The following article contains references to drug use and suicide.
She went on to play the role until the show came to an end in 1966.
After her career-defining stint as Wednesday, the actor went on to have a rather tumultuous career and life.
On screen, she appeared in a number of guest roles and appearances in B-list movies.
Her next big break came in the ’80s with an ongoing role in a soap opera.
In her personal life, Loring married a number of times and had two children.
In January 2023, shedied at the age of 64.
Here is a closer look at this famous child actor’s fascinating life story.
“[The producer] wasn’t prepared to see children that young.”
However, according to Loring, she immediately looked the part so they made an exception.
Her mother had outfitted her in a dress, white gloves, and a patent leather handbag.
The producer read Loring the script just once and Loring was able to repeat the lines verbatim.
As Loring later recalled to theSydney Morning Herald, “I learned to memorise before I could read.”
fan favorite and catapulted to fame.
In interviews, Loring has always remembered her time as Wednesday Addams with fondness.
Speaking during aconvention, Loring recalled that the cast had been like an extended family.
“It was like a real family,” she said.
“You couldn’t have picked a better cast and crew.
And, you know, Carolyn Jone, John Astin Gomez and Morticia they were like parents to me.
They were great.”
To this day, Loring’s version of Wednesday remains a cult favorite.
Indeed, it’s hard to imagine “The Addams Family” without Loring’s iconic portrayal of Wednesday.
She even wentviralfor one scene in which she attempt to teach Lurch to dance.
Jenna Ortega later took inspiration from this original dance to create her own for Netflix’s “Wednesday.”
I did a little bit of her shuffle that she does."
When Loring was 16 years old, her 34-year-old mother, Judith, died.
According toPeople, her death was related to chronic alcoholism.
After a local photographer spotted Loring, he helped her mother get her set up with an agent.
She continued to help Loring as she became a child star on “The Addams Family.”
Her death must have been quite a blow to the young actor.
By the time her mother died, Loring and Foumberg were headed for divorce (via People).
This was by way of a TV movie titled “Halloween With the New Addams Family.”
At the time, she was 19 years old.
As one reviewer noted, the performance showed just how much Loring had grown up since the original show.
The role, which lasted for three years, helped Loring rediscover her love of acting, according toPeople.
The strong-willed, independent Cricket was a movie production assistant.
Later, the couple had another child named Suzie.
After playing Wednesday Addams and Cricket Montgomery, Loring’s career began slowing down.
In 1981, Loring marriedDoug Stevenson, a fellow actor.
With Stevenson, she had her second child, Marianne.
However, the couple parted ways after just two years in 1983, according toPeople.
Her third marriage to adult film star Jerry Butler in 1987 was her most tumultuous.
The pair divorced in 1992.
Loring later told theSydney Morning Heraldthat it was “the biggest mistake of [her] life.”
In 2003, Loring tied the knot for a final time with Graham Rich.
The pair split in 2008, and their divorce was finalized in 2014.
According toTMZ, Loring cited irreconcilable differences and requested that Rich be denied spousal support.
Loring married Butler after he promised to quit the adult film industry.
However, she soon found out that Butler was still secretly involved in the pornography business.
Loring was understandably traumatized by the incident.
She later toldPeople, “I was disillusioned about my adult life.”
She, too, attempted suicide by overdosing.
In the late ’90s, Loring’s life began to look more positive.
“I’m trying, but I’m afraid of the rejection,” she told People in 1995.
“I will not do any schlock.
But I’d love to do a Quentin Tarantino film.”
As time went on, she settled into a more quiet life.
If you or anyone you know needs help with addiction issues, help is available.
Visit theSubstance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration websiteor contact SAMHSA’s National Helpline at 1-800-662-HELP (4357).
“I do autograph shows all over the USA,” she told theSydney Morning Herald.
“It’s a very different life.”
She even embraced the second Wednesday Addams, Christina Ricci.
Even though she had originated the role, Lisa Loring wasn’t asked to be involved in the project.
As Loring said during aTV reunionwith her “Addams Family” co-star Ken Weatherwax, she wasn’t offended.
“It didn’t bother me at all,” she said.
“I got enough ‘Addams Family’ to last me three lifetimes,” she added with a laugh.
During a 2018 convention, Loring finally got to meet Ricci.
Afterward, Loring gushed, “She was very sweet, really nice” (viaReality Check TV).
“She had been on life support for 3 days,” wrote Jacobson.
“Yesterday, her family made the difficult decision to remove it and she passed last night.
She is embedded in the tapestry that is pop culture and in our hearts always as Wednesday Addams.”
Many of Loring’s colleagues and fans posted tributes to the actor after her death.
Jenna Ortega, star ofNetflix’s “Wednesday,“wrote in an Instagram Story, “Absolutely devastated.
Thank you for everything” (viaDigital Spy).
Christina Ricci also took to Instagram Stories.
