| Jeremy Miller | |
|---|---|
| Born | Jeremy James Miller October 21, 1976 Covina, California, U.S. |
| Years active |
1982 - in activity |
| Spouse | Joanie Miller |
Jeremy James Miller (born October 21, 1976) is an American actor best known for his portrayal of Ben Seaver on Growing Pains and its two reunion movies. He also voiced Linus van Pelt in Happy New Year, Charlie Brown along with Chad Allen.
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Miller was cast in a few commercials, then a 1984 guest role in Punky Brewster before landing the role of Ben Seaver, the youngest son on Growing Pains. Miller was supposed to be a part of the cast of the PBS show Ghostwriter but was not invited back after shooting the pilot because his character was fairly older than the other characters. As an actor, probably his most recognizable trademark is the "Ben Seaver Scream", which can be heard and seen in any number of Growing Pains episodes and during the closing credits of the movie Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star.
At about age fourteen, Miller received numerous letters from an older male stalker during the run of Growing Pains. The stalker threatened to molest and kill Miller in his letters and even listed the date he planned to come to the set to carry out the fantasy. Miller knew nothing of the letters nor the stalker's intent. Miller was stunned to find out that the heightened security presence around the set during this time was orchestrated to protect him. In another letter, the stalker was bold enough to actually write down his home address. The FBI arrested the individual shortly thereafter near the Philadelphia area. He was later convicted and sent to prison for his actions.
Since Growing Pains, he has mostly taken a hiatus from acting, although he can be seen in in the film Milk and Fashion, in commercials for McDonald's "Dollar Menunaires" promotion shot as a parody of the VH1 series Best Week Ever and as the star of the 1990 Hanukah episode of Shalom Sesame (a Israeli version of Sesame Street).[1] He has also been spotted in Boys and Girls Guide To Getting Down. He appeared in a special celebrity team-up episode of Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego?; he and his partner got through to the bonus round in the end (but failed to win the big prize). In the Family Guy episode "Not All Dogs Go to Heaven", he appears and tries to convince the other characters to buy him a case of Sudafed, but an animated version of his TV dad Alan Thicke appears, with his neck bobbling rapidly. He tells his son "Be-en! What have I told you about trading sexual favors for Sudafed?" He can be seen in four movies in 2009: Ditching Party, Never Have I Ever, The Fish and Tar Beach.[2]
Jeremy was born in Covina, California, the son of Sonja (née Morckel) and James Miller.