The story goes like this! I was working on my holiday clothing line, presenting it to the public with a fashion show at a nightclub, or as we called then Disco’s. I had this sweet little girl, who loved to sing and dance. So she often came to work with me, we had fun, she was seven. On this day one of the dancers said she wouldn’t mind taking Alyssa up broadway row. Low and behold they ended up at an Annie audition, that lasted into the evening. There were 1,500 kids there, she was one of the hundred kids they called back. The call back they released many kids, but Alyssa was still in the running. Oh god!!!! Well four kids were picked and she was one of them. This was for the touring company, 18 months of traveling the United States.
So off we go to every Sherbet theater that existed. We made friends we were happy, it was the best mother daughter bond ever!
In this time I got pregnant with my son, which I delivered a month after we got back from our tour. Alyssa really wanted a sibling now she has brother Cory ten years younger.
Then it happened a call for L.A., would Alyssa fly out to audition for a new ABC Sitcom starring Tony Danza. So she went she got it, and everyone seemed happy but I was so scared. What about our house what about my son, what
About it all.
That was the start of being a stage mom, who fort off all that comes with a being a child star.
Then came Commando, and we were off to teen queen in Japan, and then all over Asia.
After WTB Alyssa did what ever work she was asked to due. This was way before the internet. Then came Melrose Place and a meeting with Arron Spelling who fell in love with her, and the following year she replace one of the cast members that fell out. Cast consisted of 2 other actors, Shannon, and Holly. My poor kid, had to fight for her place in this show. Of course she found her place but was not so happy.
As stage moms, we need to remember this is not about you. It’s about keeping them safe. No drugs, No drinking..and I was blessed on those fronts.
I would like to thank Tony Danza for giving Alyssa a project that would last from the age of 10 – 18. We were very grateful for our daughter to have such a loving cast.
Born and raised in Brooklyn, New York, Lin Milano is an entrepreneur for the new millennium.
Lin launched her career as a fashion designer in the late seventies before an unexpected twist took her from the Big Apple to Hollywood. As a ‘stage mom” to her successful actress daughter, Lin received a crash course in the realities of show business and celebrity culture. She stepped out of the limelight and kept a quiet reign as a caring but vigilant mother and career manager. Thirty years later, Lin maintains an ironclad reputation as one of the few people to have survived show business. Her career has spanned two decades, during which time her professional savvy, personal strength, tenacity and amazing energy have placed her at the top of several corporations.
In 1995, outraged by abuse, Lin began Cybertrackers-a company to protect celebrities’ rights to online privacy, publicity, and use of their name/likeness on the internet. With much legal uncertainty surrounding the web, celebrities ran to Lin for guidance. Cybertrackers soon became Celebrity Loop, and Lin has since removed millions of unauthorized photos, aided in the detainment of many stalkers, and put a stop to countless online predators.
Lin Milano created CelebrityLoop.com as a “family friendly network of verified websites where fans can safely interact with their favorite celebrities. The concept of “Official Websites” changed how brands and personalities were found, and it has since spread like wild fire. In fact, the demand for secure celebrity websites became so high, it spawned the creation of the Safesearching.com in 2004.
Lin continues to stand as the Founder and of both Cybertrackers, Safesearching and while remaining a constant pioneer on the forefront of Digital Management.
My husband Thomas Milano became a successful music editor with such films as Black Hat, 42 Jackie Robinson story, Money Ball .
My son Cory Milano is a music editor as well, with credits like the new
Block buster “NIKI”.
As for me, Tony Danza gave me a huge nod, I was asked if I would like to design his wife-to-be’s wedding dress, Wow!
I designed an excellent piece of magic. Thank You Tony Danza for being one of the good guys ..I will always appreciate you and your kind heart,
Lin