Ronnie Scribner
Encyclopedia
Ronnie Scribner is an American
actor. A professional child actor
and model since the age of 11, Scribner is best known for his iconic role as the child vampire
, Ralphie Glick in the 1979 CBS
mini-series Salem's Lot. Rising to prominence as a teen idol
in his teenage years, he is also known for his multiple guest-starring roles throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s on such television series as The ABC Afterschool Special, Little House on the Prairie
, The Love Boat
, Fantasy Island
, CHiPs
, and Dallas
, among others.
. With his youthful "boy-next-door
" looks and small for his age, Scribner was often cast in roles several years younger than his true age throughout most of his career as a child star
.
. On September 16, 1978, he appeared in his first starring role on ABC
's popular Saturday morning anthology series The ABC Weekend Special. In the episode titled "The Contest Kid and the Big Prize", Scribner starred as Woody, the best friend of Harvey, played by fellow child star Patrick Petersen
, who wins a "gentleman's gentleman" after entering a magazine contest. That very same evening, Scribner made his prime-time debut on the popular ABC
series, Fantasy Island
. In the episode's storyline titled "The Homecoming", Scribner guest-starred as Danny, the son of a Vietnam veteran
(David Birney
) whose wish
is to be reunited with his wife and son after recovering from eight years of amnesia
. On October 11, 1978, Scribner appeared in his first leading role in an episode of The ABC Afterschool Special, the popular children's anthology series much like The ABC Weekend Special, but known for its more mature and often dramatic stories. In the episode titled "A Home Run for Love" (also known as "Thank You, Jackie Robinson"), Scribner starred as Sammy Greene, a fatherless boy who forms a special bond with an elderly friend through their mutual love of the 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers.
On January 15, 1979, Scribner made his first guest-starring appearance on the NBC
series Little House on the Prairie
. In the episode titled "Blind Man's Bluff", Scribner played Jordan Harrison, a friend of Laura (Melissa Gilbert
) who pretends to be blind after an accident in order to bring his quarreling parents closer together. Credited as "Lisa Scribner", Scribner's younger sister Annaliese also had a small role in the same episode as Hannah Herzog, a young girl attending Mary's (Melissa Sue Anderson
) school for the blind. Scribner's next role was in the NBC
television movie The Castaways on Gilligan's Island
. Premiering on May 3, 1979, the movie was the second film adaptation reuniting the original cast of the popular 1960s sitcom Gilligan's Island
. In the movie, Scribner played Robbie Sloan, a runaway boy who hides on the island after the former castaways have turned it into a luxury vacation destination. On September 9, 1979, Scribner once again returned as a guest-star on Fantasy Island
. In the episode's storyline titled "Hit Man", Scribner played Greg Forbush, the son of a desperate business man (David Doyle) whose wish
is to be killed so that his family can collect on his life insurance. Complete with an entirely different family, Scribner joined the list of Fantasy Island
guest-stars who would return to the show to play a completely different character than his previous appearance. Scribner's next appearance was a reprisal of his role as Woody on The ABC Weekend Special, once again starring alongside Patrick Petersen
as Harvey. Airing on September 22, 1979, and titled "The Contest Kid Strikes Again", it was one of the rare times ABC
aired a sequel episode to one of their live-action Weekend Special
stories. On November 2, 1979, Scribner guest-starred on the popular CBS
prime-time soap opera, Dallas
. In the episode titled "The Lost Child", Scribner played Luke Middens, a lonely young boy who develops a special relationship with Bobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy
), when his father is hired as a ranch hand at Southfork.
television movie, Salem's Lot. Based on the Stephen King
novel and shot on film, the mini-series was later re-edited and given a feature film theatrical release in some Europe
an countries. In one of the film's most memorable scenes, Scribner's character levitates in the mist outside his brother's bedroom window, one of the first depictions of the child vampire
in film, and becoming something of a cinematic touchstone
among many horror
fans to this day. In 1993, Scribner's iconic window scene was parodied in one of the special Treehouse of Horror
episodes of The Simpsons
. In the segment titled "Bart Simpson's Dracula", Bart
is turned into a vampire by Mr. Burns, and later comes for his sister Lisa
by floating outside her bedroom window and scraping on the glass. In 2003, Scribner's window scene was ranked #42 on Channel 4's
list of "100 Greatest Scary Moments". In the countdown special, screenwriter-producer Mark Gatiss
said of Scribner's scene - "It's just straight-forward scares. You can't really work out how he's floating. He's got this ghastly, deathly pallette; It was really wonderful". In 2008, Scribner's haunting scene was ranked #4 on Empire Magazine's list of ""Top 10 Scariest Movie Scenes"". For the list, horror writer-director James Gunn wrote of Scribner's performance - "The moment with the little vampire brother knocking on the window, scraping and making that horrible sound. And his brother comes over and lets him in! When I was a kid, that scared me more than anything else in my entire life. It gave me nightmares for years. It all comes down to that little kid’s performance! The smile on his face is the scariest, creepiest thing of all time."
series The Love Boat
. In the episode's storyline titled "Tres Amigos", Scribner played Keith Gaines, a boy who befriends Vicki (Jill Whelan
) while the two try to hide a young stowaway
(Tony Ramirez) on his way to Mexico
to visit his mother. On April 5, 1980, Scribner next guest-starred on the short-lived NBC
sitcom Me and Maxx
in the episode titled "Maxx's Friend". As indicated by the episode's title, Scribner played Terry, a new friend who causes anxiety for Norman (Joe Santos
) when he spends the night as a sleepover guest of the series' young female titular character, Maxx (Melissa Michaelsen
). Scribner's next role was in the first of The Gambler
television films. Premiering on April 8, 1980, Scribner originated the role of Jeremiah Hawkes (later played by Charles Fields and Kris Kamm
in subsequent film installments), the long-lost son of a gambler (Kenny Rogers
) who seeks out his father after learning of his true identity. On May 23, 1980, Scribner played the starring role in the ABC
made-for-television movie, The Long Days of Summer. In the allegorical coming-of-age story, Scribner played Daniel Cooper, a Jewish boy who prepares to fight a bully
when his family faces anti-semitism
in 1938 Bridgeport, Connecticut
. On July 20, 1980, Scribner guest-starred on another short-lived ABC
comedy When The Whistle Blows. In the episode titled "Run For The Roses", Scribner played Scott, a young jockey-in-training
who befriends a construction worker named Hunk (Tim Rossovich) after Hunk wins a broken-down thoroughbred
race horse in a raffle. Scribner's next guest-starring role was on the popular NBC
series CHiPs
. In the two-part episode airing on December 7, 1980 and titled "The Great 5k Star Race and Boulder Wrap Party", Scribner played Dane, a boy who wants Jon (Larry Wilcox
) for his "Big Brother"
after Jon rescues him from a bicycle accident. Although most online sources list both parts 1 and 2 as airing on the same night, the episode was aired as two separate one-hour episodes for syndication.
On March 20, 1981, Scribner had a co-starring role in the Disney feature film Amy. Originally intended to air as part of the Wonderful World of Disney television anthology series, the film was instead given a theatrical release. In the film, Scribner played Walter Ray, a blind
boy attending a special school for the deaf
and blind
in the early 1900s when a new teacher, Amy (Jenny Agutter
) comes to begin a new life. Scribner's next appearance was a guest-starring role on the ABC
television drama Code Red
produced by Irwin Allen
. In the episode titled "All That Glitters" and airing on November 29, 1981, Scribner played Seth, a boy who befriends Danny (Adam Rich
), a young firefighter-in-training
who lands a small role in a film where the flagrant fire code violations endanger everyone working on set. On December 9, 1981, Scribner next guest-starred on the popular NBC
mystery-crime series Quincy, M. E.. In the episode titled "For Want of a Horse", Scribner played Gabe, a young mute
ranch hand who holds the key to a murder that Quincy (Jack Klugman
) is investigating.
, teenage audiences began to take notice of him and so did the teen magazines. With his angel
ic looks and finally beginning to appear his true age, Scribner began to make the transition from child star
to teen idol
with color pinups and articles appearing in numerous popular teen magazines of the time including Tiger Beat
and Super Teen among others. In April 1982, Tiger Beat
described Scribner when introducing him to their teen readers - "Soft brown hair, sparkling eyes of blue, a touch of freckles that gives him that appealing boy-next-door look and a smile to make your heart spin - that's Ronnie Scribner." On October 3, 1982, Scribner returned to the big screen with a role in the feature film Split Image
. In the film, Scribner played Sean Stetson, the adolescent brother of a young man (Michael O'Keefe
) whose family struggles to bring him home after he joins a religious "commune". Although a small supporting role, Scribner's performance in the film earned him a Youth In Film Award
nomination (now known as the Young Artist Award
) in the "Best Young Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture" category. On October 18, 1982, Scribner once again returned to Little House on the Prairie
in what would be his final role. In the episode titled "Rage", Scribner guest-starred as Randall Page, a teenage boy in Walnut Grove
who falls in love with a girl (Tammy Lauren
) whose father, plagued by personal and financial troubles, becomes unhinged after learning of the young lovers' budding romance.
, and soon disappeared from the pages of the teen idol
magazines that had touted him as the next teen "heart-throb
" of the 1980s. After leaving show business, Scribner finished high school, and in 1989, enrolled at the University of California
, where he graduated in 1993. In the subsequent years, Scribner worked as a financial analyst
and mortgage broker
, and in 1999, he married Jessica Garza. Scribner currently works as a consumer credit manager
and lives in the Denver, Colorado
area with his wife, Jessica and their three children.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
actor. A professional child actor
Child actor
The term child actor or child actress is generally applied to a child acting in motion pictures or television, but also to an adult who began his or her acting career as a child; to avoid confusion, the latter is also called a former child actor...
and model since the age of 11, Scribner is best known for his iconic role as the child vampire
Vampire
Vampires are mythological or folkloric beings who subsist by feeding on the life essence of living creatures, regardless of whether they are undead or a living person...
, Ralphie Glick in the 1979 CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
mini-series Salem's Lot. Rising to prominence as a teen idol
Teen idol
A teen idol is a celebrity who is widely idolized by teenagers; he or she is often young but not necessarily teenaged. Often teen idols are actors or pop singers, but some sports figures have an appeal to teenagers. Some teen idols began their careers as child actors...
in his teenage years, he is also known for his multiple guest-starring roles throughout the late 1970s and early 1980s on such television series as The ABC Afterschool Special, Little House on the Prairie
Little House on the Prairie (TV series)
Little House on the Prairie is an American Western drama television series, starring Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert, about a family living on a farm in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, in the 1870s and 1880s. The show was an adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder's best-selling series of Little House books...
, The Love Boat
The Love Boat
The Love Boat is an American television series set on a cruise ship, which aired on the ABC Television Network from September 24,1977, until May 24,1986.The show starred Gavin MacLeod as the ship's captain...
, Fantasy Island
Fantasy Island
Fantasy Island is the title of two separate but related American fantasy television series, both originally airing on the ABC television network.-Original series:...
, CHiPs
CHiPs
CHiPs is an American television drama series produced by MGM Studios that originally aired on NBC from September 15, 1977, to July 17, 1983. CHiPs followed the lives of two motorcycle police officers of the California Highway Patrol...
, and Dallas
Dallas (TV series)
Dallas is an American serial drama/prime time soap opera that revolves around the Ewings, a wealthy Texas family in the oil and cattle-ranching industries. Throughout the series, Larry Hagman stars as greedy, scheming oil baron J. R. Ewing...
, among others.
Early life
Ronnie Scribner was born Ronald Adam Scribner on July 23, 1966 to parents Penny and Lawrence Scribner. He has one younger sibling, a sister named Annaliesa (born in 1969), who was also a child actor, appearing in numerous commercials as well as guest-starring with him in an episode of Little House on the PrairieLittle House on the Prairie (TV series)
Little House on the Prairie is an American Western drama television series, starring Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert, about a family living on a farm in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, in the 1870s and 1880s. The show was an adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder's best-selling series of Little House books...
. With his youthful "boy-next-door
Boy next door
The boy next door is an archetype of storytelling. He is often invoked in Western contexts to indicate wholesome, unassuming, or "average" masculinity. He is a young man with a sweet, shy demeanor who is just discovering his physical and spiritual strengths. The boy next door maintains his innocent...
" looks and small for his age, Scribner was often cast in roles several years younger than his true age throughout most of his career as a child star
Child actor
The term child actor or child actress is generally applied to a child acting in motion pictures or television, but also to an adult who began his or her acting career as a child; to avoid confusion, the latter is also called a former child actor...
.
Early career
Scribner began his acting career at the age of 11 when he landed his first television role as a recurring character on the 1977/1978 season of General HospitalGeneral Hospital
General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns....
. On September 16, 1978, he appeared in his first starring role on ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
's popular Saturday morning anthology series The ABC Weekend Special. In the episode titled "The Contest Kid and the Big Prize", Scribner starred as Woody, the best friend of Harvey, played by fellow child star Patrick Petersen
Patrick Petersen
Patrick Petersen is an American actor best known for his role as Michael Fairgate in the television drama Knots Landing. His character was the son of "Karen Fairgate MacKenzie"...
, who wins a "gentleman's gentleman" after entering a magazine contest. That very same evening, Scribner made his prime-time debut on the popular ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
series, Fantasy Island
Fantasy Island
Fantasy Island is the title of two separate but related American fantasy television series, both originally airing on the ABC television network.-Original series:...
. In the episode's storyline titled "The Homecoming", Scribner guest-starred as Danny, the son of a Vietnam veteran
Vietnam veteran
Vietnam veteran is a phrase used to describe someone who served in the armed forces of participating countries during the Vietnam War.The term has been used to describe veterans who were in the armed forces of South Vietnam, the United States armed forces, and countries allied to them, whether or...
(David Birney
David Birney
David Edwin Birney is an American actor/director whose career has performances in both contemporary and classical roles in theatre, film and television. He has three children, a daughter Kate, and twins, Peter and Mollie....
) whose wish
Wish
A wish is a hope or desire for something. Fictionally, wishes can be used as plot devices. In folklore, opportunities for "making a wish" or for wishes to "come true" or "be granted" are themes that are sometimes used.-In literature:...
is to be reunited with his wife and son after recovering from eight years of amnesia
Amnesia
Amnesia is a condition in which one's memory is lost. The causes of amnesia have traditionally been divided into categories. Memory appears to be stored in several parts of the limbic system of the brain, and any condition that interferes with the function of this system can cause amnesia...
. On October 11, 1978, Scribner appeared in his first leading role in an episode of The ABC Afterschool Special, the popular children's anthology series much like The ABC Weekend Special, but known for its more mature and often dramatic stories. In the episode titled "A Home Run for Love" (also known as "Thank You, Jackie Robinson"), Scribner starred as Sammy Greene, a fatherless boy who forms a special bond with an elderly friend through their mutual love of the 1947 Brooklyn Dodgers.
On January 15, 1979, Scribner made his first guest-starring appearance on the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
series Little House on the Prairie
Little House on the Prairie (TV series)
Little House on the Prairie is an American Western drama television series, starring Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert, about a family living on a farm in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, in the 1870s and 1880s. The show was an adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder's best-selling series of Little House books...
. In the episode titled "Blind Man's Bluff", Scribner played Jordan Harrison, a friend of Laura (Melissa Gilbert
Melissa Gilbert
Melissa Ellen Gilbert is an American actress, writer, and producer, primarily in movies and television. Gilbert is best known as a child actress who co-starred as Charles Ingalls's second daughter, Laura Ingalls Wilder, on the dramatic television series Little House on the Prairie...
) who pretends to be blind after an accident in order to bring his quarreling parents closer together. Credited as "Lisa Scribner", Scribner's younger sister Annaliese also had a small role in the same episode as Hannah Herzog, a young girl attending Mary's (Melissa Sue Anderson
Melissa Sue Anderson
Melissa Sue Anderson is an American-Canadian actress. She played the role of Mary Ingalls on the NBC television series Little House on the Prairie. She starred on the show from 1974 until 1981, leaving after Season 7, but later appeared in 2 episodes of Season 8 in late 1981. She won an Emmy...
) school for the blind. Scribner's next role was in the NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
television movie The Castaways on Gilligan's Island
The Castaways on Gilligan's Island
The Castaways on Gilligan's Island is a television movie that continues the adventures of the shipwrecked castaways from the 1964-1967 TV series Gilligan's Island and the first reunion movie, Rescue From Gilligan's Island, featuring the original cast from the television series with the exception of...
. Premiering on May 3, 1979, the movie was the second film adaptation reuniting the original cast of the popular 1960s sitcom Gilligan's Island
Gilligan's Island
Gilligan's Island is an American television series created and produced by Sherwood Schwartz and originally produced by United Artists Television. The situation comedy series featured Bob Denver; Alan Hale, Jr.; Jim Backus; Natalie Schafer; Tina Louise; Russell Johnson; and Dawn Wells. It aired for...
. In the movie, Scribner played Robbie Sloan, a runaway boy who hides on the island after the former castaways have turned it into a luxury vacation destination. On September 9, 1979, Scribner once again returned as a guest-star on Fantasy Island
Fantasy Island
Fantasy Island is the title of two separate but related American fantasy television series, both originally airing on the ABC television network.-Original series:...
. In the episode's storyline titled "Hit Man", Scribner played Greg Forbush, the son of a desperate business man (David Doyle) whose wish
Wish
A wish is a hope or desire for something. Fictionally, wishes can be used as plot devices. In folklore, opportunities for "making a wish" or for wishes to "come true" or "be granted" are themes that are sometimes used.-In literature:...
is to be killed so that his family can collect on his life insurance. Complete with an entirely different family, Scribner joined the list of Fantasy Island
Fantasy Island
Fantasy Island is the title of two separate but related American fantasy television series, both originally airing on the ABC television network.-Original series:...
guest-stars who would return to the show to play a completely different character than his previous appearance. Scribner's next appearance was a reprisal of his role as Woody on The ABC Weekend Special, once again starring alongside Patrick Petersen
Patrick Petersen
Patrick Petersen is an American actor best known for his role as Michael Fairgate in the television drama Knots Landing. His character was the son of "Karen Fairgate MacKenzie"...
as Harvey. Airing on September 22, 1979, and titled "The Contest Kid Strikes Again", it was one of the rare times ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
aired a sequel episode to one of their live-action Weekend Special
ABC Weekend Special
The ABC Weekend Special is a weekly 30-minute anthology TV series for children that aired Saturday mornings on ABC from 1977 to 1997. It featured a wide variety of stories that were both live-action and animated....
stories. On November 2, 1979, Scribner guest-starred on the popular CBS
CBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
prime-time soap opera, Dallas
Dallas (TV series)
Dallas is an American serial drama/prime time soap opera that revolves around the Ewings, a wealthy Texas family in the oil and cattle-ranching industries. Throughout the series, Larry Hagman stars as greedy, scheming oil baron J. R. Ewing...
. In the episode titled "The Lost Child", Scribner played Luke Middens, a lonely young boy who develops a special relationship with Bobby Ewing (Patrick Duffy
Patrick Duffy
Patrick George Duffy is an American character actor of stage and film. He is best known for his role on the CBS television drama Dallas, where he played Bobby Ewing from 1978 to 1985 and from 1986 to 1991, Duffy returns to reprise his role as Bobby in a new up-to-date Dallas currently scheduled to...
), when his father is hired as a ranch hand at Southfork.
Salem's Lot
On November 17, 1979, Scribner starred in what would become his most infamous role as Ralphie Glick in the two-part CBSCBS
CBS Broadcasting Inc. is a major US commercial broadcasting television network, which started as a radio network. The name is derived from the initials of the network's former name, Columbia Broadcasting System. The network is sometimes referred to as the "Eye Network" in reference to the shape of...
television movie, Salem's Lot. Based on the Stephen King
Stephen King
Stephen Edwin King is an American author of contemporary horror, suspense, science fiction and fantasy fiction. His books have sold more than 350 million copies and have been adapted into a number of feature films, television movies and comic books...
novel and shot on film, the mini-series was later re-edited and given a feature film theatrical release in some Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an countries. In one of the film's most memorable scenes, Scribner's character levitates in the mist outside his brother's bedroom window, one of the first depictions of the child vampire
Vampire
Vampires are mythological or folkloric beings who subsist by feeding on the life essence of living creatures, regardless of whether they are undead or a living person...
in film, and becoming something of a cinematic touchstone
Touchstone (metaphor)
As a metaphor, a touchstone refers to any physical or intellectual measure by which the validity or merit of a concept can be tested. It is similar in use to an acid test, litmus test in politics, and a shibboleth.-Touchstone in literature:...
among many horror
Horror film
Horror films seek to elicit a negative emotional reaction from viewers by playing on the audience's most primal fears. They often feature scenes that startle the viewer through the means of macabre and the supernatural, thus frequently overlapping with the fantasy and science fiction genres...
fans to this day. In 1993, Scribner's iconic window scene was parodied in one of the special Treehouse of Horror
Treehouse of Horror IV
"Treehouse of Horror IV" is the fifth episode of The Simpsons fifth season and the fourth episode in the Treehouse of Horror series of Halloween specials. It originally aired on the Fox network in the United States on October 28, 1993, and features three short stories called "The Devil and Homer...
episodes of The Simpsons
The Simpsons
The Simpsons is an American animated sitcom created by Matt Groening for the Fox Broadcasting Company. The series is a satirical parody of a middle class American lifestyle epitomized by its family of the same name, which consists of Homer, Marge, Bart, Lisa and Maggie...
. In the segment titled "Bart Simpson's Dracula", Bart
Bart Simpson
Bartholomew JoJo "Bart" Simpson is a fictional main character in the animated television series The Simpsons and part of the Simpson family. He is voiced by actress Nancy Cartwright and first appeared on television in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987...
is turned into a vampire by Mr. Burns, and later comes for his sister Lisa
Lisa Simpson
Lisa Marie Simpson is a fictional main character in the animated television series The Simpsons. She is the middle child of the Simpson family. Voiced by Yeardley Smith, Lisa first appeared on television in The Tracey Ullman Show short "Good Night" on April 19, 1987. Cartoonist Matt Groening...
by floating outside her bedroom window and scraping on the glass. In 2003, Scribner's window scene was ranked #42 on Channel 4's
Channel 4
Channel 4 is a British public-service television broadcaster which began working on 2 November 1982. Although largely commercially self-funded, it is ultimately publicly owned; originally a subsidiary of the Independent Broadcasting Authority , the station is now owned and operated by the Channel...
list of "100 Greatest Scary Moments". In the countdown special, screenwriter-producer Mark Gatiss
Mark Gatiss
Mark Gatiss is an English actor, screenwriter and novelist. He is best known as a member of the comedy team The League of Gentlemen, and has both written for and acted in the TV series Doctor Who and Sherlock....
said of Scribner's scene - "It's just straight-forward scares. You can't really work out how he's floating. He's got this ghastly, deathly pallette; It was really wonderful". In 2008, Scribner's haunting scene was ranked #4 on Empire Magazine's list of ""Top 10 Scariest Movie Scenes"". For the list, horror writer-director James Gunn wrote of Scribner's performance - "The moment with the little vampire brother knocking on the window, scraping and making that horrible sound. And his brother comes over and lets him in! When I was a kid, that scared me more than anything else in my entire life. It gave me nightmares for years. It all comes down to that little kid’s performance! The smile on his face is the scariest, creepiest thing of all time."
Later career
On March 15, 1980, Scribner had a guest-starring role on the popular ABCAmerican Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
series The Love Boat
The Love Boat
The Love Boat is an American television series set on a cruise ship, which aired on the ABC Television Network from September 24,1977, until May 24,1986.The show starred Gavin MacLeod as the ship's captain...
. In the episode's storyline titled "Tres Amigos", Scribner played Keith Gaines, a boy who befriends Vicki (Jill Whelan
Jill Whelan
Jill Whelan is an American actress.Whelan was born in Oakland, California. After attending summer acting camp at age 7, Whelan landed a series of commercials. At age 11, she was cast in the short-lived TV series Friends...
) while the two try to hide a young stowaway
Stowaway
A stowaway is a person who secretly boards a vehicle, such as an aircraft, bus, ship, cargo truck or train, to travel without paying and without being detected....
(Tony Ramirez) on his way to Mexico
Mexico
The United Mexican States , commonly known as Mexico , is a federal constitutional republic in North America. It is bordered on the north by the United States; on the south and west by the Pacific Ocean; on the southeast by Guatemala, Belize, and the Caribbean Sea; and on the east by the Gulf of...
to visit his mother. On April 5, 1980, Scribner next guest-starred on the short-lived NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
sitcom Me and Maxx
Me and Maxx
Me and Maxx was an American sitcom broadcast on NBC starting in 1980. The plot involved a young girl, Maxx , moving in with her dad, Norman , who had created a life for himself as a swinging bachelor.-Cast:...
in the episode titled "Maxx's Friend". As indicated by the episode's title, Scribner played Terry, a new friend who causes anxiety for Norman (Joe Santos
Joe Santos
Joe Santos is an American film and television actor.-Biography:Santos was born Joseph Minieri in Brooklyn, New York, the son of Rose and Joseph Minieri. He began his film acting career in the mid-1960s, appearing in films directed by his cousin, Joseph W...
) when he spends the night as a sleepover guest of the series' young female titular character, Maxx (Melissa Michaelsen
Melissa Michaelsen
Melissa Michaelsen was an American child actress probably best known for her role as the title character in the James Komack television show Me and Maxx.-Family:...
). Scribner's next role was in the first of The Gambler
The Gambler (TV movie series)
The Gambler is a series of American TV movies starring Kenny Rogers as Brady Hawkes, a fictional old-west gambler. The character was inspired by Rogers' hit song The Gambler. There are five movies in the series. The first four are directed by Dick Lowry while the last was directed by Jack Bender...
television films. Premiering on April 8, 1980, Scribner originated the role of Jeremiah Hawkes (later played by Charles Fields and Kris Kamm
Kris Kamm
Kris Kamm is an American actor. Most recognizable from his role in Coach.Kris Kamm was born in Evanston, Illinois. An aspiring actor, he earned his first breaks in the business doing small parts on television shows...
in subsequent film installments), the long-lost son of a gambler (Kenny Rogers
Kenny Rogers
Kenneth Donald "Kenny" Rogers is an American singer-songwriter, photographer, record producer, actor, and entrepreneur...
) who seeks out his father after learning of his true identity. On May 23, 1980, Scribner played the starring role in the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
made-for-television movie, The Long Days of Summer. In the allegorical coming-of-age story, Scribner played Daniel Cooper, a Jewish boy who prepares to fight a bully
Bully
Bullying is a form of aggressive behavior manifested by the use of force or coercion to affect others, particularly when the behavior is habitual and involves an imbalance of power...
when his family faces anti-semitism
Anti-Semitism
Antisemitism is suspicion of, hatred toward, or discrimination against Jews for reasons connected to their Jewish heritage. According to a 2005 U.S...
in 1938 Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport, Connecticut
Bridgeport is the most populous city in the U.S. state of Connecticut. Located in Fairfield County, the city had an estimated population of 144,229 at the 2010 United States Census and is the core of the Greater Bridgeport area...
. On July 20, 1980, Scribner guest-starred on another short-lived ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
comedy When The Whistle Blows. In the episode titled "Run For The Roses", Scribner played Scott, a young jockey-in-training
Jockey
A jockey is an athlete who rides horses in horse racing or steeplechase racing, primarily as a profession. The word also applies to camel riders in camel racing.-Etymology:...
who befriends a construction worker named Hunk (Tim Rossovich) after Hunk wins a broken-down thoroughbred
Thoroughbred
The Thoroughbred is a horse breed best known for its use in horse racing. Although the word thoroughbred is sometimes used to refer to any breed of purebred horse, it technically refers only to the Thoroughbred breed...
race horse in a raffle. Scribner's next guest-starring role was on the popular NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
series CHiPs
CHiPs
CHiPs is an American television drama series produced by MGM Studios that originally aired on NBC from September 15, 1977, to July 17, 1983. CHiPs followed the lives of two motorcycle police officers of the California Highway Patrol...
. In the two-part episode airing on December 7, 1980 and titled "The Great 5k Star Race and Boulder Wrap Party", Scribner played Dane, a boy who wants Jon (Larry Wilcox
Larry Wilcox
Larry Wilcox is an American actor, best known for his role as Officer Jonathan "Jon" Baker in CHiPs, an American television series.-Military service:...
) for his "Big Brother"
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is a 501 non-profit organization whose mission is to help children reach their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one relationships with mentors that try to have a measurable impact on youth....
after Jon rescues him from a bicycle accident. Although most online sources list both parts 1 and 2 as airing on the same night, the episode was aired as two separate one-hour episodes for syndication.
On March 20, 1981, Scribner had a co-starring role in the Disney feature film Amy. Originally intended to air as part of the Wonderful World of Disney television anthology series, the film was instead given a theatrical release. In the film, Scribner played Walter Ray, a blind
Blindness
Blindness is the condition of lacking visual perception due to physiological or neurological factors.Various scales have been developed to describe the extent of vision loss and define blindness...
boy attending a special school for the deaf
Hearing impairment
-Definition:Deafness is the inability for the ear to interpret certain or all frequencies of sound.-Environmental Situations:Deafness can be caused by environmental situations such as noise, trauma, or other ear defections...
and blind
Blindness
Blindness is the condition of lacking visual perception due to physiological or neurological factors.Various scales have been developed to describe the extent of vision loss and define blindness...
in the early 1900s when a new teacher, Amy (Jenny Agutter
Jenny Agutter
Jennifer Ann "Jenny" Agutter is an English film and television actress. She began her career as a child actress in the mid 1960s, starring in the BBC television series The Railway Children and the film adaptation of the same book, before moving on to adult roles and relocating to Hollywood.She...
) comes to begin a new life. Scribner's next appearance was a guest-starring role on the ABC
American Broadcasting Company
The American Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network. Created in 1943 from the former NBC Blue radio network, ABC is owned by The Walt Disney Company and is part of Disney-ABC Television Group. Its first broadcast on television was in 1948...
television drama Code Red
Code Red (TV series)
Code Red is an American television series that ran from 1981 to 1982 on ABC and was produced by Irwin Allen. This was Allen's sixth and final television series....
produced by Irwin Allen
Irwin Allen
Irwin Allen was a television and film director and producer nicknamed "The Master of Disaster" for his work in the disaster film genre. He was also notable for creating a number of television series.- Biography :...
. In the episode titled "All That Glitters" and airing on November 29, 1981, Scribner played Seth, a boy who befriends Danny (Adam Rich
Adam Rich
Adam Rich is an American actor.-Career:Rich is most remembered for his role as the youngest son, Nicholas Bradford, on the television series Eight is Enough, which ran for five seasons, from 1977-1981. After leaving that show, he made guest appearances on The Love Boat, CHiPS, Fantasy Island, The...
), a young firefighter-in-training
Firefighter
Firefighters are rescuers extensively trained primarily to put out hazardous fires that threaten civilian populations and property, to rescue people from car incidents, collapsed and burning buildings and other such situations...
who lands a small role in a film where the flagrant fire code violations endanger everyone working on set. On December 9, 1981, Scribner next guest-starred on the popular NBC
NBC
The National Broadcasting Company is an American commercial broadcasting television network and former radio network headquartered in the GE Building in New York City's Rockefeller Center with additional major offices near Los Angeles and in Chicago...
mystery-crime series Quincy, M. E.. In the episode titled "For Want of a Horse", Scribner played Gabe, a young mute
Muteness
Muteness or mutism is an inability to speak caused by a speech disorder. The term originates from the Latin word mutus, meaning "silent".-Causes:...
ranch hand who holds the key to a murder that Quincy (Jack Klugman
Jack Klugman
Jacob Joachim "Jack" Klugman is an American stage, film and television actor known for his roles in sitcoms, movies, and television and on Broadway...
) is investigating.
Teen Idol
In 1982, as Scribner entered adolescenceAdolescence
Adolescence is a transitional stage of physical and mental human development generally occurring between puberty and legal adulthood , but largely characterized as beginning and ending with the teenage stage...
, teenage audiences began to take notice of him and so did the teen magazines. With his angel
Angel
Angels are mythical beings often depicted as messengers of God in the Hebrew and Christian Bibles along with the Quran. The English word angel is derived from the Greek ἄγγελος, a translation of in the Hebrew Bible ; a similar term, ملائكة , is used in the Qur'an...
ic looks and finally beginning to appear his true age, Scribner began to make the transition from child star
Child star
Child star can refer to:* a child actor* a child singer*"Child Star," a song by The Unicorns from their 2003 album Who Will Cut Our Hair When We're Gone?...
to teen idol
Teen idol
A teen idol is a celebrity who is widely idolized by teenagers; he or she is often young but not necessarily teenaged. Often teen idols are actors or pop singers, but some sports figures have an appeal to teenagers. Some teen idols began their careers as child actors...
with color pinups and articles appearing in numerous popular teen magazines of the time including Tiger Beat
Tiger Beat
Tiger Beat is an American fan magazine marketed primarily to adolescent girls. It is currently published by Laufer Media, Inc. of Los Angeles, California, which also produces its sister publication, Bop....
and Super Teen among others. In April 1982, Tiger Beat
Tiger Beat
Tiger Beat is an American fan magazine marketed primarily to adolescent girls. It is currently published by Laufer Media, Inc. of Los Angeles, California, which also produces its sister publication, Bop....
described Scribner when introducing him to their teen readers - "Soft brown hair, sparkling eyes of blue, a touch of freckles that gives him that appealing boy-next-door look and a smile to make your heart spin - that's Ronnie Scribner." On October 3, 1982, Scribner returned to the big screen with a role in the feature film Split Image
Split Image (film)
Split Image is a 1982 film that tells the story of an all-American college athlete who becomes involved in a youth-oriented "cult", and his family's struggle to bring him home...
. In the film, Scribner played Sean Stetson, the adolescent brother of a young man (Michael O'Keefe
Michael O'Keefe
Michael Raymond O'Keefe is an American film and television actor.- Early life :O'Keefe was born Raymond Peter O'Keefe, Jr. in Mount Vernon, New York, the oldest of seven children in a devoutly Roman Catholic Irish American family. His father was a law professor at Fordham University, as well as...
) whose family struggles to bring him home after he joins a religious "commune". Although a small supporting role, Scribner's performance in the film earned him a Youth In Film 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...
nomination (now known as the 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...
) in the "Best Young Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture" category. On October 18, 1982, Scribner once again returned to Little House on the Prairie
Little House on the Prairie (TV series)
Little House on the Prairie is an American Western drama television series, starring Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert, about a family living on a farm in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, in the 1870s and 1880s. The show was an adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder's best-selling series of Little House books...
in what would be his final role. In the episode titled "Rage", Scribner guest-starred as Randall Page, a teenage boy in Walnut Grove
Walnut Grove, Minnesota
As of the census of 2000, there were 599 people, 291 households, and 178 families residing in the city. The population density was 577.7 people per square mile . There were 341 housing units at an average density of 328.9 per square mile...
who falls in love with a girl (Tammy Lauren
Tammy Lauren
Tammy Lauren is an American actress who has appeared in film and television. She starred in Wishmaster, portraying Alexandra Amberson, a young woman who accidentally awakens the Djinn, a powerful spirit more commonly known as a genie.-Career:To date, Wishmaster is the only feature film in which...
) whose father, plagued by personal and financial troubles, becomes unhinged after learning of the young lovers' budding romance.
Personal life
In late 1982, at the peak of his stardom, Scribner's acting career ended abruptly and seemingly without explanation. He made no further appearances after Little HouseLittle House on the Prairie (TV series)
Little House on the Prairie is an American Western drama television series, starring Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert, about a family living on a farm in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, in the 1870s and 1880s. The show was an adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder's best-selling series of Little House books...
, and soon disappeared from the pages of the teen idol
Teen idol
A teen idol is a celebrity who is widely idolized by teenagers; he or she is often young but not necessarily teenaged. Often teen idols are actors or pop singers, but some sports figures have an appeal to teenagers. Some teen idols began their careers as child actors...
magazines that had touted him as the next teen "heart-throb
Teen idol
A teen idol is a celebrity who is widely idolized by teenagers; he or she is often young but not necessarily teenaged. Often teen idols are actors or pop singers, but some sports figures have an appeal to teenagers. Some teen idols began their careers as child actors...
" of the 1980s. After leaving show business, Scribner finished high school, and in 1989, enrolled at the University of California
University of California
The University of California is a public university system in the U.S. state of California. Under the California Master Plan for Higher Education, the University of California is a part of the state's three-tier public higher education system, which also includes the California State University...
, where he graduated in 1993. In the subsequent years, Scribner worked as a financial analyst
Financial analyst
A financial analyst, securities analyst, research analyst, equity analyst, or investment analyst is a person who performs financial analysis for external or internal clients as a core part of the job.-Job:...
and mortgage broker
Mortgage broker
A mortgage broker acts as an intermediary whose brokers mortgage loans on behalf of individuals or businesses.Traditionally, banks and other lending institutions have sold their own products. However as markets for mortgages have become more competitive, the role of the mortgage broker has become...
, and in 1999, he married Jessica Garza. Scribner currently works as a consumer credit manager
Credit manager
A credit manager is a person employed by an organization to manage the credit department and make decisions concerning credit limits, acceptable levels of risk and terms of payment to their customers. In companies, the role of Credit manager is variable in its scope...
and lives in the Denver, Colorado
Denver, Colorado
The City and County of Denver is the capital and the most populous city of the U.S. state of Colorado. Denver is a consolidated city-county, located in the South Platte River Valley on the western edge of the High Plains just east of the Front Range of the Rocky Mountains...
area with his wife, Jessica and their three children.
Filmography
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1979 | Salem's Lot | Ralphie Glick | 112 minute theatrical version |
| 1981 | Amy | Walter Ray | |
| 1982 | Split Image Split Image (film) Split Image is a 1982 film that tells the story of an all-American college athlete who becomes involved in a youth-oriented "cult", and his family's struggle to bring him home... |
Sean Stetson | |
| Television Film | |||
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1979 | The Castaways on Gilligan's Island The Castaways on Gilligan's Island The Castaways on Gilligan's Island is a television movie that continues the adventures of the shipwrecked castaways from the 1964-1967 TV series Gilligan's Island and the first reunion movie, Rescue From Gilligan's Island, featuring the original cast from the television series with the exception of... |
Robbie Sloan | |
| 1979 | Salem's Lot | Ralphie Glick | 184 minute television version |
| 1980 | The Gambler The Gambler (TV movie series) The Gambler is a series of American TV movies starring Kenny Rogers as Brady Hawkes, a fictional old-west gambler. The character was inspired by Rogers' hit song The Gambler. There are five movies in the series. The first four are directed by Dick Lowry while the last was directed by Jack Bender... |
Jeremiah Hawkes | |
| 1980 | The Long Days of Summer | Daniel Cooper | |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1977–1978 | General Hospital General Hospital General Hospital is an American daytime television drama that is credited by the Guinness Book of World Records as the longest-running American soap opera currently in production and the third longest running drama in television in American history after Guiding Light and As the World Turns.... |
? | Recurring role |
| 1978 | ABC Weekend Special ABC Weekend Special The ABC Weekend Special is a weekly 30-minute anthology TV series for children that aired Saturday mornings on ABC from 1977 to 1997. It featured a wide variety of stories that were both live-action and animated.... |
Woody | Episode: "The Contest Kid and the Big Prize" |
| 1978 | Fantasy Island Fantasy Island Fantasy Island is the title of two separate but related American fantasy television series, both originally airing on the ABC television network.-Original series:... |
Danny Harding | Episode: "The Sheikh/The Homecoming" |
| 1978 | ABC Afterschool Special ABC Afterschool Special The ABC Afterschool Special is an American television anthology series that aired on ABC from 1972 to 1996, usually in the late afternoon on week days. Most of the episodes were dramatic presentations of situations, often controversial, of interest to children and teenagers. Several episodes were... |
Sammy Greene | Episode: "A Home Run For Love" |
| 1979 | Little House on the Prairie Little House on the Prairie (TV series) Little House on the Prairie is an American Western drama television series, starring Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert, about a family living on a farm in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, in the 1870s and 1880s. The show was an adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder's best-selling series of Little House books... |
Jordan Harrison | Episode: "Blind Man's Bluff" |
| 1979 | Fantasy Island Fantasy Island Fantasy Island is the title of two separate but related American fantasy television series, both originally airing on the ABC television network.-Original series:... |
Greg Forbush | Episode: "Hit Man/The Swimmer" |
| 1979 | ABC Weekend Special ABC Weekend Special The ABC Weekend Special is a weekly 30-minute anthology TV series for children that aired Saturday mornings on ABC from 1977 to 1997. It featured a wide variety of stories that were both live-action and animated.... |
Woody | Episode: "The Contest Kid Strikes Again" |
| 1979 | Big Shamus, Little Shamus Big Shamus, Little Shamus Big Shamus, Little Shamus is an American detective drama series that aired on CBS on Saturday nights for two weeks from September 29, 1979 to October 6, 1979.-Premise:... |
Paulie | Episode: "Pilot" (Unaired) |
| 1979 | Dallas Dallas (TV series) Dallas is an American serial drama/prime time soap opera that revolves around the Ewings, a wealthy Texas family in the oil and cattle-ranching industries. Throughout the series, Larry Hagman stars as greedy, scheming oil baron J. R. Ewing... |
Luke Middens | Episode: "The Lost Child" |
| 1980 | The Love Boat The Love Boat The Love Boat is an American television series set on a cruise ship, which aired on the ABC Television Network from September 24,1977, until May 24,1986.The show starred Gavin MacLeod as the ship's captain... |
Keith | Episode: "Dumb Luck/Tres Amigos/Hey, Jealous Lover" |
| 1980 | Me and Maxx Me and Maxx Me and Maxx was an American sitcom broadcast on NBC starting in 1980. The plot involved a young girl, Maxx , moving in with her dad, Norman , who had created a life for himself as a swinging bachelor.-Cast:... |
Terry | Episode: "Maxx's Friend" |
| 1980 | When the Whistle Blows | Scott | Episode: "Run for the Roses" |
| 1980 | CHiPs CHiPs CHiPs is an American television drama series produced by MGM Studios that originally aired on NBC from September 15, 1977, to July 17, 1983. CHiPs followed the lives of two motorcycle police officers of the California Highway Patrol... |
Dane | Episode: "The Great 5k Star Race and Boulder Wrap Party - Parts 1 & 2" |
| 1981 | Code Red Code Red (TV series) Code Red is an American television series that ran from 1981 to 1982 on ABC and was produced by Irwin Allen. This was Allen's sixth and final television series.... |
Seth | Episode: "All That Glitters" |
| 1981 | Quincy, M. E. | Gabe | Episode: "For Want of a Horse" |
| 1982 | Little House on the Prairie Little House on the Prairie (TV series) Little House on the Prairie is an American Western drama television series, starring Michael Landon and Melissa Gilbert, about a family living on a farm in Walnut Grove, Minnesota, in the 1870s and 1880s. The show was an adaptation of Laura Ingalls Wilder's best-selling series of Little House books... |
Randall Page | Episode: "Rage" |
Awards
| Year | Award | Category | Role | Film | Result | Ref. |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1981—1982 | Youth in Film 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... (now known as the 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... ) |
Best Young Supporting Actor in a Motion Picture | Sean Stetson | Split Image Split Image (film) Split Image is a 1982 film that tells the story of an all-American college athlete who becomes involved in a youth-oriented "cult", and his family's struggle to bring him home... |