Gary Riley Biography: Stand by Me, Back to the Future, Movies, Age and Net Worth

Gary Riley is an American former child and teen actor best known for playing Charlie Hogan in Stand by Me and Dave Frazier in Summer School. His other credits include Back to the Future, Ruthless People, Planes, Trains & Automobiles, No Man’s Land, and Fear.

He also auditioned for the lead roles in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure, making him part of an interesting chapter in the casting history of the 1989 comedy.

Gary Riley at a Glance

IMDb lists approximately 30 acting credits for Riley, including film and television appearances across the 1980s and 1990s.

Who Is Gary Riley?

Gary Riley is a former American character actor who worked extensively as a child and teenage performer. His career included supporting roles in several recognizable movies and guest appearances on television.

His most recognizable early work came during a particularly strong period for youth-oriented films. In 1985, he appeared in Back to the Future. A year later, he played Charlie Hogan in Rob Reiner’s Stand by Me. He followed that with roles in Ruthless People, Summer School, and Planes, Trains & Automobiles.

Riley also appeared on television, including credits connected with Growing Pains, Knots Landing, Amazing Stories, Airwolf, and Doctor Doctor. His final listed acting credit is Fear from 1996, where he played Hacker.

Gary Riley’s Early Life and Acting Career

Available biographical information places Riley’s upbringing in California, with sources identifying Irvine as part of his early life. A Wikipedia biography says he attended Newport Harbor High School and University High School and received acting training through the South Coast Repertory Young Conservatory Players, although those details are marked as needing stronger sourcing.

His professional career developed during the 1980s, when he began appearing in movies and television productions. One of his earliest notable film credits was Back to the Future, followed by increasingly recognizable supporting roles.

The period from 1985 through the late 1980s was the most visible part of his acting career. His credits during those years connected him with several popular movies, including Stand by Me, Ruthless People, Summer School, and Planes, Trains & Automobiles.

Gary Riley in Stand by Me

Gary Riley played Charlie Hogan in Stand by Me, the 1986 coming-of-age film directed by Rob Reiner and adapted from Stephen King’s novella The Body. IMDb’s cast information specifically credits Riley as Charlie Hogan.

Although Charlie is a supporting character, the role is one of the performances most closely associated with Riley. Stand by Me became one of the defining coming-of-age movies of the 1980s, featuring River Phoenix, Wil Wheaton, Corey Feldman, Jerry O’Connell, Kiefer Sutherland, and other young actors.

For Riley, the film became one of the central credits of his career and remains one of the main reasons people search for his name today.

Gary Riley in Back to the Future

Gary Riley appeared in Back to the Future, the 1985 science-fiction comedy starring Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd.

His credited role is Guy #1. IMDb’s character listing identifies Riley in that role, while the film’s official-style credit information also lists Gary Riley among the cast as Guy #1.

The appearance is brief, but it is notable because Back to the Future became one of the most recognizable films of the 1980s. Riley’s character appears at the 1955 Enchantment Under the Sea dance and congratulates George McFly after George finally stands up to Biff Tannen.

This is why searches for Gary Riley Back to the Future generally refer to his small but identifiable appearance in the movie.

Why Gary Riley Is Connected to Bill & Ted

Gary Riley was also considered during the casting process for Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure.

According to the available casting history, director Stephen Herek and the production screened a large number of actors for the two lead roles. Riley was among the actors considered for the parts of Bill S. Preston Esquire and Ted Theodore Logan.

The casting process eventually resulted in Keanu Reeves playing Ted and Alex Winter playing Bill. Reeves was among the early actors to audition, and the production subsequently paired potential performers with him while looking for the right chemistry.

Riley therefore was not a cast member of Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. His connection to the movie comes from the audition process. That distinction is important because searches for “Gary Riley Bill and Ted” can otherwise create the impression that he appeared in the finished movie.

Gary Riley in Planes, Trains & Automobiles

In Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Gary Riley played the Motel Thief.

The 1987 John Hughes comedy stars Steve Martin as Neal Page and John Candy as Del Griffith. Riley has a small role in the sequence involving the theft of the characters’ belongings while they are staying at a motel. IMDb and TV Guide both list Riley as the Motel Thief.

Although the role is brief, the movie is another notable entry in Riley’s 1980s filmography. It also places him in a movie featuring two of the era’s biggest comedy stars.

Gary Riley in Fear

Gary Riley’s later film credits include Fear, the 1996 psychological thriller starring Mark Wahlberg and Reese Witherspoon.

IMDb lists Riley as Hacker in the film.

Fear is significant in Riley’s filmography because it is listed as his final acting credit in IMDb’s current database.

That does not necessarily establish exactly when Riley stopped working in entertainment, but it provides a useful endpoint for his documented screen career.

Gary Riley Movies and TV Shows

Gary Riley’s filmography includes both movies and television work. Some of his better-known credits are:

IMDb currently lists about 30 acting credits, so the table above highlights notable entries rather than reproducing every database credit.

Gary Riley’s Other Notable Roles

One of Riley’s most recognizable post-Stand by Me roles was Dave Frazier in Summer School. Paramount’s official movie page identifies Riley as Dave Frazier and describes him as part of the group of students surrounding Mark Harmon’s teacher character.

He also appeared in Ruthless People, playing the Heavy Metal Kid. IMDb’s biography notes the character’s storyline involving Ken Kessler, played by Judge Reinhold.

His television work broadened his credits beyond movies. The available filmography includes appearances associated with shows such as Knots Landing, Growing Pains, Amazing Stories, Airwolf, and Doctor Doctor.

Gary Riley Age and Birth Date

Gary Riley’s age is difficult to state with certainty because published sources contain conflicting birth information.

IMDb currently displays November 19, 1963, in St. Louis, Missouri in its main biography field. However, the same IMDb page’s mini-biography says Riley was born April 28, 1967, somewhere in Los Angeles County.

Other biographical material identifies April 28, 1967, as his birth date, while another source gives November 19, 1963.

Because these records conflict, it would be misleading to present one date as unquestionably established. For that reason, a precise current age should also be treated cautiously.

Gary Riley Net Worth

There is no reliable public source establishing Gary Riley’s current net worth.

His acting credits demonstrate a career spanning numerous movies and television productions, but filmography data alone cannot determine an actor’s personal wealth. Factors such as salaries, residuals, investments, expenses, taxes, and other income would be needed to calculate a meaningful net-worth figure.

Some secondary biographical material discusses Riley receiving residual income after leaving Hollywood, but that information does not provide enough verified financial information to calculate his net worth.

Therefore, claims giving Gary Riley a specific net worth should be treated cautiously unless they can be supported by reliable financial documentation.

What Happened to Gary Riley?

Riley’s documented screen career appears to have become much less visible after the 1990s. IMDb’s current filmography lists Fear in 1996 as his latest acting credit.

Information about his later life is less consistent. IMDb’s biography specifically notes that a report claiming Riley died in a New York City car accident was false and that the death involved another person with the same name.

At the same time, some secondary biographical databases have published a conflicting death claim. Because these accounts contradict one another and the available evidence does not establish the matter conclusively, it is better not to present a death date as confirmed fact.

What can be stated with greater confidence is that Riley became much less active in mainstream screen acting after his 1996 Fear credit.

Gary Riley Career Timeline

• 1980s: Began building a career as a young actor.
• 1985: Appeared as Guy #1 in Back to the Future.
• 1986: Played Charlie Hogan in Stand by Me.
• 1986: Appeared in Ruthless People.
• 1987: Played Dave Frazier in Summer School.
• 1987: Appeared as the Motel Thief in Planes, Trains & Automobiles.
• Late 1980s–1990s: Continued appearing in film and television.
• 1996: Played Hacker in Fear, his latest listed acting credit.

Frequently Asked Questions About Gary Riley

Who is Gary Riley?

Gary Riley is an American former child and teen actor known particularly for Stand by Me, Summer School, Back to the Future, Ruthless People, and Planes, Trains & Automobiles.

How old is Gary Riley?

His exact age cannot be stated confidently because published sources disagree about his birth date. IMDb currently displays November 19, 1963 in one field and April 28, 1967 in its biographical text.

What did Gary Riley play in Stand by Me?

Gary Riley played Charlie Hogan in Stand by Me (1986).

Was Gary Riley in Back to the Future?

Yes. Gary Riley was credited as Guy #1 in Back to the Future (1985).

Was Gary Riley in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure?

No. Riley was considered and auditioned for the lead roles, but he did not appear in the finished film. Keanu Reeves and Alex Winter ultimately played Ted and Bill.

Who did Gary Riley play in Planes, Trains & Automobiles?

He played the Motel Thief in the 1987 comedy.

Who did Gary Riley play in Fear?

Gary Riley played Hacker in Fear (1996).

What movies and TV shows was Gary Riley in?

His credits include Back to the Future, Stand by Me, Ruthless People, Summer School, No Man’s Land, Planes, Trains & Automobiles, Lost Angels, Doctor Doctor, and Fear, along with other television appearances.

What is Gary Riley’s net worth?

A reliable public source does not establish Gary Riley’s net worth. Specific numerical figures should therefore not be treated as verified.

What happened to Gary Riley?

His last listed acting credit is Fear in 1996. Information about his later life is limited and includes conflicting claims, so unsupported reports about his current status or death should be avoided.

Conclusion

Gary Riley built a notable acting résumé during the 1980s and 1990s, with roles ranging from Charlie Hogan in Stand by Me to Dave Frazier in Summer School and supporting appearances in Back to the Future and Planes, Trains & Automobiles. His audition connection to Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure adds another interesting piece to his career story, even though he did not appear in the finished movie.