Kiefer Sutherland reunited with his ‘old friend’ and Stand By Me co-star Jerry O’Connell, 38 years after their ‘lives were changed forever’ and their respective careers were launched from the TV drama. Rob Reiner’s coming-of-age film in 1986.
The 57-year-old 24-year-old dispelled an old rumor — still listed on the film’s IMDb quiz page — that he bullied his younger castmates in order to “keep his character off camera.”
“Absolutely not true. First of all, I’m not that kind of actor and I wouldn’t want to be that kind of person,” Kiefer said on last Thursday’s episode of The Talk.
“I spent a lot of time with [the late] River Phoenix because we both played guitar, and so he was kind of interested in that. Even though I was seven years older, we were both just starting out, right? So there was a lot of discussion about, “How do you develop a character? What’s your process?”
The Talk co-host, 50, couldn’t believe Sutherland was just 18 when he played gang leader John ‘Ace’ Merrill in the 1959 film classic, which began filming in June 1985.
Kiefer Sutherland (right) reunited with his “old friend” and Stand By Me co-star Jerry O’Connell (left), 38 years after their “lives were changed forever” and their respective careers were launched since Rob Reiner’s coming-of-age drama in 1986.
The 57-year-old alumnus, 24, dispelled an old rumor — still listed on the film’s IMDb quiz page — that he bullied his younger classmates in order to “keep his character off camera.”
“I felt like you were 40!” And I’m not saying that because of your appearance. I just thought you were the most adult person I’ve ever seen in my life!’ Jerry exclaimed.
“Now I will say that Kiefer didn’t intimidate us, there was no intimidation. But Kiefer, I was so scared of you, honestly man. I was like everyone else: ‘Stay home. ‘Screw this guy! There’s something wrong with him!’
O’Connell was one of 300 actors who auditioned for Stand By Me, making his big screen acting debut at age 11 as the dim-witted and sensitive Vern Tessio, whose big brother Billy (Casey Siemaszko ) was part of Ace’s gang.
“We met about 10 years later [the movie]. Someone said, “Oh, you should go say hello, it’s Jerry O’Connell.” And I said, ‘No, it’s not!'” the two-time Emmy winner recalls.
“We said hello and I gave you a big hug and then I walked away and looked at my friend and said, ‘Wow, he has a much better coach than me.’
The 89-minute film – also starring Wil Wheaton and Corey Feldman – raked in $52.3 million at the worldwide box office on a budget of $7.5 million.
Screenwriters Bruce A. Evans and Raynold Gideon were nominated for an Academy Award for their big-screen adaptation of Stephen King’s 1982 short story The Body.
“But we couldn’t work together,” Kiefer shrugged.
“We really only had one big scene at the end, where Wil Wheaton pulls out the gun and I had to run away like a girl.”
Kiefer said on last Thursday’s episode of The Talk: “Absolutely not true. First of all, I’m not that kind of actor and I wouldn’t want to be that kind of person.
![Sutherland continued: “I spent a lot of time with [the late] River Phoenix (left) because we both played guitar, so he was a bit interested in that.'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/16/02/83685001-13312561-image-m-6_1713229976599.jpg)
Sutherland continued: “I spent a lot of time with [the late] River Phoenix (left) because we both played guitar, so he was a bit interested in that.’
The Talk co-host, 50, couldn’t believe the two-time Emmy winner was only 18 when he played gang leader John ‘Ace’ Merrill in the cinematic classic from 1959, which began filming in June 1985.
Jerry exclaimed, “I felt like you were 40!” And I’m not saying that because of your appearance. I just thought you were the most adult person I’ve ever seen in my life!’
O’Connell continued: “Now I will say that Kiefer didn’t intimidate us, there was no intimidation. But Kiefer, I was so scared of you, honestly man. I was like everyone world: “Stay away from this guy!”
The former child star (left) was one of 300 actors who auditioned for Stand By Me, making his film debut at age 11 as the dim-witted and sensitive Vern Tessio, whose big brother Billy ( Casey Siemaszko) was part of Ace’s gang.
![Kiefer recalls: “We ran into each other about 10 years later [the movie]. Someone said, "Oh, you should go say hello, it's Jerry O'Connell." And I said, "No it is not!"'](https://i.dailymail.co.uk/1s/2024/04/16/02/83684835-13312561-image-a-14_1713230525094.jpg)
Kiefer recalls: “We ran into each other about 10 years later [the movie]. Someone said, “Oh, you should go say hello, it’s Jerry O’Connell.” And I said, ‘No, it’s not!’
Sutherland added: “We said hello and I gave you a big hug and then I walked away and looked at my friend and said, ‘Wow, he’s got a much better coach than me.’
The 89-minute film – also starring Wil Wheaton (right) and Corey Feldman (left) – raked in $52.3 million at the worldwide box office on a budget of $7.5 million.
Screenwriters Bruce A. Evans and Raynold Gideon were nominated for an Academy Award for their big-screen adaptation of Stephen King’s 1982 short story The Body.
