I've got a question. But first, let me take you through the thought process that led to this question.
My wife and I were watching Mad About You recently (a show that one of us loves and the other of us finds mildly entertaining...figure that one out) and I recognized a woman playing a bit part in one episode as, Fabiana Udenio, the actress who played Alotta Fagina in the Austin Powers movies. As I pointed this out to my wife, who couldn't have cared less, I went on to tell her that Fabiana Udenio also played the foreign exchange student, Anna Maria, in Summer School. At this point I realized that my wife could have cared less.
In a moment of where-are-they-now curiosity, I started flipping through the other Summer School characters on IMDB. With most of the cast moving on to somewhat respecable careers in Hollywood, I was most intrigued by Gary Riley.

He was Vern's older brother, Charlie Hogan, in Stand By Me...








These are just a few of the places where you may have seen Gary Riley...but here's my question: Is he dead?
Based on several internet resources, he died in 2007 as a result of a Queens, NY automobile accident in which he was driving under the influence and collided with another car.
Based on several internet resources, he died in 2007 as a result of a Queens, NY automobile accident in which he was driving under the influence and collided with another car.
But did he really?
While Gary's acting career came to a screeching halt in the late 90's, there is conflicting information found in various places around the internets. While some people report that they have met Gary at this club or that around Hollywood, others claim to have dated Gary or have a friend who has recently met him. Other even claim that they have spoken with Dean Cameron (Chainsaw himself) and learned that Gary is alive and well. (The theory is that the driver who was killed in the Queens accident was a different "Gary Riley.")
I'm no conspiracy theorist, but I can't say I'm not curious. Dead or alive, Gary? Which is it?