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Strollerderby
Forget “Twilight.” Don’t even think about “True Blood.” Anyone who grew up in the ’80s knows that the hottest Hollywood vampire project ever starred Kiefer Sutherland, Jason Patric and the music of INXS.
I refer to “The Lost Boys,” Joel Schumacher’s creepy, often comedic look at a posse of Santa Clara, Calif., bloodsuckers. The movie, a hit with the teen set in the summer of 1987, boasted a killer soundtrack and, of course, the first shared onscreen appearance by that groundbreaking duo known simply as the Coreys. But among all the well-known actors in the cast — see also Jami Gertz, Dianne Wiest and Edward Herrmann — there was one boy making his film debut at the ripe age of 11 in the role of itty bitty vampire (and Eddie Munster look-alike) Laddie. Continue reading »
Remember Meeno Peluce? He had the most excellent white-kid ‘fro ever, and during the late ’70s and early ’80s, he appeared in some of the era’s most well-known TV shows: “Starsky and Hutch,” “Happy Days,” “The Love Boat,” “The A-Team,” “Silver Spoons,” and the list goes on. But the part Peluce may be best known for is his 
role in the short-lived time travel-meets-history series, “Voyagers!”
Of course, “Voyagers!” went off the air way back in 1983. So what happened to Peluce in the years that followed?
If you were an ’80s kids — you know, one of those young’uns who, according to Jeanne, shouldn’t have survived their childhoods –then you probably watched more than a few episodes of the sitcom “Gimme a Break!,” the story of a widower, his three daughters and the sassy housekeeper (Nell Carter) who loved them.
If your memory is in working order, you may recall that the middle child in the Kaniisky family was a smart (and occasionally smart ass) teen named Julie, and that Julie was played by Lauri Hendler. Which of course raises the question: whatever happened to that sarcastic, bespectacled young lady? Here’s a hint: you probably have seen her recently — more than once, in fact — and didn’t even realize it.
When Ray Kinsella (aka Kevin Costner) built a baseball diamond on an Iowa farm in 1989′s “Field of Dreams,” people did come. But he couldn’t have done it without the support of his wife (played by Amy Madigan) and his young daughter, portrayed by an actress then making her film debut, 7-year-old Gaby Hoffman. 
Hoffman may look familiar for reasons that extend beyond “Field of Dreams.” That’s because the girl who spent much of her childhood living in New York’s Chelsea Hotel appeared in several well-known movies during the late ’80s/ ’90s, including “Uncle Buck,” “Sleepless in Seattle” (Remember? She was the kid who abbreviated everything WAY before text messaging), “Now and Then,” Woody Allen’s “Everyone Says I Love You” and “All I Wanna Do.” So whatever happened to Hoffman?
In the summer of 1993, moviegoers were introduced to the touching story of a boy and his love for a killer whale. I speak, naturally, of the family favorite that launched a million trips to Sea World (not to mention a million double-entendres), “Free Willy.” 
The young boy who starred opposite the lovable whale — actual name: Keiko — was an actor named Jason James Richter, who made his film debut in “Willy” at the age of 13. So whatever happened to that kid?
At the age of 13, Peter Ostrum got to hang out with a borderline certifiable Gene Wilder, tour a bizarre candy factory, guzzle some fizzie lifting drinks and demonstrate an extreme sense of generosity when it comes to Gobstoppers. 
That’s because Ostrum — now 51-years-old — played the role of Charlie Bucket in “Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory,” the beloved (and, admittedly, kinda freaky) 1971 children’s classic that briefly turned the young Cleveland native into a star. I say briefly because “Wonka” marked Ostrum’s first and last acting credit in a Hollywood film; the kid not only didn’t stay in the picture, he turned down a three-picture deal from a major studio after “Wonka” wrapped, mainly because he wasn’t interested in pursuing acting full-time. So what did the Grown Man Formerly Known as Charlie Bucket choose as a profession?
JTT. In the early 1990s, those three simple letters inspired a fervent, Jonas-Brothers-level reaction in millions of young girls across America. Tweens dreamily wrote them in bubble letters on their school notebooks and imagined the day when, perhaps, they might become Mrs. JTT. 
But in the post-2000 years, we didn’t hear those letters as often anymore. Which prompts this week’s Rich or Rehab question: whatever happened to Jonathan Taylor Thomas?
The actor is, of course, best known for playing Randy Taylor, the son of Tim Allen’s “Tool Timer” Tim Taylor on the sitcom “Home Improvement.” His work on that show, a gig he scored at the age of 10, and the heartthrob status that followed propelled him to score other projects, including the voice of young Simba in “The Lion King” and a starring role in the movie “I’ll Be Home for Christmas.” Continue reading »
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