This Mill Basin kid didn’t even need to grow up to become President.
Jared Riley has a role in the new movie “Pixels” as the 13-year-old version of Kevin James, who plays the Commander-in-Chief in the comedy about an alien invasion of 1980s video game characters come to life.
Riley flew back and forth to Toronto last summer to film his part, traveled to Los Angeles to attend Adam Sandler’s Christmas party, and more recently attended the movie’s premier in Times Square. The entire experience has been a whirlwind for the young actor.
“I didn’t think any of it was real at first,“ Riley said. “It’s a once-in-a-lifetime experience that I will hopefully have again.“
A role in the 2013 off-Broadway musical “Timmy the Great” was Riley’s first big break. He began studying acting as a third-grader, and also receives vocal and dance training.
Riley graduated from Mark Twain School for the Gifted and Talented in Coney Island this summer. He emceed the school’s Hall of Fame induction ceremony for director and Coney Island native Darren Aronofsky in April.
One of Riley’s acting coaches believes he has the chops to make it in the limelight.
“He’s immediately likable,” said Roberta Loew, the owner of Acting Out acting school in Dyker Heights. “He’s a great singer. He dances. There’s no doubt in my mind he could be exceptional in the theater and on Broadway.”
Riley took a hiatus from auditioning after filming Pixels, so he could focus on getting into a good high school — which he did. He’ll be attending the Professional Performing Arts School in Manhattan, where celebrities like Claire Danes and Britney Spears spent their formative years. Riley wants to pursue a career in acting, and hopes the role in “Pixels” will land him more parts.
“I don’t want to just be a one-hit wonder,” Riley said.
But for now, he is still just a kid enjoying his summer vacation on the beach. He turns 14 in August, but topping his thirteenth birthday will be a tough act to follow.
“They gave me a gigantic chocolate Q-bert cake on the set,” Riley said. “And there were six kinds of cookies and four kinds of popcorn in my hotel room.”
“Pixels” — staring Riley and James, along with Adam Sandler, Peter Dinklage, Michelle Monaghan, and Josh Gad — opens July 24.
