Tracey Gold facts for kids

Tracey Gold (born May 16, 1969) is an American actress. She was a child star, famous for her role as Carol Seaver. This was on the 1980s sitcom Growing Pains.

Tracey Gold's Acting Journey

Tracey Gold started acting when she was four years old. Her first job was in a Pepsi advertisement. She appeared in a few TV shows that didn't last long. These included Shirley in 1979 and Goodnight Beantown in 1983.

Gold also acted in the movie Shoot the Moon (1982). She played one of four daughters. In 1985, she guest-starred on her sister Missy Gold's show, Benson.

Becoming Carol Seaver

In 1985, Tracey tried out for the role of Carol Seaver. This was for the show Growing Pains. Another actress was first chosen for the pilot episode. However, audiences liked Tracey better. So, she got the part.

Growing Pains aired from 1985 to 1992. During this time, Tracey became a very popular teen star. She also faced personal health challenges. In 1988, Gold also starred in the teen film Dance 'til Dawn.

After Growing Pains

After Growing Pains ended, Tracey kept acting. She appeared in many television movies. In 2003, she was in an episode of The Dead Zone.

Tracey also appeared on reality TV shows. She was a contestant on Celebrity Mole: Yucatán in 2004. She hosted a mini-show called Trapped in TV Guide. She also hosted the TLC series The Secret Life of a Soccer Mom.

In 2013, Gold returned to sitcoms. She appeared on an episode of Melissa & Joey. In 2022, she won the twenty-fourth season of Worst Cooks in America.

Overcoming Challenges: Tracey's Health Journey

Tracey Gold has spoken openly about her past health struggles. She learned about dieting from a young age. This was because she worked on many TV sets. She became very interested in a movie about an anorexic teenager.

In her autobiography, Gold shared that she started limiting her food. This was an attempt to control her body's changes. When she was 11, doctors diagnosed her with early anorexia nervosa. She received counseling and her weight returned to normal for a while.

A Difficult Time

In 1988, Gold gained some weight during a break from Growing Pains. When the show returned, her character was sometimes joked about for her weight. This was difficult for Tracey.

She continued to struggle with her eating habits. Between 1989 and 1991, she became very focused on food and her weight. She slowly lost more weight. In 1990, she tried group therapy for eating disorders.

By 1991, her health became very serious. She was admitted to a hospital in early 1992. Her appearance changed a lot. She was temporarily suspended from Growing Pains. Photos of her struggle were shared in magazines. She was one of the first celebrities to openly discuss anorexia. She returned for the last two episodes of the series in 1992.

Recovery and Helping Others

After several years, Tracey Gold fully recovered. She then starred in the TV movie For the Love of Nancy (1994). This film was about a young woman's battle with anorexia.

Doctors had warned her that her health struggles might affect her body. However, Tracey was able to have four children. As an adult, she has maintained a healthy weight. She often gives talks to young women. She warns them about the dangers of eating disorders. She continues to work as an actress.

Tracey's Family Life

Tracey Gold met her husband, Roby Marshall, through her Growing Pains co-star Joanna Kerns. Tracey and Roby got married on October 8, 1994. They have four sons: Sage, Bailey, Aiden, and Dylan.

In 2003, Tracey Gold wrote a book. It was called Room to Grow: An Appetite for Life. The book shared her story of struggling with and recovering from anorexia.

Filmography

Film

Television

See also

• In Spanish: Tracey Gold para niños