Will Friedle Shares Dark Reflection On Growing Up As A Child Actor

Will Friedle is opening up about the harsh realities many childhood actors face.

On this weeks episode of the Pod Meets World podcast, which was launched by Boy Meets World stars Rider Strong , Danielle Fishel and Friedle in 2022, Friedle and his co-hosts were joined by The L Word star, Leisha Hailey.  

After Hailey asked the shows hosts how they managed to get through life after starring in the massively successful ABC sitcom, Friedle spoke up about how sitcom acting and being a child star can lead some people down the wrong path. 

Boy Meets World premiered in 1993 and aired until 2000. Friedle, Strong and Fishel were children when the series hit the small screen.

Its been a rough 23 years, Friedle, now 47, said during the Mar. 10 episode. We joke about it, but its easy to see how sitcom actors, especially young sitcom actors, fall into that unfortunate stereotype of drinking or drugs or going down the wrong path. 

He continued, Because, as weve said so many times, Thursday night youre somebody and youre in front of an audience and Friday morning youre not.

Friedle then explained how performing in front of an audience becomes a drug for some stars. 

There are some shocks, but you could kind of tell the people that werent going to be able to transition as easily. Its looking for that rush, that audience becomes a drug, and its literally gone in one day, he added. 

Seemingly perplexed by Friedles comments, Hailey added, I never equated it to the rush of the audience, I always thought it must be an age thing. You know, just growing up and then: Who am I?

Friedle then doubled down on how difficult it can be to escape the shadows of ones childhood fame after the success dies down. 

Well, theres something interesting about knowing, chances are, youve lived the first line of your obituary by the time youre 17, he said. You can go off and have a great life, a wonderful life, whatever you want to do, but chances are its going to say: Will Friedle from Boy Meets World was killed today by a lion.

Leisha agreed, adding, Yeah, like, your identity is cemented, and youre trying to either chase it or leave it behind. 

Friedles comments come after he and Strong opened up about their controversial relationships with disgraced Nickelodeon dialogue coach, Brian Peck, last month on the Pod Meets World podcast. 

Drake & Josh star, Drake Bell , recently accused Peck of abusing him when he was just a teen in the new bombshell documentary, Quiet On Set, which airs March 17 and 18 on Investigation Discovery.