We should all care about this tragic death because Corey was one of us. Raised in Toronto and Montreal, Corey spent time living here in the West End with his dad, as his parents were divorced. About 1997, Corey was part of the ensemble cast of Snowboard Academy, a low-budget film that starred Jim Varney (the Ernest movies) and Sylvester Stallone’s ex, the statuesque Brigitte Nielsen. Much of the movie was shot in the Laurentians and one particular day I, as the publicist, had a chance to bring media to the set to interview our actors.
This was Corey’s comeback film of sorts, much copy having previously been devoted to his alleged drug use. I met with him before the press arrived and said “Corey, we have a real opportunity here for you to come clean, put the drug use stories to rest, and put a positive spin on how your career is taking off again. It’s all good for you if you agree to do some interviews. I will make sure that no one takes advantage of you.” Corey agreed, but when the time came for him to appear on set and meet the media, he was nowhere to be found. He stood them up.
Several years later, I encountered Corey again, on the set of the TV series Big Wolf on Campus. We were in our final, third season and the creative team had come up with a winning idea: reuniting the two Coreys, Haim and his good buddy Feldman, for a two-episode story arc. They did not actually work together on these two episodes (Feldman’s episode, entitled “What’s the Story, Mourning Corey,” featured him searching for his buddy, who had been staked as a vampire in the previous show), but it is likely this project had a role in the conception of the recent two-year A&E series, The Two Coreys.
In any case, when I met Corey again on the set of BWOC, I tried a second time to get him to do some interviews. There was no hidden agenda on my part... I just wanted to help the guy. But, again, he simply wasn’t interested. Feldman, on the other hand, was totally into it.
Corey Haim was an affable, likeable young man, had a terrific heart and every time I looked at him, I kept thinking what a waste it was to have him whiling away his years doing these minor projects. After his early work, on memorable, successful, engrossing 1980s films such as License to Drive and The Lost Boys, you just knew he had the goods to become a fine actor as an adult. I guess we will never know.
Our heartfelt condolences to his family. We will not forget him.
Corey Haim’s death is a tragedy that affects us all, fan or not
Corey Haim’s death is a tragedy that affects us all, fan or not
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- Published on March 10th, 2010
- Published on March 22nd, 2010
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Bram Eisenthal
I reacted to the news regarding the sudden death of Canadian actor Corey Haim, at age 38 this morning, with a great deal of sadness. I wrote “sudden death,” but the truth is that Corey worked on killing himself throughout his life, by enjoying the “good life” a little too much. Regardless of the coroner’s final findings, there is no doubt that his earlier excesses took their toll to some degree.
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- To tell the truth
- - March 26th, 2010 at 15:28:02
Odd how no one is waiting for a coroners report which has yet to be released but centre's on. . . "The L.A. County coroner confirmed to TMZ that Haim's autopsy has been completed, explaining that the former child star was suffering from pulmonary congestion, an enlarged heart and water in his lungs. However, an official cause of death has not been announced. Shortly after Haim's death Wednesday, police told the L.A. Times it was suspected the actor died of a drug overdose. . ." [Vancouver Sun] So the police are now medical experts I suppose. . . Exactly, how were you you going to save him from an enlarged heart, perhaps a timely phonecall from you could have saved John Ritter as well.
