Jared Rushton
Encyclopedia
Jared Michael Rushton is an American musician and former actor. He is best known for his roles in numerous late eighties films including Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
, Big
, and Overboard
. He has been nominated for a total of two Saturn Awards and two Young Artist Awards. He is also known for his roles in Pet Sematary Two and as Chip on the comedy sitcom, Roseanne.
. Not much is known about his past, but his first appearance was as a rocker in a "Barbie and the Rockers" commercial. His mother, Monica Rushton, helped with filming around the set of Big. He has one brother, Ryan Rushton, who is in the same band as Jared. He also starred in the wash-up movie A Cry in the Wild, which was based on the book Hatchet
by Gary Paulsen
.
. He also appeared in another show, Cagney & Lacey
, and a television film, Top Kids. In 1987, he got his first major role as Kurt Russell
's son, Charlie Proffitt in the film, Overboard
. The next year he starred in Lady in White
as Donald and as Tom Hanks
's friend, Billy, in Big
. Rushton, who is a natural blonde, dyed his hair for the film. The scene where Billy and Josh get into a silly string fight was not in the original script, but was added in later.
After the success of Big, Rushton appeared on an episode of Murder, She Wrote
as Travis Harmon. He later appeared as Chip Lang, Becky's boyfriend on the television sitcom, Roseanne starring Roseanne Barr
for three episodes. After this, Rushton was cast as Ron Thompson, the snobby neighbor, in Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
.
After finishing Honey, Rushton appeared on an episode of Midnight Caller
and filmed A Cry in the Wild
as Brian Robeson, a film based on the book Hatchet
. Rushton also guest-starred in the Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
episode entitled "Bad Water".
Rushton currently plays guitar in the rock band Deal by Dusk.
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids is a 1989 comedy film. The directorial debut of Joe Johnston and released through Walt Disney Pictures and Silver Screen Partners III, the film tells the story of an inventor who accidentally shrinks his and his neighbor's kids to 1/4 of an inch with his electromagnetic...
, Big
Big
Big is a 1988 romantic comedy film directed by Penny Marshall and stars Tom Hanks as Josh Baskin, a young boy who makes a wish "to be big" to a magical fortune-telling machine and is then aged to adulthood overnight...
, and Overboard
Overboard (1987 film)
Overboard is a 1987 American romantic comedy film starring Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. It was directed by Garry Marshall, produced by Roddy McDowell and loosely inspired by the 1974 Italian film Swept Away...
. He has been nominated for a total of two Saturn Awards and two Young Artist Awards. He is also known for his roles in Pet Sematary Two and as Chip on the comedy sitcom, Roseanne.
Early life
Rushton was born as Jared Michael Rushton on March 3, 1974, in Provo, UtahProvo, Utah
Provo is the third largest city in the U.S. state of Utah, located about south of Salt Lake City along the Wasatch Front. Provo is the county seat of Utah County and lies between the cities of Orem to the north and Springville to the south...
. Not much is known about his past, but his first appearance was as a rocker in a "Barbie and the Rockers" commercial. His mother, Monica Rushton, helped with filming around the set of Big. He has one brother, Ryan Rushton, who is in the same band as Jared. He also starred in the wash-up movie A Cry in the Wild, which was based on the book Hatchet
Hatchet (novel)
Hatchet is a 1987 three-time Newbery Honor-winning wilderness survival novel written by Gary Paulsen. It is the first novel in the Hatchet series and is followed by four sequels....
by Gary Paulsen
Gary Paulsen
Gary James Paulsen is an American writer who writes many young adult coming of age stories about the wilderness. He is the author of more than 200 books , 200 magazine articles and short stories, and several plays, all primarily for young adults and teens.-Biography:Gary Paulsen was born in...
.
Career
Rushton began his career at age twelve as Richie in an episode of Tales from the DarksideTales from the Darkside
Tales from the Darkside is an anthology horror TV series produced by George A. Romero; it originally aired from 1983 to 1988. Similar to Amazing Stories, The Twilight Zone, Night Gallery, The Outer Limits, and Tales From The Crypt, each episode was an individual short story that ended with a plot...
. He also appeared in another show, Cagney & Lacey
Cagney & Lacey
Cagney & Lacey is an American television series that originally aired on the CBS television network for seven seasons from October 8, 1981 to May 16, 1988...
, and a television film, Top Kids. In 1987, he got his first major role as Kurt Russell
Kurt Russell
Kurt Vogel Russell is an American television and film actor. His first acting roles were as a child in television series, including a lead role in the Western series The Travels of Jaimie McPheeters...
's son, Charlie Proffitt in the film, Overboard
Overboard (1987 film)
Overboard is a 1987 American romantic comedy film starring Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. It was directed by Garry Marshall, produced by Roddy McDowell and loosely inspired by the 1974 Italian film Swept Away...
. The next year he starred in Lady in White
Lady in White
Lady in White is a 1988 American horror film of the ghost/mystery genre. Much of the film was made in Wayne County, New York, taking advantage of appropriate local color...
as Donald and as Tom Hanks
Tom Hanks
Thomas Jeffrey "Tom" Hanks is an American actor, producer, writer, and director. Hanks worked in television and family-friendly comedies, gaining wide notice in 1988's Big, before achieving success as a dramatic actor in several notable roles, including Andrew Beckett in Philadelphia, the title...
's friend, Billy, in Big
Big
Big is a 1988 romantic comedy film directed by Penny Marshall and stars Tom Hanks as Josh Baskin, a young boy who makes a wish "to be big" to a magical fortune-telling machine and is then aged to adulthood overnight...
. Rushton, who is a natural blonde, dyed his hair for the film. The scene where Billy and Josh get into a silly string fight was not in the original script, but was added in later.
After the success of Big, Rushton appeared on an episode of Murder, She Wrote
Murder, She Wrote
Murder, She Wrote is an American television mystery series starring Angela Lansbury as mystery writer and amateur detective Jessica Fletcher. The series aired for 12 seasons from 1984 to 1996 on the CBS network, with 264 episodes transmitted. It was followed by four TV films and a spin-off series,...
as Travis Harmon. He later appeared as Chip Lang, Becky's boyfriend on the television sitcom, Roseanne starring Roseanne Barr
Roseanne Barr
Roseanne Cherrie Barr is an American actress, comedian, writer, television producer and director. Barr began her career in stand-up comedy at clubs before gaining fame for her role in the sitcom Roseanne. The show was a hit and lasted nine seasons, from 1988 to 1997...
for three episodes. After this, Rushton was cast as Ron Thompson, the snobby neighbor, in Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids
Honey, I Shrunk the Kids is a 1989 comedy film. The directorial debut of Joe Johnston and released through Walt Disney Pictures and Silver Screen Partners III, the film tells the story of an inventor who accidentally shrinks his and his neighbor's kids to 1/4 of an inch with his electromagnetic...
.
After finishing Honey, Rushton appeared on an episode of Midnight Caller
Midnight Caller
Midnight Caller is a dramatic NBC television series created by Richard DiLello, which ran from 1988 to 1991. It was one of the first television series to address the dramatic possibilities of the then-growing phenomenon of talk radio...
and filmed A Cry in the Wild
A Cry in the Wild
A Cry in the Wild is a 1990 film based on the book Hatchet, written by Gary Paulsen. The film stars Jared Rushton as Brian. It spawned three sequels: White Wolves: A Cry in the Wild II; White Wolves II: Legend of the Wild; and White Wolves III: Cry of the White Wolf.-Plot:The movie opens up with...
as Brian Robeson, a film based on the book Hatchet
Hatchet
A hatchet is a single-handed striking tool with a sharp blade used to cut and split wood...
. Rushton also guest-starred in the Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman
Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman is an American post-Civil War western/drama series created by Beth Sullivan. Dr. Michaela "Mike" Quinn, played by Jane Seymour, left Boston in search of adventure. She goes to Colorado Springs, Colorado where she establishes herself as doctor/adviser.The show ran on CBS...
episode entitled "Bad Water".
Rushton currently plays guitar in the rock band Deal by Dusk.