In Stand by Me, the missing boy whose body the group sets out to find is Ray Brower.
Ray Brower is a local boy who disappears after going to look for a deer. Gordie Lachance, Chris Chambers, Teddy Duchamp, and Vern Tessio learn where his body may be and begin their journey, hoping that discovering it will make them famous. The search becomes a story about friendship, grief, courage, and the transition from childhood.
Ray is not one of the four central boys, which makes his name easy to confuse with theirs. Gordie narrates the story, Chris is Gordie’s closest friend, Teddy is the volatile member of the group, and Vern’s discovery helps start the expedition. Ace Merrill leads the older teenagers who later confront them.
Rob Reiner directed the 1986 film, adapted from Stephen King’s novella The Body. Wil Wheaton played Gordie, River Phoenix played Chris, Corey Feldman played Teddy, and Jerry O’Connell played Vern. The film’s title refers to Ben E. King’s song, which appears in its soundtrack.