Corey Haim biography
Date of birth : 1971-12-23
Date of death : 2010-03-10
Birthplace : Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Nationality : Canadian
Category : Arts and Entertainment
Last modified : 2011-08-14
Credited as : Actor, Silver Bullet, The Two Coreys
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Known as The Two Coreys, the duo became 1980s icons and went on to star in seven further movies together, later starring in the A&E reality show The Two Coreys.
Haim's early success led to money and fame, and he began using drugs by fifteen. For three years in the late 1980s, Haim was the most famous teenager in the world. He had difficulties breaking away from his experience as a teen actor, and was troubled by drug addiction throughout his later career. He died of pneumonia on March 10, 2010.
Haim was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the son of Judy, an Israeli-born data processor, and Bernie Haim, who worked in sales. When Haim was eleven, his parents divorced after eighteen years of marriage. He had an older sister, Carol, and a younger half-brother, Daniel Lee, from his father's second marriage. Haim was raised Jewish.
Growing up in Willowdale,, he was enrolled in drama lessons in improv and mime by his mother to help him overcome his shyness, and accidentally fell into the film industry after accompanying Carol to her auditions. Not particularly interested in acting, Haim participated in other activities, such as ice hockey, playing music on his keyboard and collecting comic books. His skills on the ice led to him being scouted for the AA Thunderbirds hockey team.
Haim was nominated for an Exceptional Performance by a Young Actor in a Feature Film Comedy or Drama at the Young Artist Awards for his performance as Lucas, and film critic Roger Ebert gave him a glowing review: "He creates one of the most three-dimensional, complicated, interesting characters of any age in any recent movie. If he can continue to act this well, he will never become a half-forgotten child star, but will continue to grow into an important actor. He is that good." Haim later remembered, "It was a trip, getting all that attention". Following Lucas, Haim moved to Los Angeles, and starred in the short-lived 1987 television series Roomies alongside Burt Young.
Haim attempted to return to the industry in 2000 with the direct-to-video thriller, Without Malice, with Jennifer Beals and Craig Sheffer. He hoped that playing the role of an ex-addict who conceals a murder with his sister's fiancee would offer him a transition from teen fare. The film lensed in Waskesiu, Saskatchewan, where crew members recalled Haim propping up the town's only bar until the early hours. Haim would reportedly halt production to call Toronto and check if his dog was dead, and sudden medical incidents required the filling of emergency prescriptions.
He spent time in rehab, where he was put on prescription medication, which he began to abuse.
Haim never married. He was involved with Who's the Boss actress Alyssa Milano from 1987-1990, whose parents unsuccessfully tried to get Haim help for his addiction together with his then manager.
He was engaged to Baywatch actress Nicole Eggert, with whom he starred in Blown Away and Just One of the Girls. Eggert is credited with helping to save Haim's life at least once by taking him to hospital to detox during a 'narcotic rush', although she herself has said: "I spent a lot of nights in emergency rooms with him. I don't think that I saved his life, I just think that I was there for him." In 1995, he briefly dated Victoria Beckham (née Adams), then of the Spice Girls.
At the end of his life, Haim shared a month-to-month rental at the Oakwood Apartments between Burbank and the Hollywood Hills with his mother, who has breast cancer. Haim did not own a car. Christopher Ameruoso, Haim's neighbor for a year, said Haim sometimes could be seen wandering around the complex, "looking for companionship, looking for friends."
Haim's death was reported by the worldwide media.
Films:
2009 : New Terminal Hotel
2009 : American Sunset
2010 : Decisions
Television:
2000 : Without Malice
2007-2008 : The Two Coreys