Rags to Riches
Actress Candace Cameron Bure and other celebs have admitted their struggles.
Ted WilliamsThe Internet has been buzzing about Ted Williams, the Midwestern panhandler with the “golden voice”. As this overnight sensation is poised to receive a second chance in life, we take a look at some big names who rose from rags to riches.
Tyler PerryThe actor/playwright/director responsible for triggering both chuckles and sobs had a turbulent past before gaining the spotlight.
Halle BerryWhen she left the nest to pursue acting, Berry found that she had no safety net. She learned self-sufficiency during this turning point in her life.
Drew CareyThe actor-turned-game show host left his hometown for L.A. seeking fame and says he spent a while sleeping in tight quarters.
Patti SmithWith a career that dates to the 1960s, singer-songwriter Smith has become a punk icon. But before the fame, there were hard times.
Jim CarreyThis goofy screen star reportedly led a hardscrabble teenage life in his native land, where his family was forced to rough it.
Hilary SwankThere’s authenticity in the tough-girl roles Swank has portrayed; her adolescence was a rocky one.
William ShatnerShatner was hit by the one-two punch of a costly divorce and his seminal series getting canceled. As a result, he tells of a fall from grace.
Kelly ClarksonShortly after moving out on her own, then-unknown Clarkson suffered this setback and toughed it out for a short while.
KRS-OneAs a teen, the rap veteran lived a real hard-knock life. But he made an alliance at the bottom that would help him rise to the top
JewelThe yodeling pop singer was raised in chilly climes, but by the early 1990s, she ended up bumming it in a balmier area.
Suze OrmanAfter college, the award-winning financial advisor led a vagabond lifestyle that seemed anything but penny-wise.
Sylvester StalloneWhile trying to make a name for himself in the early 1970s, the future action star said he would rest in a New York spot that’s far from cozy.
Dr. PhilAs a pre-teen, the self-help guru faced lean times with his father.
Joan RiversRivers’ early survival methods may have helped her develop the thick skin that eventually made her famous.
John WooAs a child growing up overseas, future action film director Woo and his family survived tragedy.
