Since the end of his 7-year stint as Shawn Hunter on "Boy Meets World", Rider Strong has become the king of horror films. With recent leading roles in 'Cabin Fever 2', 'Tooth & Nail' and 'Borderland', Rider hasn't slowed down a bit, even while working toward his college degrees. Though he's often recognized for his acting, Rider is also a published poet and writer currently working toward his MFA in fiction.
Not only has Rider been electrifying the horror circuit over the last few years, he's also been doing several other projects including 'Cosmic Radio', 'Doubting Thomas' and a cameo on Fox's "Bones". During the past year, Rider has also been working on an independent film titled 'Irish Twins' with his brother Shiloh. The two brothers wrote, directed and starred in the film which will debut early next year. Rider was kind enough to answer some questions about his life, his writings and 'Irish Twins'.
How old were you and how did you get into acting?
Rider: I was 10 when I did my first professional job…meaning when I got paid for it. That was Les Miserables, the San Francisco production. Before that my brother Shiloh and I did all sorts of local plays and little shows here and there. We even used to do magic shows for our school classes and birthday parties. We were the worst magicians ever.
What was it like seeing yourself on the Tiger Beat, BOP and all of the other Teen Magazines? I imagine it must've been strange to be considered a sex symbol at such a young age!
It was pretty awful. I never got comfortable with it. I was an overly serious teenager with lots of lofty ideals, so being reduced to an "idol" of that variety was my worst nightmare. If something like that happened to me now I think I could shrug it off or make the best of it, but at the time it simply made me more introverted and shy.
What was it like growing up in the spotlight? Do you feel like you missed out on anything because you started your career so young?
No, I've been fortunate to have a great life. In fact, I think I would have been bored or diagnosed with ADHD if I hadn't spent so much time working at a young age. The success I achieved has afforded so many opportunities: to travel, to pay for my education, etc. I never really wanted a simple life.
At what age did you realize that you wanted to be a writer? And how did you know?
In 3rd grade my teacher asked if I knew of a play our class could do – she knew I was already into theater. So instead of finding one, I wrote one. It was called "A Fish Story" – about a talking fish. Very odd. But it worked, I wrote parts for every kid in the class and we performed it for the whole school. So I think writing was just always there under the surface. I've always done it.
Was it difficult to stay successful in your acting career while you were studying English and attending Columbia University in New York?
Actually, not really. I mean logistically it was a nightmare, trying to work out scheduling conflicts (I had to film an episode of Law and Order right in the same week as finals, for instance) but personally I was so invested in school that acting was more like a fun bonus than a career necessity. It's been harder since I graduated, because now I need the work, now I've made the industry the focus of my life. I wouldn't even live in LA if it weren't for my work…I'd still be in New York or up in San Francisco.
The news seems to be filled with articles surrounding actors and actresses who have fallen into alcohol and drug abuse. You are not one of them, which is awesome and I think that makes you a rarity in Hollywood. Why do you think so many actors turn to drugs and alcohol? Is addiction easy to fall into when you're young and in show business?
To be honest, I saw a lot more drugs at my high school than in Hollywood. I think it's a universal thing, I just think it gets glamorized more in the industry.
Do you feel that it's important, as an actor, to be a role model for your fans? Is that a difficult thing to do?
Not really. I think its important to be a good person no matter what you do…so I would hope that if I have any influence or power in this world I can use it to make it better.
Along with that, it seems like many child actors struggle to continue their careers into adulthood. Have you had any difficulties transitioning from boy to man in the business?
Yeah, it's been hard. The competition is fiercer and it's harder to remain passionate the more cynical you get. But I honestly believe that if you're talented you will continue to work. The good news is, I've been working steadily, so I can't complain. The bad news is, people's expectations are extraordinarily high when you have a hit show like we did. If I was some guy named Rider Strong from a small town in Northern California who went off to Hollywood at 21 to find fame and fortune, the fact that I have an agent would be impressive -- let alone that I average 2 movies a year and have done multiple TV shows, gotten a college degree and published my poetry. But because I was on a TV show as a teen, people look at me and ask, "So…what do you do now?" with a kind of pity.
The bottom line is, I still have many goals to achieve, but I'm pretty sure I will if I stick to them.
Has typecasting ever been an issue for you, since you portrayed the same character, 'Shawn Hunter', for 7 years on "Boy Meets World"?
Not really. The harder typecasting to beat is "child actor." That, or "sitcom actor". Whatever you've done before becomes all people think you can possibly do.
Do you stay in touch with any of your former "Boy Meets World"/ TGIF costars?
Will and I are best friends and we hang together all the time. I get together with Ben and Danielle every couple months.
About the Here and Now:
For those who are here for a "where is he now" moment, what are you up to these days? Do you have any upcoming projects in the works?
I've become the horror movie king. I've got 2 films in After Dark's Horrorfest next month (Borderland and Tooth and Nail). I just wrapped work on one of Joel Soisson's sequels to Pulse. And then Cabin Fever 2 should be coming out soon.
In non-horror news, a little indie I did called Cosmic Radio that will premiere at the Palm's Springs Festival in January. I head to Florida in a week to begin shooting H2O Extreme – a wakeboarding film.
When you're not working, what do you like to do in your spare time?
Right now I'm getting my MFA in fiction at Bennington, so lots of reading and writing.
I'm always working on side-projects within the business, too, scripts, short films, that sort of thing.
For fun? I tend to get out of LA, go hiking, camping. Visit my friends around the world.
Do you plan on writing anymore books, be it poetry or any genre?
Right now I'm working on short fiction. Eventually I'll move to a novel. I've sort of stopped poetry – there's not enough of an audience for it.
Is there any way to purchase your last book, On the Impulse?
Ok, no idea how this rumor got spread around: I never published a poetry book. As a thesis project in school I put together poems into a little pamphlet for friends and family.
So far, my poetry's only been published in literary magazines. Little ones, most people have never heard of: Hidden Oak, Poetry Motel, Chyron Review, etc.
I read that you have eclectic taste in music. Who have you been listening to a lot of lately? Favorite band/singer of all-time?
Favorite newer artist is Josh Ritter – everyone should sit down and listen to his song, "Thin Blue Flame" at least once in their life.
Favorite of all time is a tie between Van Morrison and Tom Waits. Obviously, I'm all about lyrics.
Do you have a favorite character that you've portrayed be it as a voice or in front of the camera?
Not really. The truth is as an actor you get bored playing the same thing, so every time I play something different, that becomes my favorite character. It's all relative to whatever I did last.
Along with that, if you could portray any character or personality out there, who would you choose and why?
I'd love to some day play a known personality. I did the audio book of Anthony Kiedis' autobiography and I think it'd be fun to play someone like that – an established persona. It brings acting back to its roots in imitation.
Were you excited to come to Cabin Fever for the second time around? Is it fun to film the gory parts?!
Getting up at 3am to be put in 4 hours of makeup is never fun. Being thrown into a 35 degree swamp in January where they have to have an official "alligator wrangler" who pulls a little alligator out of the water before you jump in…never fun. But acting is great!!!
What goals do you hope to achieve by the year 2020 both personally and professionally?
As long as I'm challenging myself, I'll be happy. Certainly writing something, directing something.
About 'Irish Twins':
Where was it filmed?
We shot the exteriors in Northern California, about 15 miles from our home in Sebastopol. Beautiful wine country, kooky hippie towns and breathtaking redwood trees. Pretty hard to beat visually. For interiors we shot in LA.
What is the film about?
Two brothers on the night of their father's funeral. One brother's spent his entire life trying to get out of his town and away from his family, the other has found himself mired in conflict with the local drug scene.
You and your brother Shiloh wrote, directed and starred in this film. What was that experience like?
Shiloh and I love working together, and we've done it in various forms throughout the years. This was our first all-out effort, where we took on as many roles as we could, both behind and in front of the camera. It was exhausting, but I'm prouder of it than anything I've ever done.
Have you two always gotten along well?
Yep. He's my best friend and best working partner.
Does it become difficult to act opposite each other when you know each other so well?
Not for us. I have a harder time with Will Friedle because we make each other laugh so much. With Shiloh we can get into the scene.
When do you expect Irish Twins to make its screen debut?
Good question. We've just started submitting to festivals, so I'll let you know. Early next year.
Will the general public be able to get their hands on a copy someday?
Hopefully, though the market for short films is pretty scarce. I guess iTunes has started selling them. Maybe it'll end up there.
Other Fan Questions and Curiosities:
From Devin in Arizona: Do you know anything about the release of season 4 of "Boy Meets World"? Last I heard it was pulled from the shelves for some unknown reason…
All I Know is that they have decided to stop releasing them. I think the show had aired so much on Disney by the time they put them out on DVD, the sales weren't as high as they'd hoped.
From Larry in Pennsylvania: I attended the World Premiere of Borderland at SXSW (my review is the only one posted on IMDb, by the way)...any word on distribution?
It'll be part of After Dark's Horrorfest 8 Films to Die For in November: http://www.horrorfestonline.com/
Check out the trailer for Irish Twins, and be sure to catch it when it comes your way...thanks for reading!:
The news seems to be filled with articles surrounding actors and actresses who have fallen into alcohol and drug abuse. You are not one of them, which is awesome and I think that makes you a rarity in Hollywood. Why do you think so many actors turn to drugs and alcohol? Is addiction easy to fall into when you're young and in show business? 
Have you two always gotten along well?
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