Stand by Me: Where Are They Now?

This 1986 story of boyhood friendship and adventure has become a classic. Stand by Me, based on Stephen King's short story The Body starred Wil Wheaton, Corey Feldman, Jerry O'Connell and River Phoenix as a group of small town friends who seek out a rumored dead body near the railroad tracks. However, the token bad, older kids are also on the hunt for the body.

Stand by Me was a movie that had its laughs, as well as its emotional moments. Who could forget the leech or the pie-eating contest scene?

It's been about 20 years since this group of actors was teens and preteens. Where are they now?

Keifer Sutherland (Ace Merrill)

Kiefer Sutherland portrayed one of the bad guys in the movie, a role he seemed to land often in the 80s and 90s. However, today he has exploded into one of television's hottest action stars in Fox's 24, now in its fifth season. Sutherland portrays CTU agent Jack Bauer, and coincidentally, "Jack" has climbed on the list of popular baby names. Sutherland's role garnered countless award nominations and several Emmy's and a Golden Globe. He also does voice work for many commercials. Sutherland also started a record label, Ironworks which features artist Rocco DeLuca.

Corey Feldman (Teddy Duchamp)

Feldman soared into 80s movie fame, often starring opposite of Corey Haim. He has over 50 films to his credit, however today he his focused on his music (with his band The Truth Movement) and theater career. He recently appeared on stage in Fatal Attraction: A Greek Tragedy, a parody of the 1987 film. He is also the voice of an animated character on a Toon Disney's Super Robot Money Team Hyperforce Go. Regarding his personal life, he was married and three years later divorced from Vanessa Marcil, then of General Hospital fame. (The ceremony was officiated by M.C. Hammer.) He has been married to Susie Sprague for five years and they have a son, Zen.

Jerry O'Connell (Vern Tessio)

Jerry O'Connell was the loveable Vern, the notably chunkier of the clan. O'Connell, who long lost the baby fat, landed several movie roles since Stand by Me, and the popular Sliders on TV. Of late, he portrayed Detective Woody Hoyt on Crossing Jordan. He plays the same role on Las Vegas. He is engaged to model and actress Rebecca Romijn.

Wil Wheaton (Gordio Lachance)

After Stand by Me, a more mature Wheaton starred on Star Trek: The Next Generation as Wesley Crusher. Since the 80s and 90s, Wheaton hit the independent film scene and also the voice acting scene. In 2004, he released a book, Dancing Barefoot. Wheaton's real life seems to also revolve around things sci-fi fans love, and in fact he has a traveling sci-fi based improv comedy troupe called EarnestBorg9. He has a widely popular blog and is (or has been) a contributing writer to many publications including Salon.com, Dungeons and Dragons-based Dungeon, The Onion and more.

River Phoenix (Chris Chamber)

Phoenix has hailed by critics to be the best up and coming actor of the 90s. However, the world will never know where Phoenix could have gone. In one of the most shocking and tragic Hollywood deaths, at age 23 in October 1993, Phoenix died outside LA's the Johnny Depp-owned Viper Room. He died of an overdose of cocaine and heroine. His younger brother Joaquin is carrying on the family's acting gene.