LOS ANGELES — It's a story almost as old as Hollywood — stars taking their parents to court over money they earned as child actors that was pilfered or mismanaged. A lawsuit Mischa Barton filed against her mother Tuesday is the latest example of a child star sparring with their parent-turned-manager. The actress who rose to fame on Fox's teen drama "The O.C." claims her mother stole money from her and kicked her out of a $7.8 million home bought with her acting proceeds. The lawsuit links Barton to previous generations of young performers who claimed their parents squandered the fruits of their early careers. The "Diff'rent Strokes" star fought with his parents and an ex-manager for four years over money he made on the popular comedy series. In 1993, a judge ruled Gary Coleman should be awarded nearly $1.3 million from the trio after the actor claimed they skimmed his earnings from the show, which ran from 1978 to 1986. Coleman and his parents later settled dueling court cases. Macaulay Culkin was a teenager when he was caught in the middle of a nasty custody dispute between his mother and his father, who was serving as the "Home Alone" star's manager. Culkin's lawyer filed a motion to remove both parents as legal guardians when the actor was 15. His mother eventually won custody of him and his siblings after his father dropped his opposition to the proceedings. — AP
