Bill & Ted's Alex Winter Overcomes Abuse, Reclaims Spotlight on Broadway

In a recent interview, former child actor Alex Winter, now 60 years old, has revealed the traumatic experiences he faced during his early acting career. Winter, who rose to fame in the 1989 hit film Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, disclosed that he was sexually abused by an unnamed adult when he was a child actor. This "nightmarish" experience, as he described it, left him with "extreme PTSD."

Despite the abuse, Winter continued to work as an actor, starring in films like The Lost Boys in 1987. However, by the time he was 26 years old, he was "fried" from acting and decided to leave the spotlight. He fired his agents, moved to New York and then London, and focused on directing, working behind the scenes.

Now, after years of therapy and building a successful career as a documentary filmmaker, Winter has returned to the public eye. In September 2025, he reunited with his longtime friend and Bill & Ted co-star, Keanu Reeves, to star in a Broadway production of Waiting for Godot. Reeves described the experience as a "dream come true" for the two actors, who have remained close over the years.

Despite the challenges he faced, Winter is now in a good place, both professionally and personally. He has found fulfillment in his directing work and is grateful for the opportunity to reconnect with Reeves on the stage. As he reflects on their friendship, Winter notes that they have both grown and matured, with Reeves becoming "a little wiser" and "more at ease with the world."