, to request assistance with her arrest.
Other Notorious Child Star Arrests:
No conversation about child stars gone bad would be complete without the cast of "Diff'rent Strokes." The '80s sitcom was about two young orphans from Harlem being adopted by a rich Park Avenue family. Unfortunately, all three of the youngsters from the show had terrible experiences in real life.
Todd Bridges, who played big brother Willis led a life of crime in the 1990s that included drugs, attempted murder charges, and a stabbing. Gary Coleman, who played Arnold, had a number of run-ins with the law before his body succumbed to his lifelong health challenges. Dana Plato, who played big sister Kimberly, died of a drug overdose.
No child star was bigger than the King of Pop . MJ's career was larger than life. The "Beat It" star was known for inventing dance moves that seemed to defy gravity. He will be forever remembered as the man who created his own brand of music.
Michael's legacy includes hit songs, a family dynasty, and a life marred by rumors and court cases. The world was shocked when Jackson was first accused of improper behavior with minors. Although Jackson either settled or was acquitted on the various sexual molestation cases, they remain a part of his history. The man who gave us countless hours of family entertainment was tormented by personal demons.
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