Ben Savage

A talented child and teen star whose precocious intelligence and charm only deepened with age, Ben Savage followed in the acting footsteps of his older brother, Fred Savage of "The Wonder Years" fame, with roles in projects like the sitcom "Dear John" (NBC, 1988-1992), "Wild Palms" (ABC, 1993) and "Big Girls Don't Cry They Get Even" (1992). He achieved stardom, however, for anchoring his own long-running sitcom, "Boy Meets World" (ABC, 1993-2000), which followed the growth of his character, Cory Matthews, and his friends from childhood through college, including his marriage to soulmate Topanga (Danielle Fishel). Inspiring a passionate fanbase of viewers who grew up along with Savage and his co-stars, the series remained a cornerstone of pop culture for a certain generation. After "Boy" ended, Savage graduated from Stanford and continued to book TV guest spots, but maintained a low profile until news leaked in 2012 that he and Fishel had signed on for a sequel series, "Girl Meets World," which would follow the adventures of Cory and Topanga's 13-year-old daughter Riley. Grounded and good-natured at every step along his professional way, Ben Savage proved a rare example of a youthful scene-stealer who became a gifted adult actor.