' E.T. ' Cast: Where Are They Now?

ET' Cast: Where Are They Now?

'E.T.: The Extra-Terrestrial' had something for everyone -- American suburbia, sci-fi, a little Hitchcock, a lot of Steven Spielberg ... and some real tearjerker moments.

Once the squatty alien had invaded our hearts, he made his way home, thanks to a little kid, his pigtailed sister and a flying bicycle. But that was 1982. What have the cast and crew been up to since? We investigate -- without government intervention. -- By Aimee Deeken

Universal (3)

Henry Thomas

Played: Elliott

Then: Though Thomas had already acted alongside Sissy Spacek ('Raggedy Man'), it was crying on cue in his audition that won over the director. His role as a lonely boy who becomes both emotionally and physically connected to an odd, wrinkled (but endearing) alien made him an instant child superstar. Such vulnerability earned Thomas a Golden Globe for Best New Male Star.

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Henry Thomas

Played: Elliott

Now: After retreating for a while to his native Texas, Thomas returned to Hollywood and re-entered the spotlight as Brad Pitt's brother in 1994's 'Legends of the Fall.' He garnered acclaim in Billy Bob Thornton's 'All the Pretty Horses' (2000) and appeared in Martin Scorsese's 'Gangs of New York' (2002). He played a convicted murderer on 'CSI' in the '08-'09 season, and he'll hit the big screen in '10 in Lasse Halstrom's 'Dear John,' with Channing Tatum ('G.I. Joe') and Amanda Seyfried ('Big Love,' 'Mamma Mia').

Stephen Shugerman, Getty Images

Drew Barrymore

Played: Gertie

Then: Perhaps the quintessential child star gone astray, Barrymore quickly journeyed from adorable innocence in 'E.T.' (Spielberg is her godfather) to enough scandalous activity to fill the autobiography 'Little Girl Lost,' published at the ripe old age of 15.

Universal

Drew Barrymore

Now: After rehab (twice), her infamous role in 'Poison Ivy' and a considerable nudity phase, she transitioned to more mature roles in 'Scream,' 'The Wedding Singer' and 'Ever After.' Through her own production company she's starred in 'Never Been Kissed,' the 'Charlie's Angels' franchise, 'Donnie Darko' and 'Music and Lyrics.' Barrymore just received an Emmy nod for her role in the HBO movie 'Grey Gardens,' and her directorial debut, 'Whip It,' starring 'Juno''s Ellen Page as a teen who joins a roller derby team, hits theaters in October.

Soul Brother, FilmMagic

Melissa Mathison

Writer

Then: 'E.T.' was only her second effort (and first sole screenwriter credit), and it earned her an Oscar nom and inclusion in the National Film Registry. Mathison met Spielberg when on location with then boyfriend Harrison Ford during production of 'Raiders of the Lost Ark.' He asked her to write the story, and she had the near-perfect first draft in eight weeks. She and Ford married shortly after 'E.T.' premiered, and she spent the next decade under the radar as wife and mother of their two children.

Ron Galella, WireImage

Melissa Mathison

Now: Thirteen years later, 'E.T.''s producers called upon her to adapt the children's novel 'The Indian in the Cupboard' for the cinema. In 1998, she wrote Martin Scorsese's Dalai Lama biopic 'Kundun.' She recently wrote the English translation script for 'Ponyo,' an award-winning Japanese animated film premiering Stateside in August 2009. Her marriage to Ford dissolved in 2004; the reported $85 million settlement was one for the record books.

Jason Merritt, WireImage

Dee Wallace

Played: Mary

Then: Before becoming Elliott's harried single mom, Wallace was an original scream queen, having attracted a cult following from appearances in the creepy 'Stepford Wives' (1975), Wes Craven's 'The Hills Have Eyes' (1977) and 'The Howling' (1981). The year after E.T., she returned to horror, playing opposite a rabid St. Bernard in Stephen King's 'Cujo.'

Universal

Dee Wallace

Now: Being the 'E.T.' mom was her most high-profile role, but she's maintained a busy and varied career ever since, with many TV show appearances ('JAG,' 'Ally McBeal,' 'Cold Case,' 'My Name Is Earl'), TV movies (once as Dennis Rodman's stepmother), and more horror gigs ('The Frighteners,' Rob Zombie's 2007 'Halloween'). Upcoming projects include the film 'Soupernatural,' with another cult icon, Lou Ferrigno (the original Hulk). And she's rumored to have a role (with fellow 'E.T.' alum Peter Coyote) in 2010's 'The Story of Bonnie and Clyde' re-adaptation.

Brian To, FilmMagic

Robert MacNaughton

Played: Michael

Then: MacNaughton had done a few TV movies (like 'Angel City' with Jennifer Jason Leigh) before auditioning eight times for the role of Elliott's teenage older brother. Michael starts off as a bully and a skeptic, but eventually rallies to Elliott's defense, recruiting his friends to help both brother and alien evade government authorities with some handy BMX work. His performance earned him a Young Artist Award for Best Supporting Actor.

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