Tatum’s Relationship With Her Father
Tatum’s father, the late Ryan O’Neal, is an accomplished actor in his own right, but his physical and emotional abuse of Tatum is likely what triggered her substance abuse. Tatum has discussed her rough relationship with her father in two of her published books, going into detail in her autobiography called “A Paper Life,” which came out in 2005.
She would discuss the relationship again in her 2011 book called “Found: A Daughter’s Journey Home.” Ryan struggled with his own substance abuse, meaning they had plenty to unpack.
Tatum O’Neal
Tatum O'Neal won an Academy Award at the tender age of ten for her role of Addie Loggins in "Paper Moon," and her early success continued with "The Bad News Bears" and Nickelodeon. But, after the seventies, she would only appear in five films over the next fifteen years.
She pushed back into acting with small guest roles on shows like "8 Simple Rules for Dating My Teenage Daughter," "Law and Order: Criminal Intent," and "Sex and the City." She's also had a recurring role on the hit series "Rescue Me."
Tatum’s Rocky Road
Tatum has never had an easy life, despite her success. She's the youngest person to ever win an academy award, and the substance abuse came next, beginning around the time of her famous role in "Paper Moon."
Tatum would get sober but relapsed and developed an addiction to heroin after her divorce from Tennis superstar John McEnroe. She sadly lost custody of her children due to her substance abuse issues. However, she has maintained her sobriety following an arrest in 2008.
Mindy Cohn
Cohn is best known for her portrayal of Natalie, the strong-willed student from the television series "Facts of Life," which ran from 1979 to 1988. Her role was essential to the show's success, bringing humor and levity to any scene she was in. But the role ended up typecasting her, making it difficult for Cohn to branch out.
Her acting did continue, however. In addition, she picked up a degree in cultural anthropology and has helped found the weSPARK cancer support center. She's also provided the voice of Velma in the "Scooby-Doo" animated series, for which she won an Emmy.
Mindy Cohn Becomes an LGBTQ Icon
While Mindy Cohn has, for the most part, stayed out of the spotlight. She has never gotten married and chose to not have children. On the other hand, she regularly shows support for LGBTQ causes and acts as a positive figure within the community.
During an interview with "The Advocate," Cohn said there were very few gay people on the set of the "Facts of Life," yet she maintains a progressive family and has numerous gay family members and friends, which prompted her to announce her support of the community.