Lark Voorhies’ Mom Admits the “Saved by the Bell ”Star’s Father Had a Personality Disorder — but She Never Told the“ ”Actress

Lark Voorhies, who gained fame for her role as Lisa Turtle in the iconic television series “Saved by the Bell,” has been the subject of discussions regarding her mental health, particularly following revelations shared by her mother, Tricia Holloway. Holloway features in the recent edition of Investigation Discovery’s documentary series, “Hollywood Demons,” titled “After the Bell,” where she sheds light on her daughter’s ongoing challenges.

Voorhies first captured the audience’s attention not only in “Saved by the Bell” but also in the earlier series “Good Morning, Miss Bliss.” However, Holloway has shared that during the height of Voorhies’ career, particularly while working on the hit show, subtle signs of mental health struggles began to manifest. Holloway recalls her daughter’s “dark moods” following long days on set, which she now interprets as early indicators of a deeper issue.

Describing these moments, Holloway stated, “It’s as if she had been fighting that whole day, whatever is going on in her head, and then after the show, she would just give into that space.” This emotional turmoil raised concerns for Holloway, who noticed brief episodes of anger and frustration that left her bewildered.

Compounding these challenges, it was surprising to both Holloway and Voorhies when she was excluded from the series’ spin-off, “The College Years,” in 1993. Holloway reflected on the exclusion, sharing, “They did exclude Lark, and I didn’t know why. You don’t know when you’re negotiating where they can exclude you, exclude your child, or that character.” This absence was felt particularly keenly within the African American community, according to Holloway, who noted the character’s significance to their identity on the show.

Despite her struggles, Voorhies attempted to maintain her acting career before taking an extended hiatus from 2001 to 2008. Holloway described how this time was fraught with emotional and mental conflict for her daughter. “She went through bouts of anger. Sometimes, she would be slamming the doors or yelling out of frustration. She would run out of the house and I didn’t know where she was,” Holloway recalled.

While navigating this difficult period, Holloway considered whether past experiences from Voorhies’ childhood might have played a role in her current difficulties. “I was seeing something impacting my daughter that wasn’t healthy. It wasn’t good,” she expressed.

Seeking support, Voorhies initially received a diagnosis of bipolar disorder, which later evolved to schizoaffective thought disorder. The latter condition, as explained by Dr. Drew Pinsky in the documentary, combines symptoms of schizophrenia with mood disorders. Schizoaffective disorder is characterised by a mix of hallucinations and delusions alongside symptoms of depression and mania.

Holloway also opened up about her late husband, Wayne Holloway, acknowledging that he displayed signs of mental health issues himself. She remarked, “When we were married, his anger scared me,” and further recalled a significant event that led her to leave the marriage. “There was one slap, I left. I was gone. When [Lark] got older, around 12, 13, she spent time with him, and she talked about his anger fits,” she revealed.

Tricia Holloway discovered some troubling details regarding Wayne’s health shortly after his passing in 2016, which indicated potential personality disorders. She reflected, “I came into some paperwork on his death, and there was a medication which indicated there was some sort of personality disorder.” This led her to consider the impact his mental health might have on their daughter, who was previously unaware of her father’s struggles.

The vulnerabilities shared by Tricia Holloway in the documentary offer a poignant insight into the complexities of mental health, particularly within the context of the entertainment industry. The portrayal of such experiences serves not only to raise awareness but also to instigate discussions around mental health support and the importance of understanding its multifaceted nature.

“After the Bell” aired on May 4 on Investigation Discovery, with new episodes of “Hollywood Demons” set to premiere weekly. This ongoing series aims to provide deeper insights into the challenges faced by stars, contributing to a broader conversation about the significance of mental health in the public sphere.