One-Year Anniversary of Corey Haim's Death

This was the Corey I loved. 

A year ago today on March 10, 2010, we learned that a part of our 1980s childhood was now gone. Corey Ian Haim found dead at 38. Reports from TMZ saying, "Actor Corey Haim died this morning of an apparent overdose -- possibly accidental -- according to LAPD," caught the attention of '80s kids everywhere.

Last year at this time, Corey fans from all over the world vented about the tragic loss via emails, YouTube videos (vlogs), blog posts and more. My first thoughts went to Corey Feldman. My heart broke for Feldman who blogged about the loss of his dear friend.

As a big time Corey Feldman fan, Corey Haim had always been one of  "The Two Coreys." I loved Haim in his early movies such as the TV movie A Time To Live and films including: Secret Admirer, Murphy's Romance, First Born, Silver Bullet and Lucas. He seemed nice, innocent, kid-next-door who'd ride bikes with you and overlook your faults.

As he transitioned from child actor to teen idol, my crush faded. I think I felt he had become "Cool Corey." I was chubby and awkward -- I wouldn't have had a chance to date him if we were classmates. I never got into The Lost Boys and the teen comedies he did with Corey Feldman like License to Drive and Dream A Little Dream. Though the crush had faded, Corey Haim has always had a dear place in my heart.

Cool Corey was slightly intimidating.

Click here to read the blog I posted last year about Corey Haim's untimely death.

Click here to read the blog I posted about Corey Feldman's reaction to losing his good friend, Corey Haim.

I Remember Corey Haim

I knew something was up.

Things have been quiet on the Haim front for quite some time now. Corey Feldman hasn't really mentioned oldest and dearest friend Haim in his CoreyFeldman.net blog lately and rarely discusses Haim in interviews following their very public break-up on the 2007-2008 A&E reality show The Two Coreys.

Born December 21, 1971 (he was 13 months older than me) Corey Haim was 38 when TMZ reported his death today. Although I loved Corey, I truly only followed him in his earlier career. As he grew up, I moved on and began to fancy boys in bands and then there was my whole Monkees obsession of course. By the time Corey Haim filmed Lost Boys, I was no longer collecting Tiger Beat pinups on the cute Canadian.

In 1984, I loved Haim in First Born and cried when his onscreen mom's drug dealin' boyfriend beat him. Teri Garr of Mr. Mom fame portrayed his mom. I didn't care about Sarah Jessica Parker being in that film, but thought Robert Downey Jr. was cool.

I remember Corey Haim in Secret Admirer with Tommy Howell--even though his role was small. 
  
I remember in the spring and summer of 1985, reading all about his up-coming film Silver Bullet --a scary movie based upon a Steven King story. I remember hoping and praying it wouldn't be rated R. I remember thinking it was so weird seeing him in a wheelchair, but respecting him as an actor to pull it off so realistically. 

I remember that he got his start on a Canadian TV show, The Edison Twins, but never had the opportunity to view it because back in the early '80s we obviously didn't have YouTube or the Internet.

I remember loving that Corey was to star in Murphy's Romance because as a "littler" kid I loved watching reruns of Gidget and his mom was to be played by Sally Field.  

I remember Corey Haim talking about his mom and sister in interviews and how he landed the part of Lucas and what it was like working with Charlie Sheen. I remember hating how Corey was treated in the movie and promising myself I'd be nicer to nerdy kids.


I remember Corey Haim was often photographed with his mouth slightly open, there was something really cute about that and I would try to pose for pictures with friends making that same "lost" expression with my mouth open. I remembered he had a funny, yet adorable way of speaking - almost like he had marbles in his mouth and a slight lisp or speech impediment.


The Corey Haim I remember didn't do drugs. The Corey Haim I remember didn't get press because of bankruptcy issues or due to a bloated look resulting from drug abuse. He was young, sweet and fresh-faced. I have chosen to allow myself to miss the pre-Lost Boys Corey. Because that's honestly the Corey Haim I loved.


Fast forward to 1997 when I wrote my book, Aaron Carter, Backstreet Brother for Random House. I needed a pen name and fast. I went with the name Corey Barnes. Corey after Feldman and Haim. Barnes after a little known '80s actor, C.B. Barnes.



My thoughts and condolences go out to his mom Judy and family and to Corey Feldman--whom we all know is hurting today.

When I first fell in love with Corey: