The 90s heartthrob | Source: Getty Images
At the peak of his fame in the ’90s, this heartthrob’s battle with addiction saw him leave Hollywood and step away from the limelight. Over the years, he’s returned to the spotlight to rebuild his career. Take a look at his incredible journey and how he looks now.
This well-known Canadian actor shot to stardom in the 1990s and early 2000s for his roles in hit films such as “Casper” and “Final Destination.” However, finding fame in Hollywood at such a young age led him down a dark path of substance abuse.
The ’90s heartthrob at the premiere of “BASEketball” on July 28, 1998. | Source: Getty Images
Since taking a break from the entertainment industry once things got too chaotic, he’s made an incredible comeback, and his recent appearance left social media users convinced he remains the “very handsome man” they came to know and love many years ago.
The ’90s actor at the premiere of “54” on August 24, 1998. | Source: Getty Images
The Rise and Fall of a ’90s Star
In the 1990s, this young Canadian
actor
captivated audiences with his striking looks and charming demeanor. He began acting as early as nine, and by the time he was in his teens, he had already solidified himself as a rising star.
Jonathan Taylor Thomas and the young Canadian actor at the National Conference of Christians and Jews Gala Honoring Joe Roth on November 14, 1996, in Beverly Hills, California. | Source: Getty Images
He landed roles in the ’90s series “The Odyssey” and the 1994 film “Little Giants.” However, his breakout moment came in the 1995 film “Casper,” where he famously delivered the memorable line, “Can I keep you?” It was a moment that immortalized him in the hearts of many, but it would later haunt him.
The “Casper” star at the premiere of “Wild America” on June 30, 1997. | Source: Getty Images
At 18, after riding the wave of his initial success, the “Casper” star moved to Hollywood. It was a dream come true for the young actor, but it quickly turned into a nightmare as he began making choices he would later regret.
Tara Reid and the rising star at the premiere of “L.A. Confidential” on September 16, 1997, in Hollywood. | Source: Getty Images
“I had to smoke pot in movies and I had to be in a hip-hop video. That’s what I felt like I had to do to get away from ‘Can I keep you?’ Everybody wanted to hear, ‘Can I keep you?’ It drove me nuts,” he
confessed
.
The young actor soon found himself spiraling, and in retrospect, he realized that addiction had always been lurking in the background as substance abuse ran in his family. However, he
reflected
, “Hollywood just really amped it up, you know what I mean?”
The young actor at the premiere of “U-Turn” on September 22, 1997, in Beverly Hills, California. | Source: Getty Images
After relocating, offers flooded in, and the Hollywood lifestyle took over. By 1996, he had roles in “Night of the Twisters,” “The Boys Club,” and more. However, off camera, he found himself going to clubs, surrounded by people who always wanted to have a drink with him.
The ’90s heartthrob filming Final Destination in 2000. | Source: Getty Images
At the time, the young star wasn’t thinking about the consequences. At the peak of his career, he felt invincible. However, as the years passed, his life became increasingly “crazy” and “chaotic.”
Eventually, his agency suggested he took a step back from Hollywood and return to Vancouver, his hometown, to get sober. Though his agency was urging him to slow down, the actor ultimately decided on his own to take a break from acting for a few years.
The Canadian actor at the premiere of “From Hell” on October 17, 2001. | Source: Getty Images
“I was burnt out, I was drinking too much, [and] I was partying too much. And so I went back to Vancouver and got sober,” he
shared
about the reason for his hiatus between 2004 and 2009.
Ali Landry, the “Casper” star, and Eve at the Playstation 2 Hosts the Movieline Young Hollywood Awards afterparty on May 4, 2003, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
Stepping away from the glitz and glamour of Hollywood was a tough but necessary decision for the actor, who
admitted
, “At 25 years old, I stepped away from the business for five years and most of the time didn’t know whether I was going to come back or not.”
The famous actor at the Playstation 2 Hosts the Movieline Young Hollywood Awards afterparty on May 4, 2003, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
A Return to the Spotlight
This ’90s heartthrob is none other than Devon Sawa, whose life, after spending several years away from acting, took a positive turn when he met his wife,
Dawni Sawa
.
Devon and Dawni Sawa at the world premiere of “Life on the Line” during the 2015 Napa Valley Film Festival on November 14, 2015, in California. | Source: Getty Images
“After a couple of years, I met my wife and we went away to Southeast Asia. I wrestled with the idea of never acting again. I had started doing a little bit of real estate in Vancouver. I bought a little old building and started to renovate it myself,” the actor
shared
.
Dawni is an
interior designer
with
experience
behind the scenes in the film industry. The couple shares two children, Hudson and Charlotte, and Devon fully embraced fatherhood.
However, acting wasn’t done with him just yet, as he received a script for the 2008 video game thriller “Max Payne,” starring Mark Wahlberg. “I don’t know who didn’t get the memo that I was not in the business anymore, but I decided to put myself on tape for it, and the casting [office] called back – they really liked me for it,” the actor
recalled
.
Devon Sawa at the “Punk’s Dead: SLC Punk 2” premiere event on February 11, 2016, in Salt Lake City, Utah. | Source: Getty Images
Although he didn’t land the role, his audition reignited his love of acting, leading to a significant turning point in his career. “All of a sudden I had a new manager and I thought, ‘Let’s give it another shot.’ I felt like I had a reset,” Devon
shared
.
Devon Sawa at the 2017 Summer TCA Tour “Disney ABC Television Group” on August 6, 2017, in Los Angeles, California. | Source: Getty Images
His comeback gained momentum in 2017 when he landed a lead role in the ABC drama “Somewhere Between.” In the series, the Canadian played Nico Jackson, a former cop turned private investigator.
Devon Sawa on the set of “Somewhere Between” in 2017. | Source: Getty Images
The complex role was exactly what he was looking for after years of being out of the spotlight. “The writing drew me to it. I read the first script, and I was looking for something different,” he
explained
. “[…] The show with the cliffhangers that keep you on your toes. This particular role I spent a lot of time with the dialogue.”
Paula Patton and Devon Sawa on the set of “Somewhere Between” in 2017. | Source: Getty Images
Since his return to acting, Devon’s career has been picking up. In addition to “Somewhere Between,” he has appeared in several notable projects, including “Hunter Hunter” in 2020, “Chucky” in 2021, and the 2022 film “Gasoline Alley” alongside
Bruce Willis
.
Devon Sawa filming season 1 of “Chucky” in 2021. | Source: Getty Images
Devon has also embraced the freedom that comes with his career reboot,
noting
, “I was happy with what I was doing, but I’m happier now. I’m happier back doing what I really love.”
Devon Sawa speaking on a panel during New York Comic Con 2022 on October 7 in New York. | Source: Getty Images
The actor has also become more selective about the roles he takes on, focusing on projects that genuinely interest him. “I take roles now that I just want to do. I don’t really think about where they are going to take me. I just want to do stuff that I want to do,” he
said
.
Devon Sawa speaking during the “Chucky” Season 3 Part 2: Exclusive Sneak Peek and Cast Conversation during 2024 WonderCon on March 30, 2024, in Anaheim, California. | Source: Getty Images
In addition to stepping back into the spotlight, social media users noted that Devon still looks as handsome as ever. Over the years, the actor has shed his youthful appearance and emerged as a more sophisticated and mature man.
“Handsome,”
one person
commented
on a post Devon shared in early August, where he sported a baseball jersey and a mustache. ”
That stache is banger [sic],”
another person
wrote
. A third
typed
,
“I like the stache lol [sic]”
and a fourth
added
,
“Looking handsome!” “Still very good looking man!”
someone else
shared
.
With a career resurgence and a fulfilling family life, Devon has found his way back into the spotlight on his own terms, proving that second chances are real — and sometimes, the best is yet to come.