Jeremy Miller
Encyclopedia
Jeremy James Miller 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
.
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
). 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 favours for Sudafed
?" He can be seen in four movies in 2009: Ditching Party, Never Have I Ever, The Fish and Tar Beach.
, California
, the son of Sonja (née Morckel) and James Miller.
Actor
An actor is a person who acts in a dramatic production and who works in film, television, theatre, or radio in that capacity...
best known for his portrayal of Ben Seaver on Growing Pains
Growing Pains
Growing Pains is an American television sitcom about an affluent family, residing in Huntington, New York, with a working mother and a stay-at-home psychiatrist father raising three children together, which aired on ABC from September 24, 1985 to April 25, 1992.-Synopsis:The show's premise is based...
and its two reunion movies. He also voiced Linus van Pelt
Linus van Pelt
Linus van Pelt is a character in Charles M. Schulz's comic strip Peanuts. The best friend of Charlie Brown, Linus is also the younger brother of Lucy van Pelt and older brother of Rerun van Pelt. He first appeared on September 19, 1952; however, he was not mentioned by name until three days later....
in Happy New Year, Charlie Brown along with Chad Allen
Chad Allen (actor)
Chad Allen is an American actor. Beginning a prolific career as a child actor at the age of seven, Allen is a three-time Young Artist Award winner and GLAAD Media Award honoree, best known for rising to prominence as a teen idol during the late 1980s as David Witherspoon on the NBC family drama,...
.
Career
Miller was cast in a few commercials, then a 1984 guest role in Punky BrewsterPunky Brewster
Punky Brewster was an American sitcom about a girl named Punky Brewster being raised by her foster parent...
before landing the role of Ben Seaver, the youngest son on Growing Pains
Growing Pains
Growing Pains is an American television sitcom about an affluent family, residing in Huntington, New York, with a working mother and a stay-at-home psychiatrist father raising three children together, which aired on ABC from September 24, 1985 to April 25, 1992.-Synopsis:The show's premise is based...
. Miller was supposed to be a part of the cast of the PBS
Public Broadcasting Service
The Public Broadcasting Service is an American non-profit public broadcasting television network with 354 member TV stations in the United States which hold collective ownership. Its headquarters is in Arlington, Virginia....
show Ghostwriter
Ghostwriter (TV series)
Ghostwriter is an American television program created by Liz Nelson and produced by the Children's Television Workshop and BBC One. It began airing on PBS on October 4, 1992, and the final episode aired on February 13, 1995...
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
Closing credits
Closing credits or end credits are added at the end of a motion picture, television program, or video game to list the cast and crew involved in the production. They usually appear as a list of names in small type, which either flip very quickly from page to page, or move smoothly across the...
of the movie Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star
Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star
Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star is a 2003 American comedy film directed by Sam Weisman and starring David Spade and Mary McCormack.- Plot :...
.
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
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
"Dollar Menunaires" promotion shot as a parody of the VH1
VH1
VH1 or Vh1 is an American cable television network based in New York City. Launched on January 1, 1985 in the old space of Turner Broadcasting's short-lived Cable Music Channel, the original purpose of the channel was to build on the success of MTV by playing music videos, but targeting a slightly...
series Best Week Ever
Best Week Ever
Best Week Ever is a weekly television program on the United States cable/satellite network VH1. It started airing in 2004 and was put on hiatus in the summer of 2009...
and as the star of the 1990 Hanukah episode of Shalom Sesame
Shalom Sesame
Shalom Sesame is an adaptation of Sesame Street, the children's television show. It was produced in 1986 and 1990 for public television stations in the United States, aimed at introducing Israel and Judaism to children...
(a Israeli version of Sesame Street
Sesame Street
Sesame Street has undergone significant changes in its history. According to writer Michael Davis, by the mid-1970s the show had become "an American institution". The cast and crew expanded during this time, including the hiring of women in the crew and additional minorities in the cast. The...
). 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?
Where in the World Is Carmen Sandiego? (TV series)
-Original music and theme song:All of the music on the series was vocal music, arranged and performed by the a capella group, Rockapella. The music package included a popular theme song, and many short signature stings, such as "Let's Get Packing" when the contestant won the grand prize...
; he and his partner got through to the bonus round in the end (but failed to win the big prize). In the Family Guy
Family Guy
Family Guy is an American animated television series created by Seth MacFarlane for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series centers on the Griffins, a dysfunctional family consisting of parents Peter and Lois; their children Meg, Chris, and Stewie; and their anthropomorphic pet dog Brian...
episode "Not All Dogs Go to Heaven
Not All Dogs Go to Heaven
"Not All Dogs Go to Heaven" is the eleventh episode of the seventh season of the American animated television series Family Guy. It originally aired on Fox television network in the United States on March 29, 2009. The episode was directed by Greg Colton and written by Danny Smith...
", he appears and tries to convince the other characters to buy him a case of Sudafed
Sudafed
Sudafed is a brand name and registered trademark for over the counter decongestants manufactured by McNeil Laboratories for sale in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States...
, but an animated version of his TV dad Alan Thicke
Alan Thicke
Alan Thicke is a Canadian actor, songwriter, and game and talk show host. He is best known for his role as Jason Seaver, the patriarch on the ABC television series Growing Pains.- Early life :...
appears, with his neck bobbling rapidly. He tells his son "Be-en! What have I told you about trading sexual favours for Sudafed
Sudafed
Sudafed is a brand name and registered trademark for over the counter decongestants manufactured by McNeil Laboratories for sale in Australia, New Zealand, Canada, Ireland, the United Kingdom, and the United States...
?" He can be seen in four movies in 2009: Ditching Party, Never Have I Ever, The Fish and Tar Beach.
Personal life
Jeremy was born in CovinaBurbank, California
Burbank is a city in Los Angeles County in Southern California, United States, north of downtown Los Angeles. The estimated population in 2010 was 103,340....
, California
California
California is a state located on the West Coast of the United States. It is by far the most populous U.S. state, and the third-largest by land area...
, the son of Sonja (née Morckel) and James Miller.