Call it Punky Posse.
Frank Sinatra had the pack of rats. Rob Lowe had the Brat package. And according to a new documentary, child actor Soleil Moon Frye – the star of the 1980s sitcom “Punky Brewster” – once had his own exclusive group of showbiz friends.
“Kid 90,” which is directed by Frye and premieres on Hulu on Friday, tells its story from the superstar of the child to the washed-out teenager to the mother of four-year-olds, 44 years old.
What sets this documentary apart is its stunning original recordings.
When she grew up in Los Angeles, Frye started carrying a video camera with her wherever she went – really, anywhere. He recorded drunken fights with friends, wild parties, table meals and boring car rides. She also claims that she saved almost every message from the robot she ever received.
The mountain of images has been hidden in a storage closet for about 20 years.
Now, Frye has decided to “unlock the safe.”
The unintentional co-stars of this film are her bright group of friends at the time, a cast of Hollywood teenage actors from the 1980s and 1990s, including Leonardo DiCaprio (one of the film’s executive producers), Mark- Paul Gosselaar from “Saved by the Bell” and Balthazar Getty from “Lord of the Flies”.
“I did the things that teenagers did,” Frye says in the film. “We happened to be in Hollywood.”
At 18, Frye left Los Angeles for New York, where he enrolled in New School and immediately joined a new group of celebrities – the skaters who starred in Larry Clark’s 1995 film “Kids.”
Below, a look at the core members of Punky Posse.
Brian Austin Green
“They were like 12 kids in business, so I knew them all,” says the 47-year-old former star, Green, in the film. Green can be seen going on a trip to SeaWorld with Frye as well as today, discussing what he says was the lowest point of his global fame: the release of his poorly received 1996 hip-hop album.
Where is he now: After roles in “Beverly Hills, 90210” and a marriage to Megan Fox, Green is now a panelist on “The Masked Dancer.”
Charlie Sheen
Frye says she lost her virginity to Sheen when she was 18 years old. After moving to New York, he became “Mr. Great, “throwing it at exclusive events, such as the opening day at Yankee Stadium.
Where is he now: Sheen takes occasional movie and TV roles and still drinks tiger blood.
Danny Boy
Frye met rapper House of Pain, born Daniel O’Connor, at the height of his popularity “Jump Around” and can be seen in the movie, drinking, smoking and driving expensive cars.
Where is he now: Frye reconnects with a more relaxed O’Connor at his home in Oklahoma. He continues to work in the music industry.
Jenny Lewis
“I just hope she can’t find my gun,” the actor “Growing Pains” and “Baywatch” crack when she and Frye are shot by a police officer. “Do you have anything on you?” Frye asks. “Drugs?” Lewis asks. “I have some of these, too.”
Where is he now: He is a founding member of the rock band Rilo Kiley and is a successful solo musician.
David Arquette
“It’s getting dark,” says Arquette in his teenage movie, which includes heroin smoking.
Where is he now: After his debut in the TV series “The Outsiders” in 1990, the actor starred in the series “Scream” and continues to appear in film and TV.
Jonathan Brandis
The actor, probably best known for his role in “SeaQuest DSV” in 1993, became a teenager. Frye says reviewing the old footage made her realize how blind she had been that many of her friends were suffering “and needed to be heard.” In a single message from the robot, Brandis says plaintively, “If I could come on vacation, it would be my pleasure.”
Where is he now: Like many of Frye’s friends from his youth, he is no longer around. Brandis died by suicide in 2003, at the age of 27.
Sara Gilbert
Frye became close to the “Roseanne” star when they were both children, and the two remain close. “Why do you have so many hours of boring videotape,” she said to Frye as she washed her hands in a bathroom.
Where is he now: Currently playing in the spinoff “Roseanne”, “The Conners”, and created the day show “The Talk”.
Kevin Connolly
The upcoming “Entourage” star can be seen in the movie using a state-of-the-art phone to call “Mike and Leo” before he and the group head to Six Flags Magic Mountain for a day.
Where is he now: He directed “Gotti” in 2018, one of the few films to ever receive a 0% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes.