Naman Shrestha
The episode titled ‘Child Stars Gone Violent’ of Investigation Discovery’s ‘Hollywood Demons’ digs deep into the side effects of fame and fortune for child actors. Brian Bonsall, known for his role in ‘Family Ties,’ is one of the examples who suffered the repercussions of fame from a young age, including alcoholism. He features in the documentary alongside his wife, Courtney Tuck Bonsall, who turned his life around for the better by helping him quit drinking and inspiring him to do better in life.
Courtney Bonsall’s Life Revolves Around Her Husband and Son
After dating Brian Bonsall for several years, Courtney tied the knot with him on October 21, 2017, which was the anniversary of when they started dating. While the wedding was set in her favorite era — the 1950s — their reception was Halloween-themed, making both events enjoyable and memorable experiences for everyone. The couple even set up a fundraiser for their dream honeymoon as they aspired to visit Ireland. Nearly a couple of years later, in August 2019, the married couple entered parenthood with the birth of their adorable son, Oliver. Breaking away from alcoholism, Courtney and Brian have maintained a healthy marriage for nearly a decade now.
She never fails to articulate her gratitude for him every once in a while. On his birthday in December 2024, she emphasized that he is “a great husband” and “the best dad.” Apart from being a devoted wife, she is a doting mother to Oliver, whom she considers the apple of her eye. The couple went to the Boulder County Fair with their son in August 2024, making fun memories together. In her free time, she loves exploring and traveling to new places with her loved ones. Courtney also holds a special place in her heart for animals, especially dogs. In late January 2025, her grandmother, with whom she had a close bond, tragically passed away. A big fan of the ice hockey team Colorado Avalanche, she also attends their games regularly in the company of her friends and family.
Courtney Bonsall Has Been Recovering From a Life-Threatening Cardiac Arrest
The Colorado-based business owner, Courtney Bonsall, received the health scare of her life on October 15, 2024, when she suffered a cardiac arrest at work. Initially, she reportedly received CPR two times but suffered yet another cardiac arrest alongside a seizure at the hospital. After going through surgery to get her spleen removed, she was kept on life support for a few days until her vitals became normal. In order to get all the help they could, her husband Brian created a GoFundMe page to collect donations for the medical expenses. Not long after coming out of the ICU, she was admitted back there as she had a bad reaction to the antibiotics and developed pneumonia.
Although she couldn’t be discharged by Halloween, her family celebrated it with her. She said, “The kids wore their costumes and did hospital trick or treating and hung up their hand made decorations in my room. We had our traditional chili and cornbread too and it was very very special.” In the first week of November 2024, Courtney had another surgery to insert a defibrillator, which went smoothly. Finally, after spending 26 long and painful days at the hospital, she was discharged and granted permission to go home. In early January 2025, Courtney was taken to the hospital by her sister, Erika Tuck Sugihara, as she was vomiting non-stop, which she found more torturous than healing from multiple chest and abdominal surgeries.
Fortunately, she recovered soon and returned to her family. A few days later, she had her three-month post-heart failure check-up. She updated her followers about her condition, saying, “The Dr. says I’m doing great and my progress is phenomenal. It’s time to start cardio-physical therapy and strengthen my heart along with imaging on my shoulders, which were pretty well savaged during the emergency efforts. (Along with the rest of my body.😂) The Dr. also recommends some help in the brain department, so I’ll also be seeing someone about my memory loss and PTSD.” Focused on healing and making the most of her second chance, Courtney now considers every passing day a gift and is determined to make the most out of it.
