12 Celebrities You Didn’t Know Were In After School Specials

Aside from heavy morals and bad music, after school specials featured plenty of before-they-were-famous celebrities.

1. River Phoenix and Joaquin Phoenix in “Backwards: The Riddle of Dyslexia”

Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=riruKqQrLDQ.

River Phoenix plays a teenager struggling with dyslexia. Real-life sibling Joaquin is the brother he can’t read to.

Source: youtube.com

2. Cynthia Nixon in “It’s No Crush, I’m in Love”

Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=ga4AuVGW5eg.

Sex and the City’s Cynthia Nixon develops an unhealthy infatuation with her English teacher.

Source: youtube.com

3. Sean Astin in “Please Don’t Hit Me, Mom”

Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=vFGnRoYp3kg.

Patty Duke was already a star when she played an abusive mother to real-life son (and future hobbit) Sean Astin.

Source: youtube.com

4. Val Kilmer and Michelle Pfeiffer in “One Too Many”

Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=K_zVDu3NqQs.

Before they were famous, Val Kilmer and Michelle Pfeiffer warned teens about the dangers of drunk driving with this cautionary tale.

Source: youtube.com

5. Matthew Modine and Meg Ryan in “Amy and the Angel”

Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=5RL-T7ZYAic.

Matthew Modine tries to be nice to Amy, but Meg Ryan is the bully that nearly drives poor Amy to suicide.

Source: youtube.com

6. Jennifer Jason Leigh in “Have You Ever Been Ashamed of Your Parents?”

Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=duwTnfn6yrs.

Poor little rich girl Jennifer Jason Leigh makes a friend from the wrong side of the tracks.

Source: youtube.com

7. Helen Hunt in “Desperate Lives”

Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=R_DqM9iqERg.

Helen Hunt snorts PCP and jumps out a plate-glass window. Like you do.

Source: youtube.com

8. Seth Green in “I Want to Go Home”

Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=FmRlpslkgS8.

Seth Green and his on-screen sister come to the realization that their mom has kidnapped them.

Source: youtube.com

9. Ben Affleck in “A Body to Die For”

Video available at: http://youtube.com/watch?v=3FvlIwuQBO8.

Ben Affleck learns the true meaning of ‘roid rage when his girlfriend confronts him about his stash.

Source: youtube.com