Hollywood can be a brutal place, especially for those thrust into the spotlight at a tender age. Few characters exemplify this harsh reality better than Sarah Lynn from the acclaimed animated series BoJack Horseman. Her tough journey from a young TV star to a troubled grown-up shows how fame and drugs can be harmful.
Her sad story in tells us that the entertainment industry doesn’t always help its young stars enough. It’s a reminder that becoming famous too early can have bad consequences, like what happened to Sarah Lynn. Through Sarah Lynn’s troubles, we see the dark side of being a celebrity and the price some pay for chasing stardom too soon.
This article is a complete reflection of Sarah Lynn, her appearance, and her roles in BoJack Horseman. So, keep reading to know more!
Background and Early Life
Sarah Lynn, originally named Sarah Himmelfarb, was born in 1984. As a young child, she showed talent and ambition, initially wanting to become an architect. However, at the age of three, she was cast as Sabrina in the popular sitcom “Horsin’ Around,” which changed the course of her life.
From a very young age, Sarah Lynn found herself in the spotlight due to her natural acting abilities. Her mother, eager for her daughter’s success, pushed her towards a career in entertainment, disregarding Sarah Lynn’s personal dreams. As a result, Sarah Lynn’s childhood was far from ordinary, as she steered the demanding world of show business from an early age, sacrificing her innocence for fame.
Personality
On the surface, Sarah Lynn appeared selfish, reckless, and self-centered. She often behaved like a spoiled teenager, causing public scenes, engaging in destructive behavior, and taking advantage of those around her, including BoJack.
However, underneath this exterior, Sarah Lynn was a troubled and lonely person who craved attention and validation. She struggled with substance abuse issues, using drugs and alcohol to find temporary pleasure, but ultimately couldn’t break free from her addictive habits.
Despite her intelligence and early dreams of becoming an architect, Sarah Lynn’s aspirations were crushed by the toxic nature of the entertainment industry, which she was forced into at a young age. She had a troubled upbringing, with controlling parents who didn’t support her ambitions outside of show business.
Acting Career
As mentioned, Sarah Lynn started acting at the extremely young age of 3 when she was cast as the character Sabrina on the popular 90s sitcom “Horsin’ Around.” This was her big break into show business.
She continued acting on “Horsin’ Around” throughout her childhood and into her teenage years, essentially growing up on the set of that show alongside BoJack Horseman, who played the lead role.
After “Horsin’ Around” ended, Sarah Lynn tried to transition into an adult acting career but struggled to break out of her child star image. She released a pop album and music videos trying to establish herself as an edgy, mature artist.
With the release of her debut album “I Am Sarah Lynn” in 2002, Sarah achieved global fame by the age of 20. However, her adult acting roles were limited. At the same time while her singing career was at peak in 2007, she collaborated with Kevin Kline to launch her own perfume called Sarah Lynn’s Stank.
Unfortunately, her acting career failed as she got older and her substance abuse issues worsened. She became more famous for her public meltdowns and scandals than her actual work as an actress.
Struggles with Addiction
Sarah Lynn was exposed to substance abuse at an extremely young age while working as a child actor on “Horsin’ Around.” The adult actors and crew normalized drinking and drug use around her.
A pivotal moment occurred when 10-year-old Sarah Lynn got drunk after drinking from a water bottle filled with alcohol that BoJack had left unattended in his dressing room. This incident pushed Sarah Lynn over the edge and kicked off her downward spiral into addiction.
Her mother did little to shield her from the show’s toxic environment. Sarah Lynn began experimenting with alcohol, cigarettes, and harder drugs like heroin while still in pre-teen years.
As she got older, the pressures of fame from such a young age, lack of stable home/family life, being surrounded by enablers like BoJack, and the traumatic incident of getting drunk at 10 all contributed to Sarah Lynn’s inability to beat her addictions long-term.
She went through cycles of trying rehab and sobriety but would relapse back into abusing substances. Her music career tanked as the addictions took over. Despite public meltdowns and health scares, Sarah Lynn’s drug habit persisted until her untimely death.
Relationship with BoJack Horseman
Sarah Lynn’s relationship with BoJack Horseman was complex and deeply impactful throughout her life. From a young age working together on the sitcom Horsin’ Around, Sarah Lynn looked up to BoJack as a father figure. However, BoJack did not really provide the care and guidance a young Sarah Lynn needed. Their relationship was spoiled by BoJack enabling Sarah Lynn’s destructive behaviors like substance abuse. BoJack Horseman made a big mistake by leaving out a bottle of alcohol that 10-year-old Sarah Lynn drank. This led Sarah Lynn to struggle with addiction issues, showing how one action can have a lasting impact on someone’s life.
As they got older, Sarah Lynn continued to idolize BoJack despite his own personal issues and inability to truly be the supportive father figure she craved. BoJack filled some of Sarah Lynn’s “daddy issues” while she provided him validation he constantly sought from women. Sarah Lynn’s singing career started to fail, and she began struggling with alcohol and drugs. This made her relationship with BoJack tense. He sometimes tried to help her, but other times he unintentionally made things worse by supporting her destructive behavior.
Their wild drug binge and Sarah Lynn’s accidental overdose death showed how their relationship was unhealthy. It highlighted how BoJack’s selfish behavior hurt those close to him, emphasizing the toxic cycle of dependency between them. Ultimately, BoJack’s inability to truly support Sarah Lynn and be the positive influence she looked for as a father figure contributed greatly to her downward spiral throughout.
Who Is Sarah Lynn Based On
The entire story of BoJack Horseman somehow depicts real-life struggles. And, just like that, Sarah Lynn serves as a parody of several real-life former child stars who struggled with the transition to adulthood and fame. Her story shows how starting fame too early can be harmful and how the entertainment industry doesn’t always offer enough help.
One of the most obvious inspirations is the Olsen twins, Mary-Kate and Ashley. Like them, Sarah Lynn originated as an adorable child star, portraying the younger daughter Sabrina on the hit sitcom “Horsin’ Around” – a clear parody of their breakout role as Michelle Tanner on “Full House.” Sarah Lynn even had her own fashion line as a 10-year-old, mirroring the Olsen twins’ huge merchandising success.
As Sarah Lynn transitioned to her teenage years and adulthood, her path closely mirrored that of stars like Britney Spears, Lindsay Lohan, and Amanda Bynes. She sought to shed her cute child persona for a hyper-sexualized, “edgy” adult image, complete with scandalous behavior, substance abuse issues, and very public meltdowns. Her risqué outfits and antics are reminiscent of Bynes’ controversies specifically.
Sarah Lynn faced similar challenges as Miley Cyrus and Demi Lovato, who also struggled with their well-being after becoming famous as teenagers on Disney shows. Just like them, Sarah Lynn dealt with addiction, tried to break free from her established image, and wanted to discover her true self beyond her childhood roles.
Tragic End – What Episode Does Sarah Lynn Die?
Sarah Lynn meets her tragic end in the BoJack Horseman episode titled “That’s Too Much, Man!” This devastating moment occurs in the 11th episode of season 3, which aired on Netflix on July 22, 2016. In the episode, Sarah Lynn overdoses at the Griffith Observatory while hanging out with BoJack. This is the final time Sarah Lynn appears alive.
In 2016, during a drug-fueled bender with BoJack, Sarah Lynn tragically overdosed and died at the age of 31. BoJack’s 17-minute delayed response to her medical emergency further underscored the devastating consequences of their tumultuous relationship.
Sarah Lynn’s untimely death sends shockwaves through the world of “BoJack Horseman,” serving as a stark reminder of the risks of fame and addiction. Her story shed light on the darker aspects of Hollywood, prompting reflection on the exploitation of child stars and the insidious nature of substance abuse.
Before dying, Sarah was very depressed from life. She said:
“BoJack, I don’t like anything about me. I swear, you are, like, the only one I have left. I am this close to falling off the deep end. Much too late for me. Until I die tragically young.
BoJack: “Hey, it’s okay. Everything’s gonna be okay.”
Click here to read more of BoJack’s popular quotes in the series.
In the End
Sarah Lynn’s story goes beyond TV, starting important talks about how child stars face tough times and need protection. Even though her struggles were shown humorously on BoJack Horseman, they reflect real-life challenges. Despite being a cartoon, Sarah Lynn represents the serious effects of fame at a young age.
Her tale reminds us that the difficulties young stars like her go through are not just Hollywood stories. By highlighting these issues, Sarah Lynn ensures that the impact of early fame is never overlooked or dismissed.