You might remember that Devon Sawa was a teen heartthrob in the ’90s.
The now 47-year-old actor had young teens falling in love with his on-screen characters from 1994’s Casper to Little Giants.
And who remembers Robin of Locksley?
However, being everybody’s crush has its downsides. In an interview with The New York Times, Devon shared how his reunion with his Casper co-star, Christina Ricci, in Lesli Linka Glatter’s 1995 film, Now and Then, led to a bizarre and awkward rumor.
In Now and Then, a 1970s flashback follows four girls, with Christina portraying Roberta.
Devon played Scott Wormer, the leader of a rival group of mischievous brothers who falls for Roberta. And like Casper, the pair end up sharing a kiss.
Now and Then‘s producer Suzanne Todd said about Devon, “We were looking for that boy that all the girls would be dreamy for. He was great looking, but in an accessible way. Not so beautiful that girls have to be afraid.”
But one scene in particular was a little too accessible for everybody, and it led to some “creepy” rumors that Devon looked back on. The movie featured a skinny-dipping scene in which Devon and the boys completely stripped down and jumped into a lake. The scene was meant to evoke an “Oh gross” moment, but the viewers instead found it mesmerizing.
When Roberta and the girls end up stealing the boys’ clothes in the movie, an inappropriate rumor spread that if you pause the film, you could see Devon’s genitalia.
“It was creepy,” Devon said about the rumor. “It spread from mall to mall.” Devon said he was “haunted” by the gossip, which had possibly been true for years, even though he actually wore a modesty garment during filming, and the shoot “felt very safe.”
He would eventually transition from innocent teen roles to more adult characters, as seen in films like 1999’s Idle Hands, the first Final Destination, and Eminem’s infamous “Stan” music video.
After dealing with alcohol addiction and taking time away from Hollywood, he would eventually return with roles in his early 30s, featuring in TV shows and movies, such as his role in 2025’s Heart Eyes or his cameo in Season 2 of HBO’s Hacks.
You can check out the full interview here (if you have a subscription to the New York Times).
Which throwback heartthrob (any gender) had you in a chokehold as a teenager? Share the actor and the movie in the comments or use this anonymous form, if necessary.