Jerry O'Connell, now 52, opens up about the profound sadness he feels when looking back at the 1986 classic 'Stand by Me', which launched his career. The film's legacy has been overshadowed by the tragic deaths of co-star River Phoenix in 1993 from a drug overdose at age 23, and director Rob Reiner, who was murdered along with his wife Michele in December 2023. Their son Nick has been charged and pleaded not guilty. O'Connell recalls Phoenix as a kind mentor who taught him about set etiquette and shaped his professional conduct, leaving a void that "will never be filled." He also credits Reiner for making the film a "life-long memory" rather than just a job, taking the young cast whitewater rafting and playing softball.