Rider Strong Reflects on '90s TV Life and Parenting Challenges with His Son

August 12, 2026 - 17:24

Rider Strong, best known for playing Shawn Hunter on the beloved sitcom Boy Meets World, is opening up about the strange experience of growing up in front of a camera. In a recent interview, the actor took a long look at his 13-year-old self, and he had plenty to say. He admitted to having a surprising celebrity crush back then, and he also revealed the one thing he truly hated about his own appearance during those awkward years.

Now a father himself, Strong says that raising his son has given him a whole new perspective on his own childhood. He finds it both amusing and a little unsettling to watch old clips of himself, knowing that his son is now the same age he was when he started navigating the pressures of Hollywood. The actor reflected on how different life is for kids today, especially with social media adding a layer of scrutiny that he never had to deal with. He feels grateful that his own teenage struggles were mostly private, even if he was acting them out on national television.

Parenting, he notes, brings back all the anxiety and confusion of that time. He sees his son dealing with everyday challenges like school and friendships, and it reminds him that the core feelings of being a kid never really change. Strong hopes that his own experiences, both the good and the cringe-worthy, will help him guide his son through those tricky years with a little more patience and understanding.