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Working Kid: A Memoir of a Child Actor of the 1950s and 1960s

by Mimi Gibson

I began working in Hollywood when I was very young — too young to understand fame, money, or the long-term impact of what it meant to be a professional child actor. In the 1950s and 1960s, I worked constantly. Film sets and television studios were my classrooms, my playgrounds, and my daily life. Acting wasn’t a hobby — it was my job.

In Working Kid, I share what it was really like to grow up during Hollywood’s Golden Age. I write about the excitement of working alongside legendary stars, the discipline expected of child performers, and the adult responsibilities placed on children who were simply doing what they were told to do — show up, know your lines, and keep going.

For many years, I didn’t question that life. It wasn’t until I was older that I fully understood the reality behind all that work — and what was missing. When you realize you’ve worked for years and don’t have the protections or security you should have had, it changes how you see everything.

That realization shaped the second half of my journey.

“I worked constantly — and now I work to protect the kids who come after me.”

This book is not written with anger, but with honesty. It’s my story — the good, the difficult, and the lessons learned — and it’s also a reflection on why stronger protections for child performers matter. If sharing my experience helps bring awareness, understanding, or change, then every word is worth it.

If you’re interested in classic Hollywood, the realities of child stardom, or the stories behind the scenes, I invite you to read Working Kid.

 You can purchase your copy of Working Kid on Amazon