 He was now a child star, and Paramount Pictures put him under a long-term contract and promoted him as a male version of Shirley Temple.Over the next six years, Holt made 20 films, but did not come close to the superstar status set by his friend, Shirley Temple.Holt was initially cast in the title role in "David Copperfield", alongside W. C. Fields' character, Wilkins Micawber.