Devon Sawa is back in the spotlight at 47, but many fans may still remember him as the young actor from 1995’s “Casper.” He has since built a varied career across movies, television, and music videos. Another 90s child star back in the spotlight is “Terminator 2″s Edward Furlong.
Now, Sawa is promoting “The Girl in the River.” The 2026 thriller was released September 4 in limited theaters and on digital platforms, according to Prime Timer.
Devon Sawa stars as Alan Kramer, a veteran criminologist investigating the disappearance of a teenage girl. Maggie Grace co-stars as profiler Amelia Pembrock. Tiffany Haddish and Ralph Macchio are also part of the cast.
The actor recently appeared at a SAG-AFTRA Foundation event for the film. Devon Sawa wore a powder blue sweater polo with several top buttons left open.
From “Casper” to a Major Breakthrough
According to The Irish Sun, Devon Sawa first made his name in the 1990s. He appeared as Junior Floyd in “Little Giants” before taking on the role of Casper’s human form in “Casper.” The 1995 movie gave the young actor a memorable place in pop culture.
The actor was still young when his career began. He had been working since the age of 11. His next major breakthrough came with 2000’s “Final Destination.”
Sawa starred as Alex Browning in the hit horror movie. The role helped turn him into a major name. It also led to one of the most unexpected chapters of his career.
Devon Sawa Became Eminem’s “Stan”
At 22, Sawa took on the title role in Eminem’s music video for “Stan.” The video became a major pop culture moment. It has now been viewed nearly 900 million times on YouTube, according to The Irish Sun.
According to the Daily Mail, Devon Sawa was not the first choice for the role. Macaulay Culkin had been considered first. Dr. Dre then suggested Sawa after admiring his performance in “Final Destination.”
Looking back, Devon Sawa has described the experience as one of his proudest career moments. He remembered working alongside Eminem during the shoot. The actor said the rapper was focused on the job.
A Break From Hollywood
Sawa later stepped away from acting for about five years. According to The Irish Sun, Devon Sawa took the break after years of working and needed time away from the spotlight.
“I took a break at the age of 25 just to step away from the business,” Sawa said. He explained that he wanted to figure out whether acting was still what he wanted.
The break eventually gave way to a return. Devon Sawa later said an unexpected audition helped him realize, “this is what I love” and “what I really want to do.”
His later credits included the CW series “Nikita.” He also appeared in the Syfy/USA series “Chucky,” which ran from 2021 to 2024.
Devon Sawa at 47
For fans who remember Sawa from Casper, the appearance offers a clear reminder of just how much his career has changed. Sawa has gone from a young 1990s star to a familiar face in horror, television, music video, and now the new mystery thriller “The Girl in the River.”
Devon Sawa may always be remembered by some fans for “Casper” or “Stan.” Yet his latest role shows that his acting career is still moving forward at 47.
Meanwhile, 90s leading lady Bridget Fonda was spotted looking happy and confident during a rare Los Angeles outing.
