Lance Kerwin: What Happened to the 'James at 15' and 'Salem's Lot' Star

Lance Kerwin was as controversial in real life as the character he played on TV. While the troubled star went down the path of many child actors, whether it be Anissa Jones from Family Affair or Mackenzie Phillips of One Day at a Time, his role in the groundbreaking 1970s show James at 15 drew ire from from the less open-minded for its realistic yet sensitive topics, but cemented his place as a Hollywood legend.

Born on November 6, 1960 in Newport Beach, California, as the youngest of five boys, Kerwin's entry into acting came naturally, influenced by his family's involvement in the entertainment industry. His father was an acting coach, his mother a performer and talent agent. The entire family consisted of musicians, and while Kerwin’s parents would later divorce, he'd nonetheless grow to love jazz and the blues in part thanks to his musician stepfather.

Early exposure helped Kerwin develop his skills from a young age. That, coupled with his wholesome good looks, piercing blue eyes, and shaggy blonde hair, made him a natural in front of the camera.

By the time he was a teenager, he was already landing roles on various television shows, including Little House on the Prairie, Wonder Woman and the made-for-TV movie and subsequent TV series James at 15, which he was cast for at age 16.

Lance Kerwin’s breakthrough roles: James at 15 and Salem’s Lot

Following the hugely successful pilot, NBC quickly greenlit the series in 1977, the show following James Hunter, a teenage boy and aspiring photographer who relocates from Oregon to Massachusetts with his family due to a change in his dad’s job. The coming-of-age story features controversial plotlines for its time, including an episode called "The Gift," in which James loses his virginity, much to the consternation of some vocal concerned parents.

Most shows involving teens at that time featured actors in their 20s, but James was different in that Kerwin was an ordinary, confused young boy playing an ordinary, confused young boy.

“You had Welcome Back, Kotter, which was all adults portraying teenagers. You had Happy Days, which all those guys were 18 to 25. John Travolta and Ron Howard. They were all adults portraying teenagers. But James... now I was 15 or 16. So I was really portraying a character who was more, ya know, real,” Kerwin shared.

Lance Kerwin went on to star in the sequel/2nd season, which was retitled James at 16, which cleverly suggested a further evolution in the character, who now had to deal with issues of peer pressure, identity, alcoholism, more sex and the quest for independence. “It captures the essence of growing up in America and makes up for all the drivel we’ve had to put up with,” said Associated Press critic Jerry Buck.

While the show (which featured Kim Richards as his sister, pre-Housewives and post-Nanny and the Professor) only ran for two seasons, from 1977 to 1978, it catapulted Kerwin into teen heartthrob status, landing him on the covers of teen mags and the bedroom walls of teen girls all across the country.

After James wrapped, Kerwin was cast in the Stephen King miniseries Salem’s Lot. His role as Mark Petrie, a resourceful and brave teenager who battles against a vampire infestation in his small town, remains one of his most memorable performances.

The miniseries was a critical and commercial success, further solidifying Kerwin’s reputation as a talented young actor. “One of the first things I learned when I was studying acting was not to try to imagine how you're going to do a line or how you're going to stand, or even work on your character. The first thing you want to do is get to know the story. You get to know the story, and then you get to know where your character falls into it,” Kerwin shared in a 2019 interview marking the 40th anniversary of Salem’s Lot.

Lance Kerwin in the 1980s

Throughout the 1980s, Kerwin’s young star continued to rise. He was featured in several after-school specials and teamed up again with Little House on the Prairie’s Michael Landon for his semi-autobiographical film The Loneliest Runner. He also appeared in The Family Holvak, a drama set during the Great Depression.

Unfortunately, as many young actors do, Lance Kerwin turned to drugs and alcohol, saying he started smoking pot at age 10 and moved to crack cocaine during his 20s. In 1989, he was jailed for drug possession, but later found to be not guilty.

As Kerwin transitioned into adulthood, the industry seemed less interested in the bright blue-eyed boy turned man. The dawn of the last decade of the 20th century brought only bit parts for the former teen idol, most notably 1995’s Outbreak, the Dustin Hoffman-led thriller about a dangerous airborne virus that threatens civilization.

Lance Kerwin: The later years

The end of the 1990s brought new beginnings for Kerwin (his marriage to his second wife, Yvonne) and an ending — as the now-sober star officially retired from the acting biz. With one child from his first wife, Kristen, Lance added four more to his growing brood.

He eventually left Hollywood and moved to Hawaii, where he focused on rebuilding his life. Kerwin became a Christian and dedicated himself to his faith, often speaking at churches and youth groups about his experiences and lessons from his career and personal life. At the start of the 21st century, he lived in a Los Angeles drug and alcohol rehabilitation ranch called U-Turn for Christ and worked as a minister.

In 2010, the 49-year-old was arrested in Hawaii for falsifying welfare documents and theft. He was sentenced to five years probation, with the James star issuing a public apology. Kerwin’s troubles didn’t end there. Later, a GoFundMe would be set up in the actor’s name to help him out of mountains of debt amid health issues he was dealing with. In 2022, he returned to the big screen with a part in the Western drama The Wind & The Reckoning — his first film role since 1995’s Outbreak.

Lance Kerwin’s sad passing

Kerwin died at the age of 62 in San Clemente, California on January 24, 2023, of ischemic heart disease and atherosclerotic coronary artery disease. There were unsubstantiated rumors that he had relapsed and succumbed to a drug overdose.

“We appreciate all the kind words, memories and prayers that have been shared,” offered his daughter, Savanah on a Facebook post, adding, “He loved each and every one of you.”

Kerwin was reportedly planning to return to acting full-time and while he never got the chance to do so, he’ll always be revered for his early work on James and Salem’s Lot as well as his candidness about his own personal struggles.

If you’re feeling nostalgic, James isn’t offered in reruns on any popular streaming services, but you can purchase a DVD of the series on Amazon.