“Lance Kerwin: A Tribute to the ‘Greatest’ Salem’s Lot and James at 15 Actor, Dead at 62”

Lance Kerwin, a beloved actor best known for his work in the 1978 miniseries Salem’s Lot and the 1977 NBC series James at 15, has passed away at the age of 62. His death was confirmed by his daughter Savannah on Tuesday morning, though a cause of death has yet to be determined.

Kerwin was a child actor who began appearing on television in 1974 with roles on shows such as Emergency!, Little House on the Prairie and GunSmoke. He also played Billy Carpenter in the 1980 TV movie The Boy Who Drank Too Much. At 15, he played James Hunter, a teen who had moved to Massachusetts from Oregon, and had a passion for photography. The show was at the centre of controversy at the time, due to the main character engaging in premarital sex, and losing his virginity, with upset viewers sending the network letters in protest.

Kerwin was a teen heartthrob at the time and a regular presence on the cover of publications such as Tiger Beat. Other roles Kerwin had in his career included stints on TV shows such as Wonder Woman, The Bionic Woman and Family. He was however best known for his work on the 1979 miniseries Salem’s Lot. In the later years of his career, he appeared on shows such as The New Adam-12, Murder, She Wrote and Simon and Simon. He appeared in the 1995 film Outbreak and made a comeback to the silver screen in 2022’s The Wind and the Reckoning. The actor had also made appearances at horror film conventions in recent years.

Kerwin is survived by his five children, Savannah, Fox, Terah, Kailani, and Justus. Many of his co-stars have taken to Twitter to share their condolences and pay tribute to the late actor. Actor Ike Eisenmann wrote: “I am beyond heartbroken to hear of the passing of one of my greatest friends and co-stars I have ever worked with, Lance Kerwin. He was the child actor that inspired me to be the best that I could be because he was the best I had ever seen. Rest in peace, my friend.”

The horror outlet Fangoria wrote: “Fango is saddened to hear of the passing of Lance Kerwin, whose performance in Salem’s Lot made an indelible impression on all of us. Our thoughts and condolences go out to his friends, family and many fans.” In a 2019 interview, the late actor talked about working with Tobe Hooper on Stephen King’s Salem’s Lot.

Lance Kerwin was a beloved actor who made an indelible impression on the entertainment industry. His career began in 1974 and spanned over four decades, with roles in shows such as Emergency!, Little House on the Prairie and GunSmoke. He was most well-known for his work in the 1978 miniseries Salem’s Lot and the 1977 NBC series James at 15, both of which were at the centre of controversy due to the main character engaging in premarital sex. His later career included appearances on shows such as The New Adam-12, Murder, She Wrote and Simon and Simon, as well as the 1995 film Outbreak and 2022’s The Wind and the Reckoning.

Kerwin was also a regular presence on the cover of publications such as Tiger Beat, and had made appearances at horror film conventions in recent years. He passed away at the age of 62 at his home in California, according to his family. Many of his co-stars have taken to social media to share their condolences and pay tribute to the late actor. He is survived by his five children, Savannah, Fox, Terah, Kailani, and Justus.