Former Disney Child Star Hit With Lawsuit Alleging Elder Abuse and Fraud Over Gold Investments

The Disney Channel of the late 1990s had a way of turning ordinary kids into household names. Teen idols, sitcom regulars and voice actors from that era still carry a nostalgic glow for the viewers who grew up with them. One former Disney child star is now dealing with something far less nostalgic, a civil lawsuit that has made headlines.

Erik von Detten built his early fame as the lead of the Disney Channel movie ‘Brink!’ in 1998, where he played Andy ‘Brink’ Brinker. He also voiced the toy-tormenting Sid Phillips in ‘Toy Story’ and played Josh Bryant in ‘The Princess Diaries.’ He continued acting until around 2010, when he returned to voice Sid in ‘Toy Story 3,’ and he later moved into a very different line of work.

That career change is at the center of the new story. Von Detten, now 44, is being sued by an elderly couple who accuse him of fraud and elder abuse in a dispute over gold purchases, according to court documents obtained by TMZ.

The plaintiffs are Sheila Greenberg, 85, and her husband Norman Greenberg, 97. They filed the civil suit in California against von Detten and Rosland Capital, a precious metals company he worked for. The complaint reportedly dates to May 11, 2026, which means the October headlines concern an existing case rather than a newly filed one.

The couple claims the company appeals to senior citizens and tries to exploit their fears and vulnerability. They say they called Rosland in 2020 after seeing a television ad and were connected with von Detten. According to the suit, they told him they knew little about gold but had about $2 million available to invest, and they allege he said he was very knowledgeable and could help.

The Greenbergs say their first purchase was Lady Liberty gold coins worth about $1 million. They claim the coins weren’t sent to them and were instead stored at a warehouse, and that a second purchase of another $1 million in coins followed soon after.

According to the lawsuit, the couple later learned the coins were worth much less than they paid. They allege that they invested $2.1 million, but the coins were only worth $1.3 million. They claim $900,000 in damages and are also seeking punitive damages.

The complaint lists several causes of action, including elder abuse, fraud, breach of fiduciary duty, constructive fraud and conversion.

It is important to remember that these are allegations. The claims against von Detten and Rosland Capital have not been proven in court, and none of the allegations amount to a finding of liability. As of now, no public response from von Detten or the company addressing these specific claims has been reported.

There is one more development in the case. Rosland Capital filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection months after the lawsuit was filed. The firm hasn’t issued a public statement addressing the allegations, according to coverage of the case.

Von Detten’s path away from Hollywood has been well documented. He appeared on camera for the last time for years in a 2008 episode of ‘Bones’ and began taking fewer roles around 2006. As of 2018, he worked for Rosland Capital, and he has been focused on family life while occasionally returning to acting, including in the 2024 thriller ‘My Acting Coach Nightmare.’

For fans who grew up on ‘Brink!’ and ‘So Weird,’ where he played Clu Bell, the news is a jarring contrast with the sunny image of a late-’90s teen heartthrob. His other credits include the 1997 film ‘Leave It to Beaver’ and the ABC sitcom ‘Odd Man Out.’

The case is now in the hands of the courts, and the facts will have to be sorted out there. Until then, the allegations remain just that, and both sides will likely have more to say as the legal process moves forward.

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