l-r: Snake (Stefan Brogren), Joey (Pat Mastroianni) and Wheels (Neil Hope)
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Degrassi has lost one of it’s own.
It’s been reported that Neil Hope who played “Wheels” on Degrassi Junior High has died. The kicker is that apparently he died 5 years ago, back in 2007, but his death is just now being made public.
We are all terribly saddened by this news m.toronto.com/article/713932… Neil and his character Wheels in the early Degrassi deeply touched many lives—
Stephen Stohn (@stephenstohn) February 16, 2012
We have respected the privacy of the family by not saying anything until now, but our entire team is very emotional about his passing—
Stephen Stohn (@stephenstohn) February 16, 2012
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I’m not even really sure what to say, except to recap his tenure on Degrassi Junior High. Wheels was best friends with Joey and Snake. Most of the gang’s adventures revolved around their band “The Zits.”
Wheels’ most notable storyline was the one where his parents were killed by drunk drivers in Season 3. After that, Wheels’ life spiraled out of control: he ran away, skipped school, stole things from his friends and started drinking heavily (Wheels’ drinking was inspired by real life…Neil’s parents were both alcoholics, and his father died because of it). In the series finale “School’s Out,” Wheel’s got into a car accident because he was driving drunk, killing a child and seriously injuring his friend Lucy. We learned he ended up being thrown in jail.
His only memorable appearance in Degrassi: TNG was in Should I Stay Or Should I Go (Season 3). He and Snake put their differences aside an the gang was back together again. Apparently Wheels also appeared in Mother & Child Reunion, but it was only in the CTV version of the broadcast…I’ve yet to find a copy of that anywhere.
Let’s just listen to The Zits #1 hit (aka their ONLY hit lol):
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That’s so weird that it would take five years for his death to be reported, especially since it appears that he didn’t die of any scandalous causes. I wonder if Degrassi will try to do something to memorialize him. At the very least, they could dedicate an episode to him.
werid….
How very sad… I love Wheels :(
If you ever find a clip of Wheels in Ep 1 of Degrassi… I’m sure tons of us would love to see it. I hope one day it will surface. Especially now, it’s like one piece of the Wheel’s history that we never got to see; and it totally exists somewhere.
I’m quite certain TeenNick will never pick this piece of news up. Did he fall off the radar or what?
How the hell do you go unnoticed for FIVE YEARS. He must have really cut himself off from everyone and burned a ton of bridges.
Funny how character images real life here.