Jason Presson and I grew up together in North Hollywood. We lived a couple blocks from each other as kids while we were both auditioning for parts in movies and TV shows during the 80′s. We’ve been friends now for over 20 years. Jason heard I was in town and showed up at my Dad’s house on Saturday night. We ended up going down to Hollywood Boulevard with Mary and Greg to hang out and walk around.
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Jason Presson on Hollywood Boulevard (Hollywood, California)
by Americanvirus
That guy to me will always be a Legend!
I grew up watching Explorers and the Lady in White is a film my mother and I both share as a personal favorite between the two of us!
I wish things would have worked out better for his career,I feel he deserved it!
Well from here until my end his character as well as the others in the wonderful EXPLORERS will remain something special to me(his was one of my favs because he was the take no crap kid and kinda mysterious one)!
Thank You Jason Presson for such an AWESOME performance!
Take care
God Bless!
It’s true… he is an AWESOME performer… and he’s a wonderful friend, too.
What happened to his career?? You would think that being alongside actors such as River Pheonix and Ethan Hawke that he would have had tons of work for the screen…What part did he play in Gremlins 2???
To tell you the truth, I think he just lost interest in acting. He is very intelligent and very sensitive, which is what made hims such a great performer. He also saw what the business is like at a very young age, and after seeing Hollywood for what it is, I think he just decided that he wanted to take his life in a different direction. He continued his education, works in healthcare, and invested his money in real estate.
Yaaaaa!!!! Glad to see an update, a few friends and I watched Explorers the other night. Hadn’t seen it in years and it was a lot of fun.
Hey, thanks for commenting. I’m sure he’s happy to know that he still has fans.
Well I am glad he is still alive. It has been depressing learning that some of my favorite child stars died seemingly by their own hand. Not sure why I did not know this but I never really pried much into actors lives until recently when NetFlix gave me back all the old shows. I wish someone would do an updated Explorers for the current generation. Don’t have to change story or the characters, just update the look, technology and make the aliens a lot less Jim Henson like. That was the only part that disappointed me about the move was the aliens. Glad we saw them late otherwise it might have ruined the whole thing.
It is sad to see what’s happened to so many child actors… but that’s what makes the news. You never hear about the ones who don’t end up in tragedy because that’s just not what people seem to want to know… or at least it doesn’t sell the magazine, so to say. I think an explorers revamp would be awesome.
It is good to know that he is ok… He was right, I mean he is right what he says about that business…
I have just watched Explorers again as a small girl.
And I am happy to hear that he is a good friend. You are lucky…
Loves,
From the other side of the world..
I LOVE Jason Presson!!!
That’s pretty cool that you know him, but what sucks is that he was never as popular as the actors he worked with. You said that he is very intelligent and sensitive, and you can definitely tell that by his performances. Why did he always look so sad and depressed though? I always wondered that, but maybe it was just his character. Do you know how to contact him? If he does not want fans bothering him (I know I would not) then that is fine, just wondering.
Hey Samantha, thanks for your comments… and you’re right. He likes his privacy. I’m glad he has so many fans.
In Gremlins 2 he played as the yogurt jerk (small scene.)
On LATE NIGHT RADIO SHOWS that talk of mysteries and aliens and the like,(Late Night w/George Noory)One popular subject is SHADOW PEOPLE… Jason appeared in the (NEW)TWILIGHT ZONE Episode of SHADOW MAN – which is about that phenomenon! Among his other appearances.
Jason rules!
i heard he had a battered childhood?
he was an amazing actor though!
how did you know him (did you go to school together)
We grew up in the same neighborhood and our parents were also friends.
i loved that kid back in the 80′s! how’s he doing? any kids? I love your work by the way americanvirus
good to know he’s doing okay
He’s doing good. No kids.
Two of my best friends said they went to school with him. is this true? what school did he go to?
i need to ask them what school it was
they could always be joking though. I don’t know
I’m pretty sure he went to Pacoima Junior High, but I’m not sure what High School. I hope that helps.
I will definitely ask them.
when child actors shoot a movie do they still go to school – or do they just go when they aren’t filming movies?
also aren’t there child labor laws. So child actors can’t work for long – do they work for an amount of time, and then go home? sorry I ask a lot of questions.
I don’t know what it’s like now, but back then you had a limited number of hours you could work, plus you had a teacher on the set. When you weren’t working, you went to school like everyone else. I’m sure it’s probably the same now.
my friends did go to school with him.
they said he was really shy, but they didn’t really talk to him.
thanks for your help
“Explorers” was my favorite movie growing up and it has been a huge influence on my life. I grew up in circumstances very similar to Darren Woods, the character he played in the movie and before that I had never seen someone like me in a movie. I am giving Jason and his fantastic film credit for my growing up to be an author and to do a great deal of things and have a great deal of experiences I would never have had otherwise. So I just want to leave a not here reading: Thank you jason!
Wow Julie- that’s fantastic!
This reply is really for Jasmine. I wouldn’t say that he had a “battered” life, but his childhood was definitely not easy. He probably doesn’t act anymore because he simply decided he would rather live a simpler life and be happy. Being an actor probably has its ups and down. Believe me. Health and happiness are worth more than most people think.
Miriam – wise words.
why was his childhood not easy? and if you or Americanvirus know, why was it a such a craze for child actors to do drugs in the 80′s? I have two kids that have cell phones and ipods – they know nothing of corey haim or feldman. I really miss the 80′s.
Julie – that is amazing
This post has the most comments of any of my posts… this really is supposed to be my personal creativity/photography blog… ha ha… but I guess it’s my fault for posting a picture of my friend Jason. I guess if I was a successful enough photographer that I was commissioned to shoot a picture of Brad Pitt or something, the minute I would post it to my personal blog, I’d get a million comments asking questions about Brad & Angelina. None the less, Jason having a troubled childhood? That’s really subjective and I guess would be something you’d have to ask him about. I’m not really his spokesperson. As for kids doing drugs in the 80′s. I would hope that kids today are more educated. They definitely have a lot more interesting things than drugs at their disposal. BTW, I don’t believe Jason ever got into drugs. He was always too smart for that.
Your photos are amazing! I didn’t really know many people knew of Jason Presson. None of my friends do anyway. Yeah it is his personal business, and as I read in another comment, you said he is pretty private. Jason should get back into acting, I wouldn’t mind seeing him again.
Thanks. I think Jason is a fantastic actor too.
I saw jason for the first time in a long time recently. He is doing well in his career field now, not acting. The death of fellow childhood actor Corey Haim hit home, Jason is good friends with Corey Feldman. He never got into any drugs or anything, if he drinks, its a couple beers. He is very lucky considering the period he is from. It was just good to see him and talk to him again.
[...] Jason telephoned to say he was in town. Jason Presson is one of my childhood actor buddies (see ~ Jason ~ ). He was in town helping Corey Feldman with his music tour. Mary and I met up with him for pizza [...]
Since no-one has pasted anything in awhile, i figured it was time.
Jason,was the simply the “coolest” kid around.
I’m quite happy he is alive and well.
I was in the music business for much too long, i avoided the
nonsense of drugs etc. and just the whole music scene was nothing more than an immense pain the butt.
So i can relate to Jason eventually steering clear of hollywood,and the nonsense that goes with it.
He is not forgotten by his fans at any rate.
I believe one of the best moments of my life would be the day i bump into him, shake his hand, and thank him greatly for just
“being himself”.
Some call him a legend, he has indeed earned that title and respect.
Please let him know, he is never forgotten.
I just watched the movie Explorers and one called The B.R.A.T. Patrol with Sean Astin. I have to say Jason is a wonderful actor in both movies plus his other ones I’ve seen. He seems very sweet and down to earth. It is a shame he’s not in the acting biz anymore cause he was awesome. I would love to meet him one day. I’m glad to know he’s doing good.
just wanted everyone to know that ‘explorers’ is streaming on netflix right now. when this movie came out, i was about the same age as jason presson and had the biggest crush on him (or his character in the movie anyway). you know, the brooding type. heh. i’ve always thought he was a terrific actor, and like most folks who commented, wished he was in many more movies. glad to hear he is well. wish he had more of an online presence, but thanks for passing all our messages along. best of luck to you both.
just wanted to comment. Explorers always reminds of my kid days. guess I was 10 or 11 at the time. anyways. still a fan.still love that movie. wish he would do a cameo in something for us old schoolers. good luck and godspeed regardless.
-bradley
I wish I knew Jason cause he seems very down to earth and very sweet. There’s no way you could set it up where I could meet him…is there?
Wow, Jason was my number one crush back when lady in white came out! He seems to have captured many fans through the roles he played. Hope he’s still healthy and happy, whatever he’s doing these days. Please send him best regards.
While so many of us dream of what could have been- for Mr. Presson as well as his fans had he been the “Ethan Hawke” of Explorers- it’s nice to know that some of the talented actors in Hollywood remove themselves from the negativity that surrounds that lifestyle so they may pursue happiness rather than money and fame.
It’s funny, really, how much we are affected by what we watch. And, thankfully, I saw Darren Woods as a role model. Quiet but strong, thoughtful, willing to stand up against play ground bullies. No young person can convey the strength, sensitivity and compassion as seen in this character unless he or she embodies these traits. You simply cannot coach these behaviors in one so young.
Thank you for being one of the good guys, Mr. Presson.
By the way- the absolutely most adorable of the three boys starring in Explorers- hands down!
Its awesome to find some sorta updated info on Jason Presson. Glad to hear he is well. I was checking up on him after watching the Explorers again today with my 3 yr old. To comment on the updated Explorer movie post I agree would be nice to have a new one. What I dont agree with is the writers obvious lack of appreciation for Jim Hensons characters and work. My daughter loves the old movie and just about every movie that has Jim Henson characters in it. It goes to show kids and people today dont just have to watch all CGI movies. Some old school real Jim Henson type of characters can and are just as creative and great to watch!
Thanks again for your Jason post I was having a hardtime finding anysort of recent news on him. And as a fan I like to check in on some of the actors I grew up with.