Parental Illness (Mental or Physical), Addiction

Beley, Ennis

Beley was born the fourth child of an unmarried drug addict, Patricia Smith, in Los Angeles. From a few days old he was fostered by a 60-year-old single man, Howard Glen, who raised him as ... [more]

Verdingkinder

The institution of Verdingkinder (meaning "earning children") in Switzerland dates to the early 19th century, although it has roots going back to before the Reformation, and it wa... [more]

Smith, Robyn

Smith was born Melody Dawn Miller. Her father deserted her and her mother (who was 17 when she was born), and her mother was declared mentally unstable by the courts, who placed Melody in a... [more]

Roosevelt, Eleanor

Eleanor Roosevelt was born, the eldest of three children into a wealthy and prominent New York family (her uncle was President Theodore Roosevelt), but her mother and one brother died when ... [more]

Pelzer, David J.

Pelzer was the third of five children of alcoholic parents. His father deserted the family, and David was horrifically physically abused from the age of four by his alcoholic birth mother (... [more]

Monroe, Marilyn

Born Norma Jean Baker to an unmarried woman, Monroe was fostered from babyhood until about the age of seven, because her mother was working and not well enough to care for her as well. Duri... [more]

Mici Plwm

Mici Plwm is a popular Welsh television and stage actor, especially in children's programs; his most famous character is probably Plwmsan y Twmffat Twp, dim-witted side-kick of Syr Wynff ap... [more]

McKenzie, Richard B.

McKenzie's mother committed suicide and his alcoholic father was unable to care for him, so he was placed in the Barium Springs Home for Children in North Carolina at the age of 10. He reme... [more]

Lee, John Doyle

Doyle was born in the Illinois Territory, His mother died when he was three, and his father was an alcoholic. At seven he went to live with an uncle's family, and stayed with them until he ... [more]

Johnson, Nkosi

Johnson was born Xolani Nkosi to South African parents infected with HIV, and he was born infected. When he was two he was taken from his mother who by now was too ill to care for him, and ... [more]