Georg Olden (actor)

Last updated
Georg Olden
Georg Olden 1982.jpg
Georg Olden, c. 1982
Born (1968-01-14) January 14, 1968 (age 56)
Tarrytown, New York, U.S.A.
Occupation(s)Actor, model, musical performer
Years active1981–2005

Georg Olden (born January 14, 1968) is a retired American actor, model and musical theatre performer. Beginning his career as a professional child actor and model at the age of ten, Olden is best known for his television roles; as "Drag" in the ABC Weekend Special : The Joke's On Mr. Little and as "Robbie Stuart" on the 1980s TBS sitcom Rocky Road . Rising to prominence as a teen idol in the mid-1980s, Olden is also known for his feature film roles; as "Piper" in the teen comedy Bad Manners (aka: Growing Pains ) and as one of the teenage bullies in the science fiction adventure Explorers .

Contents

Early life

Olden was born Georg Olden, Jr. on January 14, 1968, in Tarrytown, New York, the son of renowned graphic designer Georg Olden and professional stage actress and singer Terri Phillips Baker. [1] [2] His father died when he was seven [2] and he grew up spending his summers traveling the country with his mother as she appeared in numerous roadshow engagements and stage plays. In a 1986 interview, Olden recounted his early childhood saying "I think we ended up seeing just about all of the U.S.A. except Alaska and Hawaii." Although an accomplished stage performer, Baker did not want her son to enter show business and discouraged him from embarking on a career within the entertainment industry. [1]

Career

Early career

In 1978, at the age of ten, Olden heard about a local theatrical production of the musical Oliver! that was looking for boys. He asked his mother to allow him to audition. In spite of some misgivings she eventually consented on the condition that if he didn't get the role he would agree not to pursue a career in show business. If he did get the part, she would accept it as fate and would allow him to pursue an acting career. After a series of auditions to evaluate his acting, singing and dancing abilities, Olden landed the title role and immediately began rehearsals for a full-scale production of the musical at the famed Aquarius Theatre in Hollywood, which co-starred comic Dick Shawn. [1]

Over the next several years, Olden continued to work as a child actor and model, appearing in numerous national commercials and print advertorials until making the transition to television in 1981 with a guest-starring role on the situation comedy Flo . [1] On September 22, 1981, Olden appeared in the NBC musical-comedy special How to Eat Like a Child – And Other Lessons in Not Being a Grown-up , based on the best-selling book by Delia Ephron. [1] In the satirical special, Olden appeared opposite Dick Van Dyke (as the token "grown-up"), as well as other future child stars Corey Feldman and Billy Jacoby. [3] [4] In his review of the special, Baltimore Sun television critic, Bill Carter singled Olden out, writing "The main kid, called George in the show, has a kind of chip-on-the-shoulder mien; but he sings as sweetly as a choirboy. [5]

On February 6, 1982, Olden appeared in his first starring role in ABC's popular Saturday morning anthology series, The ABC Weekend Special . [1] In the special episode titled The Joke's On Mr. Little , Olden starred as "Drag", a mischievous boy who, disappointed when his beloved teacher moves away and is replaced by the refined Mr. Lester Little (Richard Sanders), begins to plot with his best friend "Streeter" (K. C. Martel) to target the new teacher for a series of embarrassing practical jokes, only to ultimately learn a "valuable lesson" about himself. [6] Later that same year, Olden followed up with guest-starring television roles, appearing on the daytime soap opera General Hospital and an episode of Little House on the Prairie titled He Was Only Twelve . [1]

Teen idol

In May 1983, Olden made his feature film debut with a small, but memorable role in the action-adventure drama, Breathless . [7] In the film, Olden played a young skateboarder who debates the merits of the Silver Surfer with Jesse Lujack (Richard Gere) at a news-stand on the streets of Los Angeles. [1] In November of that same year, Olden had a small role in the CBS tear-jerker Two Kinds of Love. In the television drama, Olden played Jonas, a bully who antagonizes the film's lead (Ricky Schroder) as he struggles to cope with a troublesome family life. [1]

In October 1984, Olden starred in the teen comedy Bad Manners (aka: Growing Pains ). [1] [7] Set in an orphanage called "The Home of the Bleeding Heart", Olden played "Piper", the ring-leader of a group of teenage delinquents who escape from their oppressive orphanage to rescue a fellow "inmate", irreverently wreaking havoc on suburbia every step along the way. While not impressed with what he deemed to be a cynical and contrived storyline, Boston Phoenix critic Owen Gleiberman praised Olden as one of the film's young stand-out stars, writing – "Georg Olden has a charisma and physical grace far beyond his years [...] a scampish, freckle-faced punk with the eyes of a lynx and the smile of a future matinee idol." [8]

In December 1984, Olden appeared in the gangster spoof comedy film, Johnny Dangerously , portraying a young Joe Piscopo. [1] In July 1985, he was once again cast as the "bully" in Joe Dante's science fiction fantasy adventure Explorers . [7] In the film, Olden played one in a gang of teenage boys led by Steve Jackson (Bobby Fite) who torment the film's protagonists, Ben Crandall (Ethan Hawke) and Wolfgang Müller (River Phoenix). [1] While not considered a commercial success at the time, the film was the feature film debut of both Hawke and Phoenix, and has become something of a cult favorite among fans of 80s sci-fi cinema. [9]

On September 2, 1985, Olden debuted in his co-starring role on the WTBS situation comedy Rocky Road . [1] [10] On the series, Olden played Robbie Stuart, a typical "girl crazy" teenager who, along with his two sisters, inherits an ice cream parlor on the Pismo Beach boardwalk from his recently deceased parents. [10] Filmed in Hollywood, the series launched Olden as a popular teen idol of the day, with pinups and articles appearing in numerous teen magazines such as Tiger Beat , Teen Beat and 16 Magazine among others. In July 1986, Teen Idol Mania! described Olden when introducing him to their readers – "'Gorgeous Georg' Olden, the boy with the incredible, edible eyes." [1] Rocky Road ran for three seasons and Olden earned two Youth in Film Award nominations for his work on the series. [11] [12]

Later career

After Rocky Road ended, Olden continued to make occasional guest-starring appearances on television. In October 1987, he appeared in an episode of Highway to Heaven titled I Was a Middle Aged Werewolf and in 1990, he made two appearances on the critically acclaimed teen medical drama Doogie Howser, M.D. . In 1994, Olden once again appeared with Ricky Schroder, this time as "Lou" in the dramatic television movie To My Daughter with Love . [13] In 2005, after more than 10 years out of show business, Olden returned to acting with a small role as Devan Burnett in the teen buddy comedy Suits on the Loose . [7]

Personal life

While working as a professional actor, Olden attended Beverly Hills High School, beginning in 1982 and graduating in 1986. [14] After leaving show business, Olden left Hollywood and moved to the Dallas–Fort Worth area working as a real-estate agent at Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage where his specialties included home marketing, buyer representation, and investor strategies. [15] [16] [17] As of 2011, Olden continued to work in real estate and was living in the Bend, Oregon, area. [18] [19] [20]

Filmography

Film
YearFilmRoleNotes
1983 Breathless "Kid"—
1984 Bad Manners Piperaka: Growing Pains
1984 Johnny Dangerously "Young Vermin"—
1985 Explorers "Steve Jackson's Gang Member"—
2005Suits on the LooseDevan Burnett—
Television
YearFilmRoleNotes
1981 How to Eat Like a Child "Himself"TV special
1982 ABC Weekend Special Drag"The Joke's on Mr. Little"
1982 General Hospital (Unknown)(Unknown episodes)
1982 Little House on the Prairie Danny"He Was Only Twelve: Part 1"
1983Two Kinds of LoveJonasTV movie
1985 Rocky Road Robbie Stuart3 seasons / 71 episodes
1987 Highway to Heaven Sid"I Was a Middle Aged Werewolf"
1990 Doogie Howser, M.D. Brad / Marshall's Friend2 episodes
1994To My Daughter With LoveLouTV movie

Awards

YearAwardCategoryProjectResultRef.
1986 Youth in Film Award
(now known as the Young Artist Award)		Best Young Actor in a Cable Series or Special Rocky Road Nominated [11]
1987 Youth in Film Award
(now known as the Young Artist Award)		Best Young Actor in a Cable Series or Special Rocky Road Nominated [12]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Leif Garrett</span> American actor and singer (born 1961)

Leif Garrett is an American actor, singer, and television personality. He worked as a child actor, then in the 1970s became famous as a teen idol in music. He later received much publicity for his drug abuse and legal troubles.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Michelle Trachtenberg</span> American actress (born 1985)

Michelle Christine Trachtenberg is an American actress. Trachtenberg began her career at age three, appearing in a number of commercials, films, and television series as a child. Her starring role on the Nickelodeon television series The Adventures of Pete & Pete (1994–1996) as Nona Mecklenberg was her first credited role. She starred in the Nickelodeon Movies comedy film Harriet the Spy (1996) as the film's eponymous character and in the CBS sitcom Meego (1997) as Maggie, for both of which she won Young Artist Awards.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Scott Baio</span> American actor (born 1960)

Scott Vincent Baio is an American actor. He is known for playing Chachi Arcola on the sitcom Happy Days (1977–1984) and its spin-off Joanie Loves Chachi (1982–1983), the title character on the sitcom Charles in Charge (1984–1990), Dr. Jack Stewart in the medical-mystery-drama series Diagnosis: Murder (1993–1995), and the title role of the musical film Bugsy Malone (1976), his onscreen debut. Baio has guest-starred on various television programs, appeared in several independent films, and starred on the Nickelodeon sitcom See Dad Run (2012–2015).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Willie Aames</span> American actor, film and television director (born 1960)

Willie Aames is an American actor, film and television director, television producer, and screenwriter. He is best known for playing Tommy Bradford, one of the children of Tom Bradford, on the 1970s television series Eight Is Enough, TJ Latimer in Family, Buddy Lembeck on the 1980s sitcom Charles in Charge, and the title character in the direct-to-video series Bibleman (1995–2003). He is also credited as Willie Ames.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jonathan Brandis</span> American actor (1976–2003)

Jonathan Gregory Brandis was an American actor. Beginning his career as a child model, Brandis moved on to acting in commercials and subsequently won television and film roles. Brandis made his acting debut in 1982 as Kevin Buchanan on the soap opera One Life to Live. In 1990, he portrayed Bill Denbrough in the television miniseries It, and starred as Bastian Bux in The NeverEnding Story II: The Next Chapter. In 1993, at the age of 17, he was cast in the role of teen prodigy Lucas Wolenczak on the NBC series seaQuest DSV. The character was popular among teenage viewers, and Brandis regularly appeared in teen magazines. He died by suicide in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Matt Dillon</span> American actor (born 1964)

Matthew Raymond Dillon is an American actor. He has received various accolades, including an Academy Award nomination and Grammy nomination.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Noah Hathaway</span> American actor and a former teen idol (born 1971)

Noah Leslie Hathaway is an American actor and a former teen idol. He is best known for his roles as Atreyu in the 1984 film The NeverEnding Story and for portraying Boxey on the original television series Battlestar Galactica. His work in The NeverEnding Story made him particularly popular as a teen idol in Europe.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jared Padalecki</span> American actor (born 1982)

Jared Tristan Padalecki is an American actor. He is best known for playing the role of Sam Winchester in the TV series Supernatural. He rose to fame in the early 2000s after appearing on the television series Gilmore Girls as well as the films New York Minute (2004) Flight of the Phoenix (2004) and House of Wax (2005), later starring in Friday the 13th (2009).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Cameron Monaghan</span> American actor and model

Cameron Riley Monaghan is an American actor and model. He is known for his role as Ian Gallagher on the Showtime comedy-drama series Shameless and as twins Jerome and Jeremiah Valeska, who serve as origins for the Joker, on the DC Comics-based TV series Gotham. He also portrayed Cal Kestis in the action-adventure game Star Wars Jedi: Fallen Order and its sequel Jedi: Survivor. Monaghan began his career as a child model at the age of three and as a child actor at the age of seven.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Robert Ri'chard</span> American actor

Robert Andrew Ri'chard is an American actor, known for his roles as Bobby Walker on the Nickelodeon sitcom Cousin Skeeter (1998–2002), and as Arnaz Ballard on the UPN sitcom One on One (2001–2006). He received Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in Children's Programming for performance in the made-for-television movie In His Father's Shoes (1998), and NAACP Image Award nomination for Outstanding Youth Actor/Actress for the 1999 teen drama film, Light It Up.

Andrew Lewis Caldwell is an American actor. He is known for his starring roles in the 2008 film College and the 2013 film Geography Club, and for his appearances in television series such as Henry Danger and iZombie.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Taylor Lautner</span> American actor (born 1992)

Taylor Daniel Lautner is an American actor. He gained fame for playing werewolf Jacob Black in The Twilight Saga film series (2008–2012).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Peyton List (actress, born 1998)</span> American actress (born 1998)

Peyton Roi List is an American actress. List began her career as a child model for tween magazines and companies before transitioning to acting. A child actress at the time, List made her acting debut with the film 27 Dresses in 2008, and soon became recognized for playing Holly Hills in the 2011–2012 Diary of a Wimpy Kid film series.

Robert Nelson Fite is an American former film and television actor. Beginning his professional career as a child actor and model at the age of six, Fite is perhaps best known for his recurring role as J.T. Martin on the NBC comedy series Silver Spoons, as well as for his feature film roles in The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas, The Legend of Billie Jean, and Explorers.

Ronnie Scribner is an American former actor. Beginning his career as a professional child actor and model at the age of 11, Scribner is perhaps best known for his role as the child vampire Ralphie Glick in the 1979 CBS mini-series Salem's Lot. Rising to prominence among teenage audiences as an adolescent, he is also known for his multiple guest-starring roles throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s on such television series as the ABC Afterschool Special, Little House on the Prairie, The Love Boat, Fantasy Island, CHiPs, and Dallas, among others.

Chris Petersen is an American actor. Beginning his career as a child actor at the age of 12, he is best known for his roles in the feature films When Every Day Was the Fourth of July, The Swarm and The Little Dragons. Rising to prominence among teen audiences during the late 1970s and 1980s, he is also remembered for starring in various teen anthology series of the time including ABC Afterschool Specials, CBS Afternoon Playhouse and NBC Special Treat, as well as for his co-starring role on Norman Lear's "interactive" situation comedy, The Baxters.

The 9th Youth in Film Awards ceremony, presented by the Youth in Film Association, honored outstanding youth performers under the age of 21 in the fields of film, television and music for the 1986-1987 season, and took place on December 5, 1987, at the Hollywood Palladium in Hollywood, California.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sean Berdy</span> American actor

Sean Lance Berdy is an American actor. He began his career as a child in the film sequel The Sandlot 2 and is known for his roles in the television series The Society and Switched at Birth. He is the founder of The Sign Language Agency.

<i>Rocky Road</i> (TV series) American TV series or program

Rocky Road is an American situation comedy that was originally broadcast on the Superstation WTBS cable network from September 3, 1984 to March 13, 1987. Produced by Arthur Annecharico, the series follows three young siblings who run a beach-front ice cream parlor, and aired Monday nights as part of WTBS' line-up of original "family programming", which also included Down to Earth and Safe at Home. During its three-season run, the series underwent several cast changes and starred Maylo McCaslin, Desiree Boschetti, Georg Olden, Lilly Moon, and Marcianne Warman.

<i>Bad Manners</i> (1984 film) 1984 film by Robert Houston

Bad Manners is a 1984 American black comedy teen film released by New World Pictures. Written and directed by Robert Houston and produced by Kim Jorgensen, the film follows a group of juvenile delinquents who escape the oppressive Catholic orphanage where they live in order to rescue one of their fellow "inmates". While the film's adult stars Martin Mull, Karen Black, Anne De Salvo, and Murphy Dunne received top billing in promotional materials, the story is told through the perspective of the adolescent protagonists; played by Georg Olden, Pamela Segall, Michael Hentz, Joey Coleman, and Christopher Brown.

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 "Life's a thrill for 'Gorgeous Georg' Olden". Teen Idols Mania!. July 1986. p. 56.
  2. 1 2 Heller, Steven; Ballance, Georgette, eds. (2001). Graphic Design History . Allworth Press. ISBN   978-1-58-115094-0.
  3. ↑ Robert A. McLean (September 21, 1981). "Van Dyke Big In Kids' World". The Boston Globe.
  4. ↑ "Stargalaxy – How to Eat Like a Child". Stargalaxy. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
  5. ↑ Bill Carter (September 22, 1981). "Prime-time 'Peacock': kids feeding their faces". The Baltimore Sun.[ permanent dead link ]
  6. ↑ "The Boys' Tricks Backfire". The Herald–Journal. February 6, 1982.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Georg Olden – AllRovi.com". AllRovi.com. Archived from the original on January 16, 2013. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
  8. ↑ Owen Gleiberman (October 2, 1984). "Missed Manners – Midnight badness: Deprogramming a cult film". The Boston Phoenix.
  9. ↑ "The Top 10 Cult Films of the 80s". TheVine.com. Archived from the original on July 6, 2011. Retrieved February 28, 2011.
  10. 1 2 John Carman (September 2, 1985). "Latest comedy has 'Rocky Road' to hoe on WTBS". The Atlanta Journal-Constitution.
  11. 1 2 "8th Annual Youth In Film Awards". YoungArtistAwards.org. Archived from the original on April 3, 2011. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
  12. 1 2 "9th Annual Youth In Film Awards". YoungArtistAwards.org. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
  13. ↑ Denise L. McIver (January 23, 1994). "Variety Reviews – NBC Monday Night Movie 'To My Daughter with Love'". Variety.
  14. ↑ "Georg Olden - Google+". Plus.Google.com. Retrieved May 16, 2013.
  15. ↑ "Georg Olden – LinkedIn". LinkedIn.com. Retrieved February 14, 2010.
  16. ↑ "Georg Olden – Coldwell Banker Residential". All-Real-Estate-Agents.com. Archived from the original on January 16, 2013. Retrieved February 14, 2010.
  17. ↑ "Coldwell Banker Residential Brokerage – Georg Olden". Coldwell Banker. Retrieved February 14, 2010.[ permanent dead link ]
  18. ↑ "Georg Olden – LinkedIn". LinkedIn.com. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
  19. ↑ "News of Record". The Bulletin. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
  20. ↑ "Georg Olden – My Care2". Care2.com. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved March 17, 2012.
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.