Willard Huyck’s superhero comedy movie “Howard the Duck” is undoubtedly the most bizarre film based on a Marvel Comics character to date. It’s also objectively one of the worst, with a lowly Rotten Tomatoes approval rating of just 13%, and was nominated for seven Golden Raspberry Awards (it “won” four).
Additionally, “Howard the Duck” was a commercial flop, pulling in less than $38 million worldwide when it cost around $37 million to make (per Box Office Mojo).
That being said, it’s garnered a cult following over the years, was a huge part of the childhoods of countless 80s kids (despite it having some “adult” scenes), and is now looked upon far more fondly by film fans.
Produced by “Star Wars” legend George Lucas, it follows an anthropomorphic duck with extraordinary (but undoubtedly odd) martial arts skills, as he’s inadvertently transported to Earth from his home on Duckworld. While there, he must stop an evil alien megalomaniac from conquering the planet with unlikely assistance from a geeky laboratory assistant and an aspiring rock singer.
It stars Jeffrey Jones, Tim Robbins, and Lea Thompson, with Chip Zien providing the voice of the zany eponymous character.
“Howard the Duck” was released on August 1, 1986, meaning it will celebrate its 40th anniversary this year. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the core cast as they are now, compared to how they were back when the movie hit theaters…
Chip Zien (Howard the Duck)
Above is a social media post with a picture of Chip Zien (R) on the set of the Broadway play “Into the Woods” in 1987.
Stage and screen actor Chip Zien provided the voice of the eponymous Howard in “Howard the Duck” (several suit performers and puppeteers worked the costume, but Zien is the personality behind the character). Howard is a cigar-smoking, sarcastic, anthropomorphic duck from the planet Duckworld, and a practitioner of the bizarre martial art “Quak-Fu.” He is accidentally transported to Earth by a scientist’s laser device.
Age when “Howard the Duck” released: 39.
Selected movie credits before “Howard the Duck”: So Fine (1981), The House of God (1984), Grace Quigley (1984).
GettyAge now: 78.
Selected movie credits after “Howard the Duck”: Mrs. Parker and the Vicious Circle (1994), Snake Eyes (1998), Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Undead (2009).
Filmography info per IMDb.
Jeffrey Jones (Walter Jenning)
Above is a social media post with nine pictures of Jeffrey Jones in “Howard the Duck.”
Jeffrey Jones played Dr. Walter Jenning in “Howard the Duck.” Dr. Jenning is an initially well-meaning scientist whose faltering laser experiment inadvertently brings Howard to his planet. He gets possessed by the evil extra-terrestrial entity known as the Dark Overlord and attempts to conquer Earth, becoming the movie’s main villain.
Age when “Howard the Duck” released: 39.
Selected movie credits before “Howard the Duck”: Amadeus (1984), Transylvania 6-5000 (1985), Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986).
Above is a 2025 social media post with a recent picture of Jeffrey Jones.
Age now: 79.
Selected movie credits after “Howard the Duck”: Beetlejuice (1988), Ed Wood (1994), Stuart Little (1999).
Filmography info per IMDb.
Tim Robbins (Phil Blumburtt)
Above is a social media post with a picture of Tim Robbins (R) alongside the eponymous Howard in “Howard the Duck.”
Producer, writer, director, and Academy Award-winning actor Tim Robbins played Phil Blumburtt in “Howard the Duck.” Phil is Dr. Jenning’s geeky and somewhat awkward laboratory assistant. He helps Howard to both get home and stop the threat posed by his Dark Overlord-possessed boss.
Age when “Howard the Duck” released: 27.
Selected movie credits before “Howard the Duck”: Toy Soldiers (1984), Fraternity Vacation (1985), The Sure Thing (1985).
GettyAge now: 67.
Selected movie credits after “Howard the Duck”: Bull Durham (1988), The Shawshank Redemption (1994), Mystic River (2003).
Filmography info per IMDb.
Lea Thompson (Beverly Switzler)
Above is a social media post with several pictures of Lea Thompson alongside the eponymous Howard in “Howard the Duck.”
Actress, director, singer, and dancer Lea Thompson played Beverly Switzler in “Howard the Duck.” Beverly is an aspiring singer in a rock band called Cherry Bomb. After Howard lands on Earth and saves her from an attack by thugs, she takes him in and, rather bizarrely, the two become love interests.
Age when “Howard the Duck” released: 25.
Selected movie credits before “Howard the Duck”: All the Right Moves (1983), Back to the Future (1985), SpaceCamp (1986).
GettyAge now: 64.
Selected movie credits after “Howard the Duck”: The Little Rascals (1994), J. Edgar (2011), Little Women (2018).
Filmography info per IMDb.
It’s great to see the core cast of “Howard the Duck” are all still with us and that they’ve all had subsequent success.
GettySince his movie, Howard the Duck has appeared in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, voiced by Seth Green. He’s had small roles in 2014’s “Guardians of the Galaxy,” 2017’s “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 2,” 2019’s “Avengers: Endgame,” and 2023’s “Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3.” Howard has also appeared in the Disney+ animated series “What If…?”
It would be great to see the character get a more prominent role in future MCU projects, as he’s undoubtedly a lot of fun.
