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  3. E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial cast: Where are they now?

E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial cast: Where are they now?

It's been decades since they helped E.T. phone home. Find out what the original cast is up to now.

By Jami Ganz and Lauren Morgan Updated March 14, 2023 at 11:30 AM EDT
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E.T. stars, then and now

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Credit: Bruce McBroom/Universal Pictures

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 original cast is up to now.

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Henry Thomas (Elliott Taylor)

Henry-Thomas
Credit: Everett Collection; Timothy Hiatt/Getty Images

While he's no longer embarking on moonlit bike flights, the Texas native 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.

He 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.

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Drew Barrymore (Gertie Taylor)

Drew-Barrymore
Credit: Everett Collection; Roy Rochlin/FilmMagic

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, 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.

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Robert MacNaughton (Michael Taylor)

Robert-MacNaughton
Credit: Everett Collection; Bobby Bank/Getty Images

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.

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Dee Wallace (Mary Taylor)

Dee-Wallace
Credit: Everett Collection; David Livingston/Getty Images

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

Wallace has since appeared in several 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.

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Peter Coyote (Keys)

Peter-Coyote
Credit: Everett Collection; Kelly Sullivan/Getty Images

A prolific actor, Peter Coyote has been in numerous films and TV series. He appeared on such short-lived series 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 History earned him an Emmy in 2015. In addition to narrating dozens of projects, he also played Robert Mueller in the Showtime miniseries The Comey Rule.

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K.C. Martel (Greg)

KC-Martel
Credit: Everett Collection; ABC Photo Archives via Getty Images

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.

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C. Thomas Howell (Tyler)

C-Thomas-Howell
Credit: Everett Collection; Gilbert Carrasquillo/Getty Images

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 has had 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.

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Erika Eleniak (Pretty Girl)

Erika-Eleniak
Credit: Universal Pictures; Jason LaVeris/FilmMagic

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 on Full House.

In the early-2000s, Eleniak starred in films such as The Opponent, Betrayal, The Librarians, and Brilliant. She has had guest roles on CSI: Miami, Desperate Housewives, and The Morning Show.

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    1 of 9 E.T. stars, then and now
    2 of 9 Henry Thomas (Elliott Taylor)
    3 of 9 Drew Barrymore (Gertie Taylor)
    4 of 9 Robert MacNaughton (Michael Taylor)
    5 of 9 Dee Wallace (Mary Taylor)
    6 of 9 Peter Coyote (Keys)
    7 of 9 K.C. Martel (Greg)
    8 of 9 C. Thomas Howell (Tyler)
    9 of 9 Erika Eleniak (Pretty Girl)

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