When the coming-of-age classic Now and Then hit theaters in October 1995, adolescent viewers found a new cinematic crush in the town bully, Scott Wormer. Played by Canadian actor Devon Sawa, the character left a lasting mark on 1990s pop culture, largely thanks to a memorable on-screen romance and bicycle chases with Christina Ricci’s character, Roberta. Understanding Devon Sawa age during Now and Then filming requires looking closely at his birth date, production timelines, and how rapidly his career accelerated during that decade.
Born on September 7, 1978, Sawa was 16 years old during the primary production of Now and Then, which took place in the latter half of 1994. While the film is set in the summer of 1970 and features main characters who are roughly 12 years old, the teenage actors portraying the older kids and local teens brought distinct real-world adolescence to the screen. Sawa's transition from a young commercial and television actor to a mid-90s teen idol happened in what felt like a single summer, positioning him perfectly for roles in other blockbusters like Casper and later Final Destination.
Production Timeline and Exact Age Calculations
To pinpoint Sawa's age during the project, it helps to break down the timeline of his early life against the movie's production schedule. Principal photography for Now and Then occurred between June and August of 1994.
- Birth Date: September 7, 1978
- Start of Filming (Summer 1994): Sawa was 15 years old, turning 16 just as production wrapped up or shortly thereafter.
- Theatrical Release (October 20, 1995): Sawa had recently turned 17 years old.
Even though he played a rough-around-the-edges local bully who famously shared a hesitant kiss with Ricci, Sawa was a sophomore in high school terms of age, balancing regular teenage milestones with a rapidly expanding professional film career. Analysts at Variety have provided expertise on this matter.
The 1990s Teen Idol Ascent
Sawa didn't stumble into Now and Then by accident; his mid-90s run was the result of a calculated entry into the entertainment industry. He began working professionally in 1992 as a children's action toy spokesperson and small-scale television actor in Canada, working alongside future co-stars like Ashleigh Aston Moore.
His feature film debut arrived in 1994 with the sports comedy Little Giants, where he played Junior Floyd. Immediately following that production, he stepped onto the set of Now and Then. Just months later, he secured the role that made him a household name globally: voicing and physically portraying the human incarnation of Casper McFadden in Universal's live-action Casper (1995).
This tight clustering of projects meant that audiences saw Sawa age rapidly across three consecutive years of cinema:
- Little Giants (1994) – Age 15 during filming
- Now and Then (1995) – Age 15 to 16 during filming
- Casper (1995) – Age 16 during filming
How Scott Wormer Defined an Archetype
In Now and Then, Scott Wormer is initially introduced as an antagonist—the neighborhood nuisance who torments the core quartet of young girls. However, the narrative subverts this by giving him depth, particularly through his evolving dynamic with Roberta Martin.
Sawa brought a vulnerable edge to the bully archetype. Instead of playing Scott as a caricature, he portrayed him with the awkwardness and defensive posture typical of a mid-90s teenager dealing with small-town social structures. This grounded performance made the character's softer moments—such as the treehouse scenes and the climax of their childhood summer—resonate deeply with viewers.
For more background on the film's production and its nostalgic footprint, check out the Internet Movie Database entry for Now and Then.
Navigating the Child Actor Transition
Transitioning from a teenage heartthrob to an adult actor is notoriously difficult in Hollywood, but Sawa’s trajectory offers an interesting study in pacing. While many of his peers from 90s coming-of-age films stepped away from the spotlight, Sawa continued working consistently.
He deliberately pivoted away from wholesome family fare toward darker, genre-defining cult classics. By 1999, he starred in the horror-comedy Idle Hands, and in 2000, he secured his definitive adult-career role as Alex Browning in the psychological horror film Final Destination. This intentional shift allowed him to shed the "kid actor" label entirely before hitting his twenties.
To explore his extensive filmography and biographical milestones over the decades, visit the Wikipedia Devon Sawa profile.
Frequently Asked Questions
How old was Christina Ricci during Now and Then?
Christina Ricci was born on February 12, 1980, making her 14 years old during the summer of 1994 when Now and Then was filmed. She turned 15 shortly before the film finished its broader promotional rollout.
Was Devon Sawa older than his co-stars in Now and Then?
Yes, Sawa was slightly older than the core group of actresses playing the 12-year-old protagonists. While the main cast members (such as Ricci, Gaby Hoffmann, Thora Birch, and Ashleigh Aston Moore) were generally between 12 and 14 years old during filming, Sawa was 16, which fittingly placed him in the demographic tier of older neighborhood kids.
Where was Now and Then filmed?
The production utilized various locations in Savannah, Georgia, and surrounding areas to capture the lush, nostalgic aesthetic of a fictional small American town in 1970.
Did Devon Sawa and Christina Ricci act together in other movies?
Yes. Now and Then marked their second major back-to-back collaboration following Casper (1995), where Ricci played Kat Harvey and Sawa played the human version of Casper. Their consecutive on-screen pairings made them one of the most recognizable teen duo configurations of the mid-1990s.
