by Ann E. Smith

Created on: April 22, 2008

Whether it is Lindsay Lohan or Paris Hilton or Amy Winehouse, the current poster children of bad behavior will eventually have to face the consequences of their out-of control and self-destructive behaviors. Whether their actions lead to death, as is so often the case, may be contingent on when these celebrities hit their bottoms and who is there for them when that happens.

While the media and at times the public seem to almost reward the incredible antics of the young and famous by increased coverage and by continuing to support their films and records, there will always come a day when the line is crossed. For the fickle public and media, the celebrity is no longer viewed as interesting or edgy but as downright washed up and pathetic. Great examples of the fall from huge fame to pathetic shame include the 80s sensations Corey Haim and Corey Feldman. Or let's go back a decade to Leif Garrett and Michael Jackson. Once they were A-listers and now they, and many like them, may have challenges finding steady work.

And, aside from what happens to the career or perception of the out-of-control celebrities, what about their actual health, mentally and physically? We know that many, sadly, do not come out of their downward spiral alive. This tragic story, sometimes of Shakespearean proportions, has been told over and over again. Some of the most talented cannot handle fame and turn to pills, booze and other drugs to cope. In a few short years, they go from the top of the charts to six feet under. How can we think of Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Jimi Hendrix, Janis Joplin, Judy Garland, River Phoenix, James Dean and countless other great talents with fatal substance abuse issues and not wonder if they would have lived longer without the fame?

The sad truth is that some of these famous people could potentially get help before crossing the point of no return that leads to that death spiral; however, due to their current fame or money-generating capabilities, those who are supposedly close to them often then enable the addictions. It often seems that the trappings of fame not only create an almost caricature of the who the famous person once really was, as well as a menagerie of hangers-on and parasites as so-called friends and confidantes.

I guess the lesson we can all learn from these sad examples of people who have lost control and to such extremes is that sometimes less really is more. And, before we go too far down that path of pointing fingers at these folks for all that they do wrong - while not condoning bad behavior - let's remember that we can all fall prey to being addicted to something that is not good for us. And, whether we are famous or not, the fall into oblivion is never pretty, often deadly and very tough to overcome.

Perhaps fame and wealth really are not all they are cracked up to be. A cliche, yes, but that does not take away from its truth.

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