---
name: "Wil Wheaton"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/wil-wheaton"
fi1m_id: "wil-wheaton"
imdb_id: "nm0000696"
tmdb_id: 3033
wikidata_id: "Q264699"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "29 July 1972"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 6
average_fi1m_score: 69
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 5
updated: "2026-10-05T00:37:14.784932+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Wil Wheaton

## Identity

Wil Wheaton

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/wil-wheaton
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** wil-wheaton
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000696
- **TMDB ID:** 3033
- **Wikidata ID:** Q264699
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wil_Wheaton, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q264699, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000696/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/3033

Actor. Born 29 July 1972 in Burbank, California, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 29 July 1972, Burbank, California, USA
- **Active:** 1982–2002
- **Also known as:** ویل ویتون
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 6: 5 acting, 1 other
- **Average Fi1m score:** 69, as actor, over 5 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 82 (3), 1990s 50 (1), 2000s 50 (1), 2020s 57 (1)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 66 to 66 across 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 2 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 1 of 4 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Adventure 3, Drama 3, Science Fiction 3, Family 2, Mystery 2, Action 1
- **Screen time:** 6 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $312m across 4 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Wil_Wheaton, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q264699, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000696/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/3033

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*Stand by Me*](https://film.one/film/stand-by-me.md) (88)
- **Paramount+:** [*Star Trek: The Next Generation*](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-the-next-generation.md) (84)
- **Tubi:** [*The Secret of NIMH*](https://film.one/film/the-secret-of-nimh.md) (74)
- **Disney+:** [*Flubber*](https://film.one/film/flubber.md) (50)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Wil Wheaton

> Wil Wheaton is at his most persuasive when he listens, letting uncertainty show without forcing it. *Stand by Me* gives that quiet skill room to work, and remains our strongest reason to recommend him.

When someone else speaks in *Stand by Me* (1986), Wil Wheaton gives us a reason to keep watching Gordie Lachance. There is uncertainty in that attention, and a need to know what his friends think of him. It is an excellent performance, helped by Rob Reiner's willingness to let a young actor react rather than hurry him towards the next line. We were moved by Gordie's watchfulness around Chris, because Wheaton makes the effort to understand a friend feel important.

River Phoenix gives Chris Chambers an assurance that takes work to maintain, and Wheaton's attentiveness helps us notice the strain. Reiner gives both actors time to react, so that friendship develops through what they make of each other. They are awkward together in a way that feels right for boys still working out how much they can say. The film's emotional nudges can be too obvious, and we would welcome fewer of them. But Wheaton seldom needs the extra help, and that is a substantial virtue in a coming-of-age drama.

As Wesley Crusher in *Star Trek: The Next Generation* (1987–1994), he became a familiar face in science-fiction television. Some fans objected to a young character who seemed to solve problems too easily. That is a complaint about the writing, and it is a poor reason to dismiss the actor. It also risks overlooking the vulnerability that makes Gordie worth watching: being cast as the clever youngster tells us little about how well someone can play uncertainty.

His other work includes Joey Trotta in *Toy Soldiers* (1991), along with voice acting, narration and recurring television parts. From 2009, *The Big Bang Theory* used him as a fictionalised version of himself. These self-referential appearances depend partly on our recognising him before he has done anything. We would not start there. For a first encounter, choose *Stand by Me* and pay attention to Wheaton while Phoenix is speaking.

## Biography

Wil Wheaton is an American actor and writer. Born Richard William Wheaton III on 29 July 1972 in Burbank, California, he gained early attention for his role as Gordie Lachance in the 1986 film *Stand by Me*.

He is also known for portraying Wesley Crusher in the television series *Star Trek: The Next Generation* (1987–1994) and for recurring appearances as a fictionalised version of himself in *The Big Bang Theory*. Wheaton has worked as a voice actor, narrator of audiobooks and host of the board-game series *TableTop*. He maintains the blog Wil Wheaton Dot Net and has written memoirs including *Dancing Barefoot* and *Just a Geek*.

*Sources: en.wikipedia.org, imdb.com.*

## On Fi1m (6)

### Performed in (5) — the average rests on these

- *Star Trek: Nemesis* (2002), Fi1m 50, as Wesley Crusher — [page](https://film.one/film/star-trek-nemesis.md)
- *Flubber* (1997), Fi1m 50, as Bennett Hoenicker — [page](https://film.one/film/flubber.md)
- *Star Trek: The Next Generation* (1987), Fi1m 84, as Wesley Crusher — [page](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-the-next-generation.md)
- *Stand by Me* (1986), Fi1m 88, as Gordie Lachance — [page](https://film.one/film/stand-by-me.md)
- *The Secret of NIMH* (1982), Fi1m 74, as Martin (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/the-secret-of-nimh.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *Stuart Fails to Save the Universe* (2026), Fi1m 57, as Self — [page](https://film.one/tv/stuart-fails-to-save-the-universe.md)

## Complete filmography (104)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The Moof Milkers* (2026), as C-3P0
- *Tales from Woodcreek* (2025), series, as Eldorae the Witch of the Old Wood
- *Faster, Purple Worm! Kill! Kill!* (2023), series, as Azagoron
- *Dogs in Space* (2021), series, as Atlas (voice)
- *Star Trek: Prodigy* (2021), series, as Wesley Crusher (voice)
- *Rival Speak* (2020), series, as Wil Wheaton
- *Rent-A-Pal* (2020), as Andy
- *Max Reload and the Nether Blasters* (2020), as Arcade Heroes Narrator (voice)
- *Star Trek: Lower Decks* (2020), series, as Wesley Crusher (voice)
- *Pooka Lives!* (2020), as David
- *Star Trek: Picard* (2020), series, as Wesley Crusher — Fi1m 64, [page](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-picard.md)
- *SONA* (2018), series, as Minos
- *Teen Titans Go! To the Movies* (2018), as Flash (voice)
- *Transformers: Power of the Primes* (2018), as Perceptor (voice)
- *Stretch Armstrong & the Flex Fighters* (2017), series, as Jonathan Rook (voice)
- *Transformers: Titans Return* (2017), as Perceptor (voice)
- *Transformers: Titans Return* (2017), series, as Perceptor
- *S.W.A.T.* (2017), series, as Evan Whitlock
- *Mystery Science Theater 3000* (2017), series, as Drake
- *Enter the Battlefield: Life on the Magic - The Gathering Pro Tour* (2016), as Narrator
- *Supergirl* (2015), series, as Doomsday Protestor
- *Con Man* (2015), series, as Officer Cahoots
- *Dark Matter* (2015), series, as Alexander Rook
- *Titansgrave: The Ashes of Valkana* (2015), series, as Game Master
- *Critical Role* (2015), series, as Thorbir Falbek
- *Powers* (2015), series, as Conrad Moody
- *Sharknado 2: The Second One* (2014), as Passenger
- *Star Trek: The Next Generation - The Best of Both Worlds* (2013), as Ensign Wesley Crusher (archive footage)
- *Underground Entertainment: The Movie* (2011), as Scapegoat #1
- *Ben 10: Ultimate Alien* (2010), series, as Mike Morningstar / Darkstar (voice)
- *Star Trek* (2009), as Romulan (voice) (uncredited) — Fi1m 81, [page](https://film.one/film/star-trek.md)
- *Kyle + Rosemary* (2009), as Kyle (voice)
- *Leverage* (2008), series, as Colin Mason
- *Random! Cartoons* (2008), series, as Kyle / Horace (voice)
- *Batman: The Brave and the Bold* (2008), series, as Silver Age Blue Beetle (voice)
- *Ben 10: Alien Force* (2008), series, as Darkstar (voice), Mike Morningstar (voice)
- *The Big Bang Theory* (2007), series, as Wil Wheaton — Fi1m 68, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-big-bang-theory.md)
- *Americanizing Shelley* (2007), as Director Alan Smithee
- *The Guild* (2007), series, as Fawkes
- *Legion of Super Heroes* (2006), series, as Cosmic Boy (voice)
- *Eureka* (2006), series, as Isaac Parrish
- *Criminal Minds* (2005), series, as Floyd Hansen — Fi1m 60, [page](https://film.one/tv/criminal-minds.md)
- *Avatar: The Last Airbender* (2005), series, as Pet Shop Owner (voice)
- *Robot Chicken* (2005), series, as Dr. Doom / Centaur / State Farm Representative (voice)
- *American Dad!* (2005), series, as Co-Worker (voice)
- *Numb3rs* (2005), series, as Miles Sklar
- *Teen Titans* (2003), series, as Aqualad (voice), Aqualad / Computer Geek (voice)
- *Neverland* (2003), as John Darling
- *Book of Days* (2003), as Danny
- *Star Trek: Nemesis* (2002), as Wesley Crusher — Fi1m 50, [page](https://film.one/film/star-trek-nemesis.md)
- *Arena* (2002), series, Actor
- *Fish Don't Blink* (2002), as Jimmy
- *Jane White Is Sick & Twisted* (2002), as Dick Smith
- *The Flintstones: On the Rocks* (2002), as Singer (bass) (voice)
- *Beat the Geeks* (2001), series, Actor
- *Foreign Correspondents* (2001), as Jonas
- *The Zeta Project* (2001), series, Actor
- *CSI: Crime Scene Investigation* (2000), series, as Walter
- *Python* (2000), as Tommy
- *Deep Core* (2000), as Rodney Bedecker
- *The Girls' Room* (2000), as Charlie
- *Twice in a Lifetime* (1999), series, as Ryan Storey / Dr. Thomas
- *Chicken Soup for the Soul* (1999), series, as Will
- *Family Guy* (1999), series, as Wil Wheaton (voice) — Fi1m 63, [page](https://film.one/tv/family-guy.md)
- *Fag Hag* (1998), Actor
- *The Day Lincoln Was Shot* (1998), as Robert Todd Lincoln
- *Flubber* (1997), as Bennett Hoenicker — Fi1m 50, [page](https://film.one/film/flubber.md)
- *Perversions of Science* (1997), series, as Bryan
- *Gun* (1997), series, as Bilchick
- *Pie in the Sky* (1996), as Jack
- *It Was Him or Us* (1995), as Scottie Cray
- *Mr. Stitch* (1995), as Lazarus
- *Hang Time* (1995), series, Actor
- *The Outer Limits* (1995), series, as Cadet
- *The Liars' Club* (1994), as David Reynolds
- *Diagnosis: Murder* (1993), series, as Forest Ranger Gary Barton
- *Sirens* (1993), series, as Wayne McGarrick
- *December* (1991), as Kipp Gibbs
- *The Last Prostitute* (1991), as Danny
- *Toy Soldiers* (1991), as Joey Trotta
- *Nickelodeon Studios Opening Day Celebration!* (1990), Actor
- *8:15 from Manchester* (1990), series, Actor
- *My Dad Can't Be Crazy... Can He?* (1989), as Nick Karpinsky
- *Tales from the Crypt* (1989), series, as Arling
- *Monsters* (1988), series, as Kevin
- *Dare to Say No!* (1988), Actor
- *She's Having a Baby* (1988), as Wil Wheaton (uncredited)
- *Star Trek: The Next Generation* (1987), series, as Wesley Crusher — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/star-trek-the-next-generation.md)
- *The Curse* (1987), as Zack
- *The Man Who Fell to Earth* (1987), as Billy Milton
- *Young Harry Houdini* (1987), as Ehrich Weiss / Young Harry Houdini
- *Stand by Me* (1986), as Gordie Lachance — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/stand-by-me.md)
- *Long Time Gone* (1986), as Mitchell
- *The Defiant Ones* (1986), as Clyde
- *Highway to Heaven* (1984), series, Actor
- *The Last Starfighter* (1984), as Louis' Friend
- *The Buddy System* (1984), as Tim
- *Hambone and Hillie* (1983), as Jeff Radcliffe
- *St. Elsewhere* (1982), series, as Owen Drimmer — Fi1m 78, [page](https://film.one/tv/st-elsewhere.md)
- *Family Ties* (1982), series, as Timothy Higgins
- *The Secret of NIMH* (1982), as Martin (voice) — Fi1m 74, [page](https://film.one/film/the-secret-of-nimh.md)
- *A Long Way Home* (1981), as Donald Branch, age 8
- *ABC Afterschool Special* (1972), series, as Nick Karpinsky
- *The Guild: Ren Faire'd*, as Fawkes

## Gallery

- ![Wil Wheaton](https://film.one/media/person/104490/gallery-d36c4668dc68.jpg) Wil Wheaton — Kevin Paul, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/8/88/Wil_Wheaton_-_LATFOB_2026-02.jpg/1280px-Wil_Wheaton_-_LATFOB_2026-02.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Autograph on artifact in context at Public Discussion with Cory Doctorow on Seizing the Means of Computation at Uni Tartu Insitute of Computer Science 2024, mor](https://film.one/media/person/104490/gallery-b4dffcac1b8a.jpg) Autograph on artifact in context at Public Discussion with Cory Doctorow on Seizing the Means of Computation at Uni Tartu Insitute of Computer Science 2024, mor — Märt Põder, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/00/Cory_Reelected_%28again%29.jpg/1280px-Cory_Reelected_%28again%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Debbie Gibson & Wil Wheaton at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books 2026](https://film.one/media/person/104490/gallery-8ed0fd54347c.jpg) Debbie Gibson & Wil Wheaton at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books 2026 — Kevin Paul, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f4/Debbie_Gibson_%26_Wil_Wheaton_-_LATFOB_2026-01.jpg/1280px-Debbie_Gibson_%26_Wil_Wheaton_-_LATFOB_2026-01.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Debbie Gibson & Wil Wheaton at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books 2026](https://film.one/media/person/104490/gallery-f398ad67ceb2.jpg) Debbie Gibson & Wil Wheaton at the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books 2026 — Kevin Paul, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b2/Debbie_Gibson_%26_Wil_Wheaton_-_LATFOB_2026-02.jpg/1280px-Debbie_Gibson_%26_Wil_Wheaton_-_LATFOB_2026-02.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Wil Wheaton](https://film.one/media/person/104490/gallery-58be64379687.jpg) Wil Wheaton — Image via TMDB
- ![Gates with Wil Wheaton on the Star Trek Cruise III from January 2019](https://film.one/media/person/104490/gallery-715c1eec8905.jpg) Gates with Wil Wheaton on the Star Trek Cruise III from January 2019 — Firstcontact1977, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/f4/Gates_with_Wil_Wheaton_Star_Trek_Cruise_III_Jan_2019.jpg/1280px-Gates_with_Wil_Wheaton_Star_Trek_Cruise_III_Jan_2019.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Wil Wheaton Q&A - GalaxyCon Raleigh 2024](https://film.one/media/person/104490/gallery-a02966a8c709.jpg) Wil Wheaton Q&A - GalaxyCon Raleigh 2024 — Tim Blackmon for Galaxy Con, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a8/TIMX6236_-_Wil_Wheaton_-_53973459580.jpg/1280px-TIMX6236_-_Wil_Wheaton_-_53973459580.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/wil-wheaton