"Knowledge is power," says Emmanuel Lewis, former star of 'Webster'. "If you stop learning you stop progressing."

Not all child stars make a successful transition to adulthood. Many careers and tragic young lives are lost along the way. Emmanuel Lewis, however, exemplifies how do get it right - how to accomplish great things when you are young, and keep on going.

"Achieving success doesn't have to be complicated," explains the actor/producer/director whose career took off at the age of nine doing national commercials. His start in ads led to lasting worldwide fame, and the starring role in ABC's smash '80s hit 'Webster'. "Just keep setting goals, and go after them.

"It helps to have a great family like I do," Manny says, offering his thoughts here exclusively for Cyberspacers.com. "It's essential for kid stars, or any kids for that matter, to be surrounded by those who care. The best parents are those who share wisdom and experience, who carefully guide and teach children how to manage their lives while growing up.

"But being smart on your own is a must. Having the right friends - staying away from drugs, alcohol and crime - and working to achieve your dreams are all important elements if you're going to succeed in life."

Emmanuel, whose name means 'God is with us' lives up to his words and beliefs. He has two brothers, both in the recording business, and an older sister who's an executive with Delta Airlines. Margaret, his mom, has always been a strong, positive influence in all their lives.

"Our family means everything to my mother. And she means everything to us. Love and example are her ways of teaching the most important values."

Remarkably, Manny looks much the same as when he starred as the angelic-faced Webster - as well as the spokesman for a series of Burger King ads that won him the CLIO Award as Best Male Actor in a commercial.

Even before Webster - Manny toured Japan with his number one record 'City Connection.' "The Japanese people treated me like one their own, and I have to admit - I fell in love with the country and culture," he says. "There will always be a special place in my heart for Japan."

After Webster, Manny wanted to learn everything he could about stage, film, and recording. "In a word -production," he explains from the 12-acre estate he shares with his family near Atlanta.

In the 1980's, his mother, Margaret, quit her job as a computer programmer to manage his thriving career - which now, of course, he takes care of himself.

"My mother taught me to respect the magic of computers, and the fact that you can work wonders with the technology. It's important for all CyberSpacers to realize that having the ability to explore the universe is a privilege, and not a right. The Internet is freedom itself. Using that freedom to learn, and to achieve, is what it is all about.

"In today's world, almost every kind of job or profession counts on computers to help make it better. The better you are with a computer, the greater your chance for success.

"If you treat your computer like a friend, with respect - you'll be respecting yourself, and earn the respect of others."

Manny put his computer skills and work ethics to good use. "I graduated Clark Atlanta University in 1997, earning my degree in theater arts. It's not enough to be efficient in front of the camera if you want to create, produce and direct. And that's what I'm all about."

Manny has had his own production company since 1985 - but he is currently turning his attention to recording. "I'm not sacrificing one for the other," he explains. "We're in the process of developing a television series and we also have several film projects in the works.

"But right now a great deal of my time is spent creating music with some exciting new groups and talent for my label. I don't do anything half-heartedly. I put in 12-18 hour days at the studio," he says referring to his recently converted guest house that is now a multi-million-dollar state-of-the-art recording complex.

"Manny is a perfectionist," says his brother Roscoe, a respected recording engineer. "And his energy level is amazing." Brother, Chris Lewis, a well-known music video producer/director, agrees:

"I'm not saying this because he's my brother, but Manny is a genius at balancing several projects at one time."

Life however is not all work for the New York-born 3-time People's Choice Award winner as Favorite Young Television Performer.

"I'm passionate about fishing," he states matter-of-factly. "Deep sea, fresh water - you name it. I love it. And I have ('Webster' co-star) Alex Karras to thank for that.

"He took us out on his boat during the second season of the show. I caught four gigantic tuna. What a great time! The fish weren't the only things that got hooked that day.

"Would someday love to show Alex some fly casting," Manny adds smilingly.

An avid Atlanta Braves baseball fan, "maybe this year," he says hopefully - Manny knows many of the team members personally, on a first-name basis.

He's also earned a black belt in the martial arts, spending seven years studying Tae Kwon Do and Tae-Bo. "I love the discipline," Manny says, "I first became interested in martial arts in Japan."

Manny has never neglected his career. Besides doing guest appearances on television, he performed on the Tokyo Broadcasting Network in the mid-'90s. Also, he toured Canada and the US in '98 with his stand-up comedy act - and often travels to Hollywood and New York to do TV.

"Manny is one of the nicest people you could ever hope to meet," says his agent Greg Mayo. "Working with him is a pleasure because he is such a decent guy, from a wonderful, talented family.

"His values are what every child star, in fact, every kid on earth would do well to bring with them into the adult world."


I am happy to see that not all child stars end up negatively as an E True Hollywood Story. Congratulations Emmanuel ... David Harrison Levi ... a fan!