Photo Source: Getty Images
Bridges, best known for his childhood portrayal of Willis Jackson on “Diff’rent Strokes,” and Feldman, who appeared in “The Goonies” and “Gremlins,” were both molested by men connected to the industry and then fell into depression and drug addiction.
“We’re not doing enough to protect children, period,” Bridges told the Los Angeles Times.
The proposed bill would prevent registered sex offenders from representing minors and require those who have unsupervised access to child performers to submit to criminal background checks, as well as provide fingerprints.
In November of last year, the self-employed Hollywood child star agent Martin Weiss was arrested on suspicion of child molestation. Two weeks later, registered sex offender Jason James Murphy, a film casting associate, was arrested under suspicion of violating sex offender registry laws. He had changed his name to Jason James and failed to file the change with authorities. He was convicted of child molestation and abduction in 1996 and worked as a casting associate on “Super 8” and “The Three Stooges,” films, both of which featured children.
The abuse began for Feldman at age 14 when a man associated with his father and manager’s talent agency gave him drugs and alcohol and molested him. Feldman was abused for two years before “I was able to confront him in broad daylight, awake and aware, and say, ‘If you ever... touch me again, I will kill you,’” he told the paper.
Bridges was 12 when he was first molested by a musician and gospel singer. The abuse occurred three times over the course of a year and was the cause of a drug addiction that spiraled out of control until 1993. Bridges’ breaking point was being strapped down on all fours in psychiatric ward with a diaper on.
"Here I was, one of the biggest television stars of all time, sitting with a diaper on, a complete drug addict. I remember telling God, 'I want to be normal. I want to be like everybody else. I want to be happy,’” Bridges said.
Assemblywoman Nora Campos is the author of the bill the two actors are supporting. “If this bill can help save one child from the pain and consequences of being made a victim, then it is worth every effort,” she said.
