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Wil Wheaton

Highest Rated: 93% The Secret of NIMH (1982)

Lowest Rated: 24% Flubber (1997)

Birthday: Jul 29, 1972

Birthplace: Burbank, California, USA

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. Upon his return to Los Angeles, Wheaton returned to acting, but found steadier and more fulfilling work as a blogger, writer and ardent evangelist for collector/tech or "geek" culture, including gaming, science fiction, comics and podcasting. His blog led to writing assignments or online and print outlets, and Wheaton launched his own independent publishing company, Monolith Press, to publish a memoir, Dancing Barefoot (2004), with an extended edition, titled Just a Geek, following later that same year. He was a prolific audiobook narrator and voice-over actor, lending his voice to projects ranging from "Family Guy" (Fox, 1999- ), for which he played a fictionalized version of himself, to the videogame "Grand Theft Auto: San Andreas" (Rockstar Games, 2015), and competed in tournament-style games of poker and the role-playing game Dungeons and Dragons, while also finding time to co-create and host the YouTube series "TableTop" (2012-), in which he and celebrity guests indulge in a wide array of board and role-playing games, and w00tstock, an annual variety show dedicated to gaming, science fiction, music and comedy. By 2009, Wheaton was named by Forbes as one of the most influential celebrities on the internet, with a Twitter following in excess of three million people. But he also continued to maintain a presence as an actor, often as petty heels whose antagonistic nature was a good-natured spoof of his "nice guy" persona; most notable among these roles was a recurring turn as a fictionalized and nasty version of himself, who clashed frequently with Jim Parsons' Dr. Sheldon Cooper on "The Big Bang Theory" (CBS, 2007-2018).

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Highest rated movies

93% 85% The Secret of NIMH
Watchlist
92% 94% Stand by Me Watchlist 92% 71% Teen Titans GO! to the Movies Watchlist 83% 60% Max Reload and the Nether Blasters Watchlist
75% 36% Jane White Is Sick and Twisted
Watchlist
69% 63% Rent-a-Pal Watchlist
41% 66% Toy Soldiers
Watchlist
38% 49% Star Trek: Nemesis Watchlist
24% 33% Flubber
Watchlist
The Girls' Room
Watchlist

Filmography

Movies

Credit
69% 63% Rent-a-Pal Andy (Character) $29.6K 2020
83% 60% Max Reload and the Nether Blasters Arcade Heroes Narrator (Character) - 2020
92% 71% Teen Titans GO! to the Movies Flash (Voice) $29.6M 2018
No Score Yet 50% Neil Gaiman: Dream Dangerously Self - 2016
No Score Yet 25% Americanizing Shelley Director Alan Smithee (Character) - 2007
No Score Yet No Score Yet Book of Days Danny (Character) - 2003
No Score Yet 39% Neverland John Darling (Character) - 2003
No Score Yet 38% Fish Don't Blink Jimmy (Character) - 2002
38% 49% Star Trek: Nemesis Wesley Crusher (Character) $500.0K 2002
75% 36% Jane White Is Sick and Twisted Dick Smith (Character) - 2002
No Score Yet 22% Python Tommy (Character) - 2000
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Girls' Room Charlie (Character) - 2000
No Score Yet 5% Deep Core Rodney Bedecker (Character) - 2000
No Score Yet No Score Yet Foreign Correspondents Jonas (Character) - 1999
No Score Yet 54% The Day Lincoln Was Shot Robert Todd Lincoln (Character) - 1998
No Score Yet 46% Fag Hag Owner of Christian Books and Nails (Character) - 1998
24% 33% Flubber Bennett Hoenicker (Character) $93.0M 1997
No Score Yet 42% Pie in the Sky Jack (Character) - 1995
No Score Yet No Score Yet It Was Him or Us Scottie (Character) - 1995
No Score Yet 25% Mr. Stitch Lazarus (Character) - 1995
No Score Yet 78% The Liars' Club David Reynolds (Character) - 1993
No Score Yet 59% December Kipp Gibbs (Character) $4.5K 1991
41% 66% Toy Soldiers Joseph "Joey" Trotta (Character) $13.4M 1991
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Last Prostitute Danny (Character) - 1991
No Score Yet 27% The Curse Zack (Character) $1.3M 1987
No Score Yet No Score Yet Young Harry Houdini Ehrich Weiss/Young Harry Houdini (Character) - 1987
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Defiant Ones Clyde (Character) - 1986
92% 94% Stand by Me Gordie Lachance (Character) $46.7M 1986
No Score Yet No Score Yet Long Time Gone Mitchell (Character) - 1986
No Score Yet 50% The Buddy System Tim (Character) - 1984
93% 85% The Secret of NIMH Martin (Voice) - 1982
No Score Yet 79% A Long Way Home Donald Branch (Character) - 1981

TV

Credit
No Score Yet No Score Yet Faster, Purple Worm! Kill! Kill! Unknown (Character) 2023
No Score Yet 50% Playing With Power: The Nintendo Story Producer 2021 2023
No Score Yet No Score Yet Celebrity Jeopardy! Guest 2022-2023
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Talk Guest 2022
81% 84% The Big Bang Theory Wil Wheaton (Guest Star) 2009-2019
No Score Yet No Score Yet Stretch Armstrong & The Flex Fighters Rook (Voice) 2017-2018
No Score Yet No Score Yet Whose Line Is It Anyway? Guest 2017
No Score Yet 41% Bill Nye Saves the World Guest 2017
100% 90% Mystery Science Theater 3000: The Return Drake (Guest Star) 2017
No Score Yet 88% At Midnight With Chris Hardwick Guest 2015-2017
89% 89% Dark Matter Alexander Rook (Guest Star) 2015-2016
48% 77% Powers Conrad Moody (Guest Star) 2016
No Score Yet No Score Yet Miles From Tomorrowland Commander S'Leet (Guest Voice) 2015
No Score Yet 92% Con Man Officer Cahoots (Guest Star) 2015
No Score Yet 46% Teen Titans Go! Aqualad (Guest Voice) 2014-2015
80% No Score Yet The Wil Wheaton Project Host 2014
No Score Yet 84% Robot Chicken Unknown (Guest Voice) 2014
No Score Yet No Score Yet Last Call With Carson Daly Guest 2014
No Score Yet No Score Yet Larry King Now Guest 2014
92% 88% Leverage Colin Mason (Guest Star) 2009-2010 2012
96% 88% Batman: The Brave and the Bold Silver Age Blue Beetle/Ted Kord (Voice) 2009-2011
No Score Yet 64% Family Guy Anti-Abortion Activist (Guest Voice) 2009-2010
No Score Yet 83% Criminal Minds Unknown (Guest Star) 2008
No Score Yet 93% Numb3ers Miles Sklar (Guest Star) 2007
No Score Yet 80% CSI: Crime Scene Investigation Unknown (Guest Star) 2005
No Score Yet No Score Yet Twice in a Lifetime Ryan Storey/Dr. Thomas (Guest Star) 2001
No Score Yet No Score Yet Guys Like Us Unknown (Guest Star) 1999
No Score Yet No Score Yet Diagnosis Murder Unknown (Guest Star) 1998
14% No Score Yet Love Boat: The Next Wave Unknown (Guest Star) 1998
No Score Yet No Score Yet Perversions of Science Unknown (Character) 1997
57% No Score Yet Gun Unknown (Character) 1997
No Score Yet No Score Yet The Outer Limits Cadet (Character) 1996
92% 90% Star Trek: The Next Generation Wesley Crusher (Character),
Unknown (Guest Star)
1987-1994
82% 90% Tales From the Crypt Unknown (Character) 1993
No Score Yet 89% Family Ties Unknown (Guest Star) 1987
No Score Yet 64% Highway to Heaven Max (Guest Star) 1985