10 Things I Hate About You
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“I used to get, like, 2,000 letters a week at one point.” Andrew Keegan was one of the hottest names in Hollywood among the tween and teen set in the 1990s. After kicking off his career, he appeared in numerous movies and television shows. Most recently, however, he’s garnered buzz for starting his own community spiritual community.
Andrew Keegan may once have needed an entire shed to contain his fan mail. More recently, he’s catered to a different crowd: the congregation of Venice Beach's Full Circle, a spiritual community which he co-founded. Wondering how Keegan went from teen star to spiritual guide? Here’s a closer look at all things Andrew Keegan.
A Star on the Rise
Andrew Keegan Heying was born in Shadow Hills, California on January 29, 1979. His mother, Lana, was a hairdresser and his father, Larry, did voice-over work. Keegan has a younger brother, Casey, who is also an actor.
Keegan started working as a child model in ads for Gerber baby food which led acting gigs. Some of his earliest roles included a two-episode stint on Baywatch and the movie Camp Nowhere. High-profile parts quickly followed, including in the blockbuster flick Independence Day as well as on television shows including Full House; Party of Five; Boy Meets World; and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch. Keegan also gained popularity while playing single teenage dad Wilson, the on-again off-again boyfriend of Jessica Biel’s character, Mary Camden, on Seventh Heaven.
The late 1990s found Keegan's career soaring even higher. He was cast in not one but two buzzworthy film adaptations of Shakespeare’s work: 10 Things I Hate About You and O.
Keegan says of playing antagonist Joey Donner in the iconic teen flick 10 Things, “It felt like it was a match made in heaven to play that role.” He also has fond memories of that time in his life. “I think what was special about this experience was that we all really got along and it’s not that often there’s a casting with like-minded individuals who wanted to share time with each other off set...We were all just kids making a film, not even really having any idea how significant this film would be,” he said.
During that time, Keegan also developed a friendship with his co-star Heath Ledger, who tragically died in 2008. “We loved him so much…and I can’t even talk about it now. I know he’s still here and that’s a thing that’s so unique. He has a presence to this day and based on whatever anybody believes in, his spirit is strong and that has proven itself many times. That’s a whole other level of personal, but I can say that I still do feel his presence in this world,” Keegan told Page Six.
Another noteworthy role of Keegan’s was 2000’s The Broken Hearts Club: A Romantic Comedy. Directed by Greg Berlanti, the movie won Best Picture at that year’s GLAAD Awards. Nearly a decade later, Keegan made his theatrical stage debut in the play, He Asked for It. More recent films have included 2016’s Stars in Shorts: No Ordinary Love and Living Among Us.
New Directions
In 2014, Keegan branched out of the acting industry when he co-founded a Venice, California spiritual organization called Full Circle. There, he made a name for himself as a spiritual guru. Keegan has described Full Circle as “a non-profit, non-denominational spiritual community center where people of all beliefs and backgrounds come together to meditate, practice yoga, and engage artistically.”
Which begs the question: What spurred Keegan to create Full Circle? “As far as the catalyst, it was really about my stepping into what I know my purpose is and having trust in the path that was unfolding before me. I’ve lived in Venice for 15 years, and have known so many creative people. This is a special place -- a spot where ideas in art, music, politics, and spiritual advancement originate and then emanate out to the rest of the country. There’s an authentic desire in the community for a way that we can all achieve a higher vision; I saw my role as facilitating a physical space where this can happen -- a place where people can co-create.”
The organization went on hiatus in 2017, but not before getting its fair share of publicity alleging that Keegan had started a cult.
Keegan has also demonstrated a passion for surfing, and has won several celebrity surf competitions. He donated his winnings to Life Rolls On, an organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for people with disabilities.
Today, Keegan is still involved in the entertainment industry and is currently developing a television show. However, his focus has shifted since his days as a teen heartthrob. For starters, he’s now father to a daughter named Aiya Rose, which he’s called “his greatest role.” Keegan has also tried his hand at producing, and lists ACTIV888, A Christmas Too Many, Cruel World, Pandora, and The Contract among his credits.
As someone who’s rubbed elbows with his fair share of celebrities, Keegan offers a unique take on stardom. “Anonymity was an almost impossible experience,” he said.
At the same time, Keegan understands the fascination with celebrity, and even has a celebrity favorite of his own. When asked what artist or musician -- living or dead -- he’d choose to spend a day with, he responded, “Jim Morrison and I would totally hang out in Venice. What would be better than that? Venice has a unique artistic history, and his legacy is an integral part of it. He’s an international icon, but he’s also a local legend. Maybe I could even get him to do a selfie underneath his mural!”
And while Keegan looks back fondly on his child and teen star days, there’s one thing he’d be happy to leave in the past: his cover boy days. He told New York Magazine, “Some of these images still make me cringe. Maybe one day I’ll make a friend at Google and they can all be taken off the internet.”
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