Whatever Happened To...Peter Billingsley

Like "Yo! Adrienne!" and "I'm walkin' here," some lines are so classic they immediately identify the movie in which they were spoken. Peter Billingsley, who played Ralphie in A Christmas Story, had this memorable gem:


"Only, I didn't say: "Fudge.'"

Simple. Brilliant.


A Christmas Story--my favorite Christmas-themed film--is a terrific story about hope and desire, and finding satisfaction even when one comes up just a bit short. Ralphie, played wonderfully by Billingsley, is at that uncomfortable age for kids. Tweeners, I guess they are called these days. Too young to understand an adult world, and too old to be completely innocent and naive. Ralphie's dream of getting a Red Ryder BB gun represents the same wish each of us have, really. That job, that significant other, that best friend--whatever--that will make our lives more complete. The secret is, we never reach the goal. Or, if we do, we quickly shoot our eye out.

Wishing for it is always more fun that getting it.

Peter Billingsley, best friends with Vince Vaughn for years, works currently as a film producer. Recently, Billingsley produced The Break-Up, and is in pre-production now with Iron Man, which will star Robert Downey, Jr.

Oh, yeah...Merry Christmas, from the Film Geek family. Don't shoot your eye out!