MovieChat Forums > Taps (1981) Discussion > The first kid to leave

The first kid to leave

posted 15 years ago by micaofboca
2 replies | jump to latest

I realize Charlie was the poor kid that was shot when he attempted to leave the compound, but who was the first kid that yelled, "Don't shoot me?" Is he credited in the cast? Although there are a sizeable number of future stars in the cast, most of the cadets were only extras and despite their terrific contribution to this great movie, they never went on to act in anything else. So I was just wondering if that child actor went on to act as he grew older or if, like so many others, he just continued his grade school and high school education and stopped acting. Pity if that's the case. To be connected to Tim Hutton, Sean Penn, Tom Cruise and some of the others is something I would be so proud to be connected to. Although to maintain a remote friendship with stars of that magnitude is something I would be a little afraid to do and demonstrative of a conceit that's not something to be proud of.

[–] vickic531 12 years ago

I think you're talking about Derek. That's who is trying to climb the gate when Charlie is accidentally shot. Says Derek was played by John Navin Jr. I don't see but a few roles for him after Taps.

[–] stell1837 9 years ago

It was Derek who ran to escape the compound and didn't die, whereas Charlie followed him - not to escape but to tell Derek to come back - was shot by the National Guardsmen after Derek's dropped gun discharged.

But when you said "the first kid to leave" I thought you were referring to the kid who ran out before the National Guard arrived. Earlier in the movie, there was a standoff between the cadets and the local police. The standoff ended when a kid ran over the gate.