While anyone with dreams of making it big in Hollywood often talks about leaving behind some small town they grew up in, some may escape even more as they try to move on with their lives.

A tragic backstory of life on the streets, being homeless, doing drugs or drinking at a young age may seem almost commonplace for some celebrities, but others have truly managed to escape from some horrible home life situations.

The stories of these celebs vary from alcoholic parents, shootings, murder, prison time and drugs-but all are the tragic stories of young kids or adults who managed to leave those troubled world behind them and find success-whether it was in movies, television, music, or some other aspect of Hollywood life. They've all since gone on to become big household names, and distance themselves from what those backstories could have meant for them.

They also have managed to become inspirations for kids today who struggle through similar life stories, promoting the message that perseverance to get out of a bad situation can help them overcome huge obstacles, and achieve something great for themselves to be proud of.

Scroll through the gallery to see which celebs have escaped these scary situations of their own and gone on to find massive success.