Cameron Finley

Last updated
Cameron Finley
Born (1987-08-30) August 30, 1987 (age 36)
Occupations
  • Molecular biologist
  • former child actor
Years active1992–2000

Joseph Cameron Finley (born August 30, 1987) is an American former child actor [1] and molecular biologist. While receiving accolades for his work in Hope Floats , Baywatch , One True Love , and Perfect Game , he is most known for his role as Theodore 'Beaver' Cleaver in the 1997 film Leave It to Beaver based upon the television series by the same name. [2]

Contents

Background

Finley was born in Garland, Texas, the son of Lexa Iann (née Aulgur), a spiritual healer, and Charles David "Chuck" Finley, a software developer. [3] He has two siblings, Taz and Stopher. [4] When he was three, he was taken by his parents to an acting seminar near his home. He continued acting until the age of 12, at which time he chose to quit acting so he could go to school full-time and "be a normal kid".

Finley attended Moorpark High School. He graduated in 2010 from UC San Diego with a degree in molecular biology. He currently[ when? ] resides in Brooklyn, NY.[ citation needed ]

Career

Finley starred in his first national commercial, for Shell Oil, [5] when he was three years old and living with his family in the Dallas suburb of Garland, Texas. [6] [7] He also featured in commercials for such companies as Taco Bell, Shout, and Brink's Security. Finley acted in the films What's Eating Gilbert Grape , A Perfect World , 8 Seconds , and appeared as a guest on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno on three occasions. [5] In 1997, after beating out more than 5,000 other boys in a nationwide search, Finley played the title character in the Leave It to Beaver film. [8] He then appeared in Hope Floats as Travis, a sad child who dresses up as a dozen different characters ranging from Barney the Dinosaur to Charlie Chaplin. [9] In 1995 Finley was one of the 3,000 actors that auditioned for the role of young Anakin Skywalker in Star Wars: Episode I – The Phantom Menace . [10] Finley also starred in the 2000 direct-to-video Disney movie Perfect Game , in which he played Kanin, a boy driven by the ghost of his deceased father to show that he can play baseball as well as anyone on the championship Little League team. [11]

Since leaving acting in 2000, Cameron graduated from high school and went to study at the University of California, San Diego. He has worked as a researcher in molecular biology, and has published a number of academic research articles in his field. [12]

Filmography

Film

YearTitleRoleNotes
1993 What's Eating Gilbert Grape Doug Carver
1993 A Perfect World Bob Fielder Jr.
1994 8 Seconds Young Lane Frost
1995Takedown
1997 Leave It to Beaver Theodore 'Beaver' Cleaver
1998 Hope Floats Travis

Television

YearTitleRoleNotes
1994 Heaven & Hell: North & South, Book III GusTV miniseries
1995 A Woman of Independent Means Drew #1TV miniseries
1995 Coach Angry ChildEpisode: "Is It Hot in Here, or Is It Me?: Part 2"
1995 Walker, Texas Ranger Little Phil / Zack Jamison2 episodes
1995Deadly Family SecreetsTimothy PickTV film
1996 Don't Look Back JeremyTV film
1996 Touched by an Angel MattEpisode: "The Violin Lesson"
1998 The Lionhearts Spencer LionheartVoice, main role
1998-99 Baywatch Tanner SloanRecurring role
1999Three SecretsSpencerTV film
1999 Streets of Laredo Ben ParkerTV miniseries
2000 One True Love CoreyTV film
2000 Perfect Game Kanin 'Canine' CrosbyTV film
2000 Time Share Max WeilandTV film
2000 Static Shock Second BoyVoice, episode: "Child's Play"

Recognition

Awards and nominations

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References

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  7. "Universal Leaves 'Beaver' Role To Texas Boy". Orlando Sentinel . Associated Press. June 7, 1996. p. 29.
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  9. "Words of wisdom from Garland's Cameron Finley". Fort Worth Star-Telegram . August 22, 1997. p. 1 (Life & Arts).
  10. "Finding Anakin - auditions for Star Wars Episode I". YouTube . Archived from the original on 2021-12-14.
  11. Hettrick, Scott (June 9, 2000). "A Kid's Idea Of A Perfect Game". South Florida Sun-Sentinel . Los Angeles Times Syndicate. p. 13.
  12. J Cameron Finley's research while affiliated with University of California, San Diego and other places, ResearchGate.net, accessed 18 May 2020
  13. Sumner, Jane (July 11, 1999). "Awards spangled up in fun" . Dallas Morning News . Archived from the original on March 5, 2014. Retrieved April 25, 2012.
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