Stage mother

In the performing arts, a stage mother is the mother of a child actor. The term stage mother sometimes has a negative connotation, suggesting that the individual is prone to obnoxiously demanding special treatment for her child, or suggesting that the individual has placed inappropriate pressure on her child to succeed, perhaps for reasons of vicariously living out her own dreams through the child. Entitled and grandiose demands have sometimes led to reportedly veiled threats from a stage parent.

Definition

A stage mother may also be the official manager of her child (e.g., Ethel Gumm, Debra McCurdy, Tina Douglas, Rose Thompson Hovick, Dina Lohan, Teri Shields, Susan Duff, Lesley Vogel, Catherine Belkhodja, Tina Knowles, Katherine Jackson, etc.)—representing her child in negotiations for the professional services of her child. Such managers have often been referred to as "momagers" in the film industry.

In certain cases where a mother and child both work in the film industry, an automatic labeling of "stage mother" can be affixed to the mother without cause.

Stage fathers

Fathers have also been known to manage their children in this way, such as Joe Jackson (patriarch of the Jackson family), Murry Wilson (father of three founding members of The Beach Boys), Joe Simpson (father of Jessica and Ashlee Simpson), Jeff Archuleta (father of American Idol runner-up David Archuleta), Mathew Knowles (father of Beyoncé and Solange Knowles), Ira David Wood III (father of Evan Rachel Wood) and Kit Culkin (father of Macaulay and Kieran Culkin). A historical example of such a father was Leopold Mozart, who recognized his son Wolfgang's musical ability at an early age.

Abraham Quintanilla Jr., father of Tejano superstar Selena, is credited with having discovered Selena's gift of singing and organizing her and her siblings as a band (Selena y Los Dinos).

Stage fathers share a similar role with parents promoting their children in professional sports.