The television industry has lost a lifelong talent.
Lance Kerwin, who rose to stardom in the ’70s for shows such as Salem’s Lot and James at 15, died on Jan. 24, his agent John Boitano confirmed to E! News. He was 62. No cause of death has been revealed.
“I’ve worked with Lance for two years, he was an intelligent, funny and compassionate person,” Boitano said in a statement. “He was looking forward to resuming his acting career, he recently had a role in the The Wind and the Reckoning, I enjoyed our time together and considered him a friend as well as client. I will miss him.”
Kerwin emerged on the scene as a child actor, appearing in multiple television series including Little House on the Prairie, The Family Holvak and Wonder Woman.
He starred in James at 15—later known as James at 16 when the character turned 16—as titular character James Hunter, the son of a college professor with a passion for photography. In the series, James struggles with adjusting to his new life after his family moves across the country from Oregon to Massachusetts.
Source link It is with great sadness that the public is informed of the death of former child star Lance Kerwin, who passed away on May 2nd, 2021 at the age of 62 following a long illness. Born in 1958, Lance achieved fame as a young actor in the late 1970s, starring in the iconic series “James at 15” and the 1978 Disney film “Summer of My German Soldier”.
Kerwin’s career in the entertainment industry began in 1977 with a role in the television movie “The Death of Richie”. The following year he made his debut as the title character in “James at 15”. During the series’ two-year run, the then-16 year-old actor captured the attention of audiences worldwide with his sensitive portrayal of a teenage son thrust into adulthood following the death of his father. Kerwin won a nomination for the Emmy Award for Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 1978 in recognition of his extraordinary performance.
Kerwin’s career extended beyond the role of James. He appeared in numerous television movies, including “Zero to Sixty” and “The Day the Bubble Burst”, and also had a supporting role in the feature film “Summer of My German Soldier”, starring Kristy McNichol.
Kerwin’s career began to decline in the early 1980s and he left show business in the late 1990s. Following his departure from movie-making, Lance pursued many business ventures, including investment in real estate.
The former child star is survived by his wife, four children, six grandchildren, three sisters and one brother.
Lance Kerwin’s name and legacy will forever be remembered by those who admired him, both on and off the screen. He represented innocence and exploration of adulthood, and his influence will continue to be seen and appreciated through the generations to come.
