By now we all know the story:The 46 year old actress began her career at age 6 with a commercial. (The footage has since been lost.) The studios soon came calling, with roles in movies like 80 Steps to Jonah with Wayne Newton and How Sweet It Is! with Debbie Reynolds. When film star status eluded her, the scrappy starlet turned to the small screen. And the lull in her career quickly ended with a flurry of appearances on some of the most popular shows of the day: Family Affair, My Three Sons, Gunsmoke and The Don Rickles Show.
Then came Happy Days. As Joanie Cunningham, she was the 1970s version of a 1950s pre-teen and teenage American girl. For ten seasons she was Richie's little sister, pulling double duty one season in the mid-run spin-off Joanie Loves Chachi. (According to Erin, "JLC" was only intended for a limited run. Incidentally John Travolta's sister Ellen played Louisa Delvecchio, mother of Chachi Arcola.)
But while Erin played the girl next door, she was no shrinking violet. She pursued her career with teeth-bared aggressiveness. ABC veterans still remember how the role of Joanie, played by actress Susan Neher in the very first Happy Days episode, was snatched by the 13 year old shark-like Moran. Neher was shaky in the role; Moran smelled blood in the water - and went in for the kill.
Which is why I was surprised to read this last weekend about Erin and The Exorcist. Erin was up for role of Regan MacNeil in the 1973 horror classic - but was forced to turn it down. In Moran's words: "My mom said, 'You're not going to do this whether you get it or not.' (My parents) were real strict. I went to a Catholic school for eight years." Linda Blair won the part ... and an Oscar nomination.
How Erin must have resented her parents, I thought. She could have been an international star! The obstruction of Erin's career was all the more remarkable when you consider that she was the youngest of Edward and Sharon Moran's six children. How did they even muster the energy to stop her from marching on to set and projectile vomiting her way to glory?!
To me it all seemed like a clear-cut case: Sharon Moran ruined Erin's life. Until...
Yesterday, when Lindsay Lohan was arrested on felony drug charges. Never mind the uncertain fate of two Lohan film projects, now in suspension, and all the jobs dependent on them. Never mind Lohan's own career prospects.
Her life is a complete mess and it's pretty clear where we should place blame: Those parents. Lindsay is a tragic illustration of how talent, beauty, and charm (and she's got them all) can only bring you so far. Without a real family, a person is handicapped, sometimes gravely, fated to constantly swim upstream in life. It's a testament to Lindsay's grit and again, her talent, that she's made it this far!
The mother, Dina Lohan, is a scandal, emotionally enfeebled and a compulsive liar. (Falsely claiming to be a Rockette is the least of her crimes.) The father, an ex-con, is suddenly concerned for Lindsay and talking God ... on Access Hollywood. Lindsay's behavior, not surprisingly, is increasingly self-destructive.
It seems to me that Sharon Moran made the decision regarding The Exorcist. As it happens, my high school Latin teacher, Rev. John Nicola, was a priest ... and an exorcist. (He told us some pretty freaky stories.) He was also the primary consultant on The Exorcist. When I asked him about Linda Blair, he said she was a sweetheart when she showed up on set, but that she wasn't prepared for the international spotlight.
Of course we all know what happened to Linda Blair: Professionally things spiraled downward. She could only get roles as rape victims and satanists. (She does deserve credit for doing all her own skating in Roller Boogie.)
Personally things were even more grim: After attending the funerals for members of Lynyrd Skynyrd she was arrested for conspiracy to buy cocaine. (Blair insisted she was trying to buy puppies.) She eventually served three years probation. And she dated Rick James. Yikes.
I wish Linda Blair well. She makes dog jewelry now. And to tell the truth it's a lot better than that Chewy Vuitton Schlock. But if she could turn back time, she wouldn't have made The Exorcist. In her own words: "I wanted to be a princess. I wanted to be in Disney movies, I wanted to be in "Lassie", I wanted to be in "Flipper", I didn't want to be a monster".
As for Erin Moran, she's gone on to have an ordinary life. Two marriages, the second for over 13 years to Steven Fleischmann and going strong. I suspect she has ups and downs like the rest of us. She certainly has some crazy memories: She and Scott Baio recently revealed that they were screwing like bunnies at the age of 14. Kids!
But through it all, during that sensitive period early in Erin's life, she had a mother who, if not a perfect decision maker, at least made decisions. If only Lindsay had had that.
(Photos: Warner Brothers / Zuma Press, X17online, Getty Images)
Reader Comments ( Page 2 of 2)
16. Please don't get me wrong in this, Lindsy's parents are about the scum of the Earth and all, but at what point do we stop excusing all this horrible behavior as just "the parents' fault?" Correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe the "little girl lost" is 21.
I grew up in Atlantic City, a horrible, horrible place filled with gangs, violence, poverty and drugs. I have friends whose family lives make the Lohans look like the Bradys, yet they managed to turn out okay despite nopt having a single advantage that Lindsy and her $7 million provide her.
Reality Check at 2:03PM on Jul 25th 2007
17. We must also take a look at the Justice System, judges, courts, etc, who keep turning a blind eye to the antics of these starlets and let them get away with their nonsense. Take a look at the Paris Hilton issue. She did her time in the infirmary after she "found God and her Bible". The judges will not be happy until some innocent person is hurt or killed. Shame on them!
Joanne at 8:28AM on Jul 28th 2007
18. While parents do play a crucial role in their child's upbringing, they can't be held soley to blame. As we've seen with child starlets of the past, many go through a very rough adolescence and nigh deadly early adulthood. Blair and Moran, although an uneasy past for them both, they made it out and live rather quiet and content lives.
Lohan needs help and if a month's stay in jail will do it, then lock her up. She has talent and can put it to far better use (her next film features her as a stripper) than what she is doing. If she chooses drugs, drinking, and reckless behavior instead of doing what's right, then let her career falter.
You've just left the No Spin Zone with
Your friend, Blayze "Shaggy" O'Reilly from the Bee
Lohan needs help and if a month's stay in jail will do it, then lock her up. She has talent and can put it to far better use (her next film features her as a stripper) than what she is doing. If she chooses drugs, drinking, and reckless behavior instead of doing what's right, then let her career falter.
You've just left the No Spin Zone with
Your friend, Blayze "Shaggy" O'Riley from the Bee
bobrien at 3:15PM on Jul 25th 2007
19. I couldn't agree more with the fact that if more STABLE family environments existed within the lives of these stars, we wouldn't see a lot of these antics that they keep getting themselves into.
Brittany at 3:23PM on Jul 25th 2007
20. i'm aware that lindsay has her addiction issues and her parents are not helping her, but couldn't they at least buy her a "driver" until she gets sober so that she can at least stop humiliating herself publicly?
ed at 4:01PM on Jul 25th 2007
21. I think Lindsay Lohan needs a good life coach. She's obviously in a lot of pain and she's crying out for help. She's actually screaming, but it seems as if those in her inner circle are wearing ear plugs.
I like Lindsay. She's talented and beautiful. I'm looking forward to her getting the help she needs, and maturing into the emotionally healthy woman that we all know she can become.
giftedgirl at 4:07PM on Jul 25th 2007
22. I totally agree. I've been a teacher over 25 years and the parents of today let their kids do whatever they please!!! Start parenting and not being your kid's friend.
Katt at 4:22PM on Jul 25th 2007
23. she is 21 what the hell do her parents have to say. NOTHING. she is an adult.they did not force drugs on her. her peers did. snd she needs to stop period. my parents did not tell me shit when i was 21 or i would tell them to mind their own business.
kim at 9:13AM on Jul 27th 2007
24. I couldn't agree more with your article. Parents (good) decisions, no matter how annoying they may be at one point or another, help a person in the long run. I really hope for Lindsay to recover from this crazy nightmare.
Ana at 8:12PM on Jul 25th 2007
25. I think your analysis is silly and trite. If you want your readers to think all these things folowed from parenting or the acceptance of a film role, then neither they nor you re using very critical thinking. Why don't you think you think before you write? Chemical dependency is a disease by the way, not a character flaw.Things are a little more complex than you have made them.
mark at 10:05PM on Jul 25th 2007
26. While Lindsay's biological units, I hesitate to call them parents, aren't Ozzie & Harriet, no one has forced Lindsay into her behavior. No one but Lindsay should be blamed for her behavior. She is an adult, after all.
rogogirl7 at 10:24PM on Jul 25th 2007
27.
These young ladies, Lindsey, Paris, Brittany need to learn to be just that young ladies, money has made these young women lose their damn minds and souls. I agree that the Parental fence has not been up in any of these cases and it is sad because that have such wonderful futures ahead of them with the proper guidance. I also agree that they should be responsible for their actions and held accountable. Paris will be caught again drunk and behind the wheel and i pray that no one will be in the front of that vehicle or in the car in the other lane, because none of what has happen to her has sunk in at all it's done is bought her more popularity, just show's you how shallow our nation can be. I hope someone or something can get to lindsey's inner self and reach her before she becomes a "IN LOVING MEMORY"
Thanks for you time
Patti in PA blowing her Horn!!!!
Patricia Horn at 11:11PM on Jul 25th 2007
28. Mo is actually making sense! The rapture must be near!
Now multiply Lohan times all of the young impressionable little fanatics who want to be just like her. And do the same for Britney, Paris...
I was in SE Asia 5 years ago and got to work with very poor rural children who had no TV and no bad influences; these kids were so polite, gentle and content- and they had no sneakers, they didn't even have their health.
I think the longsuffering Rev. John Nicola finally came thru for you- one of your many and frequent childhood exorcisms just kicked in!
Mike at 2:39AM on Jul 26th 2007
29. I was so hot for Erin back in the day, just as I am for Lohan now.
Ishmael at 9:18PM on Jul 30th 2007
30. I think Lindsay is getting a bad rap. If only someone in her coterie would replace her vodka filled water bottles with vodka flavored water, she probably wouldn't notice the difference.
As far as having cocaine in her pants, who hasn't gone to the Gap, tried on clothes, and then, when leaving, put on the wrong person's pants? It happens all the time. I have even overheard people talking about "pranking" by placing a bag of cocaine in the pocket of someone they know is drunk and about to drive. So these things are all relevant.
What concerns me is that Lindsay is unaware that drinking in your youth can lead to getting drunk.
I hope she doesn't serve hard time, because that would be like the ordeal O.J. and Baretta had to go through.
John Giza at 8:22PM on Jul 26th 2007