Corey Haim Dies at 38

Girls used to swoon when seeing a very young Corey Haim on the big or small screen. The actor best known for his roles in movies also featuring Corey Feldman was found dead earlier today in his San Fernando Valley apartment; police say it was apparently the result of a drug overdose. He was 38.

Taking nothing away from his screen presence and his ability to charm thousands of young women with a smile, his story is among the long list of sad ones about child stars who lose themselves in their early life fame. Some, like Todd Bridges, found his way again while some did not. His insistence on drug use caused the death of an otherwise charitable man who was well-liked among his peers — at least according to the Tweets posted in his memory and accumulated in an Entertainment Weekly article.

Putting that aside, Haim did star and perform well in some of the popular 80s teen movies including The Lost Boys (where he did an excellent lip-synching performance to Clarence “Frongman” Henry hit song), Dream a Little Dream and License to Drive. Perhaps one of his best performances was done as a young lad in the title role in Lucas. He brilliantly played the character sympathetic but having his own flaws as well while most “nerd” characters wind up either being caricatures (usually intended) or overly meek.

Haim continued to act until his untimely death, and was on his way to becoming a director. Rest in peace, Corey Haim.