If you’re of a certain age, you may not know the name Andy Lindberg. But you definitely know his most famous role.
Andy played Lard Ass Hogan in the legendary Rob Reiner film “Stand By Me,” one of the most beloved coming-of-age movies ever made. His scene, the unforgettable “barf-o-rama” at the pie-eating contest, remains one of the most memorable movie moments of the 1980s. It was gross. It was hilarious. It was impossible to forget.
Andy was 14 years old when he filmed the scene in Oregon, a local kid doing local theater who suddenly found himself working on a major motion picture based on a Stephen King story and directed by a man who would go on to become one of the great filmmakers of his generation.
And then life kept going.
In this episode, Andy shares what it was like to be cast as Lard Ass, how he felt about the role as a teenager, what it was like to return to high school after the movie came out, and why he has had to rethink the shame he carried for years about being “the right fat kid in the right place at the right time.”
He also shares some wonderful behind-the-scenes stories from the set, including working with Rob Reiner, watching Kiefer Sutherland hold the boom mic, and putting his face into what he estimates were more than 250 pies over the course of filming. To this day, blueberry pie is not exactly his favorite dessert.
But Andy’s story doesn’t end with “Stand By Me.” Not even close.
After years of acting, including a move to New York and stage work around the country, Andy eventually returned home to Oregon. Today, he is the executive director of Westwind, a remarkable camp and natural area on the Oregon coast that helps kids unplug, connect with nature, and experience something increasingly rare: being fully present in a beautiful place.
For Andy, running a summer camp is not as different from theater as it might seem. Both involve creating a temporary world; both have a beginning, middle, and end; both can change people in ways they may not understand until years later.
In this episode, Andy shares his journey from childhood movie fame to steward of nature, from the stage to the forest, and from one unforgettable movie scene to a life built around helping kids find wonder in the real world.
As Andy says, life is long. You can change course entirely. And it’s never too late to become the person you were meant to be.
To learn more about Andy’s work, visit Westwind.org.
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