Judith Barsi, a rising child star who voiced Ducky in The Land Before Time, was shot and killed by her father in 1988 at the age of 10. Her father, Jozsef, also shot her mother, Maria, before setting their home on fire and killing himself.
A Promising Career Cut Short
Judith began her career in commercials at age six, landing her first role as Kimberley McDonald in the TV series Fatal Vision. She appeared in more than 70 commercials before her big break as Thea Brody in Jaws: The Revenge. In 1988, she voiced Ducky in The Land Before Time and later Anne-Marie in All Dogs Go To Heaven.
By the fourth grade, she earned £75,000 a year, equivalent to £200,000 today. However, her success brought problems at home. Her father, an alcoholic, grew bitter and threatened to kill his wife and daughter. He was arrested three times for drink driving and reportedly held a knife to Judith's throat before filming Jaws: The Revenge.
Signs of Abuse Ignored
Maria reported the threats and violence to police in 1986, but no charges were filed due to lack of physical evidence. Jozsef briefly stopped drinking after the police visit, but the threats continued. He hid a telegram about a relative's death in Hungary to prevent Maria from leaving the US with Judith.
Judith told friends her father threw pots and pans at her, causing a nosebleed. She developed compulsive behaviors, plucking her eyelashes and pulling out her cat's whiskers. After breaking down in front of her agent, Ruth Hansen, her mother took her to a child psychologist, who reported signs of abuse to child services. However, the investigation was dropped when Maria said she planned to divorce Jozsef and move to Panorama City.
Fatal Delay and Tragic End
Maria delayed the move, fearing loss of her home and belongings. Judith told friends, "I'm afraid to go home. My daddy is miserable. My daddy is drunk every day and I know he wants to kill my mother." On July 28, 1988, Jozsef shot Maria in the hallway, then shot Judith in her bed. He poured petrol over their bodies and shot himself in the garage.
Lance Guest, who played Judith's on-screen father in Jaws: The Revenge, said, "She was lovely and a wonderful little girl…adorable." Judith and her mother are buried in neighboring plots at Forest Lawn Memorial Park in Hollywood. Her gravestone bears her line from All Dogs Go To Heaven: "Yep, Yep, Yep."
