Gazette Writer
Corey Haim is a perfect example of a child star who hit it too big, too soon.
You may remember this former teen idol as one of “the two Coreys” who rose to fame in the 1980s. Haim starred alongside Corey Feldman in teen flicks such as Lost Boys (1987), License to Drive (1988), and Dream a Little Dream (1989). The young Torontonian was not only hot onscreen, but also off, dating numerous Hollywood starlets including Alyssa Milano, Nicole Eggert, Holly Fields, and Victoria Beckham.
Unfortunately, Haim let fame, fortune and an oversized ego get the best of him. He filed for bankruptcy in Los Angeles in 1997, owing $104,000 to the I.R.S. and $100,000 in California taxes, as well as a variety of medical expenses.
He has also spent several years battling a serious drug addiction that began when he was 18. He was first admitted to rehab in 1989, and was in and out until 2004. At one point, he said he was taking 85 pills of Valium per day, which isn’t hard to believe considering he slipped into a coma after a drug overdose in August 2001.
In an attempt to clear up rumours surrounding his very public cocaine addiction, Haim starred in the 1989 documentary Corey Haim: Me, Myself, and I. The film featured Haim taking part in wholesome family activities and discussing future career ambitions. However, his incoherent ramblings on the tape suggest he was drugged up during filming.
Haim reached an exceptionally low point in 2001 when, with the help of a celebrity memorabilia company, he tried to sell clumps of his hair and his own decayed molar on eBay. The selling price was $75, but bidding only reached $10 before the website pulled the auction.
In 2004, Haim became the subject of a song by Irish band the Thrills, entitled “Whatever Happened to Corey Haim,” and when asked about his whereabouts, he reported, “I’m clean, sober, humble, and happy.”
Seems Haim may be telling the truth, as things are beginning to look up for him. He is finally clean and sober, and lives in Toronto where he works part-time at a record store and continues to pursue acting.
Haim’s recent endeavours include Universal Groove (2004), an indie movie about the underground party scene viewed through the memories of eight people coming back to reality, and The Back Lot Murderers (2002), a forgettable straight-to-video horror film.
Although it’s pretty safe to say Haim made many mistakes, it would be unfair to ignore his achievements. He has appeared in 35 films to date, and was ranked #26 on VH1’s 100 Greatest Kid Stars.
Obviously there are lessons to be learned from the life story of Corey Haim: save your money, don’t spend it on frivolous things like drugs, cars, and expensive clothes (or do so in moderation). Otherwise, by the time you’re 30, you’ll be doped up enough to rip out two of your own teeth.
