Princess Diaries child star Erik von Detten accused of 'elder abuse and fraud' 20 years after quitting Hollywood
Erik von Detten has been accused of elder abuse and fraud in a new lawsuit.
The former actor, best known for his role as Josh Bryant in 2001's The Princess Diaries and Toy Story, has been named as a co-defendant alongside precious metals company Rosland Capital LLC, a now-defunct asset management firm where he worked as a broker.
von Detten had taken a job at the brokerage in 2018, previously revealing that he'd moved away from acting in order to provide a 'consistent, realistic income' for his family, per E!.
Details of the lawsuit, which have been obtained by E! News, alleged that von Detten had targeted 'the fears and vulnerability' of elderly couple Sheila, 85, and Norman Greenberg, 97, when it came to investing in gold and precious metals.
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The couple alleged that they were talked into spending $2.1 million (£1.5 million) on gold coins worth no more than $1.3 million (£971,499).
The Greenbergs claimed that they reached out to Rosland Capital, which filed for bankruptcy in July 2026, after seeing a TV commercial for the company in 2020. They were subsequently connected with von Detten and informed the 44-year-old that they had approximately $2 million (£1.4 million) held in retirement accounts.
It's alleged that von Detten then placed an order for gold coins, costing the couple $1 million, which were placed in a storage facility at an extra cost. He is then accused of having purchased an additional $1 million in coins on behalf of the couple.
It would later emerge that the coins had been marked up in price.
The lawsuit also alleges that von Detten was aware that the couple had 'never invested in gold or other precious metals and really knew very little about these things', but were keen to do so as they believed it was a safe way to store their cash.
"Von Detten acknowledged that he understood their goals and their lack of knowledge and that he possessed sufficient experience and expertise and could help," read the accusations against the former actor.
"He earned their trust and confidence such that they agreed to accept his recommendations without question."
The lawsuit also alleges that both von Detten and the firm had played on the 'fears and vulnerability of seniors'.
A total of five claims have been filed against both von Detten and Rosland Capital, these are: violations of California's Elder Abuse and Dependent Adult Civil Protection Act, fraud involving intentional misrepresentation or concealment, breach of fiduciary duty, constructive fraud and conversion.
According to an additional report from USA Today, the Greenbergs are seeking to recover their losses alongside $900,000 in damages.
Brenna Cooper