Chad linley who is

Eager to find fresh faces, a casting director might audition hopefuls for one minute turn in a pilot. No matter. Sullivan and the boys intend to beat the odds. Arriving in L. This season, the Oakwood played host to wannabes, up from only 30 kids four years ago. Sullivan wanted Chad to get every opportunity.

And if somehow he missed, well, there was little Cody--"a natural," says Fine. Most mornings, Chad attended a storefront private school, whose former students include Janet Jackson and Kristy McNichol. Afternoons were reserved for auditions. Chad did well. In the pilot season's first four weeks, the young teen had appointments on all but three days and got three callbacks.

But for every TV part he's won, Chad auditioned against at least kids. Typically, there were three callbacks each time. Cathy and Brian Sullivan downplay the financial realities. Much of that went for furnishing the Nashville house they had bought in ' The couple racked up more debt to fly in Brian's sons from a prior marriage, Ben, 9, and Scotty, 5, for visits from Birmingham, where the boys live with their mother.

As pilot season wound down in Oakwood last March, disappointment reigned. Only 65 pilots had been shot, compared with the year before, reflecting the networks' tight budgets. Even so, everyone's spirits were high as they reached Dallas. The California trip felt worth the effort--except for two ominous notes: At school, Chad got a lowly C in general science amid his usual string of A's.

More significantly, all that L. Sullivan wasn't sure when she and the boys would try Hollywood again, though a comeback was certain. To help the sullivans take a hard look at Chad's career and their ailing finances, Money called on two pros.

She thought he showed promise but felt he might better develop by studying with a teacher besides Cathy. Other suggestions:. Two weeks later, back in Dallas, the Sullivans met with financial planner David Diesslin, who heads his own fee-only Fort Worth firm.

He bluntly ticked off the personal-finance basics:. All you need is "one leaky roof," said Diesslin to Brian, "and you're going down. Build a cash reserve of about three months' worth of living expenses--and preferably twice that--for emergencies. Then apply for another credit card in case a cash advance is urgently needed.

For a list of top, low-rate credit cards, see Money Monitor on page Cathy should resume teaching and look for projects with payoffs. Example: She has considered turning the audition monologues she's written into a book.

Says Diesslin: "Find a publisher. Under Texas law, Chad could bring a future civil suit if he thinks his mother and stepfather squandered his earnings. Or, for global exposure, SoGen International 3. Diesslin's final caution: "A prudent investment now could forestall big-time trouble down the line. Earlier this month, "Hannah Montana" star Cody Linley's brother died. Now, there are more details about his mysterious and tragic death. He then flagged down a nearby cop. No cause of death has yet been determined.

According to Radar, it'll take a few weeks before the toxicology reports come back. A funeral for Chad was held on August Friend Eric Thomas told Radar that "Even at his funeral in what should've been a sad and gut-wrenching time for most, he managed to bring a smile to everyone's face and laughter rang thoughout the entire service as different speakers came up and shared different experiences and stories about Chad.

A source told Hollywood Life that Cha, a DJ, had been "the happiest he'd been for a long time" right before his death.