Rider Strong
The thoughtful actor from a beloved sitcom who traded teen idol status for a behind-the-camera career in indie film and voice work.
Born 1979 (age 47)·American actor·Birthday: December 11·Generation X
Biography
Rider Strong became a fixture in American living rooms as Shawn Hunter, the brooding, leather-jacketed best friend on the hit sitcom 'Boy Meets World.' The role made him a teen idol, but Strong quickly demonstrated a desire to move beyond that label. He attended Columbia University, earning a degree in English, and deliberately shifted his focus away from mainstream Hollywood. He co-wrote and starred in the gruesome indie horror hit 'Cabin Fever,' showcasing a willingness to subvert his clean-cut image. His career evolved into a mix of voice acting for animated series like 'Kim Possible' and 'Star vs. The Forces of Evil,' and directing independent films, often collaborating with his brother. Strong's journey reflects a conscious choice to prioritize creative control and intellectual curiosity over fame.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Rider was born in 1979, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Rider Was Born
The biggest hits of 1979
#1 Movie
Kramer vs. Kramer
Best Picture
Kramer vs. Kramer
#1 TV Show
Laverne & Shirley
Rider's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1979Born
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1984Started school
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1992Became a teenager
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
1995Could drive
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1997Could vote
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2000Turned 21
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2009Turned 30
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 40
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 47 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Starred as Shawn Hunter for seven seasons on the iconic ABC sitcom 'Boy Meets World.'
- Co-wrote and starred in the cult horror film 'Cabin Fever,' which launched Eli Roth's directing career.
- Co-wrote and directed the independent film 'Irish Twins' with his brother, Shiloh Strong.
- Reprised his role as Shawn Hunter in the Disney Channel sequel series 'Girl Meets World.'
Did You Know?
He graduated magna cum laude from Columbia University with a degree in English literature.
He is a trained stage actor and performed in several productions at the prestigious Williamstown Theatre Festival.
He and his 'Boy Meets World' co-star Will Friedle host a popular rewatch podcast called 'Pod Meets World.'
“I went to Columbia to prove I was more than a sitcom sidekick.”
