I'm not going to lie -- I haven't paid attention to Corey Haim for years. I was only vaguely aware of his drug troubles and related health problems, and I didn't watch 'The Two Coreys.' I was amused to see his Variety ad last year -- the one where he said he was ready to work again -- the way you feel when an ex you remember fondly does something stupid but sweet. And that's why his sudden death was such a punch to the gut; no matter how long Corey's been off my radar, he was my first love.
It's not like I knew him personally. My first real love, a few years later, was a nice boy from the next high school over -- a boy with floppy hair who, if I'm being honest with myself, strongly resembled 'License to Drive'-era Corey. But every generation has the stars that little girls harbor secret fantasies of marrying, and while today's kids are planning weddings with Justin Bieber and Nick Jonas, I was walking down the aisle with Corey Haim.
I had plenty of choices. Tiger Beat was littered with collectible, detachable posters of River Phoenix, any number of New Kids and Haim's co-star/partner-in-crime, Corey Feldman. At 11, it's not that I was immune to their charms. No red-blooded tween could resist the non-threatening dimples of a teenaged Kirk Cameron. But Haim was the perfect imaginary boyfriend for a sort-of shy, sort-of awkward little girl.
He was just a hair younger than the rest -- actually, he was only five years older than me. Where Kirk Cameron had the curly hair and winning smile of any yearbook's 'Most Popular,' Haim always carried a bit of his gawky, underdog 'Lucas' into every role. Insofar as a sixth grader has a league, he seemed to be in it -- or at least as much in my league as I could make myself believe in my daydreams.
Both he and Corey Feldman, in and out of the many movies they appeared in together, seemed more counterculture than the other heartthrobs -- a little weirder, a little more like real teenagers. Haim had the edge, of course, because he was the cute one.
If 'Lucas' was the movie that sold me on Corey, 'The Lost Boys' gave him the credibility to make my crush feel cool. Long before today's special effects rendered 'The Lost Boys' laughably dated, the movie was a cult favorite. Haim and Jason Patric played brothers in a gang-plagued town -- after Patric's character Michael got sucked into the gang, Sam (Haim) realized the thugs were actually vampires.
'The Lost Boys' marked Haim's first entry in his unofficial partnership with Feldman. The other Corey portrayed a junior vampire hunter, and the two staked their claim on the signature roles in their ongoing relationship: Feldman as the brash comedian and Haim as the vulnerable every-kid.
They later co-starred in 'Dream a Little Dream' -- one of my favorites, but primarily Feldman's vehicle -- and 'License to Drive'. The latter, a coming-of-age comedy, prominently featured a Cadillac and a girl named Mercedes; in 1988, it was the height of adolescent sophistication. Mine were surely not the only parents to inform their daughter a name-change was out of the question, least of all to the trademark of a German luxury automobile.
I feel deeply sad that no one was able to save Corey Haim from his addictions; he was a human being and the death of a 38-year-old man is a tragic waste.
Brooke....what a wonderful thing to write and such a nice tribute. Many pre-teens/tweens and young teens just thought he was the ultimate. And the two Coreys...best buddies on screen and totally "boy next door" reachable. An Agents dream. Thanks for the memories. RIP Corey Haim.
Very touching tribute and very accurate as to how most early 30's girls are feeling right now. I too was going to marry Corey Haim. His posters were plastered on my walls beside Kirk Cameron, Michael J. Fox and Sean Astin....I feel like I lost a part of my childhood today. I tried to watch The Two Coreys when it came on but found myself getting bored with it. I am glad I chose not to now so I could remember him as the cute, quirky teen with the awesome smile and laugh from the screen instead of an adult battling demons. RIP Corey. Thanks for making adolescence a little funnier and easier....
My wife could've written this article. When I heard the news this morning I immediately texted her. She never checked her phone today. She got home and I said its so sad about Corey Haim and she just looked at me puzzled. I said he died today and she just got so sad and looked at me and said "but he was my first love" and my heart just broke for her. I loved my adolescence and Corey Haim was a big part of it. I hope you find your peace Corey you deserve it and you really brought a lot of light to many people. I just wish you could have shown a little on yourself.
Thank you Corey Haim, I remember my sister and I used to fight on who was the better Corey ( I always sided with Feldman) but with all the fights came our sisterly bond that continues to this day. Us buying all the teen mags (bop, teen beat, 16,) was a treat for the 11 year old us. Fast forward to this morning when I heard the news, I felt that a part of my childhood died today, i immediately texted my sister, I'm sure we'll plan a viewing of all those movies one of these nights.
A sweet and apt tribute. I, too, had a thing for The Coreys (Haim more so than Feldman), and to this day I'm incapable of watching The Lost Boys without quoting it word for word.
I couldn't agree with your post more. I was also going to marry Corey Haim, if Joey McIntyre (New Kids on the Block) turned me down that is. The Coreys were such a major part of the 80's movie scene, it's sad that things couldn't have played out better for him. Certainly no one should be passing at the age of 38. Now when I watch The Lost Boys, quoting every line, it will be bittersweet...It's such a shame that his demons finally won, I only hope that he is now at peace. RIP Corey.
What a lame story. Aol has captions like "The Star" or "The Globe". AOL's captions are always misleding the reader. The stories are never what the captions would have you believe.Apparently the writers at AOL are VERY GREEN and under paid! Terry
I think the tribute was great its the way we all felt about Corey tears welled up in my eyes when my AOL webpage blasted me with the news of Corey Haims death. But I do wish that the vote for Coreys favorite movies had a few others like Prayer of the roller boys which was one of his later movies, but is still one of my favorites.
What a nasty, miserable slug you must be to make a point to spend time to get on boards such as this with people that are sad and human and have grief and a soul just to spew your mean-spirited words.
trolls, thats what people like terry are, just losers trolling the boards looking to spread hate. i was an 80s kid and remember License to Drive it was a great movie
This is a lovely written tribute and exactly how I feel...couldnt have said it better myself :) Sas to think that I will no longer be able to look and see what corey is up to on google anymore as I did on and off for so many years. Rip Corey Haim
lol, Jen you took the words right our of my mouth. By the time the poster I had of Corey came down the lips were almost gone where I kissed "him" goodnight each night. My sister gave me a t-shirt of The Lost Boys this past Christmas. I put it on proudly as we talked about how The Lost Boys was our generations Twilight, as I now watch my daughter fill her walls with Twilight posters. I too feel as though a piece of my childhood is gone. Rest in peace Corey.
Very nice tribute..I agree. Although he was going to marry me sorry! :) Who could forget that little lipsy voice and tussled hair..so cute and so sweet on screen.
so you write this now? why didn't you write this before or watch his shows. He's dead now and doesn't know anyone cared, guess this makes you feel better.
Balticstein is right....why do people only care when a person dies....He was great in lost boys (possibly one of the best 80's movies).....he needed your support back then...this seems like repeating pattern with drug overdose...apparently money doesnt make you happy.
What a silly mommy! Katie Holmes takes Suri into the water in her clothes as the two spend the afternoon at the beach in Miami. More of Today's Hottest Photos
Add a comment
What a nice and warm tribute...
Reply
Corey captured all of our little girl hearts and this writer captured our sentiment.
Brooke....what a wonderful thing to write and such a nice tribute. Many pre-teens/tweens and young teens just thought he was the ultimate. And the two Coreys...best buddies on screen and totally "boy next door" reachable. An Agents dream. Thanks for the memories. RIP Corey Haim.
Very touching tribute and very accurate as to how most early 30's girls are feeling right now. I too was going to marry Corey Haim. His posters were plastered on my walls beside Kirk Cameron, Michael J. Fox and Sean Astin....I feel like I lost a part of my childhood today. I tried to watch The Two Coreys when it came on but found myself getting bored with it. I am glad I chose not to now so I could remember him as the cute, quirky teen with the awesome smile and laugh from the screen instead of an adult battling demons. RIP Corey. Thanks for making adolescence a little funnier and easier....
Reply
My wife could've written this article. When I heard the news this morning I immediately texted her. She never checked her phone today. She got home and I said its so sad about Corey Haim and she just looked at me puzzled. I said he died today and she just got so sad and looked at me and said "but he was my first love" and my heart just broke for her. I loved my adolescence and Corey Haim was a big part of it. I hope you find your peace Corey you deserve it and you really brought a lot of light to many people. I just wish you could have shown a little on yourself.
Thank you Corey Haim, I remember my sister and I used to fight on who was the better Corey ( I always sided with Feldman) but with all the fights came our sisterly bond that continues to this day. Us buying all the teen mags (bop, teen beat, 16,) was a treat for the 11 year old us. Fast forward to this morning when I heard the news, I felt that a part of my childhood died today, i immediately texted my sister, I'm sure we'll plan a viewing of all those movies one of these nights.
Reply
A sweet and apt tribute. I, too, had a thing for The Coreys (Haim more so than Feldman), and to this day I'm incapable of watching The Lost Boys without quoting it word for word.
Reply
I couldn't agree with your post more. I was also going to marry Corey Haim, if Joey McIntyre (New Kids on the Block) turned me down that is.
The Coreys were such a major part of the 80's movie scene, it's sad that things couldn't have played out better for him. Certainly no one should be passing at the age of 38.
Now when I watch The Lost Boys, quoting every line, it will be bittersweet...It's such a shame that his demons finally won, I only hope that he is now at peace. RIP Corey.
What a lame story. Aol has captions like "The Star" or "The Globe".
AOL's captions are always misleding the reader. The stories are never what the captions would have you believe.Apparently the writers at AOL are VERY GREEN and under paid!
Terry
Reply
I think the tribute was great its the way we all felt about Corey tears welled up in my eyes when my AOL webpage blasted me with the news of Corey Haims death. But I do wish that the vote for Coreys favorite movies had a few others like Prayer of the roller boys which was one of his later movies, but is still one of my favorites.
you are a bitter and miserable person.
What a nasty, miserable slug you must be to make a point to spend time to get on boards such as this with people that are sad and human and have grief and a soul just to spew your mean-spirited words.
trolls, thats what people like terry are, just losers trolling the boards looking to spread hate. i was an 80s kid and remember License to Drive it was a great movie
This is a lovely written tribute and exactly how I feel...couldnt have said it better myself :)
Sas to think that I will no longer be able to look and see what corey is up to on google anymore as I did on and off for so many years. Rip Corey Haim
Reply
lol, Jen you took the words right our of my mouth. By the time the poster I had of Corey came down the lips were almost gone where I kissed "him" goodnight each night. My sister gave me a t-shirt of The Lost Boys this past Christmas. I put it on proudly as we talked about how The Lost Boys was our generations Twilight, as I now watch my daughter fill her walls with Twilight posters. I too feel as though a piece of my childhood is gone.
Rest in peace Corey.
Reply
Very nice tribute..I agree. Although he was going to marry me sorry! :) Who could forget that little lipsy voice and tussled hair..so cute and so sweet on screen.
Reply
so you write this now? why didn't you write this before or watch his shows. He's dead now and doesn't know anyone cared, guess this makes you feel better.
Reply
What an a-hole.
Balticstein is right....why do people only care when a person dies....He was great in lost boys (possibly one of the best 80's movies).....he needed your support back then...this seems like repeating pattern with drug overdose...apparently money doesnt make you happy.
Wish everyone told him how they felt when he was alive, I dont think he knew at all...
Reply