The legendary Steven Spielberg’s brilliant “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” is one of the most iconic sci-fi movies ever made.
The movie tells the story of ten-year-old Elliott Taylor, a boy who befriends a benevolant alien who has been stranded on Earth. Elliott names the creature E.T. and, along with his friends and family, attempts to find a way to help E.T. find his way home while being pursued by United States government agents.
Released in the United States on June 11, 1982, it starred a small cast of core actors that included a young Drew Barrymore. As the movie approaches its 44th anniversary, wouldn’t it be cool to see those actors now, compared to how they looked back when “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” hit theaters? Well, let’s do that immediately…
Henry Thomas (Elliott Taylor)
GettyActor Henry Thomas played Elliott Taylor in “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.” Elliott is the young boy who discovers and befriends the eponymous alien. He’s the movie’s protagonist, sharing an emotional and physical bond with E.T. Their friendship leads to adventures like the famous flying bicycle scene.
Age when “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” released: 10.
Selected movie credits before “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial”: Raggedy Man (1981).
Above is a 2025 social media post with several recent pictures of Henry Thomas (R).
Age now: 54.
Selected movie credits after “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial”: Cloak & Dagger (1984), Legends of the Fall (1994), Gangs of New York (2002).
Filmography info per IMDb.
Drew Barrymore (Gertie Taylor)
GettyActress, producer, talk show host, and businesswoman Drew Barrymore played Gertie Taylor in “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.” Gertie is Elliott’s younger sister. She provides comic relief courtesy of her humorous interactions with the eponymous alien and is one of the first people to fully accept him.
Age when “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” released: 7.
Selected movie credits before “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial”: Altered States (1980).
GettyAge now: 50.
Selected movie credits after “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial”: Poison Ivy (1992), Batman Forever (1995), Charlie’s Angels (2000).
Filmography info per IMDb.
Robert MacNaughton (Michael Taylor)
Above is a social media post with four pictures of Robert MacNaughton in 1982.
Actor Robert MacNaughton played Michael Taylor in “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.” Michael is Elliott and Gertie’s older teenage brother. Initially skeptical of E.T., he becomes protective of the eponymous alien and helps orchestrate the plan to get him home.
Age when “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” released: 15.
Selected movie credits before “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial”: N/A.
GettyAge now: 59.
Selected movie credits after “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial”: I Am the Cheese (1983), Frankenstein vs. The Mummy (2015), Laugh Killer Laugh (2015).
Filmography info per IMDb.
Dee Wallace (Mary Taylor)
Above is a social media post with a picture of Dee Wallace with E.T. on the set of “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.”
Scream queen Dee Wallace played Mary Taylor in “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.” Mary is Elliott, Michael, and Gertie’s caring single mother. She doesn’t become fully aware of the situation regarding the eponymous alien until later in the movie.
Age when “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” released: 33.
Selected movie credits before “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial”: The Stepford Wives (1975), The Hills Have Eyes (1977), The Howling (1981).
GettyAge now: 77.
Selected movie credits after “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial”: Critters (1986), Halloween (2007), All Hallows’ Eve (2016).
Filmography info per IMDb.
Peter Coyote (Keys)
GettyActor, director, screenwriter, author, and narrator Peter Coyote played Keys (so named because of the keys hanging on his belt) in “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.” Keys is the government agent leading the search for the eponymous alien. While he is essentially the antagonist of the movie, unlike typical examples, he shows empathy, compassion, and understanding toward the bond between Elliott and E.T.
Age when “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” released: 40.
Selected movie credits before “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial”: Alcatraz: The Whole Shocking Story (1980), Die Laughing (1980), Southern Comfort (1981).
GettyAge now: 84.
Selected movie credits after “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial”: Patch Adams (1998), Erin Brockovich (2000), A Walk to Remember (2002).
Filmography info per IMDb.
It’s fantastic to see the core cast of “E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial” doing so well.
The movie grossed over $797 million worldwide (per The Numbers) and, for 11 years, was the highest-grossing film of all time (until Spielberg’s own “Jurassic Park” surpassed it in 1993). It spawned video games, theme park attractions, and a plethora of merchandise.
To this day, it’s still beloved, and boasts an incredible 99% rating on Rotten Tomatoes.
