Ilan Mitchell-Smith
Ilan Mitchell-Smith (born June 29, 1969) is an American academic and former child actor best known for portraying Wyatt Donnelly, one of two high school nerds who create a dream woman via computer in the 1985 comedy film Weird Science.[1] After a brief acting career in the 1980s that included roles in films like The Wild Life (1984) and the television series Superboy (1989–1991), he left the entertainment industry to pursue higher education, eventually becoming an associate professor of medieval literature and culture at California State University, Long Beach, where he also co-directs the Center for Medieval and Renaissance Studies.[1][2] Born in New York City to a Jewish family, Mitchell-Smith began studying ballet at the School of American Ballet as a child and later trained at the Professional Children's School after his family moved to Amherst, Massachusetts.[1] Spotted by a talent scout, he made his screen debut at age 13 playing the younger version of the protagonist in the 1983 drama Daniel, directed by Sidney Lumet, followed by a supporting role in The Wild Life (1984).[1] His performance in Weird Science, written and directed by John Hughes, earned him recognition as a teen idol, though he later reflected on the film's dated elements in an interview.[1][3] By the early 1990s, after guest spots on shows like The Wonder Years, Mitchell-Smith retired from acting to focus on academics.[1][4] Mitchell-Smith earned a BA in Medieval Studies from the University of California, Davis, an MA in Medieval Studies from Fordham University, and a PhD in English from Texas A&M University in 2005, with his dissertation examining chivalric sexuality in late-medieval English romance.[2] His scholarly work explores themes in Old and Middle English literature, including chivalric romances, monsters, gender and sexuality in the Middle Ages, and modern adaptations such as Disney's princess narratives and role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons.[2] Notable publications include articles on Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde, the Ashmole 61 manuscript, and nationalistic medievalism in American culture.[5] As an associate professor at California State University, Long Beach, he has taught courses on medieval language, literature, and heroic identity while contributing to interdisciplinary initiatives in medieval and Renaissance studies.[2][6]Early life and education
Early life
Ilan Mitchell-Smith was born on June 29, 1969, in New York City to a Jewish family.[7][8] His mother, Clary Mitchell-Smith, is a psychotherapist, and his father, Lawrence Smith, is an art history professor.[9] During his early childhood in New York, Mitchell-Smith developed a passion for ballet, beginning studies at a young age and later earning a scholarship to the prestigious School of American Ballet.[1] This training provided his initial exposure to the performing arts, fostering discipline and stage presence that would shape his future interests.[10] His family relocated to Amherst, Massachusetts, where he continued his education at the Professional Children's School and pursued his artistic pursuits.[9] At age 17, Mitchell-Smith obtained a high school equivalency degree, which allowed him to transition toward professional opportunities in modeling and acting inspired by his ballet background.[11]Education
After retiring from acting in 1991, Mitchell-Smith dedicated himself to higher education, beginning his studies in medieval literature and culture.[2][1] He earned a Bachelor of Arts in Medieval Studies from the University of California, Davis, with an emphasis in history.[2] He subsequently pursued a Master of Arts in Medieval Studies at Fordham University, also focusing on historical aspects of the field.[2] Mitchell-Smith completed his doctorate in English Literature at Texas A&M University in 2005.[1] His dissertation, titled Between Mars and Venus: Balance and Excess in the Chivalry of the Late-Medieval English Romance, examined gender dynamics and chivalric ideals in medieval texts.[12]Acting career
Early roles
Mitchell-Smith entered the entertainment industry as a child actor after being discovered during his ballet training. Having begun studying ballet at age five and later earning a scholarship to the School of American Ballet, he caught the attention of a casting director scouting for young talent at the school when he was 11 years old. This led to his professional acting debut in the 1983 drama Daniel, directed by Sidney Lumet, where he portrayed the younger version of the protagonist, played by Timothy Hutton.[9][13] Building on this initial role, Mitchell-Smith appeared in the 1983 made-for-television film How to Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days as Milo Crimpley, a young boy navigating personal growth. His first major U.S. film role followed in 1984 with the teen comedy The Wild Life, in which he starred as Jim Conrad, a high school student involved in youthful escapades alongside a cast including Christopher Penn and Lea Thompson. The physical discipline from his ballet background aided his casting in these roles, providing the poise and agility required for on-screen performances.[4][10] In the early 1980s, as opportunities in acting emerged, Mitchell-Smith grappled with the demands of maintaining his education while commuting for auditions and shoots. This period marked a transitional phase, requiring him to juggle academic schedules with the unpredictable nature of film production, often traveling between Massachusetts and New York or Los Angeles locations. He earned a high school equivalency degree at age 17.[9]Major roles and transition
Mitchell-Smith achieved his breakthrough role as Wyatt Donnelly in the 1985 teen comedy Weird Science, directed by John Hughes, where he co-starred with Anthony Michael Hall as a pair of socially awkward high school nerds who create a dream woman using a computer program. The film, a loose adaptation of a 1951 EC comic, grossed over $38 million at the box office and became a cult classic, propelling Mitchell-Smith to teen idol status alongside Hall and Kelly LeBrock, though critics noted his portrayal of the shy, whiny Wyatt reinforced stereotypes of the insecure adolescent male.[14][15] He followed with a supporting role as Glenn in the 1986 romantic drama Fire with Fire. In 1988, Mitchell-Smith landed the lead supporting role of Andy McAlister, Clark Kent's college roommate and best friend, on the syndicated superhero series Superboy (also known as The Adventures of Superboy), appearing in 27 episodes from 1989 to 1991.[16] The role increased his visibility in science fiction television, portraying a loyal, intellectual sidekick who often provided comic relief and grounded the show's fantastical elements, contributing to the series' appeal to young audiences during its four-season run.[11] Other notable films during this period included the lead in The Chocolate War (1988), where he played Jerry Renault, a freshman resisting peer pressure in a Catholic boys' school, earning praise for capturing the character's internal conflict and earning an 83% approval rating from critics for its faithful adaptation of Robert Cormier's novel. He also starred as Bryan in the adventure film Journey to the Center of the Earth (1989), a modern take on Jules Verne's classic, alongside Tim Matheson, and appeared as Sebastian in the comedy Identity Crisis (1989). These roles often typecast him as the awkward, introspective teen navigating adolescence, with mixed reception highlighting his earnest but limited range in coming-of-age narratives. Mitchell-Smith retired from acting following a guest appearance as Gabriel Evans in the 1991 episode "The Party" of the TV series Silk Stalkings, marking his final credit for two decades. In interviews, he cited a growing dissatisfaction with the Hollywood industry's superficiality and a long-standing passion for intellectual and academic pursuits, particularly medieval studies, as key reasons for the shift, stating he felt ready to "don’t want to do this anymore" after a decade in the profession.[13] This deliberate pivot allowed him to enroll in college full-time in 1991, focusing on higher education over further acting opportunities.[11]Filmography
Films
| Year | Title | Role | Director |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1983 | Daniel | Younger Daniel | Sidney Lumet |
| 1984 | The Wild Life | Jim Conrad | Art Linson https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0088402/fullcredits |
| 1985 | Weird Science | Wyatt Donnelly | John Hughes https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0090305/fullcredits |
| 1988 | The Chocolate War | Jerry Renault | Keith Gordon https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0094886/fullcredits |
| 1989 | Journey to the Center of the Earth | Bryan | Rusty Lemorande, Albert Pyun https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0097630/fullcredits |
| 1989 | Identity Crisis | Sebastian | Melvin Van Peebles https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0099811/fullcredits |
Television
Mitchell-Smith's television work spans from a TV movie in the early 1980s to guest appearances in the 2010s, primarily consisting of supporting roles in series and specials.[17]| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | How to Be a Perfect Person in Just Three Days | Milo Crimpley | TV movie, aired October 8, 1984.[18] |
| 1985 | The Equalizer | Anthony Ganucci | 1 episode: "The Confirmation Day," aired October 23, 1985.[19] |
| 1989–1991 | Superboy | Andy McAlister | 27 episodes, seasons 2–3.[16] |
| 1991 | Silk Stalkings | Gabriel Evans | 1 episode: "Men Seeking Women," aired December 19, 1991.[20] |
| 2015 | Axe Cop | Flute Cop (voice) | 1 episode: "Heads Will Roll," aired April 24, 2015.[21] |
| 2017 | The Goldbergs | Mr. Connelly | 1 episode: "Weird Science," aired September 27, 2017.[22] |