Wil Wheaton

A brief tenure as a child actor, marked by stardom in "Stand By Me" (1985) and on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (syndicated, 1987-1994), preceded Wil Wheaton's more prolific and influential second act as a writer, blogger, gaming and tech enthusiast and spokesperson for what was termed in the media as "geek" culture. Born Richard William Wheaton III on July 29, 1972 in Burbank, California, he was the eldest of three children by Richard William, Jr., a medical technician, and his mother, actress Debra O'Connor. Wheaton began acting at an early age, appearing first in television commercials and then made-for-TV movies and specials. His first feature film appearance came in the low-budget comedy "Hambone and Hillie" (1983), starring Lillian Gish, which was quickly followed by supporting roles in "The Buddy System" (1984). Wheaton's breakout role came as the thoughtful aspiring writer Gordie Lachance in Rob Reiner's "Stand By Me" (1985). The nostalgic drama, based on a novella by Stephen King, made stars of its youthful cast, which included River Phoenix, Corey Feldman and Kiefer Sutherland, though Wheaton's primary showcase was largely television. He was cast as Wesley Crusher, aspiring ensign aboard the USS Enterprise-D on "Star Trek: The Next Generation" (syndicated, 1987-1994). The son of the starship's medical officer, Wesley was afforded a somewhat idealized storyline - described as a child prodigy, he appeared to be given opportunities at adventure and decision-making that few adults would be granted - which drew the vocal ire of a section of "Trek" fans. The criticism grew so intense that Wheaton left the series after its fourth season, and relocated to Topeka, Kansas. There, he worked for the computer software company NewTek, and provided quality control and testing as well as promotion for the Video Toaster expansion card; the experience provided with not only a more balanced perspective on adulthood, but also a growing interest in all things tech-minded. U