Stephen King’s ‘Stand by Me’ Stars Recall Life-Changing Experience Making the Movie

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Released in 1986, the movie Stand by Me is still loved and relevant today. Based on Stephen King’s story The Body, the film follows four friends as they venture outside their town to find the body of a missing boy, hoping to become local heroes. However, their journey becomes a powerful bonding experience that profoundly impacts them all. To celebrate the film’s 40th anniversary, three of the stars are sharing stories about how making this coming-of-age classic, Stand by Me, changed their lives.

According to People Magazine, Jerry O’Connell, Corey Feldman, and Wil Wheaton have attended screenings of the movie and discussed their experiences working with the acclaimed director. Wheaton especially praised his fellow actors and the director’s approach, which involved encouraging the cast to be authentic and connect with each other naturally.

I genuinely enjoyed working with my fellow actors, and Rob Reiner created a wonderfully supportive environment where I felt safe, appreciated, and confident every single day. It made a huge difference, because I’ve been on other sets where the director, for reasons I couldn’t understand, made me feel unwelcome and unworthy.

Instead of telling us what to do, Rob encouraged us and let us figure things out ourselves, even as kids. He’d chosen actors who really fit the characters, and then he just let us be ourselves, interact honestly, and develop those roles naturally.

The Stars of ‘Stand by Me’ Naturally Came of Age When Making the Film


Columbia Pictures

River Phoenix, who sadly passed away in 1993, will be missed during the reunion tour. His co-star, Patrick O’Connell, said it will be a very emotional experience without him, especially considering his role as Chris Chambers in the film. They plan to honor Phoenix during the show, but O’Connell wants to keep the details a surprise for those who attend.

Wheaton plays Gordie Lachance in the film, the character whose flashback as an adult gives life to the film. Stand by Me was a pivotal experience for the actor, who would then become an icon in shows like Star Trek: The Next Generation and The Big Bang Theory. Wheaton says: “My clearest memory of it is that we were all working together. We all knew we were doing something special. We were all working hard, and we were having a really good time doing it. I have not ever worked on anything since then that had that level of, ‘Holy crap, this is so special. This is really a meaningful thing.”

Corey Feldman is best known for his roles as a child actor in popular films like The Goonies, Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, Gremlins, and The Lost Boys. But when he looks back on his career, he considers Stand by Me to be his most meaningful work. He explains that the script and character felt particularly substantial, saying, “This was actually a script and character that I could sink my teeth into.” He felt it was a significant departure from his other roles and that’s why he was so eager to be a part of it, appreciating its depth and meaning.

Ryan O’Connell began his acting career with a small role in Stand by Me, but he later became well-known for films like Calendar Girl, Scream 2, and Joe’s Apartment, as well as the TV series Sliders. However, he credits Stand by Me with truly changing his life. He feels the movie was pivotal in shaping who he is today. Director Rob Reiner cast them because they naturally embodied their characters – Corey was very much like his character, Teddy, and Wil served as the group’s natural leader. River Phoenix, he recalls, was exceptionally kind and held the group together with his gentle nature. O’Connell believes they all genuinely were the characters they played.

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2025-12-08 19:18