Wil Wheaton is a renowned American actor, writer, and voice-over artist with a net worth of $1 million. The 50-year-old began his acting career at a tender age. He landed his first TV role in the 1981 film “A Long Way Home” and debuted on the big screen a year later with the animation film, “The Secret of NIMH.” Since then, he has amassed more than 130 acting credits. In this article, we’ll take a closer look at his career journey, major accomplishments, personal life, and contributions to society.
Early Life
Wil Wheaton was born Richard William Wheaton III on July 29, 1972, in Burbank, California. His parents are Debra “Debbie” Nordean, an actress, and Richard William Wheaton Jr, a medical specialist. Wil has two siblings, Amy and Jeremy, who appeared in a season one episode of “Star Trek: The Next Generation.” In his memoir, “Just a Geek,” Wil revealed that he was abused by his father during his childhood, and his mother enabled the abuse.
Career
Wil’s acting breakthrough came in 1986 when he starred in the coming-of-age film, “Stand by Me,” alongside River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, and Jerry O’Connell. He also played Wesley Crusher on “Star Trek: The Next Generation” from 1987 to 1990. In addition, he landed guest roles on hit TV shows such as “Family Ties,” “Tales from the Crypt,” and “Diagnosis: Murder.” Wil also worked as a product tester for the software company, NewTek, after his stint with “Star Trek.”
Wil had a remarkable return to the big screen with J.J. Abrams’s “Star Trek” film in 2009. He also lent his voice to numerous animated projects, including “Teen Titans,” “Ben 10: Alien Force,” and “Stretch Armstrong and the Flex Fighters.” Additionally, he narrated more than 50 audiobooks such as “Ready Player One” and “Redshirts.”
Wil is a well-published author as well. He has written more than a dozen books, including bestsellers like “Dancing Barefoot,” “Just a Geek,” and “Dead Trees Give No Shelter.” Wil co-created and hosted the web series “TableTop” and hosted “The Wil Wheaton Project” on the SYFY channel in 2014. He currently hosts “The Ready Room,” a “Star Trek” aftershow, on Facebook Live.
Personal Life
Wil Wheaton is married to Anne Prince, and they have two sons from a previous relationship. Ryan, Anne’s first son, asked Wil to legally adopt him when he turned 19. Wil legally adopted Ryan and later did the same with his younger brother, Nolan. Wil has battled alcoholism and celebrated five years of sobriety in January 2021.
Wil supports mental health awareness, and he has been open about his struggles with depression and anxiety. He identifies as an atheist and enjoys playing Dungeons & Dragons and poker. Wil has also contributed to society by speaking at the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) conference in Ohio and advocating for mental health awareness through his work.
Awards and Nominations
Wheaton has been nominated for various awards in different categories. He shared the Jackie Coogan Award with his “Stand by Me” co-stars in 1987 and won Best Young Actor in a Family Syndicated Show for “Star Trek: The Next Generation” in 1989. In 2014, Wil shared an International Academy of Web Television Award for Best Hosted Series (Pre-Recorded) with “TableTop” co-producers Sheri Bryant and Felicia Day. “The Big Bang Theory” won a Merit – Honorary Award at the 2020 CinEuphoria Awards. In 2017, an asteroid was named 391257 Wilwheaton in his honor.
Conclusion
Wil Wheaton’s journey to a $1 million net worth has been exciting and eventful. He started his acting career at an early age and has continued to make notable contributions to the entertainment industry through his acting, writing, and hosting endeavors. His openness about mental health has also helped to raise awareness and inspire others. With his remarkable accomplishments, Wil Wheaton is an inspiration to many, and we look forward to seeing more from him in the future.
