Vale: Lance Kerwin

Former 1970s teen heartthrob Lance Kerwin, best known for James at 15 has died, aged 62.

An autopsy will investigate the cause of death.

Kerwin began his US career in shows such as Emergency, Shazam, Little House on the Prairie, Police Story, Cannon, Gunsmoke, Wonder Woman and The Bionic Woman.

But as the lead in a coming-of-age series James at 15, and the subsequent James at 16, he shot to prominence. The series sensitively tackled adolescent subjects including sex, drugs, and alcohol and was praised for avoiding stereotypes.

Kerwin went on the become a teen heartthrob, featuring in several telemovies including  The Boy Who Drank Too Much, and Children of Divorce plus Salem’s Lot, The Family Holvak, Family, Hotel, Trapper John MD, Simon & Simon, Murder She Wrote, and Outbreak.

Source: CNN