In Corey Haim's Honor, Corey Feldman Calls for Better Treatment of Child Stars

Longtime friend and frequent co-star Corey Feldman is speaking out about Corey Haim's death, delivering a sobering message about the treatment of child stars by the industry and media.

Appearing on Larry King Live Wednesday night, Feldman acknowledged his friend's "long and detailed" struggle with drug abuse, but urged the public and the media not to draw conclusions about the circumstances surrounding Haim's death until the coroner's report is released. Feldman added that while he is deeply appreciative of the outpouring of love from his Hollywood peers and the public, he is also "angry, hurt and sad." (Watch a clip of the interview below.)

"Where were all these people the last 10 years, the last 15 years, of Corey's life," Feldman, 38, asked. "Where were all these people to lend a hand out, to reach out to him and say, you're a legend, you're an amazingly talented wonderful person who's never really gone out of his way to hurt anyone, other than himself?"

Both Feldman and Haim rose to stardom as kids, only to find as they grew up that they were no longer considered as marketable. They both struggled with drug addiction, but while Feldman was able to stay clean and sober, Haim was in and out of rehab.

"In this entertainment industry, in Hollywood, we build people up as children, we put them on pedestals, and then, when we decide they're not marketable anymore, we walk away from them," he added. "Then we taunt them and we tease them … It's okay for society as a whole to poke fun at, to point fingers at us as human beings. Why is it okay to kick somebody when they're down? I don't think it should be tolerated anymore."

Feldman also pointed out that Haim had recently begun getting his act together and was seeing a "treatment specialist." He added that new drugs prescribed by his doctor "might not have corresponded properly with the medications he was currently taking."

The frequent co-stars appeared in eight movies together, as well as the short-lived A&E reality series The Two Coreys until Feldman said he wouldn't continue the show until Haim got sober. The ultimatum didn't work and the two didn't speak for some time after that.

Plans for a funeral service have not yet been made, but Feldman said, according to the New York Daily news, that he and Haim's family want to plan a "sizable memorial."

"I would like to see Hollywood pay their respects," he said. "Hopefully he's going to be remembered as a beautiful, funny, enigmatic character who brought nothing but life and lights and entertainment and art to all of our lives."

We have the same hope, and in that spirit, we've assembled some video clips of our favorite "We heart Corey Haim" film moments.

Photo by Toglenn via Wikimedia Commons.