Wil Horneff

William Samuel "Wil" Horneff (born June 12, 1979) is an American former child actor and martial artist who won two Young Artist Awards from three nominations. After leaving his career as an actor, Horneff opened Training Grounds Jiu-Jitsu & MMA, where he teaches Brazilian jiu-jitsu. Early life Horneff was born in Englewood, New Jersey, the eldest of four children of Robin, a choreographer, dancer, and teacher, and Van Horneff, a pistachio farmer, talent manager, race car driver, and real estate developer. His parents owned the Robin Horneff Performing Arts Center in Waldwick, New Jersey, and his father also owns a gymnastics mat business. He grew up in Saddle River, New Jersey and attended Bergen Catholic High School in Oradell, New Jersey. Horneff began acting professionally in 1992 at the age of thirteen. He made his Broadway debut in John Guare's Four Baboons Adoring The Sun opposite Stockard Channing and James Naughton. Career His first film appearance was a relatively minor role in the cult film The Sandlot as Phillips, the arch-rival of the title characters. This was soon followed by an appearance in the TV series Law & Order, as well as leading roles in films such as Ghost in the Machine and Born to Be Wild. In 1995, he won the Young Artist Award as Best Young Leading Actor in a Made for TV Movie for his role as Jody Baxter in The Yearling and won the Young Artist Award the following year as Best Young Leading Actor in a Feature Film for his role as Rick Heller in Born to Be Wild.