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Kirk Cameron
Cameron at CPAC in February 2012.
Born	Kirk Thomas Cameron (1970-10-12) October 12, 1970 (age 54) Panorama City, California, United States
Occupation(s)	Actor, evangelist, TV show host
Years active	1979–present
Spouse	Chelsea Noble (1991–present)
Website	kirkcameron.com

Kirk Thomas Cameron (born October 12, 1970) is an American actor best known for his role as Mike Seaver on the television situation comedy Growing Pains (1985–1992), as well as several other television and film appearances as a child actor. In the 1980s and 1990s, Cameron appeared in dozens of television shows and in the films Like Father Like Son and Listen to Me. In the 2000s, he has portrayed Cameron "Buck" Williams in the Left Behind film series and Caleb Holt in the 2008 drama film, Fireproof. Cameron is also an active evangelical Christian evangelist, currently partnering with Ray Comfort in the evangelical ministry The Way of the Master, and has co-founded The Firefly Foundation with his wife, actress Chelsea Noble.

Early life

Cameron was born on October 12, 1970, in Panorama City, suburb of Los Angeles. His parents are Robert Cameron, a retired school teacher, and Barbara (Bausmith), a stay-at-home mother. He is the brother to Bridgette, Melissa, and Candace. His younger sister Candace Cameron Bure is most notable for her role as D.J. Tanner on the popular television sitcom, Full House. He went to school on the set of Growing Pains, as opposed to public school. He graduated from high school at age 17 with high honors.

Cameron and his wife, fellow Growing Pains star Chelsea Noble, were married on July 21, 1991. They now have six children, four of whom were adopted: Jack (born 1996), Isabella (born 1997), Anna (born 1998), and Luke (born 2000); and two biological: Olivia Rose (born July 18, 2001) and James Thomas (born April 13, 2003).

Acting career

Cameron began acting at age nine, and his first job was in an advertisement for a breakfast cereal. His first starring role was at age 13, in the television series Two Marriages. At this age, he appeared in several television shows and films. He became famous in 1985 after being cast as Mike Seaver in the ABC television sitcom Growing Pains. In the series, Mike would eventually have a girlfriend in Kate MacDonald, played by Chelsea Noble, Cameron's future wife. Cameron subsequently became a teen heartthrob in the late 1980s, while appearing on the covers of several teen magazines, including Tiger Beat, Teen Beat, 16 and others. At the time, he was making $50,000 a week. He was also in a 60-second Pepsi commercial during Super Bowl XXIV.

Cameron also guest starred in "Just One of the Guys" a 1988 episode of Full House in which he played the cousin of D.J. Tanner, who was played by Cameron's sister, Candace.

Cameron went on to star in many films, including 1987's Like Father Like Son (a body-switch comedy with Dudley Moore), which was a box office success. His next theatrical film, 1989's Listen to Me, performed poorly at the box office. When Growing Pains ended in 1992, Cameron went on to star in The WB sitcom Kirk which premiered in 1995 and ended two years later. In Kirk, Cameron played Kirk Hartman, a 24-year-old who has to raise his siblings. Cameron and Noble also worked together on Kirk.

Cameron has since left mainstream film, though a decade after Growing Pains ended, he starred in a television reunion film, The Growing Pains Movie, in 2000, and another one, Growing Pains: Return of the Seavers, in 2004. Cameron reunited with the cast of Growing Pains for a CNN Larry King Live interview which aired on February 7, 2006, in conjunction with the Warner Bros. release of the complete first season of Growing Pains on DVD. Aside from this, Cameron has often worked in Christian-themed productions, among them the post-Rapture films Left Behind: The Movie, Left Behind II: Tribulation Force, and Left Behind: World at War, in which he plays Cameron "Buck" Williams. Cameron's wife Noble also starred in the film series, playing Hattie Durham. Cameron has worked with Cloud Ten Pictures, a company which produces Christian-themed films, and has starred in several of their films, including The Miracle of the Cards.

He also appeared in the 2008 drama film, Fireproof, which was produced by Sherwood Pictures. The film was created on a budget of $500,000, with Cameron as the lead actor, portraying Captain Caleb Holt. Though it was a low-budget film, the film grossed $33,415,129 and was a box office success. It was the highest grossing independent film of 2008.

Conversion to Christianity

Cameron was an atheist in his early teens, but when he was 17, during the height of his career on Growing Pains, he developed a belief in God, and became a born-again Christian. After converting to Christianity, he began to insist that story lines be stripped of anything he thought too adult or racy in Growing Pains. A decade later, Cameron agreed to appear in The Growing Pains Movie, where the entire main cast reunited with one another. Cameron said, "It’s a lot less crazy of a time than when we were teenagers. It’s an opportunity to begin new friendships as adults, and I’m really looking forward to that."

Evangelistic ministry

Cameron currently partners with fellow evangelist Ray Comfort, training Christians in evangelism. Together, they founded the ministry of The Way of the Master, which is best known for the television show of the same name that Cameron co-hosts, and which won the National Religious Broadcasters’ Best Program Award for two consecutive years. It also formerly featured a radio show known as The Way of the Master Radio with talk show host Todd Friel. The radio show was later canceled, and replaced with Wretched Radio, hosted by Friel. Cameron, along with his wife, founded The Firefly Foundation, which runs Camp Firefly, a summer camp that gives terminally ill children and their families a free week's vacation.

Cameron and Comfort participated in a televised debate with atheists Brian Sapient and Kelly O'Conner of the Rational Response Squad, at Calvary Baptist Church, in Manhattan, on May 5, 2007. It was moderated by ABC's Martin Bashir and parts of it were aired on Nightline. At issue was the existence of God, which Comfort stated he could prove scientifically, without relying on faith or the Bible. The audience was composed of both theists and atheists. Points of discussion included atheism and evolutionary theory. While Sapient contended during his arguments that Comfort violated the rules by talking about the Ten Commandments, Cameron later stated on the Way of the Master radio show that the rules of the debate did not say that the Bible could never be referenced, but rather that Comfort simply had to come up with one argument that didn't reference the Bible or faith.

In November 2009, Cameron and others distributed free copies of an altered version of Darwin's On the Origin of Species on college campuses in the United States. The book consisted of Darwin's text with chapters of the book removed, and with an added introduction by Ray Comfort reiterating common creationist assertions about Darwin and evolution. The book has been criticized by scientists and Darwin biographers who state that key chapters of the book have been omitted, and that its introduction contains misinformation about Darwin, logical fallacies and "a hopeless mess of long-ago-refuted creationist arguments, teeming with misinformation about the science of evolution". Comfort later said that the four chapters were chosen at random to be omitted in order to make the book small enough to be affordable as a giveaway, with the absent chapters available for download, but that the missing chapters were included in the second edition, which had a smaller text size that made printing the entire book as a giveaway affordable. The second edition still lacks Darwin's preface and glossary of terms. The National Center for Science Education arranged a campaign at colleges across the U.S. to distribute an analysis of the Comfort introduction and a banana bookmark, in reference to Comfort's argument that the structure of the banana is evidence for Intelligent Design, or God.

In March 2012, Kirk Cameron stated on Piers Morgan Tonight that "homosexuality is unnatural, detrimental and ultimately destructive to foundations of civilization". Cameron's comments received criticism from GLAAD, and provoked a backlash from the public and members of the entertainment industry, including Roseanne Barr, Kristin Chenoweth, Craig Ferguson, Jesse Tyler Ferguson, Debra Messing, Martha Plimpton, as well as Growing Pains co-stars, Tracey Gold and Alan Thicke. Piers Morgan stated that Cameron was brave for expressing his opinion, "however antiquated his beliefs may be". Rosie O'Donnell invited him to discuss his recent comments on same-sex marriage on The Rosie Show, but he declined and suggested a private dinner to discuss this topic personally.

On April 11, 2012, Cameron was honored by Indiana Wesleyan University, and inducted into their Society of World Changers during a ceremony in which he spoke on IWU's campus.

Filmography

Awards

This section of a biography of a living person does not include any references or sources. Please help by adding reliable sources. Contentious material about living people that is unsourced or poorly sourced must be removed immediately. Find sources: "Kirk Cameron" – news · newspapers · books · scholar · JSTOR (November 2011) (Learn how and when to remove this message)

• Young Artist Awards
  • 1985 Best Young Supporting Actor in a Daytime or Nighttime Drama, Two Marriages (Nominated)
  • 1986 Best Young Actor Starring in a New Television Series, Growing Pains (Won)
  • 1987 Exceptional Performance by a Young Actor Starring in a Television Comedy or Drama Series, Growing Pains (Won)
  • 1987 Best Young Male Superstar in Television, Growing Pains (Won)
  • 1989 Best Young Actor Starring in a Motion Picture, Listen to Me (Nominated)
• Saturn Award
  • 1987 Best Performance by a Younger Actor, Like Father, Like Son (Won)
• Golden Globe Awards
  • 1987 Best Supporting Actor - Series, Miniseries or Television Film, Growing Pains (Nominated)
  • 1989 Best Supporting Actor - Series, Miniseries or Television Film, Growing Pains (Nominated)
• People's Choice Award
  • 1988 Favorite Young TV Performer (Won)
  • 1989 Favorite Young TV Performer (Won)
• Nickelodeon Kids' Choice Awards
  • 1990 Favorite TV Actor, Growing Pains (Won)
• 2012 Inductee, Indiana Wesleyan University Society of World Changers

References

1. Laufenberg, Norbert B. (June 2005). Entertainment Celebrities. Trafford Publishing. p. 99. ISBN 978-1-4120-5335-8.
2. Mansour, David (May 2005). From Abba to Zoom. Andrews McMeel Publishing, LLC. p. 64. ISBN 978-0-7407-5118-9.
3. Celizic, Mike (October 18, 2007). "Candace Cameron has 'Full House' of her own". The Today Show. Retrieved February 22, 2009.
4. "Full House: Cast Listing". TV.com. Retrieved November 27, 2008.
5. "Just one of the guys". Chicago Sun-Times. November 16, 1987. Retrieved February 28, 2009. I go to school on the set, not to a regular school.
6. Mills, Bart (August 31, 1988). "Kirk Cameron grows past his early fame as teen idol". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved February 28, 2009.
7. "Kirk Cameron: Summary". TV.com. Retrieved February 23, 2009.
8. Mills, Nancy (June 26, 1987). "Curly-Haired Kirk Cameron Teen-Age Heartthrob Takes Fame In Stride". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved February 27, 2009.
9. O'Conner, John J. (March 8, 1984). "ABC's Two Marriages Now A Weekly Series". The New York Times. Retrieved December 8, 2008.
10. Rhudy, Ben (January 29, 2009). "Kirk Cameron talks Fireproof, marriage, and the demands of playing a firefighter". Monsters and Critics. Retrieved February 15, 2009.
11. Kogan, Rick (September 20, 1991). "End of the line Saturday winds up the week with series winding up their runs". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 27, 2009.
12. ^ Slewinski, Christy (May 27, 1996). "'Growing Pains' Pair A Couple Once Again". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 24, 2009.
13. "Will Fall Strategy Keep New Networks Alive?". The Charlotte Observer. August 28, 1995. Retrieved February 27, 2009.
14. ^ Ewald, Dan (March/April 2003). "The Rebirth of Kirk Cameron". Today's Christian. Archived from the original on July 11, 2008. Retrieved February 23, 2009. {{cite web}}: Check date values in: |date= (help); Unknown parameter |deadurl= ignored (|url-status= suggested) (help)
15. "Channel Hopping". Dayton Daily News. January 12, 1990. Retrieved February 28, 2009.
16. Tucker, Ernest (September 27, 1987). "Dudley Moore & Kirk Cameron — Comic team of `Like Father Like Son'". Chicago Sun-Times. {{cite news}}: |access-date= requires |url= (help); Italic or bold markup not allowed in: |publisher= (help)
17. "Like Father Like Son Box Office". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
18. "Listen to Me Box Office". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved November 26, 2008.
19. Grahnke, Lon (August 23, 1995). "More Growing Pains — Kirk Works On Being Adult". Chicago Sun-Times. Retrieved February 27, 2009.
20. Johnson, Steve (August 23, 1995). "Up And Running, WB Gets A Jump On Fall With `KIRK'". Chicago Tribune. Retrieved February 27, 2009.
21. Owen, Rob (November 3, 2000). "On the Tube: 'Growing Pains Movie' catches up with the Seaver clan". Pittsburgh Post-Gazette. Retrieved February 24, 2009.
22. "Growing Pains: Return of the Seavers : Overview". MSN Movies. Retrieved November 27, 2008.
23. "Growing Pains Cast Reunion". CNN. February 7, 2006. Retrieved December 8, 2008.
24. Lammers, Tim (November 4, 2005). "Film Series Is Something Kirk Cameron Won't Leave 'Behind'". ABC News. Retrieved February 24, 2009.
25. Ault, Susanne (November 16, 2004). "Acquires distribution rights to Christian-related titles". Video Business. Retrieved February 23, 2009.
26. Marrapodi, Eric (February 13, 2009). "'Fireproof' is still generating heat". CNN. Retrieved February 23, 2009.
27. "Church hosts showing of 'Fireproof' movie". The Herald-Dispatch. January 22, 2009. Retrieved January 23, 2009.
28. Buss, Dale (January 21, 2009). "What Christians Watch". The Wall Street Journal. Retrieved January 24, 2009.
29. Bashir, Martin (7 May 2007), "Does God Exist? The Nightline Faceoff", ABC News, retrieved 4 April 2009
30. "Back of Book Segment". The O'Reilly Factor Flash. April 12, 2006. Retrieved December 8, 2008.
31. Cameron, Kirk (2004). The Way of the Master. Tyndale House Publishers, Inc. p. Foreword. ISBN 1-4143-0061-1. {{cite book}}: Unknown parameter |coauthors= ignored (|author= suggested) (help)
32. "The Cast of 'Growing Pains:' Where Are They Now?". Fox News. December 18, 2008. Retrieved February 27, 2009.
33. ^ Keck, William (November 3, 2000). "TV Family's Cast Gets Over Its Own 'Growing Pains'". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 8, 2008.
34. Phan, Katherine T. (February 14, 2009). "Christian Evangelist's Book Ranked Bestselling 'Atheist' Item". The Christian Post. Retrieved February 15, 2009.
35. "Christian Reality TV Show wins 'Best Program' and 'People's Choice' Awards". Christian Broadcasting Network. June 14, 2007. Retrieved February 24, 2009.
36. "Wretched with Todd Friel" (PDF). InTouch Ministries. February 26, 2008. Retrieved February 23, 2009.
37. "'Fireproof' shows Christian movies sell". ABC News. October 3, 2008. Retrieved February 24, 2009.
38. "Growing Pains Are Behind Him". Sarasota Herald-Tribune. September 13, 1998. Retrieved February 24, 2009.
39. "Correction to article; "Evangelist Challenges Atheists to Debate on ABC"". Christianpost.com. 2007-04-29. Retrieved 2012-04-06.
40. "Prepare for a Conflict: The Nightline Face-Off No-Holds Barred Battle Over the Existence of God". ABC News. May 7, 2007. Retrieved November 27, 2008.
41. "Was somebody lying or just plain forgetful?", Way of the Master Radio, May 9, 2007 Hour 2
42. "Actor Blasts Evolution". CNN.com. Retrieved 20 November 2009.
43. Jones, Oliver. "Kirk Cameron Stands Behind Controversial Darwin Statements". People Magazine. Retrieved 20 November 2009.
44. Scott, Eugenie (October 30, 2009). "How Creationist 'Origin' Distorts Darwin". U.S. News & World Report. Retrieved October 31, 2009.
45. "The Don't Diss Darwin Institute". National Center for Science Education. Retrieved 2009-11-20.
46. Ray Comfort; Darwin, Charles (2009). Origin of Species: 150th Anniversary Edition. Bridge-Logos Foundation. ISBN 0-88270-919-4.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
47. "The Don't Diss Darwin Institute". National Center for Science Education. 2009. Retrieved 2009-11-20.
    "Got Comfort? Get protection! | NCSE". Retrieved 2009-11-20. November 19th, 2009
48. Unruh, Bob (February 26, 2009). "Christian author wants 30 minutes of Dawkins' opinion". WorldNetDaily. Retrieved February 28, 2009.
49. "Cameron: 'Homosexuality is unnatural'". CNN. March 2, 2012.
50. Fowler, Brandi (March 4, 2011). "Kirk Cameron: Homosexuality Is "Detrimental and Destructive"; GLAAD Says "He's Out of Step". E!.
51. Serpe, Gina (March 5, 2012). "Kirk Cameron backlash swift as stars slam anti-gay speech". Today.
52. Marikar, Sheila (March 5, 2012). "Kirk Cameron Receiving Support Despite Anti-Gay Comments". ABC News.
53. Johnson, Zach (March 5, 2012). Update: Tracey Gold, More Stars Slam Kirk Cameron for Anti-Gay Remarks, Us Magazine.
54. "Kirk Cameron, Rosie O'Donnell to discuss gay rights". On Top Magazine. March 15, 2012.
55. ^ "Cameron Selected as latest IWU World Changer". Indiana Wesleyan University. March 1, 2012.

Further reading

• Still Growing: An Autobiography (with Lissa Halls Johnson): ISBN 0-8307-4451-7

External links

Template:Wikiquote-simple

• Official website
• The Way of the Master
• Kirk Cameron at IMDb

Interviews

• Christianity Today interview (October 2000)
• CNN People In The News (August 20, 2005)
• The Dallas Morning News interview (September 24, 2008)

Template:Persondata

• 1970 births
• Actors from California
• American child actors
• American Christians
• American film actors
• American television actors
• American evangelicals
• Christian creationists
• Christian ministers
• Christian religious leaders
• Christian writers
• Converts to Protestantism from atheism or agnosticism
• Former atheists and agnostics
• Intelligent design advocates
• Living people
• People from the San Fernando Valley
• Saturn Award winners
• Young Artist Award winners
• Conservatism in the United States
• American pro-life activists