‘Liar, Liar’ Child Star Says His Mother Shielded Him From Disturbing Prison Letters

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Former child star Justin Cooper is revealing the disturbing side of becoming famous before he was old enough to fully understand the attention surrounding him. Cooper, who played Jim Carrey’s son in the 1997 comedy “Liar, Liar,” claims adult prisoners sent him fan mail commenting on his appearance when he was only 8 years old. The actor never saw the letters because his mother quietly intercepted them, protecting him from some of the most unsettling attention his breakout role generated.

Justin Cooper Received Disturbing Letters From Prisoners

Cooper discussed his experiences with childhood fame during an appearance on the “Not So Little Rascals” podcast. Co-hosts Jordan Warkol and Blake Collins, who appeared in the 1994 movie “The Little Rascals,” asked Cooper whether any parts of becoming famous at such a young age felt “overwhelming” or “scary.”

“My mom did a really good job of kind of, like, shielding me from stuff, you know,” Cooper said. He then revealed that she withheld disturbing letters sent by incarcerated adults. “She would tell me later on about, like, prison mail that I would get that she never showed me.”

The former actor went on to describe what his mother eventually told him about the letters’ contents. “Like, letters from people in jail, like, talking about … you know … dudes in jail talking about how they’re such big fans of me and, like, I’m such a cute kid.”

The revelation visibly surprised Warkol and Collins, who described the unsolicited mail as “next level” and “wild.”

His Mother Kept Him From Being Alone On Set

Cooper credited his mother with creating boundaries around his acting career and remaining present while he worked. He said she made sure that he was never left alone with other people on film and television sets. Her approach differed from that of parents who allegedly instructed their children to “do whatever they tell you to do” while working in the entertainment industry.

Although Cooper did not describe experiencing inappropriate behavior on set, his comments showed how seriously his mother approached his safety. Her decision to keep the prison letters from him also allowed Cooper to continue enjoying the positive parts of his early success without being exposed to attention that would have been inappropriate and potentially frightening for a child.

Cooper only learned about the correspondence later, once he was old enough to understand why his mother had withheld it.

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‘Liar, Liar’ Changed The Child Star’s Life

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Cooper became widely recognizable after portraying Max Reede, the son of Jim Carrey’s character, Fletcher Reede, in “Liar, Liar.” The Tom Shadyac-directed comedy follows a dishonest attorney who suddenly finds himself unable to lie after his son makes a birthday wish. The film also starred Maura Tierney, Cary Elwes and Jennifer Tilly.

Cooper’s performance earned him a Young Artist Award nomination for best performance in a feature film by an actor aged 10 or younger. The movie’s success also meant that Cooper could no longer move through everyday life without being recognized. “I couldn’t really go anywhere in public. I enjoyed it. I thought it was cool,” he recalled.

While the attention amused him, Cooper admitted it “probably annoyed” his family “a little bit more.” He remembered strangers lining up at a buffet in his hometown to request autographs, turning an ordinary family outing into an impromptu fan event.

Justin Cooper Continued Acting Before Leaving Hollywood Behind

Cooper continued acting after the release of “Liar, Liar,” although none of his later projects reached the same level of cultural recognition. In 1998, he starred as the title character in the direct-to-video movie “Dennis the Menace Strikes Again.” His television credits included regular roles on “The Boys Are Back” and “Brother’s Keeper” during the 1990s.

Cooper also made appearances on several major television shows, including “Full House,” “ER,” “General Hospital,” and “Boy Meets World.” His final credited acting role came in a 2003 episode of “The Practice.”

Justin Cooper Built A New Career In Sports Radio

After stepping away from show business, Cooper attended California State University, Northridge. Unlike some child stars who attempt to return to acting as adults, Cooper established a career away from the camera and has not added another acting credit since 2003.

Cooper eventually moved into sports broadcasting and currently works as an executive producer on “The Ben Maller Show” on FOX Sports Radio. He has reportedly spent 14 years working on the nationally syndicated overnight program.

The ‘Liar, Liar’ Child Star Says His Mother Shielded Him From Disturbing Prison Letters first appeared on The Blast