Corey Feldman Bio
Corey Scott Feldman (born July 16, 1971) is an American actor, activist, and musician. He became widely recognized during the 1980s as one of the most popular teen idols of his generation, starring in a string of high-profile films alongside fellow actor Corey Haim. The two became known to audiences as “The Two Coreys.”
After his early success, Feldman experienced career fluctuations and well-publicized personal struggles. In later years, he shifted toward reality television appearances, music releases, and public advocacy related to child abuse in the entertainment industry. He has also published a memoir and continued to make occasional on-screen appearances.
Early Life and Background
Corey Scott Feldman was born on July 16, 1971, in the Reseda neighborhood of Los Angeles, California. He is the son of Bob Feldman, a musician, and Sheila (née Goldstein) Feldman, a cocktail waitress. Feldman was raised in a Jewish household and grew up in the heart of the Los Angeles entertainment landscape, which gave him early access to the industry.
Feldman began performing as a very young child. By the time he was a teenager, he had already accumulated a long résumé of television commercials and guest appearances, including spots on series such as The Bad News Bears, Mork & Mindy, Eight Is Enough, One Day at a Time, Madame’s Place, and Cheers. He also appeared in early films including Time After Time and Disney’s The Fox and the Hound.
His parents played a significant role in his early career path, and Feldman has publicly claimed that he was exploited for his earning potential during childhood. He has also alleged that his mother was abusive, a claim she has denied. At age 15, he sought and was granted legal emancipation from his parents.
Path to Acting
Feldman’s path into acting began with a McDonald’s commercial at the age of three, opening the door to a prolific career in television advertising. Throughout his youth, he appeared in more than 100 television commercials and dozens of television series, gaining a level of on-camera experience that was rare for someone his age. By the early 1980s, he had begun transitioning into scripted television, including the 1981 NBC children’s special How to Eat Like a Child and the 1982 situation comedy pilot Cass Malloy.
His film career gained momentum with appearances in Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter (1984) and Gremlins (1984), the latter produced by Steven Spielberg’s Amblin Entertainment. These early performances helped establish him as a recognizable young talent in Hollywood.
Feldman’s growing profile led to a series of major roles in the mid-1980s, including appearances in The Goonies (1985) and Stand by Me (1986). His pairing with Corey Haim in The Lost Boys (1987) marked the start of a long on-screen partnership that would help define his public image throughout the decade.
Corey Feldman Career
Early Career (1976–1983)
Feldman’s earliest work consisted primarily of television commercials and small guest roles on popular series of the late 1970s and early 1980s. He booked his first commercial at age three and quickly became a familiar face in advertising. His early television work provided a foundation in front of the camera and prepared him for the larger film roles that would soon follow.
He appeared in more than 50 television series during this formative period, with credits that included family-oriented sitcoms and variety programs. This early experience allowed him to develop his craft and build relationships within the entertainment industry before reaching his teen idol years.
Breakthrough (1984–1989)
Feldman’s breakthrough came with consecutive high-profile film releases starting in 1984. He appeared in the horror film Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter, the fantasy comedy Gremlins, and the following year’s adventure film The Goonies. In 1986, he starred as Teddy Duchamp in Stand by Me, sharing the screen with River Phoenix, Wil Wheaton, and Jerry O’Connell.
His on-screen pairing with Corey Haim began with The Lost Boys (1987), in which he played Edgar Frog. The duo went on to star together in License to Drive (1988) and Dream a Little Dream (1989), building a fan following that led to the nickname “The Two Coreys.” Feldman also voiced Donatello in the original live-action Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles film in 1990.
During this period, Feldman became one of the most popular teen pin-ups in the world, frequently featured in teen-oriented magazines and fan publications. His combination of mainstream film success and teen magazine popularity made him a defining figure of 1980s youth culture.
Notable Works and Milestones
Feldman’s signature works from this era include Stand by Me, The Goonies, The Lost Boys, and License to Drive. His role as Edgar Frog in The Lost Boys has remained particularly iconic and was reprised in two direct-to-video sequels, Lost Boys: The Tribe (2008) and Lost Boys: The Thirst (2010). His early work continues to be referenced in popular culture as representative of the decade’s teen film boom.
Corey Feldman Award Nominations
Throughout his decades-long career, Corey Feldman has been recognized by several industry organizations for his work as a child actor and his continued contributions to film and television. Verified nominations appear in the awards section below and are limited to entries supported by reliable sources.
Corey Feldman Awards Won
In April 2018, Feldman received a Lifetime Achievement Award at the third annual Young Entertainer Awards. The honor recognized his body of work as a child actor, his enduring cultural impact, and his continued advocacy on issues affecting young performers in the entertainment industry.
| Award | Wins | Year |
|---|---|---|
| Young Entertainer Awards – Lifetime Achievement Award | 1 | 2018 |
Corey Feldman Family
Feldman is the son of Bob Feldman, a musician, and Sheila (née Goldstein) Feldman, a cocktail waitress. He was raised in Los Angeles and became legally emancipated from his parents at the age of 15. He has spoken publicly about the family dynamics of his childhood and his pursuit of independence as a teenager in the entertainment industry.
Feldman has identified himself as a survivor of child sexual abuse and has accused multiple individuals, including former talent agent Alphy Hoffman and former personal assistant Cloyd Jon Grissom, of having abused him during his early acting career. He has also publicly discussed his close friendships with Michael Jackson and Corey Haim.
Personal Life
Feldman married actress Vanessa Marcil in 1989, and the couple divorced in 1993. He later married actress and model Susie Sprague on October 30, 2002, in a ceremony co-officiated by a rabbi and MC Hammer during the first season finale of The Surreal Life. Their divorce was finalized in 2014 after a five-year process. Feldman and Sprague share one son.
On November 22, 2016, Feldman married Courtney Anne Mitchell at Elton John’s Fizz champagne lounge at Caesars Palace in Las Vegas. In August 2023, it was announced that the couple was divorcing amid Mitchell’s ongoing health issues, with a divorce settlement reached in November 2025. Feldman has also been open about his long-standing struggles with drug addiction, his vegetarian lifestyle, and his advocacy for animal welfare.