Devon Sawa spent years trying to outrun “Casper.” Now the actor says he has made peace with the 1995 film and hopes his new role in “Coven Academy” will follow him just as long. Sawa, 48, discussed the shift in an interview with People published Oct. 10.
He said there was a time he did not want to talk about “Casper” at all and thought of himself as a serious actor, a “thespian.” He spent years frustrated with the film, which made him a teen heartthrob, and he sought grit in films like “Idle Hands” and “Final Destination” as the nostalgia grew into a professional burden.
In “Casper,” Sawa played the human version of the friendly ghost opposite Christina Ricci and Bill Pullman. His brief, emotional slow dance with Kat at a Halloween party cemented the role. His question “Can I keep you?” became a line fans repeated to him for decades. Sawa has since accepted that “Casper” references will never disappear. In a September interview with Hollywood Life, he called himself grateful and flattered that the performance resonated with several generations.
His new project returns him to the supernatural. “Coven Academy” is a Disney series set at a magical boarding school in New Orleans, where Sawa plays the warlock professor Mr. Cole. The show premiered Oct. 1. Tim Federle, best known as showrunner of “High School Musical: The Musical: The Series,” created it, and Disney describes Cole as a decent, powerful teacher weary of students who confuse raw ability with readiness. Tiffani Thiessen also stars. Sawa has made a prediction. He told People he hopes that in 20 years, viewers will greet him with “Oh, Mr. Cole,” and that he will not be able to shake that either. The series streams on Disney+ and Hulu.
