'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial': Where Are They Now? (2024)

E.T. stars, then and now

In 1982, audiences fell in love with Steven Spielberg's wide-eyed extraterrestrial with a heart of gold, stranded on Earth and searching for his way home. The film, which won four Oscars, was deemed one of cinema's greatest in TIME's All-TIME 100 list, inspired a hit ride at Universal Studios, and even got a shoutout in Star Wars: Episode I—The Phantom Menace—or at least E.T.'s species did. Here's what the movie's cast is up to now.

Henry Thomas (Elliott Taylor)

While he's no longer embarking on moonlit bike flights, the Texan is still acting. Following his role as the boy who befriended the alien, Thomas appeared in Murder One (1988) and Legends of the Fall (1994). He also had roles in the 2000 film adaptation of Cormac McCarthy's All the Pretty Horses and 2002's Gangs of New York.

Thomas has appeared on ABC's season-long series Betrayal, Law and Order: SVU, and in multiple adaptations of Stephen King books like Gerald's Game (2017) and Doctor Sleep (2019), as well as Mike Flanagan's Netflix horror miniseries The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor, and Midnight Mass.

Drew Barrymore (Gertie Taylor)

Following her stint as the adorable Gertie, Drew Barrymore went on to become a household name, making headlines for roles in Scream (1996), The Wedding Singer (1998), Never Been Kissed (1999), the Charlie's Angels films, 50 First Dates (2004), He's Just Not That Into You (2009), and more.

Barrymore directed the 2009 roller derby film Whip It (2009), starring Elliot Page, and served as executive producer on 2015's How to Be Single, as well as Netflix's zombie comedy Santa Clarita Diet, in which she also starred. In 2020, she launched a talk show, The Drew Barrymore Show, for which she has been nominated for multiple Daytime Emmys.

Robert MacNaughton (Michael Taylor)

Robert MacNaughton, who portrayed Elliott's older brother, went on to star in the film I Am the Cheese in 1983. Following that, he appeared in the CBS Schoolbreak Special episode "Hear Me Cry," as well as the TV movie A Place to Call Home, and in episodes of Screen Two, Newhart, and Vietnam War Story before retiring from acting.

He came out of retirement to appear in two films in 2015: Frankenstein vs. the Mummy and Laugh Killer Laugh.

Dee Wallace (Mary Taylor)

Following E.T., Dee Wallace revisited her horror roots—she had previously appeared in the original The Hills Have Eyes (1977)—in an adaptation of Stephen King's Cujo (1983). She went on to star on the series Nothing Is Easy, as well as The New Lassie.

With more than 250 acting credits to her name, Wallace has since appeared in dozens of TV films and series, including guest roles on Cold Case, Bones, The Office, and Grimm. She was a main cast member on the Amazon series Just Add Magic from 2015 to 2019 and has a recurring role as Margaret Buckley on 9-1-1.

Peter Coyote (Keys)

A prolific actor, Peter Coyote has been in numerous films and TV series. He appeared on such short-lived shows as The Inside, Commander in Chief, and Law & Order: LA. He also portrayed Kurt Potter in Erin Brockovich (2000) and acted in the films Femme Fatale (2002) and This Is Not a Movie (2010).

His narration in the TV documentary The Roosevelts: An Intimate Historyearned him an Emmy in 2015. In addition to narrating dozens of projects, he played Robert Mueller in the Showtime miniseries The Comey Rule.

K.C. Martel (Greg)

After E.T., K.C. Martel appeared on One Day at a Time and The Best Times. He starred alongside Kevin Bacon and Sean Astin in White Water Summer in 1987.

Martel's last onscreen role was in 1992, ending his acting career following his recurring arc as Eddie on Growing Pains.

C. Thomas Howell (Tyler)

Playing Tyler in E.T. might have been C. Thomas Howell's first credited part, but the actor now has more than 200 roles to his name.

Howell has appeared in films such as Hidalgo (2004) and The Amazing Spider-Man (2012), and held recurring roles on Southland, Criminal Minds, Grimm, Girlfriends' Guide to Divorce, and Animal Kingdom. Howell has had multi-episode arcs on The Walking Dead and SEAL Team.

Erika Eleniak (Pretty Girl)

After smooching Henry Thomas' Elliott as an unnamed girl in E.T., Erika Eleniak went on to play Shauni McClain in the original Baywatch series and even had a guest role in an episode of Full House.

In the early-2000s, Eleniak starred in films such as The Opponent (2000), Betrayal (2003), The Librarians (2003), and Brilliant (2004). She has had guest roles on CSI: Miami and Desperate Housewives, and appeared in Boone: The Bounty Hunter (2017) and Cor Values (2019).