 In his senior year , Ostrum was involved in film class and , at the interest of one of his instructors , looked back into theatre and acting . After auditioning for , but not landing , several roles ( including Equus on Broadway ) , Ostrum decided not to pursue it further . After putting his short film career behind him , Ostrum declined reporters and interviews , preferring not to speak on the subject ; " I wanted people to judge me on who I was , not what I ’ d done " . For some time , Ostrum even lied and told people that his brother , and not he , had starred in the film . It took Ostrum years after moving to Lowville before he told anybody there about his one @-@ time stardom ; even his wife Loretta did not know about his role until he warned her about it just before she met his mother . 
