Brent Chalem

Brent Russell Chalem (February 7, 1975 – December 9, 1997) was an American child actor.

Early life and education Chalem was born in Westlake Village, California in February 7 , 1975 to Allen and Bettyanne Chalem.

In 1980 and 1981, Chalem played in the American Youth Soccer Organization's Division VII (Pee Wee Division), first as a defender for the Yellow Jackets, and then as a goalkeeper for the Dragonflies. In 1982, Chalem progressed to the American Youth Soccer Organization's Division VI, playing for the Golden Eagles. In 1985, he played in the Senior Division of the Conejo Youth Flag Football Association as a defender for the Raiders. Chalem pursued various interests in 1986, including acting, baseball, baseball cards, being in the school choir and a flute player in the school band. In 1993, he was one of the organisers and presenters of the Condomania workshop during a HIV/AIDS conference "For Youth by Youth".

Career When Chalem was 7, he secretly applied to join an agency for child acting extras, looking to follow in the footsteps of his friends, despite his mother's initial opposition to such roles. He only told his parents about his application when the agency asked to interview him, and his parents acquiesced to support him. In the movie, Chalem's character was initially cowardly and mocked for being fat (the latter was part of a recurring pattern that occurred in 1980s horror movies), with his character being addicted to eating unhealthy food and nearly eating garlic bread which was a potential weapon against Dracula, but his character eventually has a heroic turn, inspiring many children who watched the movie and believed that they were similar to the character. Chalem learned how to use and shoot a shotgun during the filming of this movie, as his character used a shotgun to defeat the Creature from The Black Lagoon, helping two boys who had mocked him earlier. Chalem later became known for his character's "Wolfman's got nards" quote.

Chalem by 1987 had landed a recurring role in the television program Punky Brewster. According to a friend of his family, Chalem was being treated with oxygen at his residence, but the oxygen supply malfunctioned, with Chalem later suffering respiratory arrest and entering a coma. Chalem's mother had also died at some point before him.

Before his death, Chalem was employed as a legal assistant at a law firm, in preparation for beginning law school in 1998. After his death, the Westlake High School Scholarship Foundation awarded a scholarship in tribute to Chalem, while the Wolfman's Got Nards documentary on the cult following of The Monster Squad paid tribute to Chalem.

Filmography Film Year Title Role Notes 1985 Moving Violations Boy hit by car 1987 The Monster Squad Horace 1988 Home Free Little Dominic 1988 Dance 'til Dawn Tubby

Television Year Title Role Notes 1985 Small Wonder Willard Episode: "The Bully" 1987 Punky Brewster Spud Blugner 3 episodes 1988 Mr. Belvedere Miller Episode: "Pigskin" 1989 Quantum Leap Bat Boy 2 episodes