This was before the internet. I think the internet had been born three seconds before we aired. So today, I would get a message on Facebook. Then, people, we still were dealing with snail mail. I remember getting a letter at the production office. God, I’m such a sap! I still have the letter. I remember getting a letter from a young boy from the Midwest, and he just said how important the show was to him, and how he didn’t — he thought that he was the only person in the world who was having these feelings, and he was afraid that he was going to do something to hurt himself. And the thing about it was, yes, the letter was very moving. But the thing that was really heartbreaking was that you could see where his tears fell on the page. [Long pause.] I can’t believe I’m still crying about this letter. And I wouldn’t get that today. I would have gotten some words on the computer screen. I wouldn’t have seen how his hand was shaking, how he could barely write the words. How the tears had fallen on the page. So I remember that really vividly.
But you know, the other thing about it is that a lot of the kids who were moved or affected by the show, in regards to Rickie, were teenagers, and they weren’t brave enough to write a letter or didn’t know where to send it. So I ended up meeting a lot of them after they became adults. When I would be out at a bar and they’re in their 20s. I remember right around the time I was doing Rent in New York, in ’97 or ’98, I think some of them were coming of age at that point. And people [were] coming up to me to say, ‘When I was a teenager, that show was my life. I’d never seen anyone like that on TV.’ I remember how gratifying that was, for me to hear them and for them to be able to have that conversation with me. So it’s really interesting. For Claire [Danes, obviously], for A.J. [Langer, who played Rayanne], it was easy for girls to come up to them and say, “Hey, I relate to you.” It was not going to be easy for a teen gay boy to come up to me with his parents and tell me that they could relate to me, because he was probably still deeply closeted or didn’t even know what he was feeling. So I had that experience five or six years after they did. It’s a very fascinating experience.”
— Wilson Cruz speaking with Vulture about his gay teen character Ricky on the ’90s drama My So-Called Life
Tackle
He really grew into a beautiful, handsome man. That second pic down, I would have taken him for a lesbian women. And what a great story. Snail mail did/ does have some advantages.
AtticusBennett
totally. i watched this show with my mum and sister back in the 1990s. ricky was a glorious beautiful character.
and the Christmas Episode?!?! OMG. tears. tears everywhere.
bottom72
I had the biggest crush on him and still do. I would dream about him. His role often brought this little boy to tears.
jjose712
@AtticusBennett: The Christmas episode was unforgettable. My so called life was a great show that unfortunately didn’t last long
Mr. E. Jones
I have to agree about the Christmas episode. I didn’t see it when it originally aired, but in repeats. It knocked me on my ass. The show was far too intelligent for ABC. Today it would be on Showtime, or even HBO.
And Wilson has grown into a frigging beautiful man. Goddamn!
Geoff B
I used to hate this show, but if there is one thing early middle age has taught me is that it’s not all about me. If there were kids that were helped by seeing Cruz’s work on Tv, then I think that’s wonderful. If I had a kid I’d rather they look up to Wilson Cruz than those Duck Dynasty frauds.
ted72
He grew up to be damn good looking!
jd2222248
It’s time for him to get some good roles again….only time will tell. 🙂
lykeitiz
@jd2222248: My thoughts exactly! It’s a shame we don’t see more of him.
And in addition to good roles, I’d REALLY like to see more of him! 🙂
Kangol
My So Called Life, and Wilson Cruz’s character in particular, were so important. And he is so gorgeous, and even better looking now that he’s older than he was when he was a little late-teen/early 20-something.