# Keeping the newer young actors straight **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Created:** [March 26, 2002, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-the-newer-young-actors-straight/100211 "2002-03-26T18:08:24Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![a35362](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/3da27b/32.png) [@a35362](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/a35362)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2002, 6:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-the-newer-young-actors-straight/100211/1 "2002-03-26T18:08:24Z")
So on Oscar night one of the techie awards was co-presented by Tobey Maguire and Reese Witherspoon. Oh, I thought, **Tobey Maguire**. He was so good in _October Sky._ Then I thought, he looks so much like **Elijah Wood** , except Elijah is more waifish and has those big blue eyes. During the evening we got to see several shots of Elijah Wood with the _Lord of the Rings_ delegation, and I got to wondering whatever happened to the guy who was the cute little Amish kid in _Witness_? So later I looked him up on the IMDb, and his name is **Lukas Haas** and he’s all grown up now. And what about the kid in _E.T._? His name is **Henry Thomas** , and he is also no longer a kid. And remember **Corey Haim** , who was the little guy in _Lucas_ and later had his fifteen minutes as a teen heartthrob? So then, just to get them all straight, I looked up Tobey Maguire and much to my surprise I find I’ve confused him with another actor! Tobey Maguire co-starred with Reese Witherspoon in _Pleasantville_ and the kid in _October Sky_ was **Jake Gyllenhaal** (although they do look similar). So to recap: Henry Thomas - _E.T._, born 9/71 Corey Haim - _Lucas_, born 12/71 Tobey Maguire - _Pleasantville_, born 6/75 Lukas Haas - _Witness_, born 4/76 Jake Gyllenhaal - _October Sky_, born 12/80 Elijah Wood - _The Lord of the Rings_, born 1/81 And I haven’t even mentioned the hunky new actors like **Heath Ledger** and **Josh Hartnett** , and then we have the already familiar **Ioan Gruffudd** and **Ewan McGregor** and **Jude Law** and **Brendan Fraser** … Mmmmm! And don’t forget rising star **Jonathan Rhys-Meyers** and… ---
**Author:** ![Munch](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/munch/32/5281_2.png) [@Munch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Munch)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2002, 7:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-the-newer-young-actors-straight/100211/2 "2002-03-26T19:16:55Z")
I believe Esprix would argue with the need to keep Elijah Wood straight… ---
**Author:** ![Esprix](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/esprix/32/7899_2.png) [@Esprix](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Esprix)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2002, 8:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-the-newer-young-actors-straight/100211/3 "2002-03-26T20:05:32Z")
Um, ew? He’s a homely little troll… elf… hobbit… _whatever!_ If I had to pick one of the white boys from the above list, I’ll take Heath, Josh or Brendan. My own personal list would include Jet Li, but that goes without saying. 😉 Esprix ---
**Author:** ![roadrunner70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@roadrunner70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roadrunner70)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2002, 8:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-the-newer-young-actors-straight/100211/4 "2002-03-26T20:08:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Munch \* > \*\*I believe Esprix would argue with the need to keep Elijah Wood straight… \*\* I believe Esprix _could_ keep Elijah **Wood** straight. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![roadrunner70](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/e19b73/32.png) [@roadrunner70](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/roadrunner70)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2002, 8:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-the-newer-young-actors-straight/100211/5 "2002-03-26T20:13:02Z")
DAMN…gotta work on this timing thing… ---
**Author:** ![111ArcherAvenue](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/1/b9e5f3/32.png) [@111ArcherAvenue](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/111ArcherAvenue)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2002, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-the-newer-young-actors-straight/100211/6 "2002-03-26T20:36:38Z")
Maybe this is an unnecessary post, but… Tobey Maguire presented with Kirsten Dunst, his _Spiderman_ costar, while Resse Witherspoon presented with Ryan Phillipe, her husband, who makes this whole thing even more confusing, lol. ---
**Author:** ![Newton\_meter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/57b2e6/32.png) [@Newton\_meter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Newton_meter)\ **Post date:** [March 26, 2002, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/keeping-the-newer-young-actors-straight/100211/7 "2002-03-26T21:14:01Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Esprix \* > **Um, ew? He’s a homely little troll… elf… hobbit… _whatever!_** That’s revealed in part 2. Spoiler: Saruman is his father. > [@](#): > > **If I had to pick one of the white boys from the above list, I’ll take Heath, Josh or Brendan. My own personal list would include Jet Li, but that goes without saying. 😉** Josh Hartnett and Brendan Frasier make me wish I was gay. Not that there’s anything wrong with that. kg m²/s²