William Samuel "Wil" Horneff (born June 12, 1979) is an American
former child actor and martial artist who won two Young Artist Awards
from three nominations. After leaving his career as an actor, Horneff
opened Training Grounds Jiu-Jitsu & MMA, where he teaches Brazilian
jiu-jitsu.Horneff was born in Englewood, New Jersey, the eldest of
four children of Robin, a choreographer, dancer, and teacher, and Van
Horneff, a pistachio farmer, talent manager, race car driver, and real
estate developer. His parents own the Robin Horneff Performing Arts
Center in Waldwick, New Jersey, and his father also owns a gymnastics
mat business. He grew up in Saddle River, New Jersey and attended
Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell, New Jersey. Horneff began
acting professionally in 1992 at the age of thirteen. He made his
Broadway debut in John Guare's Four Baboons Adoring The Sun opposite
Stockard Channing and James Naughton.His first film appearance was a
relatively minor role in the cult film The Sandlot as Phillips, the
arch-rival of the title characters. This was soon followed by an
appearance in the TV series Law & Order, as well as leading roles in
films such as Ghost in the Machine and Born to Be Wild.In 1995, he won
the Young Artist Award as Best Young Leading Actor in a Made for TV
Movie for his role as Jody Baxter in The Yearling and won the Young
Artist Award the following year as Best Young Leading Actor in a
Feature Film for his role as Rick Heller in Born to Be Wild.
former child actor and martial artist who won two Young Artist Awards
from three nominations. After leaving his career as an actor, Horneff
opened Training Grounds Jiu-Jitsu & MMA, where he teaches Brazilian
jiu-jitsu.Horneff was born in Englewood, New Jersey, the eldest of
four children of Robin, a choreographer, dancer, and teacher, and Van
Horneff, a pistachio farmer, talent manager, race car driver, and real
estate developer. His parents own the Robin Horneff Performing Arts
Center in Waldwick, New Jersey, and his father also owns a gymnastics
mat business. He grew up in Saddle River, New Jersey and attended
Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell, New Jersey. Horneff began
acting professionally in 1992 at the age of thirteen. He made his
Broadway debut in John Guare's Four Baboons Adoring The Sun opposite
Stockard Channing and James Naughton.His first film appearance was a
relatively minor role in the cult film The Sandlot as Phillips, the
arch-rival of the title characters. This was soon followed by an
appearance in the TV series Law & Order, as well as leading roles in
films such as Ghost in the Machine and Born to Be Wild.In 1995, he won
the Young Artist Award as Best Young Leading Actor in a Made for TV
Movie for his role as Jody Baxter in The Yearling and won the Young
Artist Award the following year as Best Young Leading Actor in a
Feature Film for his role as Rick Heller in Born to Be Wild.
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