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Neil Hope
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Neil Hope
Philip Neil Hope (24 September 1972 – 25 November 2007), better known and credited as Neil Hope, was a Canadian actor who was best known for portraying Derek "Wheels" Wheeler on the CBC teen drama series Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High from 1987 to 1991, and Robin "Griff" Griffiths in The Kids of Degrassi Street from 1985 to 1986.
After Degrassi High concluded in 1991, Hope struggled with alcoholism and diabetes, and often lacked money. He kept sporadic contact with his family until 2005. He was found dead in a rooming house on 25 November 2007, with his family and the public unaware of his death until nearly five years later, in early 2012; Hope was 35 at the time of his death.
Hope was born on 24 September 1972, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the fourth son and fifth child of his family. His parents struggled with alcoholism and had an unstable relationship, which led to their separation. He and his siblings often moved back and forth from their mother to their father. Hope had a good relationship with his father, who he felt was supportive and loved him and his siblings.
Hope attended the Etobicoke School of the Arts.
Hope often watched television with his father and siblings for dinner, which sparked an interest in television production. He took a television training course, paid for by his father, and had professional promotional photos taken of himself. Hope made his acting debut in The Kids of Degrassi Street episode "Martin Meets The Pirates". Hope told interviewers that television had been an escape from his problems, and being involved in the medium made that escape a reality. Hope played the role of Robin "Griff" Griffiths in The Kids of Degrassi Street from 1985 to 1986. Recalling his audition for Degrassi Street, Schuyler described the "huge vulnerability emanating from Neil’s gentle grey eyes, his distinct gravelly voice, and his overall physical appeal".
After Degrassi Street, Hope played the role of Derek "Wheels" Wheeler on the teen drama series Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High from 1987 to 1991. In his obituary for Hope, Paul Vitello of The New York Times wrote that "all [the series'] characters portrayed teenagers confronting crises over issues like sexual abuse, racism, unwanted pregnancy and AIDS, but the troubles dealt Wheels made him the Job of the cast"; in the series, Wheels' adoptive parents are killed by a drunk driver. He later discovers his biological mother is dead, and that his biological father wants no relationship with him. The character later starts drinking himself, which leads to a drunk driving incident in which he kills a young child; Wheels is incarcerated for manslaughter. He later reprised the role for two episodes of Degrassi: The Next Generation in 2001 and 2003.
In 1992, he also appeared in the series Degrassi Talks, where the series’ actors encouraged teens to seek help with problems such as addiction and sexuality.
The original Degrassi series was non-union, and its cast were no longer paid regularly when it ended in the early 1990s, even as the series continued to see success in re-runs and syndication in over 50 countries. Christina Boulard, Hope's ex-fiancée, told media: "It made him so upset that they worked so hard on Degrassi and even years later, a whole new generation was watching it in reruns and the cast wasn't getting a dime." At the time of his death, Hope's only income was a disability cheque.
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Neil Hope
Philip Neil Hope (24 September 1972 – 25 November 2007), better known and credited as Neil Hope, was a Canadian actor who was best known for portraying Derek "Wheels" Wheeler on the CBC teen drama series Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High from 1987 to 1991, and Robin "Griff" Griffiths in The Kids of Degrassi Street from 1985 to 1986.
After Degrassi High concluded in 1991, Hope struggled with alcoholism and diabetes, and often lacked money. He kept sporadic contact with his family until 2005. He was found dead in a rooming house on 25 November 2007, with his family and the public unaware of his death until nearly five years later, in early 2012; Hope was 35 at the time of his death.
Hope was born on 24 September 1972, in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, the fourth son and fifth child of his family. His parents struggled with alcoholism and had an unstable relationship, which led to their separation. He and his siblings often moved back and forth from their mother to their father. Hope had a good relationship with his father, who he felt was supportive and loved him and his siblings.
Hope attended the Etobicoke School of the Arts.
Hope often watched television with his father and siblings for dinner, which sparked an interest in television production. He took a television training course, paid for by his father, and had professional promotional photos taken of himself. Hope made his acting debut in The Kids of Degrassi Street episode "Martin Meets The Pirates". Hope told interviewers that television had been an escape from his problems, and being involved in the medium made that escape a reality. Hope played the role of Robin "Griff" Griffiths in The Kids of Degrassi Street from 1985 to 1986. Recalling his audition for Degrassi Street, Schuyler described the "huge vulnerability emanating from Neil’s gentle grey eyes, his distinct gravelly voice, and his overall physical appeal".
After Degrassi Street, Hope played the role of Derek "Wheels" Wheeler on the teen drama series Degrassi Junior High and Degrassi High from 1987 to 1991. In his obituary for Hope, Paul Vitello of The New York Times wrote that "all [the series'] characters portrayed teenagers confronting crises over issues like sexual abuse, racism, unwanted pregnancy and AIDS, but the troubles dealt Wheels made him the Job of the cast"; in the series, Wheels' adoptive parents are killed by a drunk driver. He later discovers his biological mother is dead, and that his biological father wants no relationship with him. The character later starts drinking himself, which leads to a drunk driving incident in which he kills a young child; Wheels is incarcerated for manslaughter. He later reprised the role for two episodes of Degrassi: The Next Generation in 2001 and 2003.
In 1992, he also appeared in the series Degrassi Talks, where the series’ actors encouraged teens to seek help with problems such as addiction and sexuality.
The original Degrassi series was non-union, and its cast were no longer paid regularly when it ended in the early 1990s, even as the series continued to see success in re-runs and syndication in over 50 countries. Christina Boulard, Hope's ex-fiancée, told media: "It made him so upset that they worked so hard on Degrassi and even years later, a whole new generation was watching it in reruns and the cast wasn't getting a dime." At the time of his death, Hope's only income was a disability cheque.