Lisa Loring

Lisa Loring was born on February 16 in 1958 in Kwajalein, which is a small military base in the Marshall Islands. Her father was a Navy officer, and she moved around frequently throughout her childhood. Nevertheless, she found a passion for acting at a young age, and it would eventually take her down a long and exciting career path.

Child Star Days

When Lisa was just six years old, she started acting and singing in various television commercials. Soon after, she made her debut in the TV comedy series “The Addams Family” (1964-1966), playing the role of Wednesday Addams. Lisa’s portrayal of Wednesday in the show made her an instant sensation and earned her legions of fans. In fact, when the show ended, she was given her very own Saturday morning cartoon in which she voiced Wednesday’s character.

During the 60s and 70s, Lisa appeared in over 50 TV shows and movies, including “The Big Valley,” “The FBI,” “Marcus Welby M.D.,” and “The Paul Lynde Show”. Her career peaked in the late 70s, where she played the role of Cricket Montgomery on the soap opera “As the World Turns.” Her performance earned her a Daytime Emmy nomination.

Her Bumpy Ride

Once Lisa Loring entered adulthood, however, it seemed that her career stalled. She struggled with depression and substance abuse, which put her out of work for long periods. Although she would make sporadic appearances on shows, such as “Days of Our Lives,” it seemed like her days as a child star were the peak of her career.

One of the reasons why Lisa struggled as a young adult was because she was typecast. People could only see her as the cute, dark-haired Wednesday Addams from “The Addams Family.” According to Lisa, this typecasting led to her struggling to handle her fame as she grew older.

“Through the years, whenever anyone talks to me about the show or my role, something inside me just clams up. I have to remind myself that it’s not about me, it’s about the character and the show,” she said in an interview.

Coming Out of Rock Bottom

Lisa’s struggles with substances in her early 20s motivated her to seek help, which she found through a substance abuse rehabilitation program. After getting sober, Lisa began to turn her life around, attending college and starting afresh by working different jobs. However, acting still held a special place in her heart.

After going through recovery and gaining a newfound appreciation for herself and her talents, Lisa started auditioning again, but this time resigned to playing more mature roles. As a result of these efforts, she was cast in plays such as “Rent,” “The Vagina Monologues” and “The Road to Mecca”.

When Lisa Loring moved from child star to more respected actress roles, the world around her noticed, respecting a new area of expertise that she flourished in. It is safe to say that Lisa has had quite an impressive and intriguing entertainment career. Whether as a child actor or adult actress, her passion for performing has driven her all her life, and it is the reason why she continues to be celebrated by fans and enjoyed by viewers.

Taking ownership over her life and realizing her worth as an actress, Lisa has overcome many obstacles and has turned her life around for the better with grace and finesse. She continues to inspire others with her professional and personal journey, and it shows that it’s never too late to start over and pursue your dreams.