I can't believe I missed this story earlier this week. This is why I love when you send me links. I barely remember Small Wonder. I watched it a couple of times but the whole robot thing kind of freaked me out, especially when you would see the robot parts in the back. Maybe because they did not have a CGI budget or something. Anyway, Jerry Supiran played the brother of the robot and made some decent money on the show. He told The Enquirer though that he is homeless and blames his troubles on a stripper he met when he was 18 because he ended up giving her all the money in his trust fund. His final $500K was taken by a financial adviser so now he lives under a bridge in the middle of California. He says that he used to be a waiter and did that for 15 years, but got laid off and has not been able to find a job since. Come on. As a waiter? Not one job? Anywhere? For two years?
The girl who played the robot is now a registered nurse. (Thanks Sarah)
Maybe if he took off that ridiculous outfit and put on some big boy clothes, he would be employable.
ReplyDeleteThere's definitely more to this story than we've heard so far. He can't get a job waiting tables for 2 years, he was living in his brother's garage but his brother threw him out... And he's 33 years old, and blames his current situation on a girl he hasn't seen for 15 years. I'm not feeling too much sympathy for this guy.
ReplyDeleteyeah not feeling any sympathy for this one. He blew his money on parties and drugs and if you surround yourself with parasites, don't be upset when you get sucked dry. He is only 39 so he can get out there and work.
ReplyDeleteLOL strawberry girl.
ReplyDeleteThanks, I needed the laugh.
He shouldn't have spent all his money on that awesome outfit.
ReplyDeleteI had to google him bc of curiosity and all the commentors are like, he died, no he's alive I just saw him! I just played/poker/pool he works at a casino in Nevada... His gf? posted saying he's alive, yes he loves to gamble, then he came on thanking everyone. Why would all the people who claim to have seen him recently say it was while gambling? And he even tries to say a stripper stole his money. Case closed for me! And I totally wish it was in reruns. I remember even when it was on and I was about 7 years old it was the weirdest show!
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ReplyDeleteWhat the hell IS he wearing, anyway? Looks like some kind of Jester's outfit...Guess the joke's on him!
ReplyDeleteLol @ big boy clothes!! Thanks strawberrygirl
ReplyDeleteI used to love this show... And I definitely agree he blew it on gambling
ReplyDeleteAll too often a child star and their money are soon parted. If he lost the bulk of it at 18, he's had plenty of time to figure out a new way to make a living. I'm not feeling too sorry for this guy, why can't he find a jog as a waiter??
ReplyDeleteAnnoying as a child, obnoxious as an adult... Nice.
ReplyDeleteAt least his parents aren't to blame for his decline.
Me and my sister were couch potatoes, hardcore. We would watch a test pattern if it was on. But we refused to watch this show.
ReplyDeleteI like the review for the DVD of this on fourfour where the writer was like "Wait a minute - this guy(Supiran) didn't end up gay!?"
That show was perhaps the worst show I ever saw. The only reason I watched it was because the mother had played the hot teacher who was having sex with Jimmy Baio's character on Soap.
ReplyDeleteIt's too bad that this actor has had hard times, but it would be a true American Tragedy if any of the writers from that show ever got a writing job in Hollywood ever again.
My bro in law works tirelessly to get basic services to the homeless. A shower, laundry a Dr. to look at sore infected feet. His center runs the spectrum though, right up to people working full time who cant afford needed dental work.
ReplyDeleteThe media tries to portray homeless people as families down on their luck, or single men who were laid off and lost all their money in the stock market. While these things are true, these people either stay with friends or family, or make use of the programs available to them and aren't homeless for long. The people who stay homeless are mentally ill, mentally retarded or drug addicts. No ifs ands or buts. As for not being able to find a job as a server for two years? Oh please!
His first clue should have been that she was a stripper. Those woman are trained to bilk out as much money as they can. I have a friend who used to be a stripper. She really didn't have anything nice to say about any of the customers. To her they were all a paycheck.
ReplyDeleteAlso there HAS to be more to this story. He either blew it on gambling or drugs.
As they say a fool & his money are soon parted. If that picture is any clue this rings very true for poor Jerry.
You haven't lived until you get your cash ganked by a stripper..... he'll be ok.
ReplyDelete....However, just because the saying goes - "A Fool and his money are soon parted." - doesn't mean you have to DRESS LIKE ONE.
ReplyDeletei blame the hat
ReplyDeleteWhen someone hangs out with a stripper for a long time, the stripper properly speaking isn't "taking" their money. It's wages. He spent more than he could afford. He bought more companionship than he ought to have.
ReplyDeleteLast I heard, this kid was living under a bridge, while working at Taco Bell. But that was at least 2 years ago.
ReplyDeleteRemember when everyone thought he was Billy "Pumpkinhead" Corgan? Lol I need to read his imdb again. I loved small wonder. Couldn't stand the neighbor, Emily Schulman. She was also in troop Beverly Hills with Shelley Long. I loved that movie!
I seriously doubt he had as much money as he claims he lost. Half a million bucks AND a big trust fund, all due to "Small Wonder"?? I know TV stars make outrageous salaries, but this show was on way back in the 1980s (before the insane "Friends"-style paychecks were common), and it was not a hit. Maybe he made $$$ doing other acting jobs, although I've never heard of him outside "Small Wonder".
ReplyDeleteMy sister used to love that show when we were little, but even then it gave me the creeps. I remember that at night the family would shut down the little robot girl's batteries and lock her in a closet. Yikes...
I had a friend who lost both parents by the time he was 33, and inherited $850,000. He spent it all in 11 months on hotels, coke, and escorts to keep him company while he was doing coke. He took his final $500, moved, and became a crack addict. He was able to pull himself together and work menial jobs to support himself and his drug/alcohol habit. He lost his job as a cook about 2 1/2 years ago and hasn't found work since. I don't think he has any brain cells left, and no one wants to hire him. He has lived in his car, squatted in various places, just can't get any type of work. He has tried, but I guess at this point he probably can't pull off any type of job interview. I would think Jerry Supiran is in a similar state.
ReplyDelete"Can't find a job" = "Can't stay clean/sober for longer than 2 hours".
ReplyDeleteSad story, but an all too common tale with child actors. I guess having a little fame and a lot of easy cash when you are young can mess you up when you have to join the real world of working hard at crappy, mediocre-paying jobs and scraping by to make the bills every month. Honestly, if I'd had it relatively cushy before the job I have now, I'd be sleeping under a bridge, too.
ReplyDeleteI think there is definitely more to the story.
ReplyDeleteI don't understand the Billy Corgan thing?
It was hot in the 90's to spread rumors that child actors from the 80's had become rock stars. This guy vaguely resembled Billy Corgan. The same thing with Marilyn Manson. People said Paul from the Wonder Years "became" Marilyn Manson. The same MM rumor went around except about the older brother from Mr. Belvedere.
ReplyDeleteHOLY SMOKES...judging by this guy's appearance, I guarantee you he has a Hacky Sack, some Devil Sticks, and a Cat in the Hat hat in the trunk of his car...he blames a stripper for the state of his existence? He should probably be blaming the 90s...and Phish.
ReplyDeleteMe and Jerry are the same age...I met him when we were 17 years old. He had been kicked out of this club called World on Hollywood Blvd and was waiting for his friends. We talked for a long time. He was sweet and was already blowing through most of his money. He gave me a misguided soul feeling. I hope things turn around for him.
ReplyDelete@Ingrid, gotcha. I definitely remember the Marilyn Manson/ Josh Saviano rumors.
ReplyDeletecrack anyone? anyone? its better to light up under bridges cos they block the wind
ReplyDelete