He played big brother to robotic little sister Vicki on the '80s sitcom "Small Wonder" — but now former child star JERRY SUPIRAN is broke and homeless!
The ENQUIRER tracked down one-time TV star Jerry and he revealed that since losing his job as a waiter two years ago he's been homeless and sleeps under a bridge in central California!
"When I was 18, I dated a stripper and she took what was left of my trust fund — then one of my advisers stole a half-million dollars from me," Jerry told The ENQUIRER in an exclusive interview.
"I've worked at different steakhouses for the last 15 years. But two years ago I was laid off from a restaurant in Henderson, Nevada, due to the economy. I haven't been able to find a job since."
It was a hard fall for the good-natured 39-year-old who played fun-loving preteen Jamie Lawson on "Small Wonder," which ran from 1985 to 1989. He raked in megabucks from the series as well as guest roles on TV classics such as "Little House on the Prairie," "Newhart" and "Highway to Heaven."
But residuals from the series ended in 1994, when reruns stopped on TV. Jerry said he would sometimes get a check from other shows but "they're like for five cents."
Still, the former performer said he remains optimistic and is determined to find a new restaurant job to help get him back on his feet.
"It's been very tough," he said. "I had to move back to central California where my brother lives with his family. And while he helps me with hot meals and a shower, he doesn't have the room for me to stay there. So I either sleep at the homeless shelter I volunteer at, or under a local bridge."
Jerry's recent hard luck was complicated when his mother, Linda, suffered a near fatal heart attack and stroke in March and moved in with Jerry's brother.
"My mom didn't have any money, either," said Jerry. "She was pretty much homeless, too."
He adds that he still keeps in touch with his old co-stars through Facebook, which he accesses in public libraries. And he relies on a network of friends for emotional support as he continues to seek employment.
"I'm just looking for a break," he said.
