It was hard not to notice the life-long struggle actor Corey Haim had when battling his drug addiction in a war that was lost on March 10, 2010. Haim’s addiction destroyed a promising career that was built on wonderful little comedies of the ‘80s that showcased the charismatic young actor.
In the years to come, it would be great if we could remember Haim for his juvenile spirit that was transparent in every single one of his early roles and not remember him as the man we had seen most recently in the 19 episodes of A & E’s “The Two Coreys.”
Haim was born in Toronto, Canada, on December 23, 1971. Bitten by the acting bug at a young age, American audience was first introduced to the pint-sized actor in the 1984 film, “Firstborn.” Only 13 at the time, it was an impressive debut in a film that dealt seriously with the issue of a family handling a drug addicted mother and an abusive stepfather.
What followed after his garnering attention in that small role was another one as a younger brother, this time for C. Thomas Howell in “Secret Admirer” and a starring role opposite Gary Busey in “Stephen King’s Silver Bullet.” In the latter film, he played a paralyzed young boy that tries to stop a werewolf. “Stephen King’s Silver Bullet” housed an exceptional performance from such a young actor.
Having proven that he was talented, Haim took on the role of the awkward teenager, “Lucas.” The film was one of the most honest looks at teenage life from the perspective of a sweet young man who doesn’t fit in at high school. He develops a crush on a pretty cheerleader played by Kerri Green of “The Goonies.” Green is Lucas’ friend, but she has feelings for a football, player played by Charlie Sheen. As the film slowly progresses, we witness Lucas being harassed and trying to overcome what people expect of him. It is a touching tale with all three main characters excellently drawn out and the audience actually can sympathize with everyone involved in this love triangle.
However, it is probably in his next film that audience became aware of Haim and introduced him to his longtime co-star Corey Feldman. “The Lost Boys” was a phenomenal hit for the young actor, who was forced to deal with the possibility that brother may just be a vampire. It was a well-done mix of horror and comedy that featured many bright young stars.
His friendship with co-star Feldman was present in several more features that they made together. After “The Lost Boys,” they made the comedy, “License to Drive.” Some of the jokes in that picture are lame, but overall, the young stars elevated it into a light comedic romp.
That was followed by the odd supernatural comedy, “Dream a Little Dream,” which featured Jason Robards. Anyone who has seen this vehicle for the two Coreys is aware that the picture makes absolutely no sense and the plot and pacing is a mess. However, it provides a great soundtrack and the authentic chemistry between the two young leads is all you needed to make a fun movie in the ‘80.
Shortly after is when Haim descended into the world of direct-to-video mediocrity, such as “Fast Getaway,” “Demolition High” and “Just One of the Girls.” None of these films showcased the talent evident in “Lucas.”
Feldman was also catering to the home video market at the time, and the two made several more pictures together, which included “Busted,” “Dream a Little Dream 2,” “National Lampoon’s Last Resort” and “Blown Away.”
They even appear together in the abysmal sequel to “The Lost Boys.”
Recently, the actor scored a small role in the mainstream action picture, “Crank: High Voltage.” Fans of Haim could have only hoped that it would have led to more roles like that, but unfortunately time ran out for the young actor. Over time, his roles slowly and steadily descended into the direct-to-video market, but his work in “The Lost Boys” and “Lucas” is how he should be remembered.
In our hearts however, Haim will remain forever young.
Respect.