Jeremy Miller Explained

Jeremy Miller
Birthname:Jeremy James Miller
Birth Date:21 October 1976
Birth Place:Covina, California, U.S.
Yearsactive:1982–present
Occupation:Actor
Spouse:Joanie Miller

Jeremy James Miller (born October 21, 1976) is an American actor. He is 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!.

Career

Miller was cast in a few commercials, then a 1984 guest role in Punky Brewster before landing the role of Ben Seaver, the younger son on Growing Pains. After Growing Pains, he appeared 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 (an American/Israeli coproduction of Sesame Street).[1] 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? facing off against Mayim Bialik from Blossom, and Tatyana Ali from The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air; he and his partner got through to the bonus round in the end (but failed to win the big prize).

He can be seen in four movies in 2009: Ditching Party, Never Have I Ever, The Fish and Tar Beach.[2]

While promoting Start Fresh Recovery of Santa Ana, California in April 2014, Miller said he started drinking alcohol at age four.[3] [4] Miller states that he suffered from alcohol abuse for years, until he had an implant that released the drug Naltrexone into his system. In 2011, he became a spokesperson for Fresh Start Private Management Inc., the rehabilitation company that administered his treatment.[5]

Filmography

YearTitleRoleNotes
1984Punky Brewster Jimmy 1 episode
1985Deceptions Mark Richards TV movie
1985–92Growing PainsBen SeaverMain roleYoung Artist Award for Best Young Supporting Actor in a New Television Series
Young Artist Award for Exceptional Performance by a Young Actor in a Television Comedy Series
Nominated - Young Artist Award for Best Young Actor Starring in a Television Series
Nominated - Young Artist Award for Exceptional Performance by a Young Actor in a Long Running Series Comedy or Drama
1986Happy New Year, Charlie Brown!Linus van Pelt (voice)TV special
1987EmanonJason Ballantine
Shalom SesameSpecial Guest
1988Snoopy!!! The MusicalLinus van Pelt (voice) TV special
This Is America, Charlie Brown Linus Van Pelt 1 episode
1990The Willies Brad
1992GhostwriterCraig Mitchell 4 episodes
1993Based on an Untrue StoryJackie TV movie
2000Scooby-Doo and the Alien Invaders Additional Voices (voice)Direct to Video
The Growing Pains Movie Ben SeaverTV movie
2004
2006Von's RoomGuest
2007Milk and Fashion Jack
2009Never Have I EverGlenn Brandis
2010Ditching Party Jim
2021True to the GameDetective Derek

Personal life

At about age 14, Miller received numerous letters from an older male stalker during the run of Growing Pains.[6]

Miller attended the University of Southern California for one year.[6] [7] He is married to Joanie Miller and has three stepsons.[6]

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Shalom Sesame Show 6: Chanukah [VHS]: Shalom Sesame Street: Movies & TV |publisher=Amazon.com |access-date=2015-11-22].
  2. Web site: The Cast of 'Growing Pains:' Where Are They Now? . Fox News . 2008-12-18 . 2015-11-22.
  3. Web site: 'Growing Pains' star Jeremy Miller: I started drinking at age 4 . Fox News . 2014-04-04 . 2015-11-22.
  4. Web site: Blog - 'Growing Pains' Star Talks Life After Stardom . ET Canada . 2014-04-04 . 2015-11-22 . April 7, 2014 . https://web.archive.org/web/20140407123649/http://www.etcanada.com/blogs/etc_91739/growing-pains-star-talks-life-after-stardom/celebs/ . dead .
  5. Web site: Fresh Start Private Management Inc. Brings Jeremy Miller From TV Show Growing Pains Aboard as Spokesperson . Marketwire.com . 2015-11-22.
  6. Web site: Show Me That Smile Again . TMZ.com . 2009-02-20 . 2015-11-22.
  7. Web site: Growing Pains: 1985-1992 - Growing Pains, Where Are They Now?, Alan Thicke, Ashley Johnson, Jeremy Miller, Joanna Kerns, Kirk Cameron, Tracey Gold . People.com . 2000-06-26 . 2015-11-22 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20150924154151/http://www.people.com/people/article/0,,20131629,00.html . 2015-09-24 .