Y&R: Former Star arrested at Governer's Ball

[Khan]

Agree. OTOH, for every actor like Judy who couldn't cope with the assembly-like rigors of the studio system, there were other actors who could; and it's because of THOSE actors that MGM began to look at Judy as a liability and risk.

Moreover, although MGM tended to treat their stable of performers rather harshly, at the same time, I tend to look at their decision to drop Judy from the roster as their way of sending a wake-up call to their star. Yes, MGM largely was to blame for her troubles; and of course, they should have recognized the dangers and done more to help her. We have to remember, however, this was a time when drug addiction was not talked about in polite society. (Heck, even today, most can't wrap their heads around the concept of a prescription drug addict, which is EXACTLY what Judy was!) They truly wanted her to seek help, but how? Given the times and their options, ending her contract with the studio probably seemed the only way.

[Vee]

I'm not going to say Hollywood is not ageist, because it absolutely is. But Debra Winger and especially Sean Young are poor examples of this.

Winger took herself out of the equation willingly - she was brilliant and sought-after, but difficult and tired of Hollywood very, very quickly, and walked out. Even now it's rare to see her, and she's often been in demand even for small choice parts.

Sean Young, never that talented, has a long, long, long history of eccentricity and impossible behavior, most especially in her youthful heyday, on everything from Blade Runner to Wall Street (Oliver Stone later said she was likely better for the Daryl Hannah part than her bit role as Gordon Gekko's wife, but added that she was incredibly taxing to deal with and that her bizarre campaign to take the "Darien" role overshadowed everything). Ageism did not ruin Sean Young's career. Sean Young has always done that very well solo.