'Stand by Me' Movie Cast: Then & Now

Here's another classic! Stand By Me is a coming-of-age comedy-drama based on the Stephen King novella The Body. Released in 1986, the movie depicts the narrator "Gordie Lachance" as he finds out his childhood friend "Chris Chambers" has been stabbed to death. He moves on to take the audience through a childhood flashback of when he and his three friends found the body of a missing boy in his hometown of Castle Rock, Oregon.

This gallery looks at the actors then and now, over 30 years after the movie. Enjoy!

"Gordie Lachance," played by Wil Wheaton, is portrayed as a rather quiet and bookish character who enjoys telling stories. Due to the recent death of his older brother, "Gordie" feels especially rejected by his parents. He's also the narrator of the movie.

Since his role in Stand By Me, Wil Wheaton has moved on to star in countless different roles in movies, series, and video games. Some of his bigger parts have been in Star Trek: The Next Generation and The Wil Wheaton Project. He has also starred in several animated series, including Fantasy Hospital and The Legend of Prince Valiant. Wheaton is currently married to Anne Prince and has one legally adopted son from a previous relationship.

"Chris Chambers," portrayed by actor River Phoenix, comes from a family of alcoholics and is constantly looked down upon by the entire town of Castle Rock — though he himself is not responsible for his family's self-destruction. In adulthood, he overcomes these prejudices and becomes a lawyer.

After his role in Stand By Me, River Phoenix moved on to star in movies like The Mosquito Coast, Running on Empty, and My Own Private Idaho. He also starred in a number of TV shows, such as Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. Sadly, Phoenix died tragically young in 1993 from a drug overdose. He was just 23.

"Teddy Duchamp," played by Corey Feldman, is a childhood friend of "Gordie LaChance" in Stand By Me. At the begging of the movie, "Teddy" is revealed to be a child of an abusive home. He's the most daring of the four boys.

After his role in Stand By Me, Corey Feldman moved on to star in movies like The Lost Boys and had a famous role in the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles movie. What followed afterwards was a long string of guest roles and music video appearances. In recent years, he's continued to act and release music in addition to advocating for child victims of sexual abuse.

"Vern Tessio" is slightly overweight and the shortest of the group, which makes him the most frequent target for jokes with his friends in Stand By Me. Though a source of comic relief, the character is a popular one with viewers of the beloved film.

Jerry O'Connell has starred in many different movies and TV shows over the years, including Scream 2, Kangaroo Jack and Baby On Board. He has also acted in various TV shows such as Jake and the Never Land Pirates, Mistresses, and Carter. O'Connell has been married to Rebecca Romijn since 2007 and the couple currently has two daughters.

"Ace Merrill" belongs to a group of teenage bullies who torment "Gordie LaChance" and his group of friends on a regular basis. "Ace," played by Kiefer Sutherland, is the leader of the group whom "Gordie" faces in a showdown at the film's climax.