Ilan Mitchell-Smith

Ilan Mitchell-Smith (born June 29, 1969) is an American academic and former actor best known as the co-star of the film Weird Science (1985).^[1]

Acting career

Mitchell-Smith's film career began in 1982 at age 12 when he played a younger version of the title character in Sidney Lumet's Daniel. After a starring role in the 1984 film The Wild Life, he was cast as Wyatt Donnelly in the 1985 teen classic Weird Science by writer/director John Hughes. The film focuses on two nerdy teenage boys who create a woman of their own (played by Kelly LeBrock) as they are unable to find girlfriends.

Mitchell-Smith starred in several other films and TV series, most notably The Chocolate War^[2] and Superboy; none of these brought him the same degree of recognition. He decided to leave acting entirely in 1991, his final role being a guest appearance on Silk Stalkings. Recently Mitchell-Smith has done select voice over work (recording for two episodes -- "Moon Warriors" and "Heads Will Roll" -- of Fox ADHD's "Axe Cop").

Academic career

Mitchell-Smith received his BA in Medieval Studies from UC Davis and his MA in Medieval Studies from Fordham University. He received a doctoral degree from Texas A&M University in 2005, and he is currently an associate professor in the English department at California State University, Long Beach.^[3] Mitchell-Smith publishes on chivalry in the later Middle Ages, and he also publishes on cinematic, television, and video game versions of medieval culture.

Filmography

• How to Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days (1983)
• Daniel (1983)
• The Wild Life (1984)
• Weird Science (1985)
• The Equalizer (1985 TV series, one episode)
• Superboy (1988 TV series)
• The Chocolate War (1988)
• Journey to the Center of the Earth (1989)
• Identity Crisis (1989)
• Silk Stalkings (1991 TV series, one episode)
• Axe Cop (2012 TV series, two episodes)

References

External links

• Ilan Mitchell-Smith at the Internet Movie Database