SOUTH Etobicoke’s teen TV star Neil Hope grew up in the Long Branch area. Courtesy photo.
Many fans are devastated to learn the loss of Lakeshore teen star Neil Hope, best known as Derek “Wheels” Wheeler of the TV series Degrassi Junior High, who grew up in the Long Branch area.
Hope, who once lived on Twenty Third Street, would have been 49 years old last September, but he died in 2007. His death was only discovered earlier this year.
For millions, Neil Hope was “Wheels” a lovable, troubled onscreen teen with that feathered blond hair and huge glasses.
HOPE portrayed the character Wheels in the hit TV show.
Hope played Wheeler on the teen drama series Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High from 1987 to 1991. Previously, he had portrayed the character Griff in the series The Kids of Degrassi Street from 1985 to 1986.
After reprising his role for two episodes of Degrassi: The Next Generation, Hope it has been confirmed died 14-years-ago and very few knew of his death.
The troubled star was private, transient and kept to himself. He suffered bouts of substance abuse.
Hope would often watch television with his father and siblings for dinner, which led him to develop an interest in the behind-the-scenes aspects of TV production. He took a television training course at the Etobicoke School of the Arts and had professional photos taken of himself.
Hope made his acting debut in the Kids of Degrassi Street episode Martin Meets The Pirates. He would tell interviewers that television had been an escape from his problems, and being involved in the medium would make that escape a reality.
GONE way too young.
Hope was the child of alcoholics and was vocal about his own struggles with drinking. He discussed his parents’ alcoholism in an episode of the documentary series Degrassi Talks.
Hope also made a documentary about children of alcoholic parents, called The Darker Side, which featured contributions from his co-stars Bill Parrott and Rebecca Haines. Hope’s father died in 1987 from cirrhosis of the liver.
Police have confirmed that Hope was found dead on Nov. 25, 2007 in a Hamilton rooming house. That shocking revelation was made known to friends and family only this year.
“Neil made an important contribution to our lives, to the lives of our television team, who are like a family to us and to the lives of many Canadians and others around the world,” said a statement from executive producers Linda Schuyler and Stephen Stohn.
“His life was not an easy one, but the time he spent with us was a shining example of determination, hard work and hopeful optimism and he is sorely missed.”
From its original iteration as The Kids of Degrassi Street in 1979 to the still-running Degrassi: The Next Generation, the series is one of Canada’s prime television success stories. It developed a cult following, was picked up in the U.S. and is now watched the world over.