Photo:Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic
Paul Archuleta/FilmMagic
Zachery Ty Bryanis opening up about the hardships of navigating life after teenage stardom.
“What moved me into producing is that it got to the point as an actor where I felt like I didn’t have control over my career anymore,” the former child star said. “As an actor, you’re like a cow going to the slaughterhouse, and you have to rely on so many people, from an agent to manager to lawyer. I figured I didn’t necessarily have to act anymore, there are other directions to go.”
However, Bryan still regarded appearing on all eight seasons of the beloved series as “some of the best days of my life,” despite the negative aspects the industry brought about thereafter.
“Obviously, my life flipped upside down and everywhere you go, people know who you are, but I give a lot of credit to my dad and my mom because they always kept me grounded,” he said.
ABC Photo Archives/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty
Prior to largely putting acting behind him, Bryan’s many credits included film roles inThe Fast and the Furious: Tokyo DriftandAnnapolisas well as many guest-starring spots on popular shows like30 RockandVeronica Mars. However, like many other child stars, he still found himself caught up in legal trouble.
PEOPLE confirmed in October 2020 that Bryan was arrested forallegedly strangling a woman, which he laterpleaded guiltyto. He also entered a multiple-offender alcohol program after enduring a record of DUI arrests, with one occurring as recent as 2017.
Bryanfell into Bitcoinand major debt as well, even being accused of running a fraudulent agriculture-technology startup scheme. Sources toldThe Hollywood Reporterthat Bryan “duped” them into a shady cryptocurrency scheme, with one saying the financial losses have been “a gut punch.” But Bryan told the publication that he was not “running some shady scam deal or something,” insisting that he’s in “in the same boat” as his investors.
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In reflecting on his many struggles, including the fraud allegations and his alcohol abuse struggles, Bryan said, “I do know when things get in the way of who you’re meant to be, where you’re supposed to go and what God has planned for you.”
If you or someone you know is struggling with substance abuse, please contact the SAMHSA helpline at 1-800-662-HELP.
source: people.com
