Barret Oliver
Encyclopedia
Barret Spencer Oliver is an American
actor
and photographer. He is best known for his role as Bastian Bux in the film adaptation
of Michael Ende
's novel The NeverEnding Story
.
. Subsequently, he was cast as the lead in Tim Burton
's short film Frankenweenie and as the android 'Daryl' in the 1985 film D.A.R.Y.L.
, a part for which he won a Saturn Award
. Oliver appeared in the Ron Howard
movie Cocoon
and later in Cocoon: The Return
. His last role in a feature film was Willie Saravian in Paul Bartel
's 1989 ensemble comedy Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills
.
In his teens Oliver left acting to join the Church of Scientology
's Sea Org
and was stationed at its Gold Base
compound. Later he became a printer and photographer specializing in nineteenth century processes such as collodion
and Woodburytype
. His work has been displayed in museum and gallery exhibitions and used in films. In 2007 he published A History of the Woodburytype.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
and photographer. He is best known for his role as Bastian Bux in the film adaptation
The NeverEnding Story (film)
The NeverEnding Story is a 1984 German-American epic fantasy film based on the novel of the same name written by Michael Ende. The film was directed and co-written by Wolfgang Petersen and starred Barret Oliver, Noah Hathaway and Tami Stronach. At the time of its release, it was the most...
of Michael Ende
Michael Ende
Michael Andreas Helmuth Ende was a German author of fantasy and children's literature. He is best known for his epic fantasy work The Neverending Story; other famous works include Momo and Jim Button and Luke the Engine Driver...
's novel The NeverEnding Story
The Neverending Story
The Neverending Story is a German fantasy novel by Michael Ende, first published in 1979. The standard English translation, by Ralph Manheim, was first published in 1983...
.
Career
Oliver had minor roles in television and film until starring as Bastian in the 1984 movie The NeverEnding StoryThe NeverEnding Story (film)
The NeverEnding Story is a 1984 German-American epic fantasy film based on the novel of the same name written by Michael Ende. The film was directed and co-written by Wolfgang Petersen and starred Barret Oliver, Noah Hathaway and Tami Stronach. At the time of its release, it was the most...
. Subsequently, he was cast as the lead in Tim Burton
Tim Burton
Timothy William "Tim" Burton is an American film director, film producer, writer and artist. He is famous for dark, quirky-themed movies such as Beetlejuice, Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Ed Wood, Sleepy Hollow, Corpse Bride and Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet...
's short film Frankenweenie and as the android 'Daryl' in the 1985 film D.A.R.Y.L.
D.A.R.Y.L.
D.A.R.Y.L. is a 1985 American science fiction film which was written by David Ambrose, Allan Scott and Jeffrey Ellis. It was directed by Simon Wincer and stars Barret Oliver, Mary Beth Hurt, Michael McKean, Danny Corkill, and Josef Sommer...
, a part for which he won a Saturn Award
Saturn Award
The Saturn Award is an award presented annually by the Academy of Science Fiction, Fantasy & Horror Films to honor the top works in science fiction, fantasy, and horror in film, television, and home video. The Saturn Awards were devised by Dr. Donald A. Reed in 1972, who felt that films within...
. Oliver appeared in the Ron Howard
Ron Howard
Ronald William "Ron" Howard is an American actor, director, and producer. He came to prominence as a child actor, playing Opie Taylor in the sitcom The Andy Griffith Show for eight years, and later the teenaged Richie Cunningham in the sitcom Happy Days for six years...
movie Cocoon
Cocoon (film)
The score for Cocoon was composed and conducted by James Horner. The soundtrack was released twice, through Polydor Records in 1985 and a reprint through P.E.G. in 1997 and features eleven tracks of score and a vocal track performed by Michael Sembello...
and later in Cocoon: The Return
Cocoon: The Return
Cocoon: The Return is a 1988 science fiction film that is the sequel to the 1985 film Cocoon. All of the starring actors from the first film reprised their roles in this film, although Brian Dennehy only appears in one scene at the end of the film...
. His last role in a feature film was Willie Saravian in Paul Bartel
Paul Bartel
Paul Bartel was an American actor, writer and director. Bartel was perhaps most known for his 1982 hit black comedy Eating Raoul, which he wrote, starred in and directed.-Life and career:...
's 1989 ensemble comedy Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills
Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills
Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills is an American black comedy film released in 1989. Co-written and directed by Paul Bartel, Scenes re-unites Bartel with his Eating Raoul co-stars Mary Woronov and Robert Beltran...
.
In his teens Oliver left acting to join the Church of Scientology
Church of Scientology
The Church of Scientology is an organization devoted to the practice and the promotion of the Scientology belief system. The Church of Scientology International is the Church of Scientology's parent organization, and is responsible for the overall ecclesiastical management, dissemination and...
's Sea Org
Sea Org
The Sea Organization or Sea Org is an association of Scientologists established in 1968 by L. Ron Hubbard, the science fiction writer and founder of Scientology. Its members are found in the central management organizations of the Church of Scientology as well as in individual churches...
and was stationed at its Gold Base
Gold Base
The Gold Base is the international headquarters of the Church of Scientology on a parcel of land in unincorporated Riverside County, California, outside of San Jacinto, and north of Hemet....
compound. Later he became a printer and photographer specializing in nineteenth century processes such as collodion
Collodion process
The collodion process is an early photographic process. It was introduced in the 1850s and by the end of that decade it had almost entirely replaced the first practical photographic process, the daguerreotype. During the 1880s the collodion process, in turn, was largely replaced by gelatin dry...
and Woodburytype
Woodburytype
The term Woodburytype refers to both a photomechanical process and the print produced by this process. The process produces continuous tone images in slight relief. A chromated gelatin film is exposed under a photographic negative, which hardens in proportion to the amount of light. Then it is...
. His work has been displayed in museum and gallery exhibitions and used in films. In 2007 he published A History of the Woodburytype.
Film
- Jekyll and Hyde... Together AgainJekyll and Hyde... Together AgainJekyll and Hyde...Together Again is a 1982 comedy based on the novella Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde by Robert Louis Stevenson. The film is more like a cross between the original story and some aspects of The Nutty Professor...
(1982) - Kiss Me GoodbyeKiss Me Goodbye (film)Kiss Me Goodbye is a 1982 film directed by Robert Mulligan and starring Sally Field in a Golden Globe nominated performance. The movie also stars James Caan and Jeff Bridges.-Plot:...
(1982) - Uncommon ValorUncommon ValorUncommon Valor is a 1983 action/war film written by Joe Gayton and directed by Ted Kotcheff, about a Marine officer who puts together a team to try to rescue his son, who he believes is among those still held in Laos after the Vietnam War...
(1983/I) - The NeverEnding StoryThe NeverEnding Story (film)The NeverEnding Story is a 1984 German-American epic fantasy film based on the novel of the same name written by Michael Ende. The film was directed and co-written by Wolfgang Petersen and starred Barret Oliver, Noah Hathaway and Tami Stronach. At the time of its release, it was the most...
(1984) - Frankenweenie (1984)
- D.A.R.Y.L.D.A.R.Y.L.D.A.R.Y.L. is a 1985 American science fiction film which was written by David Ambrose, Allan Scott and Jeffrey Ellis. It was directed by Simon Wincer and stars Barret Oliver, Mary Beth Hurt, Michael McKean, Danny Corkill, and Josef Sommer...
(1985) - CocoonCocoon (film)The score for Cocoon was composed and conducted by James Horner. The soundtrack was released twice, through Polydor Records in 1985 and a reprint through P.E.G. in 1997 and features eleven tracks of score and a vocal track performed by Michael Sembello...
(1985) - The Secret GardenThe Secret Garden (1987 film)The Secret Garden is the 1987 Hallmark Hall of Fame TV film adaptation of the novel The Secret Garden, aired on CBS November 30, 1987 and produced by Rosemont Productions Limited, who also produced Back to the Secret Garden. The movie starred Gennie James, Barret Oliver, Jadrien Steele, Billie...
(1986) - Cocoon: The ReturnCocoon: The ReturnCocoon: The Return is a 1988 science fiction film that is the sequel to the 1985 film Cocoon. All of the starring actors from the first film reprised their roles in this film, although Brian Dennehy only appears in one scene at the end of the film...
(1988) - Scenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly HillsScenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly HillsScenes from the Class Struggle in Beverly Hills is an American black comedy film released in 1989. Co-written and directed by Paul Bartel, Scenes re-unites Bartel with his Eating Raoul co-stars Mary Woronov and Robert Beltran...
(1989)
Television
- The Incredible Hulk (episode Veteran, 1981)
- The Circle Family (TV movie, 1982)
- Knight Rider (Pilot episode Knight of the Phoenix, 1982)
- Love, SidneyLove, SidneyLove, Sidney was an American situation comedy television series about a gay man, Sidney Shorr, and his relationship with a single mother and her five year-old daughter whom he invites to live with him...
(episode Surprise Party, 1983) - Lottery!Lottery!Lottery! is an American drama series premiered on ABC on September 9, 1983. The series aired for one season of 17 episodes and starred Ben Murphy as Patrick Sean Flaherty, and Marshall Colt as Eric Rush...
(episode San Diego: Bingo!, 1984) - Invitation to Hell (TV movie, 1984)
- Highway to HeavenHighway to HeavenHighway to Heaven is an American television drama series which ran on NBC from 1984 to 1989.- Season 1 :- Season 2 :- Season 3 :- Season 4 :- Season 5 :...
(episode To Touch the Moon, 1984) - Finder of Lost LovesFinder of Lost LovesFinder of Lost Loves is an American drama series aired by the ABC network during the 1984-1985 season.-Synopsis:After Cary Maxwell's wife Kate dies, he decides to set up a private detective agency specializing in reuniting clients with a former loved one...
(episode Portraits, 1984) - The Twilight Zone (episode GrammaGramma (The Twilight Zone)"Gramma" is the first segment of the eighteenth episode from the first season of the television series The Twilight Zone.-Synopsis:...
, 1986) - Spot Marks the XSpot Marks the XSpot Marks the X is a 1986 Disney Channel Original Movie that starred Mike the Dog as Capone/Astro, Barret Oliver as Ken, and Natalie Gregory as Kathy, who, unlike her...
(TV movie, 1986) - The Secret GardenThe Secret Garden (1987 film)The Secret Garden is the 1987 Hallmark Hall of Fame TV film adaptation of the novel The Secret Garden, aired on CBS November 30, 1987 and produced by Rosemont Productions Limited, who also produced Back to the Secret Garden. The movie starred Gennie James, Barret Oliver, Jadrien Steele, Billie...
(TV movie, 1987) - Tall Tales & LegendsTall Tales & LegendsTall Tales & Legends is a series created by Shelley Duvall, following her success with her first series, Faerie Tale Theatre. It ran from 1985-1987 on Showtime and comprised nine episodes, adapted from various American-based stories of bravery....
(episode The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, 1987) - HoopermanHoopermanHooperman is a U.S. television series starring John Ritter. It ran for two seasons on ABC, from 1987 to 1989. A comedy-drama, the series was created by Steven Bochco and Terry Louise Fisher who were the team responsible for creating L.A. Law....
(episode Me and Mr. Magoo, 1988)
Awards and nominations
| Year | Award | Work | Category | Result |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Young Artist Award Young Artist Award The Young Artist Award is an accolade bestowed by the Young Artist Foundation, a non-profit organization founded in 1978 to recognize and award excellence of youth performers, and to provide scholarships for young artists who may be physically and/or financially challenged.The Young Artist... |
The Circle Family | Best Young Actor in a Television Special | Nominated |
| 1985 | Highway to Heaven Highway to Heaven Highway to Heaven is an American television drama series which ran on NBC from 1984 to 1989.- Season 1 :- Season 2 :- Season 3 :- Season 4 :- Season 5 :... |
Best Young Actor - Guest in a Television Series | Nominated | |
| The NeverEnding Story The NeverEnding Story (film) The NeverEnding Story is a 1984 German-American epic fantasy film based on the novel of the same name written by Michael Ende. The film was directed and co-written by Wolfgang Petersen and starred Barret Oliver, Noah Hathaway and Tami Stronach. At the time of its release, it was the most... |
Best Young Actor in a Motion Picture - Musical, Comedy, Adventure or Drama | Nominated | ||
| 1986 | D.A.R.Y.L. D.A.R.Y.L. D.A.R.Y.L. is a 1985 American science fiction film which was written by David Ambrose, Allan Scott and Jeffrey Ellis. It was directed by Simon Wincer and stars Barret Oliver, Mary Beth Hurt, Michael McKean, Danny Corkill, and Josef Sommer... |
Best Starring Performance by a Young Actor - Motion Picture | Nominated | |
| Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor Saturn Award for Best Performance by a Younger Actor The following are a list of Saturn Award winners for Best Performance by a Younger Actor:- References :* , Saturn Awards... |
Best Performance by a Younger Actor | Won | ||