A former child star of the 1980s, who features in the upcoming final season of the hit Netflix series Stranger Things, has been spotted in a rare public appearance in Los Angeles. The actor, now 50, turned heads with his incredibly youthful appearance while out running errands in West Hollywood.
From Screen Son to Stranger Things Scientist
The star in question is Frederick Koehler, best known for playing the on-screen son of Michael Keaton and Teri Garr in the beloved 1983 comedy Mr. Mom. His early career continued to flourish the following year when he landed the role of Chip Lowell, Jane Curtin's son, in the popular sitcom Kate & Allie. That show focused on two divorced mothers, played by Curtin and Susan Saint James, who decide to raise their children together.
Koehler was spotted on Friday, casually dressed and listening to earbuds, with a shopping bag in hand. Despite his decades in the industry, he looked remarkably young for his age. This sighting comes as he prepares for a new wave of attention with his cameo role in the highly anticipated final season of Stranger Things, where he portrays a scientist.
A Deliberate Pivot: Education and Stage Craft
After his early success, Koehler made a conscious decision to step back from Hollywood to hone his skills. He enrolled at Carnegie Mellon University, graduating with a degree in drama in 1997. In a 1999 interview with People, he explained his motivation, stating he wanted 'to explore more what it was to be an actor' and not simply rely on his past achievements.
This academic pursuit led him to theatre work in both Los Angeles and New York, broadening his artistic range before he returned to screen roles.
A Sustained Career Beyond Child Stardom
Koehler has successfully avoided the trap of being a forgotten child star, maintaining a steady and varied career in film and television. His post-university credits are extensive and include:
- Film roles in Pearl Harbor (2001), Domino (2005), and the horror film The Evil Within (2017).
- Notably, he starred in the Death Race film series, appearing in all four instalments from 2008 to 2018.
- Television appearances on shows like Oz, Ally McBeal, Charmed, and various CSI franchises.
More recently, he appeared in the film The Little Things (2021) and the series Kombucha Care (2023). His upcoming appearance in Stranger Things Season 5 marks a high-profile return to mainstream pop culture, introducing him to a whole new generation of fans while delighting those who remember his 1980s origins.
