Rob Reiner’s string of seven directing successes from “This Is Spinal Tap” in 1984 and “Stand by Me,” and through “A Few Good Men” and “Misery” in the early 1990s have all stood that test of time. An underrated filmmaker perhaps because of his political activism?
I'm sure there are, but now social media is allowing those who would've kept their pain and trauma secret to actually speak their truth. Unfortunately, societies around the world have a lot of toxic views and expectations around parents, children, basically family in general.
68... I like the fact that in the film he had some good friends. I can't count the number of houses, cities, and states that I lived in before I even turned twelve.
as a kid who came from an abusive home...i related to his character the most and always wondered how he could show the pain of kids like us so well,it is sad to find out,but uplifting to hear he came out the other side better
I knew that his sadness was too real,even though I was just a kid too. I knew it was something far beyond acting. But also,because I experienced that sadness in my life too
Jonathan Frakes said that he was stunned when he found out about Will's family. Will never let them know about it and that is just sad. I am glad that the lot was so great that he still declares that those guys are his family. You go Will.
His mother put so much concerted effort into blaming him for everything his dad did to him and gaslighting him about everything related to acting that it took Wil himself a long time to fully grasp things. As he says in the interview, he was 40 before he fully realized that Rob Reiner cast him as Geordie because he *was* Geordie: abused by his father, ignored by his mother, the unfavored younger child with the 'golden boy' older brother: everything in his life echoed Geordie, but young Wil couldn't see that through the brainwashing his mother put him through.
Having read Wil's blog (way back before he lost it all in a crash), his books and his earliest social media, I don't find him a reliable historian. Even a historian of what he remembers now. I wish him peace and wellness.
Hard to fathom the trauma that made those characters so real. Much respect to the cast and especially to Wil. Thanks for sharing the truth behind the curtain.
honestly i never thought River was a Genius as some say he is but he was a talented actor and it just doesn't feel like he's been dead for 30 years now
I just thought damn that kid is a brilliant actor because I could see the pain in his eyes... To know that it was real makes it even more heartbreaking. I remember reading the book then watching the movie and I thought wow, that kid nailed it. I always thought he should have gotten an Oscar for that role.
Between him and Jennette McCurdy, it makes me think that out of all the child actors we've seen, you could probably count the ones that wanted to be there on less than one hand. 😞
You think those are the only child actors out there that got treated like this? You should look up Jay North & learn what happened to him during Dennis the Menace.
I am so glad Will made it to the other side. Some of us never escape our families and their abuse. Poor River. What happened to him still makes me sick.😢😢😢
Wil Wheaton is a national treasure. His outspokenness about his abuse at the hands of his family and his advocacy on behalf of similarly situated people is an inspiration to all us. Wil is a thoroughly decent human being.
Here’s the thing though, he says he never wanted to be an actor, and he was forced into it. He’s now pushing 50 and has he had another career, did he go to uni and retrain in something he loved or did he coast by on his C-list celebrity status? IT’s afforded him an above average lifestyle where he doesn’t have to bust his arse in a job he hates like most people in the world, so maybe he should be grateful on some level.
I really related to that. When I was 8 years old my best friend became popular and turned into one of my bullies. We were children and I don't blame him for it now, but I still have a hard time trusting people.
Stand by me came out in 1986, I was 24, and felt so connected to this film. Whil Wheaton, I hope you heal from all fhe sadness and your life is peaceful and joy filled.
I was just the age of those boys in 1958-59. Kids today know nothing about wandering out in the woods by themselves. Even carrying a gun, now-a-day never happen. Us boys used to go hunting by ourselves and sleep out like those boys did. Grab anything to eat, pork and beans, chips, whatever. Used to talk to the bums down by the river and railroad, tracks, not worried, some told good stories. Times were slow then, no internet, no cell phones, and most boys could have survived on their own, figured out something. Stand By Me is how it used to be back in the day, truly a classic.
my parent's never forced me or my brother to do anything they supported us either way I've seen TV interviews were parent's who are actors or Actresses and some say that is not who I want my kid to be but to force your kid into something they don't want and tell them too bad your becoming an actor sounds very NARSASISTIC
Sadly River Phoenix didn't have a friend like Chris Chambers when he needed one. Yet his performance also gave me strength when I first saw "Stand By Me".
As a "golden child" I have to say that's also rough. To see my siblings abused and ridiculed was heartbreaking. Some sibs constantly chose poorly and became abusive themselves (one took it out on me, sexually) and others just hunkered down and endured. Very complex dysfunction in my 5-child family. Anyway, I just wanted to say that it's ALL abuse; it's just different flavors.
Sometimes, an only child is forced into every role, except the golden child. As awful as it sounds, I have frequently wished I had never met either of my parents. We should test for narcissism early, and cull them from the population.
When I read all these stories about how you understand his life it makes me so sad. Also makes me more aware of how lucky I was in my childhood. My parents got divorced but they made peace enough for all of us. I hope all of you can heal.
Also, The Shawshank Redemption which was another story from the same book as The Body. In the book Chris has the gun at the end of the story but in the movie it is Gordie. When Stephen King watched the movie he told Rob Reiner that was the perfect choice and he wished he had thought of it when writing the story. Two of my all time favorite movies.
That’s such a shame. My kid performed in school plays, and community theater, and everyone told me to get him an agent. I’d never put my kid, or me, through that.
I loved the movie and Wil’s performance in Stand By Me, primarily because it so echoed my growing up in that wandering the hills environment as a younger brother in the California Gold Country, complete with tourist steam trains that we used to hop on the sides to take us to a swimming hole. And also a film I bonded with my now partner of 37 years as a first visit to my haunts in Chico Ca as a college student. Brilliant performances and I’m glad that Wil has come to terms with his challenging upbringing.
Growing up with a dysfunctional family, divorce, alcoholism, and abuse, Stand by Me it me hard. I cry every time because I can relate to every character with the their sufferings and challengers.
I just watched the film last night, and every time I do I am moved by the film. So very relatable and made remember my very own gang back in the day. The adventures they shared are parallel to mine as a child, 12 years of age. We parted ways when we went to highschool and never heard from them since then. It is true, you will never ever find friends similar to what you had when you were that age. Memories are cherished, always.
I was there when you guys were filming. We had to wait on the road when you were filming and some of the crew would talk to us and give us coffee while we were waiting. It was great
A lot of our parents didn't have any childhood because times were tough. I guess they did the best they could. I had it good and had it bad at the same time. Loved and taken care of but dysfunctional, my parents used verbal abuse as a control method. I still envy kids who had and still have a normal family life, happy, supportive, encouraging.
One issue, in your description you describe "Stand by Me" as the 1996 film. . . it's 1986. Glad Wil spoke about this; parents need to realize there is a line between support and exploitation, this is not a "fine line". . . especially when you're telling someone "You will do this"
Right, but there is a very THICK like between wealth and poverty. Many people can never cross it; a few others - like Wheaton - never need to. He has no clue what "sacrifice" is. NONE!
@John Armenta uh dude. . . There's more struggles than economic. I am not well off, my folks were working class, but I never had to go to work to appease them. You're acting like you think their acts are excusable. They are not. This isn't a story from the 19th century. Your argument is actions and/or abuse is acceptable so long as the person having such thing inflicted on them makes money from such. Ew.
Wil was one of the cutest kids on television. I know a lot of people found his character on STTNG annoying but I thought he pulled off the awkwardness of the pressures placed on Wesley pretty well. I recently discovered Eureka and loved to hate his character in that show too. I mean this man has talent. In spite of all this soul has endured he, brings his best to the game. Good on him.
What a lot of Wesley haters don't realize is that the character was _supposed_ to be annoying! If viewers hated Wesley for being annoying, that meant that the actor was doing a fine job! It's like Larry Hagman who played the despicable J.R. Ewing on "Dallas". My mom hated the man! I told her once, "Think back to when he was on "I Dream of Jeanie", we all loved him in that! You only hate him cause he's a good actor!" She smiled and said, "I don't care, I hate him anyway!" These things are not always rational. ;-]
Much respect for Wil Wheaton, for both succeeding as he has in performance, but, too, and even more so, for having survived and transcended the pitfalls of the life of a child actor. In adulthood he's clearly found peace and joy in pursuing other passions, and has given so much to others along the way. Kudos to him.
I am the same age as Wil, and I have watched this movie dozens of times (was one of a few VHS tapes we had). I identified with all for main characters in Stand by me in one way or another. They were like little bits of me in a movie. Been a fan of him ever since. And while I find it horrible that parents force kids into roles and careers, I am glad he is speaking about it. Putting a face and emotions to issues that effect people broaden the discussion and give people outlets to express the damages they endured.
There's a word for that. Its called tiger parenting and its usually affiliated with Asian families who want their kids to excel in school no matter what as well as study and choose the career path that their parents want. Not many Asian parents want their kids to become actors but they do want them to become doctors, lawyers, teachers, etc. Wil's story is an example of how tiger parenting is not limited only to Asian families.
47 year old here - it has never occurred to me that Corey, Wil, River and Jerry WERE the characters they played. ...It's a tragic realization, and I wish it didn't make me love the movie even more, but it does. *That's* why it worked.
Wil Wheaton -- what an actor! I raised cane until his movie, "Fish Don't Blink" got released on DVD. It is still difficult to get, but worth it. Get it and see him team up with a great cast including Leah Thompson in a fun movie we have watched over and over. But, more than anything, I wish I was Will Wheaton because he got to hug Gates McFadden... 😂
Many children are abused by those who are supposed to love them & take care of them. I had one of those nightmare childhoods, it took a long time to be able to understand it, to have peace in my heart. I left my parents home at a younger age than my 5 siblings. My siblings would leave then go back over & over. I left, never went back. As soon as I was able, I got my younger sister out. I will be always grateful to the counselor who stuck with me for a year to get myself straightened out as much as possible. What she did was above & beyond. Mon, Wed, Fri, 3 hours each of those 3 days for a year. I didn't want to use medications as it seemed like Band-Aids on gaping wounds. I went the long, difficult pain filled route that has lasted longer than the effects of medication. It's sad to hear about what Wil Wheaton went through. I was crushing on him for a long time! Although his pain is a very sad thing, at least he got paid $$$$ & a career out of it. Most people just get the trauma & pain then they are cut loose, expected to just deal with it.
So true, all of the actors were similar to their characters. This movie was perfectly cast. In my opinion, the greatest 'serious' movie of all time that features child actors. And one of the best coming of age movies. Initially, the movie wasn't called 'Stand By Me', but went by the novella title 'The Body'. But one stay, it was either Keifer or River? One of them was playing and singing Stand By Me on the guitar, and Rob Reiner walked over. He said, "I love that song, I haven't heard it in forever". And it sort of became a theme for the movie and that's how it eventually ended up with the title 'Stand By Me'.
I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this movie!! I think I am 3 years older than Wheaton. Just a few MONTHS older than Phoenix. I've also been reading about what seemed like the horrible parents Wil had and how great his TNG (Star Trek) family was to him. Yep. I've seen "Stand By Me" so many damn times I can quote long scenes of it from memory! I remember being so shocked and crushed when I heard that River Phoenix had died ("Kid brother of 'Eyeball' Chambers). I remember it like it was yesterday. That's how I am though. I had a horrific car accident that affected my short-term memory many years ago but my long-term memory has ALWAYS been very good. I was working at a video store at the time. I hadn't been there that long. I started working there On 10/3/93 so it wasn't long before River's death. I came into work. I think it was a Sunday. It was Halloween. I don't remember who told me he had died but that is when I heard he had died. Of course it was several months later we heard that he had OD'ed. They called it a "speedball" or something like that. Was that what it was called? I am also going totally from memory on that part of it too and not looking it up.....
one of my fave underrated actors Dean Stockwell ( quantum leap, Married to the mob ) had similar story of not really having a choice in acting it was either go " hungry " or be an actor at 6 yrs old .
I love that we know Wil, and I hate how. I'm so glad he had the grown cast members of TNG for those four years and now he has the ultimate family of choice, Anne and his adopted sons Ryan and Nolan (even if I suspect that their names, whether from Anne or their birth father, are like me naming hypothetical children Jack and Ryan). How many people hear from their stepsons when they turn 18 "You know, I'd rather YOU be my dad, would you please adopt me"? And most of all I'm glad that Wil and Jerry are still friends, and they can even bust each other's balls over whose part in Star Trek is better (we all know the real winner is Jerry...'s wife).
This is exactly why I did not push my beautiful, precocious daughter into acting as a child. Everyone was saying she would be a natural, but I just kept hearing horror stories about abuse and looking at the treatment of such actors as Judy Garland, Shirley Temple, Drew Barrymore the “Two Coreys” the little girl in Poltergeist and even that poor kid who played Buffy in Family Affair( who both committed suicide), I just loved my child too much to put her at such risk!
Just wow. Brings tears. Its so amazing to see young talent, and yet we have to always wonder whats going on BTS. I'm so glad Wheaton survived and is helping others by being honest about his journey.
Hearing that anecdote about River coming up with that motivation gives me the shivers, because when he was a kid, his parents were in the Children of God cult. So I'm pretty sure I know what kind of memory he came up with. 😪
Just for perspective; I just watched a homeless veteran on disability, with a laundry list of chronic ailments along with a stage 3 melanoma, on $230 a month. Have we really got problems?
Wow… I never knew any of this. This is one of the movies I’ve never seen and really knew nothing about. I was in the start of my military time and didn’t think anything about movies about kids. I look forward to discovering this movie.
will was a great actor.. I wish he would look for roles now cause i would love to see him act again, and he is doing a great job with star trek interviews after the episodes.
The large number of victim-blaming comments on this video shows that many people hold tight to their denial and/or ignorance about narcissistic families and the abuse patterns within them. Abuse is enabled and normalized when we fail to hold abusers accountable, and instead, blame those who speak out about being abused for being "whiners." I hope one day more people will come out of their denial about abuse and the complex trauma it causes.
Which is funny because since Wil Wheaton exists in TBBT it also suggests that Jerry O'Connell exists as well. And since the person Sheldon is marrying is played by Mayim Bialik who also exists in that universe, Sheldon is like the nexus of alternate realities.
Wil May Have Been Forced to Act in "Stand By Me"...But By Doing That Film, He's Acquired So Many "80's Kid" "Fans" that Will "Stand By Wil" For TheRest of Their Lives!
I'm so sorry you were forced to do that! That was not right at all. I'm sorry to say I didn't see the movie. I didn't see a lot of movies in the 80s as I was going through my own stuff. I hope you were able to make peace with your feelings about this. I did watch Star Trek, though, and you were great in that. I also saw you in Big Bang. It was great you got to play yourself! That must have been interesting! Take care.
@michaelmacdonell4834 So true! This is something I know. Some experience hypervigilance to the point of paranoia. Mine's not that bad, but many people have commented on my ability to recall details and to recount events.
I wonder if they are thinking about maybe making a series based on the adventures of Lesley Crusher in the multiverse it would be like a more realistic DR WHO.
#WillWheaton. U are a genius. So sad how ur parents took advantage of u at such a young age. U where great in stand by me in the film. But ur amazing man. 🥃🥃🥃🥃🥃 from Léna & Brétt Harrison. 🥃🥃🥃🥃🥃.
Think about the millions upon millions of us who didn't become actors or make movies or become celebrities, and we're out here still in our 60s and our '70s, still hurting. Thanks so much to "Whill" Wheaton for bringing the baby boomer abuse, neglect and abandonment issues to the forefront.
Emotionally functional families are rare in America because of the social priority on material wealth=happiness. We've been & r being programmed this way.
Empathic vampryism at it's best here. Victimhood mentality is heavily promoted the past decade, to the point where they are just short of handing out badges, and medals to these hopeless souls. He chooses to be a lifetime card carrying member. And as we see, victimhood has been accepted as a career choice. Absurd. Good to be honest, just quickly admit you're always working on your traumas, and focus more on what's not traumatic, so 'the traumas' go away instead of passing them on to others.
I have never, ever gotten tired of watching Stand By Me. Every time I see it, it's like the first time. Fabulous film that has stood the test of time.
Rob Reiner’s string of seven directing successes from “This Is Spinal Tap” in 1984 and “Stand by Me,” and through “A Few Good Men” and “Misery” in the early 1990s have all stood that test of time. An underrated filmmaker perhaps because of his political activism?
@@DeeEllEff Who said he's underrated? I certainly didn't.
Its stephen kings fav of a book made to movie of his.
Wil Wheaton, I saw Jonathan Frakes sing your praises today, deep admiration for you. It was nice to hear that
My God! Is there anyone around that had love, caring, and acceptance as a child? Good for you Will. I'm 73 and am still trying to heal.
I'm sure there are, but now social media is allowing those who would've kept their pain and trauma secret to actually speak their truth. Unfortunately, societies around the world have a lot of toxic views and expectations around parents, children, basically family in general.
This is why we're tough. The great baby boomers
Weaklings today
Waiting for mommy and daddy to leave a life
@@keithsullivan-lt4nk yeah real tough…..swallow your feelings and take it out on someone or something else
I did. My kids do. I'm sorry you suffered.
68... I like the fact that in the film he had some good friends. I can't count the number of houses, cities, and states that I lived in before I even turned twelve.
as a kid who came from an abusive home...i related to his character the most and always wondered how he could show the pain of kids like us so well,it is sad to find out,but uplifting to hear he came out the other side better
I knew that his sadness was too real,even though I was just a kid too. I knew it was something far beyond acting. But also,because I experienced that sadness in my life too
@@yttrxstein4192 of course your situation was worse than everyone you know……
@@yttrxstein4192 is it a contest?
@@yttrxstein4192 sounds like you’re saying daddy didn’t love you enough?
@@yttrxstein4192 anything else you’d like to share since your suffering is greater than others? Or would that be considered complaining?
Jonathan Frakes said that he was stunned when he found out about Will's family. Will never let them know about it and that is just sad. I am glad that the lot was so great that he still declares that those guys are his family. You go Will.
His mother put so much concerted effort into blaming him for everything his dad did to him and gaslighting him about everything related to acting that it took Wil himself a long time to fully grasp things. As he says in the interview, he was 40 before he fully realized that Rob Reiner cast him as Geordie because he *was* Geordie: abused by his father, ignored by his mother, the unfavored younger child with the 'golden boy' older brother: everything in his life echoed Geordie, but young Wil couldn't see that through the brainwashing his mother put him through.
And what a great family TNG must be. They all seem so respectful and supportive of each other.
wil just wanted those SWEET victim bucks
HONOR THY PARENTS
Yes he Worked with Frakes on Star Trek TNG. Wil's first scene was on The Holodeck with Will Riker and Data, Data pulls Wesley outta the Drink.
Having read Wil's blog (way back before he lost it all in a crash), his books and his earliest social media, I don't find him a reliable historian. Even a historian of what he remembers now. I wish him peace and wellness.
Hard to fathom the trauma that made those characters so real. Much respect to the cast and especially to Wil. Thanks for sharing the truth behind the curtain.
Omg, River, still hurts, I grew up watching all four boys over the years. And the one day River died.
honestly i never thought River was a Genius as some say he is but he was a talented actor and it just doesn't feel like he's been dead for 30 years now
He was exactly my age, I was so devastated when he died.
The mother, Arlyn, farmed her kids out to support the family big time.
I just thought damn that kid is a brilliant actor because I could see the pain in his eyes... To know that it was real makes it even more heartbreaking. I remember reading the book then watching the movie and I thought wow, that kid nailed it. I always thought he should have gotten an Oscar for that role.
Between him and Jennette McCurdy, it makes me think that out of all the child actors we've seen, you could probably count the ones that wanted to be there on less than one hand. 😞
I agree.
You think those are the only child actors out there that got treated like this? You should look up Jay North & learn what happened to him during Dennis the Menace.
@@mischiefmakerstudios9900 they clearly don't think that they're pointing out how common it is....
Why say “less than one hand”? Say “on one hand”, it means five or less and doesn’t conjure images of mutilated hands! 😄
@@mavfan1 😂
I am so glad Will made it to the other side. Some of us never escape our families and their abuse. Poor River. What happened to him still makes me sick.😢😢😢
Corey Feldman, too. Those kids went through so much. :(
Wil Wheaton is a national treasure. His outspokenness about his abuse at the hands of his family and his advocacy on behalf of similarly situated people is an inspiration to all us. Wil is a thoroughly decent human being.
Except there are other actors he hasn't been exactly decent towards.
@@GjpgrD:???
Child actors aren’t the only children who suffer abuses from their parents.
@@One21JiggawattsYes, that’s true.
Here’s the thing though, he says he never wanted to be an actor, and he was forced into it. He’s now pushing 50 and has he had another career, did he go to uni and retrain in something he loved or did he coast by on his C-list celebrity status?
IT’s afforded him an above average lifestyle where he doesn’t have to bust his arse in a job he hates like most people in the world, so maybe he should be grateful on some level.
Best acting Wil has done, he was very natural in the movie. The Star Trek stuff was good, but he really stands out in this movie.
River is my all-time fav actor. I was so sad when he died.
That scene with River killed me and kills me every time. Too close to home for me.
I really related to that. When I was 8 years old my best friend became popular and turned into one of my bullies. We were children and I don't blame him for it now, but I still have a hard time trusting people.
Stand by me came out in 1986, I was 24, and felt so connected to this film. Whil Wheaton, I hope you heal from all fhe sadness and your life is peaceful and joy filled.
I was just the age of those boys in 1958-59. Kids today know nothing about wandering out in the woods by themselves. Even carrying a gun, now-a-day never happen. Us boys used to go hunting by ourselves and sleep out like those boys did. Grab anything to eat, pork and beans, chips, whatever. Used to talk to the bums down by the river and railroad, tracks, not worried, some told good stories. Times were slow then, no internet, no cell phones, and most boys could have survived on their own, figured out something. Stand By Me is how it used to be back in the day, truly a classic.
'Nother Trumptard. I watched this in '87, same age as kids. My friend was a hunter and we had woods we played in.
It is so sad to hear what Wil went through. Thank heavens that he landed on Star Trek where the cast wrapped him in love and acceptance.
Its sad, but no unique.
my parent's never forced me or my brother to do anything they supported us either way I've seen TV interviews were parent's who are actors or Actresses and some say that is not who I want my kid to be but to force your kid into something they don't want and tell them too bad your becoming an actor sounds very NARSASISTIC
He surely doesn't sugarcoat it. I feel for him. we don't always know someone's past.
Sadly River Phoenix didn't have a friend like Chris Chambers when he needed one.
Yet his performance also gave me strength when I first saw "Stand By Me".
I know the feeling of being the scapegoat child very well. And yes for every scapegoat child there is always a golden child.
As a "golden child" I have to say that's also rough. To see my siblings abused and ridiculed was heartbreaking. Some sibs constantly chose poorly and became abusive themselves (one took it out on me, sexually) and others just hunkered down and endured. Very complex dysfunction in my 5-child family.
Anyway, I just wanted to say that it's ALL abuse; it's just different flavors.
Sometimes, an only child is forced into every role, except the golden child. As awful as it sounds, I have frequently wished I had never met either of my parents. We should test for narcissism early, and cull them from the population.
When I read all these stories about how you understand his life it makes me so sad. Also makes me more aware of how lucky I was in my childhood. My parents got divorced but they made peace enough for all of us. I hope all of you can heal.
I read the story The Body by Stephen King before seeing the film. Rarely does a film live up to the original book, but this one did.
it's said that Stephen King when he was first shown the film cried while watching it and he said the same thing
I agree! And the only other time I have felt the same way was with Silence of the Lambs!!
Also, The Shawshank Redemption which was another story from the same book as The Body. In the book Chris has the gun at the end of the story but in the movie it is Gordie. When Stephen King watched the movie he told Rob Reiner that was the perfect choice and he wished he had thought of it when writing the story. Two of my all time favorite movies.
Thank you, Will, for your emotional sacrifice 🙏🏻 ❤
That’s such a shame. My kid performed in school plays, and community theater, and everyone told me to get him an agent. I’d never put my kid, or me, through that.
My grandmother passed away in the late 80s, but she loved this movie.
Grandma had excellent excellent taste💋
This film is simply perfect. PERFECT! But it is the story that grabs the audience and keeps them glued to their seats.
I loved the movie and Wil’s performance in Stand By Me, primarily because it so echoed my growing up in that wandering the hills environment as a younger brother in the California Gold Country, complete with tourist steam trains that we used to hop on the sides to take us to a swimming hole. And also a film I bonded with my now partner of 37 years as a first visit to my haunts in Chico Ca as a college student. Brilliant performances and I’m glad that Wil has come to terms with his challenging upbringing.
Growing up with a dysfunctional family, divorce, alcoholism, and abuse, Stand by Me it me hard. I cry every time because I can relate to every character with the their sufferings and challengers.
I just watched the film last night, and every time I do I am moved by the film. So very relatable and made remember my very own gang back in the day. The adventures they shared are parallel to mine as a child, 12 years of age. We parted ways when we went to highschool and never heard from them since then. It is true, you will never ever find friends similar to what you had when you were that age. Memories are cherished, always.
I was there when you guys were filming. We had to wait on the road when you were filming and some of the crew would talk to us and give us coffee while we were waiting. It was great
WoW! That's flippin awesome
A lot of our parents didn't have any childhood because times were tough. I guess they did the best they could. I had it good and had it bad at the same time. Loved and taken care of but dysfunctional, my parents used verbal abuse as a control method. I still envy kids who had and still have a normal family life, happy, supportive, encouraging.
A normal family life is the exact (and **extreme**) opposite of happy, supportive and encouraging.
Wil you were also a critical member of Big Bang. You and Sheldon were a team. Wished you were on more episodes.
One issue, in your description you describe "Stand by Me" as the 1996 film. . . it's 1986.
Glad Wil spoke about this; parents need to realize there is a line between support and exploitation, this is not a "fine line". . . especially when you're telling someone "You will do this"
Right, but there is a very THICK like between wealth and poverty. Many people can never cross it; a few others - like Wheaton - never need to. He has no clue what "sacrifice" is. NONE!
@John Armenta uh dude. . . There's more struggles than economic. I am not well off, my folks were working class, but I never had to go to work to appease them.
You're acting like you think their acts are excusable. They are not. This isn't a story from the 19th century.
Your argument is actions and/or abuse is acceptable so long as the person having such thing inflicted on them makes money from such. Ew.
Parents living through their kids without thinking of the toll on the children or their wishes
Wil was one of the cutest kids on television. I know a lot of people found his character on STTNG annoying but I thought he pulled off the awkwardness of the pressures placed on Wesley pretty well.
I recently discovered Eureka and loved to hate his character in that show too. I mean this man has talent. In spite of all this soul has endured he, brings his best to the game. Good on him.
What a lot of Wesley haters don't realize is that the character was _supposed_ to be annoying! If viewers hated Wesley for being annoying, that meant that the actor was doing a fine job! It's like Larry Hagman who played the despicable J.R. Ewing on "Dallas". My mom hated the man! I told her once, "Think back to when he was on "I Dream of Jeanie", we all loved him in that! You only hate him cause he's a good actor!" She smiled and said, "I don't care, I hate him anyway!" These things are not always rational. ;-]
Just remember that Westley was the character not Wheaton that actors. Some tend to lose perspective of that separation.
@@robertcartier5088 He was less annoying than most 15-18 year old characters Hollywood likes to write.
I didnt really come from an abusive home,but my parents ignored me and my dad loved his step kids more...Thats how i related to Gordy...
One of my favorite movies of all time. Always a good rewatch.
Totally changes that scene with River Phoenix
Much respect for Wil Wheaton, for both succeeding as he has in performance, but, too, and even more so, for having survived and transcended the pitfalls of the life of a child actor. In adulthood he's clearly found peace and joy in pursuing other passions, and has given so much to others along the way. Kudos to him.
I am the same age as Wil, and I have watched this movie dozens of times (was one of a few VHS tapes we had). I identified with all for main characters in Stand by me in one way or another. They were like little bits of me in a movie. Been a fan of him ever since. And while I find it horrible that parents force kids into roles and careers, I am glad he is speaking about it. Putting a face and emotions to issues that effect people broaden the discussion and give people outlets to express the damages they endured.
There's a word for that. Its called tiger parenting and its usually affiliated with Asian families who want their kids to excel in school no matter what as well as study and choose the career path that their parents want. Not many Asian parents want their kids to become actors but they do want them to become doctors, lawyers, teachers, etc. Wil's story is an example of how tiger parenting is not limited only to Asian families.
47 year old here - it has never occurred to me that Corey, Wil, River and Jerry WERE the characters they played. ...It's a tragic realization, and I wish it didn't make me love the movie even more, but it does. *That's* why it worked.
Wil Wheaton -- what an actor! I raised cane until his movie, "Fish Don't Blink" got released on DVD. It is still difficult to get, but worth it. Get it and see him team up with a great cast including Leah Thompson in a fun movie we have watched over and over. But, more than anything, I wish I was Will Wheaton because he got to hug Gates McFadden... 😂
I hope all this opening up will be cathartic for him. He seems like an awesome fella!. Godspeed Will.
Really interesting video, but it's so sad to hear that so many child actors we're taken advantage of and abused though
I think the closing scene of Stand By Me still stands out
He rose above those horrid parents of his. They missed out on knowing a fine, well respected, talented man.
I am guessing the relationship has never been repaired, don't know about any siblings
Will is a treasure. His parents are utterly foolish, petty, and broken.
Many children are abused by those who are supposed to love them & take care of them. I had one of those nightmare childhoods, it took a long time to be able to understand it, to have peace in my heart.
I left my parents home at a younger age than my 5 siblings. My siblings would leave then go back over & over. I left, never went back. As soon as I was able, I got my younger sister out.
I will be always grateful to the counselor who stuck with me for a year to get myself straightened out as much as possible. What she did was above & beyond.
Mon, Wed, Fri, 3 hours each of those 3 days for a year.
I didn't want to use medications as it seemed like Band-Aids on gaping wounds. I went the long, difficult pain filled route that has lasted longer than the effects of medication.
It's sad to hear about what Wil Wheaton went through. I was crushing on him for a long time! Although his pain is a very sad thing, at least he got paid $$$$ & a career out of it.
Most people just get the trauma & pain then they are cut loose, expected to just deal with it.
So true, all of the actors were similar to their characters. This movie was perfectly cast. In my opinion, the greatest 'serious' movie of all time that features child actors. And one of the best coming of age movies. Initially, the movie wasn't called 'Stand By Me', but went by the novella title 'The Body'. But one stay, it was either Keifer or River? One of them was playing and singing Stand By Me on the guitar, and Rob Reiner walked over. He said, "I love that song, I haven't heard it in forever". And it sort of became a theme for the movie and that's how it eventually ended up with the title 'Stand By Me'.
when I was a kid, the part where they find the body scared the absolute piss out of me and I had nightmares for a week.
I LOVED, LOVED, LOVED this movie!! I think I am 3 years older than Wheaton. Just a few MONTHS older than Phoenix. I've also been reading about what seemed like the horrible parents Wil had and how great his TNG (Star Trek) family was to him. Yep. I've seen "Stand By Me" so many damn times I can quote long scenes of it from memory! I remember being so shocked and crushed when I heard that River Phoenix had died ("Kid brother of 'Eyeball' Chambers). I remember it like it was yesterday. That's how I am though. I had a horrific car accident that affected my short-term memory many years ago but my long-term memory has ALWAYS been very good. I was working at a video store at the time. I hadn't been there that long. I started working there On 10/3/93 so it wasn't long before River's death. I came into work. I think it was a Sunday. It was Halloween. I don't remember who told me he had died but that is when I heard he had died. Of course it was several months later we heard that he had OD'ed. They called it a "speedball" or something like that. Was that what it was called? I am also going totally from memory on that part of it too and not looking it up.....
The description says "the 1996 film". I know it may not seem that long ago, but it was _1986_ not 96.
Weird how his old blogs from the 2000s say pretty much the opposite.
one of my fave underrated actors Dean Stockwell ( quantum leap, Married to the mob ) had similar story of not really having a choice in acting it was either go " hungry " or be an actor at 6 yrs old .
All the best to you Wil. xx
This was a sweet movie. Remember when it came out and went to the movie theatre.
I love that we know Wil, and I hate how. I'm so glad he had the grown cast members of TNG for those four years and now he has the ultimate family of choice, Anne and his adopted sons Ryan and Nolan (even if I suspect that their names, whether from Anne or their birth father, are like me naming hypothetical children Jack and Ryan). How many people hear from their stepsons when they turn 18 "You know, I'd rather YOU be my dad, would you please adopt me"? And most of all I'm glad that Wil and Jerry are still friends, and they can even bust each other's balls over whose part in Star Trek is better (we all know the real winner is Jerry...'s wife).
This is exactly why I did not push my beautiful, precocious daughter into acting as a child. Everyone was saying she would be a natural, but I just kept hearing horror stories about abuse and looking at the treatment of such actors as Judy Garland, Shirley Temple, Drew Barrymore the “Two Coreys” the little girl in Poltergeist and even that poor kid who played Buffy in Family Affair( who both committed suicide), I just loved my child too much to put her at such risk!
2:35 - what was bleeped? I have my suspicions, but I don't know what Will is referring to. What happened to River?
I love this man, always did. Tabletop was my favorite thing he's done.
In Brazil this movie is such a hit!!! I love it!
Just wow. Brings tears. Its so amazing to see young talent, and yet we have to always wonder whats going on BTS. I'm so glad Wheaton survived and is helping others by being honest about his journey.
I had for years wondered why Wil appeared depressed in most shots of him on TNG. I haven't wondered that in a very long time now.
It was an amazing preformens. Rewatched it a few days ago and seeing this kind of makes it sad. The movie changed my whole look on friendship.
wow.. the casting is amazing..
Wil Wheaton is such an amazing person. I love stand by me. Rest in peace river ❤
God this is sad. He is so great on screen, film and TV.
This video was posted 6 months ago, but the re-release of Stand By Me was last May. That sucks!!
I love Wil! So do the thousands of "family members" he has at Gen Con.
Gotta be honest he seems like a really nice genuine guy
Hearing that anecdote about River coming up with that motivation gives me the shivers, because when he was a kid, his parents were in the Children of God cult. So I'm pretty sure I know what kind of memory he came up with. 😪
Just for perspective; I just watched a homeless veteran on disability, with a laundry list of chronic ailments along with a stage 3 melanoma, on $230 a month. Have we really got problems?
Wow… I never knew any of this. This is one of the movies I’ve never seen and really knew nothing about. I was in the start of my military time and didn’t think anything about movies about kids. I look forward to discovering this movie.
will was a great actor.. I wish he would look for roles now cause i would love to see him act again, and he is doing a great job with star trek interviews after the episodes.
Gordy grown up doesn't look like Richard Dreyfuss at all.
LOL :)
My favorite movie of all time!
I have great respect for Will Wheaton, I didn't know WOW.
Awesome movie.
It rang all my bells .
5:18...
I'd Like to Have One of Those MoviePosters!
The large number of victim-blaming comments on this video shows that many people hold tight to their denial and/or ignorance about narcissistic families and the abuse patterns within them. Abuse is enabled and normalized when we fail to hold abusers accountable, and instead, blame those who speak out about being abused for being "whiners." I hope one day more people will come out of their denial about abuse and the complex trauma it causes.
I wanna give Wil a hug :(
These people who use and exploit children for their own fame, glory and money will pay a severe price.
"1996 film" ? It's 1986 !
I was gonna say
Did anyone realized that during Big Bang Theory, Wil was to afficiate the wedding while Jerry O'Connell played Sheldon's brother.
Which is funny because since Wil Wheaton exists in TBBT it also suggests that Jerry O'Connell exists as well. And since the person Sheldon is marrying is played by Mayim Bialik who also exists in that universe, Sheldon is like the nexus of alternate realities.
@@joncarroll2040 and in the Star Trek universe Picard and Shatner were in the Nexus!
Wil May Have Been Forced to Act in "Stand By Me"...But By Doing That Film, He's Acquired So Many "80's Kid" "Fans" that Will "Stand By Wil" For TheRest of Their Lives!
Really unfortunate. I always thought he was a great kid actor. Sad that he didnt even want to be there.
Most movies don't get released even if they're finished?
I'm so sorry you were forced to do that! That was not right at all. I'm sorry to say I didn't see the movie. I didn't see a lot of movies in the 80s as I was going through my own stuff. I hope you were able to make peace with your feelings about this. I did watch Star Trek, though, and you were great in that. I also saw you in Big Bang. It was great you got to play yourself! That must have been interesting! Take care.
I sure do miss River. Funny that Corey was a Pita even back then.
Jesus he has a good memory
most of us that survived intense abuse in childhood have not only that kind of memory, but have an unnaturally good level of attention or awareness.
The axe forgets, the tree remembers.
@michaelmacdonell4834 So true! This is something I know. Some experience hypervigilance to the point of paranoia. Mine's not that bad, but many people have commented on my ability to recall details and to recount events.
I wonder if they are thinking about maybe making a series based on the adventures of Lesley Crusher in the multiverse it would be like a more realistic DR WHO.
The character Wil plays on STNG is Wesley Crusher not Lesley.
#WillWheaton. U are a genius. So sad how ur parents took advantage of u at such a young age. U where great in stand by me in the film. But ur amazing man. 🥃🥃🥃🥃🥃 from Léna & Brétt Harrison. 🥃🥃🥃🥃🥃.
Stand By Me was 1986, not 1996 like the description says
Think about the millions upon millions of us who didn't become actors or make movies or become celebrities, and we're out here still in our 60s and our '70s, still hurting. Thanks so much to "Whill" Wheaton for bringing the baby boomer abuse, neglect and abandonment issues to the forefront.
Will is Gen X, abused by Boomers. The tale takes place during a Boomers childhood, but all the actors are the sons of that gen.
Emotionally functional families are rare in America because of the social priority on material wealth=happiness. We've been & r being programmed this way.
Will is awesome ❤
So, the irony is that his mother forced him to do something he ended up loving.
Empathic vampryism at it's best here. Victimhood mentality is heavily promoted the past decade, to the point where they are just short of handing out badges, and medals to these hopeless souls. He chooses to be a lifetime card carrying member. And as we see, victimhood has been accepted as a career choice. Absurd. Good to be honest, just quickly admit you're always working on your traumas, and focus more on what's not traumatic, so 'the traumas' go away instead of passing them on to others.
It's from '86, not '96.
I will always stand by Will!...😉😊
88 minutes of perfection