James at 15 star Lance Kerwin passed away on Tuesday at the age of 62. His daughter, Savanah Kerwin, confirmed the death of the actor through a social media post. She also thanked everyone who sent their prayers and those who shared memories with her father.
Kerwin is famously known for his role in the first adaptation of Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot. He began his career as a child actor in 1974 when he debuted on an episode of Emergency! and The Boy Who Drank Too Much. Most fans remember him from James at 15, a show created by Dan Wakefield, where the star sensation played a boy who struggled with the pains of growing up.
Former Child Actor Lance Kerwin Had A Thriving Career In The Eighties
Kerwin’s career in the 80s thrived so much that he became a heartthrob and a Hollywood sensation. Some of his notable works include The Family Holvak, Shazam!, Wonder Woman, Insight, A Killer in the Family, The Mysterious Stranger, Reflections of Murder, Faerie Tale Theatre: The Snow Queen, Young Joe, The Fourth Wise Man, Final Verdict, and The Forgotten Kennedy, to name a few.
In an interview with People in 1978, Kerwin talked about his fame as a young actor:
“I want to know every part of the business. I want to direct. I want to write. I drive people crazy on the set asking questions. That’s the nice part of being the star — they humor you.”
He was 17 at the time, and Kerwin added:
“But even if ‘James at 15’ never makes it to ‘James at 16’… I will be okay. I’ll try for good parts in films and television. I wouldn’t mind having more time to myself. I’ll take whatever comes.”
He had a prolific career, but Kerwin left the industry for a bigger calling and higher purpose in life: to become a youth minister. He moved to Hawaii and joined the U-Turn for Christ Ministry.
The cause of Kerwin’s death has not been revealed, but after quitting acting in the 1990s, he became a pastor. In 2021, a GoFundMe account was created to aid the former actor in curing his health issues. This included a back injury.
Lance Kerwin Gave Up His Career For A Higher Vocation
Lance Kerwin responded to the GoFundMe account that his friend set up in 2021. He said that he was blessed to have made some friends early in life who became fans of his works. He also talked about his children who share the same spark as their mother.
As a pastor, Kerwin’s religious beliefs were the most important for him, and even at the end of his life, he held on to the principles that encouraged him to shift from acting to becoming an instrument of God. Kerwin died in his home in San Clemente, California.
Source: People
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