'The Wonder Years' reunion: Cast reunites for DVD release

ByCorinne Heller OTRC logo
Friday, May 30, 2014
'The Wonder Years' cast reunites to promote the DVD release of the hit show, on May 28, 2014. / Danica McKellar and Fred Savage appear in a publicity photo for 'The Wonder Years.'
'The Wonder Years' cast reunites to promote the DVD release of the hit show, on May 28, 2014. / Danica McKellar and Fred Savage appear in a publicity photo for 'The Wonder Years.'
twitter.com/joshsaviano / New World Television / ABC

LOS ANGELES -- Kevin Arnold and Winnie Cooper are together again!

The stars of the hit 1960s-themed, notalgia-filled, coming-of-age drama series "The Wonder Years," which aired between 1988 and 1993, reunited recently for the first time in 16 years to help promote the release of the hit show on DVD later this year.

Josh Saviano, who played nerd Paul Pfeiffer, tweeted several photos from the event, which shows him and other former cast members such as main star Fred Savage, who played Kevin Arnold, Danica McKellar, the character's on-again, off-again girlfriend Winnie Cooper, Jason Hervey, who played his bullying older brother Wayne, Alley Mills, who played his mother Norma, Dan Lauria, who played his stern dad Jack, and Olivia d'Abo, who played his hippie sister Karen.

In one photo, the Arnold family is seen sitting at a dining room table similar to the one seen on the show.

Another one shows the cast posing for a selfie, while a third shows Saviano with Danica.

"How can I look good next to the beautiful @danicamckellar #WonderYearsDVD," he tweeted.

"Aww... xo," she replied.

The actress also shared a reunion photo on Facebook.

"So... The Wonder Years will finally be available on DVD later this year, and the cast has come together today to shoot DVD extras materials!! It's been 16 years since we were all in a room together," she said. "Feels so great to be reunited!"

Who was NOT there? Daniel Stern, the show's narrator. And Becky Slater.

Why the delay for a "Wonder Years" DVD release? Danica, who is an author and mathematician, said at a launch event for one of her books in 2009 that there were issues regarding licensing the music featured in "The Wonder Years" for DVDs. The show featured some of the most famous classic rock and American hits and its theme song is Joe Cocker's cover of "With a Little Help from My Friends." A different version of the song is featured in the opening credits of "The Wonder Years" on Netflix.

"At long last, 'The Wonder Years' will be coming to DVD, with the great music that made you fall in love with the show, including the memorable title sequence song, 'With a Little Help from My Friends,'" read a message posted on the official website.

The Wonder Years" cast: Where are they now?

1. Fred Savage - the actor is now 37 years old and also works as a director. He has helmed episodes of shows such as "It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia" and "2 Broke Girls." Aside from the "Wonder Years," he also played the little boy in the 1987 cult fantasy film "The Princess Bride" and starred in the Nintendo-themed children's movie "The Wizard." Savage and his wife, Jennifer, wed in 2004 and have three children.

2. Danica McKellar - the actress is now 39 years old and is a mathematician who has penned several books. She also continued to act after "The Wonder Years" ended its run, starring on shows such as "How I Met Your Mother" and "The Big Bang Theory." In 2013, she appeared in the SyFy channel movie "Tasmanian Devil." Earlier this year, she competed on "Dancing With The Stars." Danica wed Mike Verta in 2009 and the two are parents to a son. They divorced in 2013.

3. Jason Hervey - the 42-year-old continued to act until 2004 and then became a producer and screenwriter. He created the reality shows "Scott Baio Is 45... And Single," "Hulk Hogan's Micro Championship Wrestling" and "The Devil's Ride." Hervey and wife Shannon wed in 1998 and have two children.

4. Josh Saviano (Pfeiffer) - the 38-year-old quit acting after the show ended its run and attended Yale and Yeshiva University. He now works as a lawyer. Aside from "The Wonder Years," he also starred in "Camp Cucamonga," a TV movie that also featured Danica and fellow "Dancing With The Stars" contestant and 1990s star Candace Cameron Bure.

5. Alley Mills (Kevin's mother, Norma Arnold) - the 63-year-old has played Pamela Douglas on "The Bold and the Beautiful" since 2006. She has also appeared on shows such as "Dr. Quinn, Medicine Woman," "Yes, Dear" and "Popular." Mills and husband Orson Bean, also an actor, have been married since 1993.

6. Dan Lauria (Kevin's father, Jack Arnold) - the 67-year-old currently plays Jack Sullivan on the TBS comedy series "Sullivan & Son." Before that, he appeared on shows such as "JAG," "Seventh Heaven" and "The Good Wife." Lauria was married to Eileen Cregg from 1991 to 2001.

7. Olivia d'Abo (Karen Arnold) - the British actress is now 44 years old. After "The Wonder Years," she did voice-over work on cartoons such as "Mortal Kombat: Defenders of the Realm" and "Justice League" and acted on shows such as "The Legend of Tarzan," "Law and Order: Criminal Intent" and "Elementary." She was married to composer Patrick Leonard for about 10 years and they share a son. They divorced in 2012.

8. Daniel Stern (narrator) - The 56-year-old actor is also known for his role as Harry of the robber duo The Sticky / Wet Bandits in the "Home Alone" movies. He continues to act and was most recently seen on episodes of the Showtime series "House of Lies." Stern and wife Laure have been married since 1981 and has three children.

9. Crystal McKellar (Becky Slater) - Danica's real-life sister, who is 37, played Kevin's other school love interest, Becky Slater. The actress was almost cast as Winnie Cooper. "The Wonder Years" was her last regular acting gig. She last appeared onscreen in the 2002 movie "Hip, Edgy, Sexy, Cool." Crystal went to Harvard and also became a lawyer.