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Information about child actors also provodes a great deal of fashion information. Both clothes these children wore as well as the costumes they wore in their films and shows provide much valuable information. These childrens often dressed very fashionably so information about them provides insights into contemprary fashions. The costumes they wore in films also provides useful information--although it must be treated more cautiously. HBC is preparing an alphabetical listing of child actors in movies, plays, and television.
Jon Walmsley was born in Blackburn, Lancashire on February 6, 1956. He gave his voice to the character of Christopher Robin in the 1968 Disney film version of Winnie the Pooh and went on to portray Jason Walton in the TV series The Waltons from 1972 to 1981.
The Watson family consisted (in order of age): Coy, Vivian, Gloria, Louise, Harry, Bill, and Delmar. Their parents with only limited success promoted them as a show-biz family. Apparently they were in "The Wind", The Callahans and Murphys". Baby Watson played in WC Field Films. I'm not sure which Watson that was, perhaps Delmar. Delmar (1928?- ) played several child movie roles during the 1930s. One of the best know was Peter the goat boy in Shirly Temple's "Heidi" (1937). Shirley was reportedly asked who she preferred and she picked Delmar who she had worked with previously.
Will Wheaton played Gordie Lachance along side River Phoenix in "Stand by Me" (1986). It was a wonderful film. Wil and the other boys gave reall great performances. Will next played Welley in the "Star Trek" sequel "Star Trek: The Next Generation." He was about 15 when he got the role. He susequently decided to lave the show. He explained in an interview, " I left Star Trek because it was seriously interfering with my career in feature films. I was in a situation where I was constantly having to pass on really good movie roles because I was on the series. I had a film career before Star Trek." Wil has remained active in show business, but his performance in "Stand by Me" I think was his outstanding role.
Talented British child star Jon Whiteley was born in Monymusk, Scotland (1945). He made an impression in several important films during the early- and mid-1950s. He seemsto have lost any Scottish accent before embarking on his film career. He is much better know to British movie goers than Anerucans because he mostly appeared in British films. He first achieved notice in Britain when he earned first prize for verse-speaking at the Aberdeen Music Festival while he was only 6 years old (1951). This led to a film part in The Stranger in Between (1952) co-starring as a runaway abducted and then befriended by a fugitive played by English staklwart Dirk Bogarde. The mop-headed Jon was an immeduate success and instantly recognized in Britain, the films had only limited ruins in America. Perhaps the most important role was his next film, He beautufully played Harry in 'The Little Kidnappers' (1953). This film had a wider American run.
He played with Vincent Winter, aboy wihout any acting experienced recruited out of Scottish nursery schools. The boys received an honorary, miniature "Juvenile Oscar" at the Academy Awards ceremony (1954). The two played orphaned brothers who 'adopt' an abandoned baby after their grandfather refuses to allow then to have a pet. Jon next played another orphan in Fritz Lang's 'Moonfleet' (1955) with Stewart Granger. Not one of my favorite films, but Jon did a comendabke job. This was followed by 'The Weapon' (1957). Here he plays a boy who accidentally shoots his friend with a gun early used in a murder. My favorite was 'The Spanish Gardener' (1956) where he plays the lonely son of the British diplomat living in Madrid. His father does not have time for him, but resents thevingluence of the Spanish gardner. The film finds Jon back with Dirk Bogarde. He gave a veautiful performance, but it was his last major appeaeance and he quietly exited the movie world. Jon went on tonbecome a learned art historian at the Ashmolean Museum in Oxford.
The curly headed boy in many Disney productions. Perhaps best known for his role on the TV series "Family Affair" (I'm not sure about the title). He was charming in the TV series, but never had any serious movie parts. He appeared in several different movies, "The Adventures of Tom Sawyer" (19??) and "Mystery of ? Lighthouse. (19??)" He never got any interesting teenage and adult parts. A tabloid in 1992 claimed he was destitute. Actually while he had lost his money, he was making a modest living.
Played Greg in the "Brady Bunch" TV series which inexplicably has developed a camp following. He was the older boy, rather cute in the first year, but grew up very quickly. I don't believe he ever has any interesting costuming. Unlike the other kids, he was interested in pursuing an acting career. He could never shake his association in the public eye as Greg. He now capitalizes on it in theater and a book ("I Was a Teen Age Greg.") He seems well adjusted though.
George was famous for his voice, a baaso voice that incongruously boomed out from his tiny frame. His cavernous voice made him the "John Carradine" of child stars and something of a "freek" in the movies. But, he had an adorable, attention-grabbing quality that made him far more appealing than his contemporary child actor, Tim Hovey "THe Toy Tiger" (1956). His real name was George Wentzlaff and he was born March/May 3, 1946. From infancy, his earliest talk was particularly resonant. As George grew, he had to grow into a voice that never failed to reveal his identity to neighbors at Halloween time and made him the talk of the neighborhood. Even his family apparently had to stifle their laughter every time he opened his mouth. His father wrote to Art Linkletter who was famous for interviewing children on his day time talk show. George's father described his son who had a voice like a "bass drum." Linkletter met George in an audition for his "People Are Funny" show and picked him immediately. George arrived for the show dressed in a train engineers suit. When Linkletter asked him what his name was, George replied, "George Wentzlaff, but I'd rather be Casey Jones." The audience roared. The rule was that no child would appear on the show more than once, but Linkletter had George back nearly twenty times. Carry Grant saw George on the show and had him signed for "Room for One More" (1952), about a couple that can not resist adopting forsaken children. Norman Taurog, the director, was so impressed that he had Warner Brothers put him under contract, but he was lured away by Twentieth Century Fox. George next appeared in "My Pal Gus" (1952) for which he won the Critics Award and "Monkey Business" (1952) with Grant again. The movie going public quickly adopted George as their latest child star. Perhaps George's most memorable role was as millionaire Henry Spofford III in "Gentlemen Prefer Blonds" (1953). Money hungary Marilyn Monroe is shocked to find the millionaire who she engineered to be seated next to at dinner is only 10 years old. When George tells Marilyn in his Foghorn voice of her "certain animal magnatism", audiences howled. Inexplicably he wears a long pants suit, shorts would have been such a nice added touch. George remembers filming the movie. He recalls, The thing I remember most is working with this beautiful lady from early in the morning until late at night. Then as my folks were getting me dressed to go home, she came out of her dressing room without any makeup. If I hadn't recognized her voive I'd never believed she was the same person." One of his most popular movies was "Mister Scotmaster" (1953) in which he co-stared with waspish comedian Clifton Webb. On the set, the rather prissy Webb and unassuming George, battled for the best "bon mot", with crew members usually agreeing that George usually topped his elder. The New York Times applaued George's performance, complementing him as "... a wonderfully appealing little tyke with a bullfrog basso." George filmed an introduction to the film in 1962 when it was to be shown on television, but the older George seemed somewhat awkward and the introduction was not used. George was active for several years with guest TV appearances on "Ozzie and Harriet" and "Blondie". For two seasons he starred in his own show "Phoebe." But then his popularity began to decline and the studio released him. He did some low budget films, "The Rocket Man" (1954) a fantassy and "Artists and Models" (1955) with Martin and Lewis. After these, George became mere background in youth oriented features. The novelty of the voice as George became a gangling teen-ager had worn thin. In the lush production "An Affair to Remember" (1957) with Grant again, George was merely one of the boys at the orphanage who join in a song. By the end of 1958, George was out of show business entirely. He served in the Navy for 4 years and was last described as a flesy? fellow, with beard, moustache, and glasses. He rarely speaks of his film career and says that he used his earnings "learning to play pinochle."
Elijah has had a busy acting career. He began in show business by modeling. His family moved to Los Angeles so he could pursue an acting career. He got a part in a video and at age 8 his first movie part. He has appeared in: "The Adventures of Huck Finn," "North," "The Good Son" (with Macaulay Culkin), and "Forever Young." He has an older brother and younger sister who also act. His father is a salesman. He collects action figures and stuffed monkeys.
Personable little guy with a great face and big ears. His first movie roll was one of the kids on "Kindergarten Cops". He reportedly was a real hit with Arnold Schaezenger. His big role of course is on "Picket Fences." He also has a part as the tea cup is Disney's new version of "Alice in Wonderland". He says he never gets nervous in his parts. He does gymnastics and ballroom dancing. One of his brothers is a ballroom dancer.
Boy from Valaerie. He was one of the celeberty guests on "Drawing for Dollars. The MC was Vicky ? She just gushed all over him, exclaiming how cute he was. "Even your shoes are cute," she insisted. I would have been embarrassed, but he just took it all without complaint. He explained that a friend of his mothers virtually forced her to get him into show business. He says he just loves it. He had been in show business for 11 years, I gues since he was 2 or 3. He is a charming little actor, but he has the most unsighly hair cut, with all that mop in back.
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