History of Wil Wheaton in Timeline

Richard William "Wil" Wheaton III is a well-known American actor and writer. He gained fame for his role as Wesley Crusher in the popular television series *Star Trek: The Next Generation*. Wheaton also starred as Gordie Lachance in the coming-of-age classic film *Stand by Me*. His other notable roles include Joey Trotta in *Toy Soldiers* and Bennett Hoenicker in *Flubber*. Beyond acting, Wheaton is also an author.

1971: Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH Publication

Robert C. O'Brien's book "Mrs. Frisby and the Rats of NIMH", which was later adapted into the animated film "The Secret of NIMH" featuring Wil Wheaton, was published in 1971.

July 29, 1972: Birth of Wil Wheaton

Wil Wheaton was born on July 29, 1972, in Burbank, California, to parents Debra and Richard Wheaton.

1981: A Long Way Home and The Secret of NIMH

Wil Wheaton made his acting debut in the TV film "A Long Way Home" and voiced Martin in "The Secret of NIMH" in 1981.

1981: Voice Acting Debut in The Secret of NIMH

Wil Wheaton's voice acting career began in 1981 with the role of Martin Brisby in "The Secret of NIMH".

1982: The Secret of NIMH Release

"The Secret of NIMH", an animated film featuring Wil Wheaton's voice acting, was released in 1982.

1983: Hambone and Hillie

Wil Wheaton appeared in the film "Hambone and Hillie" in 1983.

1984: The Buddy System and The Last Starfighter

In 1984, Wil Wheaton appeared in the films "The Buddy System" and "The Last Starfighter". While his lines were cut from the theatrical release of "The Last Starfighter", he remains visible in some scenes.

1986: Stand by Me Release and Critical Acclaim

"Stand by Me", starring Wil Wheaton as Gordie Lachance, was released in 1986 and received positive reviews, including praise for Wheaton's performance.

1987: The Curse

In 1987, Wil Wheaton and his sister Amy appeared together in the film "The Curse".

1989: Departure from Star Trek: The Next Generation

Wil Wheaton left "Star Trek: The Next Generation" in 1989 due to a scheduling conflict related to the film "Valmont".

1991: Toy Soldiers and NewTek

In 1991, Wil Wheaton appeared in "Toy Soldiers" and later moved to Topeka, Kansas, to work for NewTek, contributing to the development of the Video Toaster 4000.

November 7, 1999: Marriage to Anne Prince

Wil Wheaton married Anne Prince on November 7, 1999.

2001: The Good Things Release and Recognition

Wil Wheaton starred in the independent film "The Good Things" in 2001, which garnered awards.

2002: Melbourne Underground Film Festival Award

Wil Wheaton received the Best Actor award at the Melbourne Underground Film Festival in 2002 for his performance in "Jane White Is Sick & Twisted".

2002: Star Trek: Nemesis Cameo

Wil Wheaton reprised his role as Wesley Crusher in a cameo appearance in "Star Trek: Nemesis" in 2002.

2004: WebTalk Radio Interview

In 2004, Wil Wheaton discussed the polarized fan reactions to his Wesley Crusher character in a WebTalk Radio interview.

2004: Dancing Barefoot and Just a Geek Released

Wil Wheaton released his books "Dancing Barefoot" and "Just a Geek" in 2004.

June 2005: SuicideGirls Newswire Tech Writer

Wil Wheaton became a featured tech writer for SuicideGirls Newswire in June 2005.

September 2006: InDigital Podcast Begins

Wil Wheaton began hosting the "InDigital" podcast in September 2006.

September 2007: InDigital Podcast Concludes

Wil Wheaton's podcast "InDigital" concluded in September 2007.

2010: Dungeons & Dragons at PAX 2010

Wil Wheaton participated in a live Dungeons & Dragons game at PAX 2010.

May 23, 2012: The Guild: Fawkes Release

Wil Wheaton and Felicia Day's comic book "The Guild: Fawkes" was released on May 23, 2012.

August 6, 2012: Mars Curiosity Rover Video

Wil Wheaton hosted a NASA video about the Mars Curiosity rover, which landed on August 6, 2012.

April 3, 2014: The Wil Wheaton Project Announcement

On April 3, 2014, Wil Wheaton announced his new show, "The Wil Wheaton Project", set to premiere on SyFy on May 27.

2015: Anita Sarkeesian Profile and Advocacy Against Misogyny

In 2015, Wil Wheaton wrote a profile on Anita Sarkeesian for Time 100 and spoke out against misogyny in video game culture.

2016: Campaigning for Hillary Clinton

Wil Wheaton campaigned for Hillary Clinton during the 2016 general election.

November 5, 2017: Wil Wheaton criticizes Paul Ryan's response to Sutherland Springs shooting

On November 5, 2017, following the Sutherland Springs church shooting, Wil Wheaton criticized Congressman Paul Ryan's call for prayers, suggesting prayer was ineffective. He later apologized to people of faith who felt attacked but maintained his stance on gun control.

2017: Laina Publication in Star Wars Anthology

Wil Wheaton's short story "Laina" was published in the "Star Wars" anthology "From a Certain Point of View" in 2017.

2020: The Ready Room Hosting Gig Begins

Wil Wheaton started hosting the "Star Trek" aftershow "The Ready Room" in 2020.

January 2021: Five Years of Sobriety

In January 2021, Wil Wheaton announced five years of sobriety from alcohol.

August 2021: I Expect You To Die 2 Voice Role

In August 2021, Wil Wheaton voiced the character John Juniper in the video game "I Expect You to Die 2: The Spy and the Liar".

2022: Celebrity Jeopardy! Appearance

Wil Wheaton competed in "Celebrity Jeopardy!" in 2022, reaching the finals and finishing in third place while playing for the National Women's Law Center.