Danica McKellar Movies
While ere associated with one particular role -- that of Winnie Cooper, Kevin Arnold's (Fred Savage) childhood sweetheart, on the seminal late-'80s seriocomedy The Wonder Years -- American actress Danica McKellar sported an impressive resumé that ultimately encompassed a variety of more challenging parts and extended far beyond the confines of acting in film and television. Born in San Diego, the photogenic McKellar was reportedly coaxed by neighbors and family friends to do commercials at an early age, but resisted until age 11, when she finally caved and secured representation. After two appearances on the '80s version of The Twilight Zone, the 12-year-old ingenue -- then a complete unknown -- auditioned for Wonder Years creators Neal Marlens and Carol Black (in 1988). She not only landed the role of Winnie, but so convinced series producers of her suitability as Cooper that they decided to change her part from that of a passing love interest to Kevin's main squeeze. McKellar would later recall that she and Savage flirted around off-camera, but that their relationship ultimately waxed far more fraternal than romantic.After that program wrapped in 1993, McKellar trekked off to UCLA and did revolutionary work in advanced math and physics; she and a research partner had a theorem named after them -- a principle referenced in a key book on statistical mechanics -- and her senior paper graced a highly respected physics journal. The actress graduated summa cum laude in 1998, then headed back to Hollywood, diploma under her arm, and resumed film work. She appeared as Elsie Snuffin in a few 2002 episodes of the blockbuster series The West Wing, voiced Sapphire Stagg on the animated program Justice League Unlimited, and -- on a higher-profile note -- headlined a fun series of telemovies and webisodes for the Lifetime network in the mid-2000s entitled Inspector Mom. As the title suggests, those features cast McKellar as a crime-solving soccer mom. Ever the Renaissance woman, McKellar then extended her cinematic activities into directing, by helming a number of experimental short subjects. She was also active in the theater, having appeared in such productions as The Vagina Monologues, Grease, and Proof, and authored the 2007 children's book Math Doesn't Suck: How to Survive Middle-School Math Without Losing Your Mind or Breaking a Nail. ~ Nathan Southern, All Movie Guide
- 1994
Susan discovers that her ex-lover Malcolm Biggs (Tristan Rogers) is a member of the Homeguard, a radical pro-Earth terrorist group. The Homeguard intends to rekindle old prejudices by assassinating Minbari poet/ambassador Shaal Mayan (Nancy Lee Grahn). Meanwhile, a young Centauri (Rodney Eastman) balks at the prospect of a tradtional arranged marriage. Written by Star Trek fixture D.C. Fontana, "The War Prayer" first aired on March 9, 1994. ~ Hal Erickson, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Michael O'Hare, Claudia Christian, (more)
Familiar faces from television sitcoms abound in this kids-at-camp TV-movie. John Ratzenberger stars as Colonel Marv Schector, a former accountant who fulfills his life-long dream to run a summer camp. Typical teen shenanigans soon get underway, in the vein of 1985's Poison Ivy. G. Gordon Liddy makes an unusual comedic appearance in a subplot about the mistaken identity of a camp inspector. ~ Bernadette McCallion, All Movie Guide
- 1994
In this drama, worried parents fight to find their pregnant runaway daughter and prevent her from selling her unborn baby to sleazy baby brokers. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Danica McKellar, Dee Wallace, (more)
A group of underachieving college students hoping to boost their GPAs by taking a wildlife field trip are stalked by a chainsaw-wielding serial killer in this low-budget stalk-and-slash laugher featuring Burt Young, William Forsythe, Kane Hodder, and Lochlyn Monro. ~ Jason Buchanan, All Movie Guide
- 2002
In the first episode of a two-part story, Rex Mason, an old friend of "Green Lantern" John Stewart, becomes a pawn in the sinister machinations of ruthless businessman Simon Stagg. Hoping to create a "perfect" worker, one who can transform into any element on earth, Stagg transforms Mason into the freakish Metamorpho. His new-found ability to change his molecular structure has some rather nasty side effects, however, and before long Mason/Metamorpho has become a sworn enemy of the Justice League. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Sizemore, Earl Boen, (more)
- 2002
In the conclusion of a two-part story, the Justice League squares off against Metamorpho, a freakish mutant with the ability to change his molecular structure at a moment's notice. The mission is particularly painful for League member John Stewart (aka The Green Lantern); it seems that Metamorpho is actually his old friend Rex Mason. As it turns out, however, the real villain of the piece is not Metamorpho but ruthless businessman Simon Stagg -- ironically, the father of Rex Mason's sweetheart Sapphire. ~ All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Tom Sizemore, Earl Boen, (more)
- 1996
Following the mysterious death of her 19-year-old daughter, a mother attempts to prove that her killer was the woman who not only took the troubled young divorcee under her wing, but also took out a large life insurance policy upon her. ~ Sandra Brennan, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Peggy Lipton, Susan Ruttan, (more)
- 1993
- PG
A teenager daydreams of getting some payback from the bullies who menace him in this hybrid of The Secret Life of Walter Mitty (1947) and The Karate Kid (1984). Barry Gabrewski (Jonathan Brandis) is an asthmatic schoolboy who can't participate in sports, much to the delight of a bullying classmate (John Buchanan) and his sadistic gym teacher (Richard Moll). Miserably unhappy, Barry escapes into a world of fantasy, where he imagines himself the tough, karate-proficient sidekick of action movie hero Chuck Norris. Trying to turn his dreams into reality, Barry visits dojo master Kelly Stone (Joe Piscopo), but Stone only mocks his aspirations. A supportive teacher introduces Barry to her uncle, Mr. Lee (Mako), a cook and martial arts teacher who takes Barry under his wing and teaches him the secrets of karate prowess. When Barry becomes good enough to enter a tournament, he needs a fourth athlete to complete his team, and who should be in the stands making a publicity appearance but the real-life Norris, who steps in to fight side-by-side with the plucky teen. Sidekicks was directed by Norris's brother and frequent collaborator Aaron Norris. ~ Karl Williams, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Chuck Norris, Jonathan Brandis, (more)
- 2001
A young woman discovers the fine line between paranoia and having your worst fears become real in this tale of terror. Molly Wright (Danica McKellar) is a typical college student sharing a house off-campus with her friends. Between her criminology classes, trying to keep up with her homework, and working as a volunteer with a local church group, Molly is wearing herself to a frazzle, so many of her friends think her imagination is working overtime when she begins to wonder aloud if Geoffrey Martin (Tobin Bell), the eccentric artist who has moved into the house next door, might be a serial killer. Molly's friends have a hard time believing her, but Paul Davidson (Billy Dee Williams), a police detective, thinks something funny is going on in the neighborhood after a number of missing persons cases are reported. But can Paul build a case against the killer before Molly becomes his next victim? Good Neighbor was the first feature film from director Todd Turner. ~ Mark Deming, All Movie Guide
- Starring:
- Billy Dee Williams, Danica McKellar, (more)
