Corey Ian Haim December 23, — March 10, was a Canadian actor who rose to fame in the s as a teen heartthrob. Haim's early success led to money and fame. He had difficulty breaking away from the trauma of his experience as a child actor and struggled with substance abuse and personal demons.
He faced numerous challenges in his adult life, including financial difficulties and ongoing battles with addiction. After accompanying his sister Cari to auditions, Haim was noticed and was offered roles as a child actor. Later, he played the role of Larry in the Canadian children's educational comedy television series The Edison Twins. Weller collared Haim, threw him up against a wall, and demanded Haim never speak to him after a take.
It took three assistants to separate them. In , Haim appeared in supporting roles in Secret Admirer and Murphy's Romance , the latter with Sally Field , of whom he was reportedly in awe. Haim played a paraplegic year-old boy who warns his uncle played by Gary Busey that their town is being terrorized by a werewolf. Producer Stanley Jaffe approached the father to remark on Haim's gifts, and recommended that he get an agent in Los Angeles.
Haim's breakout role came in , when he starred with Kerri Green , Charlie Sheen , and Winona Ryder as the titular character in Lucas. The coming-of-age story, about first love and teen angst, centers on an intelligent misfit who struggles for acceptance after falling for a cheerleader.
Not in a negative way, but he was something of a magnet and he knew it. He later said he would not have changed his decision. If he can continue to act this well, he will never become a half-forgotten child star, but will continue to grow into an important actor.
