Mark Steven Johnson’s “Ghost Rider” starred Nicolas Cage as the eponymous demonic Marvel superhero. Despite a committed performance by Cage, it still holds a lowly 28% approval rating on Rotten Tomatoes, and was only a moderate financial success (per The Numbers, it grossed around $229 million worldwide, having cost $120 million to produce).
The movie follows Cage’s Johnny Blaze, a motorcycle stunt performer who sells his soul to a demon to save his father’s life, and contractually becomes a powerful bounty hunter at the behest of the demon in question.
In addition to Cage, the movie featured the likes of Eva Mendes, Wes Bentley, Peter Fonda, and Sam Elliott. These days, when compared to many more modern superhero films, it’s looked back upon more fondly than it originally was.
Released on February 14, 2007, “Ghost Rider” will turn 20 next year. So wouldn’t it be fun to see what the core cast are looking like now, almost two decades after it hit theaters, compared to back then? Let’s do that immediately…
Nicolas Cage (Johnny Blaze, AKA Ghost Rider)
GettyAcademy Award-winning actor and producer Nicolas Cage played Johnny Blaze, aka Ghost Rider, in “Ghost Rider.” Blaze is a talented and daring famous motorcycle stunt performer who makes a fateful deal with a demon to save his dying father’s life. The deal contracts him to become the flaming-skulled and powerful spirit of vengeance known as Ghost Rider.
Age when “Ghost Rider” released: 43.
Selected movie credits before “Ghost Rider”: Leaving Las Vegas (1995), Con Air (1997), Adaptation (2002).
GettyAge now: 62.
Selected movie credits after “Ghost Rider”: Drive Angry (2011), Mandy (2018), Willy’s Wonderland (2021).
Filmography info per IMDb.
Eva Mendes (Roxanne Simpson)
GettyRetired actress Eva Mendes played Roxanne Simpson in “Ghost Rider.” Roxanne is Johnny Blaze’s childhood sweetheart. She re-enters his life as an adult while reporting on him as a television newscaster, becoming his love interest once more.
Age when “Ghost Rider” released: 32.
Selected movie credits before “Ghost Rider”: Training Day (2001), 2 Fast 2 Furious (2003), Hitch (2005).
Above is a 2026 social media post by Eva Mendes with five recent pictures of her.
Age now: 51.
Selected movie credits after “Ghost Rider”: The Spirit (2008), The Other Guys (2010), The Place Beyond the Pines (2012).
Filmography info per IMDb.
Wes Bentley (Blackheart)
GettyTelevision and movie actor Wes Bentley played Blackheart in “Ghost Rider.” Blackheart is a powerful demon and the son of Mephistopheles (the demon Johnny Blaze made a deal with). He is the movie’s main villain who leads a group of demonic minions. His intention is to claim a legendary contract containing 1,000 cursed souls in an effort to overthrow his father and unleash Hell on Earth.
Age when “Ghost Rider” released: 28.
Selected movie credits before “Ghost Rider”: American Beauty (1999), The Four Feathers (2002), The Game of Their Lives (2005).
GettyAge now: 47.
Selected movie credits after “Ghost Rider”: The Hunger Games (2012), Interstellar (2014), Pete’s Dragon (2016).
Filmography info per IMDb.
Peter Fonda (Mephistopheles)
GettyAcademy Award-nominated actor, director, and screenwriter Peter Fonda played Mephistopheles in “Ghost Rider.” Mephistopheles is the demonic being with whom Johnny Blaze strikes his ill-fated deal. While pursuing his own evil agenda, he tasks Blaze with stopping his son, Blackheart, from usurping him.
Age when “Ghost Rider” released: 67.
Selected movie credits before “Ghost Rider”: Easy Rider (1969), The Hired Hand (1971), Ulee’s Gold (1997).
GettyAge now: Sadly passed away in 2019 aged 79.
Selected movie credits after “Ghost Rider”: 3:10 to Yuma (2007), Copperhead (2013), The Ballad of Lefty Brown (2017).
Sam Elliott (Carter Slade, AKA The Caretaker)
GettyAcademy Award-nominated actor Sam Elliott played Carter Slade, aka the Caretaker, in “Ghost Rider.” Slade is a former Texas Ranger from the Old West era. The first Ghost Rider, he becomes an ally and mentor to Blaze, helping him to understand and control his powers.
Age when “Ghost Rider” released: 62.
Selected movie credits before “Ghost Rider”: Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid (1969), Road House (1989), Hulk (2003).
GettyAge now: 81.
Selected movie credits after “Ghost Rider”: The Golden Compass (2007), Up in the Air (2009), A Star is Born (2018).
Filmography info per IMDb.
Donal Logue (Mack)
GettyCanadian-American movie and television actor Donal Logue played Mack in “Ghost Rider.” Mack is Johnny Blaze’s good friend and a member of his stunt team who acts as his impresario.
Age when “Ghost Rider” released: 39.
Selected movie credits before “Ghost Rider”: Jerry Maguire (1996), Blade (1998), Comic Book Villains (2002).
Above is a 2025 social media post by Donal Logue with a recent picture of him.
Age now: 60.
Selected movie credits after “Ghost Rider”: Zodiac (2007), The Cloverfield Paradox (2018), Resident Evil: Welcome to Raccoon City (2021).
Filmography info per IMDb.
“Ghost Rider” spawned a 2012 sequel entitled “Ghost Rider: Spirit of Vengeance,” which was received similarly poorly to its predecessor. That one isn’t looked back upon as fondly.
It’s great to see most of the core cast of “Ghost Rider” are still with us and thriving. It’s sad, however, that not all of them made it to 2026.
May Peter Fonda rest in eternal peace.
