Mickey Hays (June 30, 1972 – June 30, 1992) was an American actor with

progeria Progeria is a specific type of progeroid syndrome, also known as Hutchinson–Gilford syndrome. A single gene mutation is responsible for progeria. The gene, known as lamin A (LMNA), makes a protein necessary for holding the Nucleus of the cell ...

, a rare genetic condition whose symptoms resemble accelerated aging. He starred in the 1986

Weird Western Weird West (aka Weird Western) is a term used for the hybrid genres of fantasy Western, horror Western and science fiction Western. The term originated with DC's '' Weird Western Tales'' in 1972, but the idea is older as the genres have bee ...

science fiction film ''

The Aurora Encounter ''The Aurora Encounter'' is a 1986 American Weird Western film directed by Jim McCullough Sr., written by Melody Brooke and Jim McCullough, Jr., and starring Jack Elam, Mickey Hays, Peter Brown, Carol Bagdasarian, and Dottie West. Its plot foll ...

'', where he portrayed an alien who visits Earth. After the filming, Hays remained close friends with fellow cast member

Jack Elam William Scott "Jack" Elam (November 13, 1920 – October 20, 2003) was an American film and television actor best known for his numerous roles as villains in Western films and, later in his career, comedies (sometimes spoofing his villainou ...

and appeared in the 1987 documentary about congenital conditions ''

I Am Not a Freak I, or i, is the ninth letter and the third vowel letter of the Latin alphabet, used in the modern English alphabet, the alphabets of other western European languages and others worldwide. Its name in English is ''i'' (pronounced ), plural ...

''. He died on his 20th birthday.

References

*Ramstad, Evan. "15-Year-Old Doesn't Let Aging Disease Slow Him Down". Houston Chronicle, March 14, 1988. *Feldman, Claudia. "Aging in Overdrive: Now 17, Mickey Hays Drives a Truck, Inspires Other Kids and Worries about a Dear Friend". Houston Chronicle, July 23, 1989. *Feldman, Claudia. "The Aging of Mickey Hays". Houston Chronicle, May 31, 1992. *Feldman, Claudia. "'He Crammed 60 Years of Living in 20': Progeria Victim Mickey Hays Dies". ''Houston Chronicle'', July 2, 1992. *"Texan with Aging Disorder Dies at 20." San Antonio Express-News, July 2, 1992. *"Funeral is Held for Mickey Hays." Houston Chronicle, July 4, 1992. {{DEFAULTSORT:Hays, Mickey 20th-century American male actors People with progeria 1972 births 1992 deaths American male film actors People from Longview, Texas Male actors from Texas Actors with disabilities

References

Further reading