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E.T. child star Henry Thomas' incredible transformation over the last 40 years
Despite taking on various acting roles throughout the years, Thomas has largely opted to stay out of the limelight
More than four decades have passed since the release of the beloved film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, and Henry Thomas, the former child star who who famously portrayed Elliott in the movie has come a long way since his days in the spotlight.
Back on June 11, 1982, this cinematic masterpiece hit the screens, leaving an indelible mark in the history of cinema. Not only did it captivate the hearts of millions, but it also shattered box office records, securing its place as the highest-grossing film of its time. It wasn't until Spielberg's own creation, Jurassic Park, came along in 1993, that the record was surpassed.
Join us on a nostalgic bike ride down memory lane as we revisit the past and present of child star Henry Thomas and how he has transformed over the years.
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Henry Thomas as Elliot then and now
Since his memorable role as Elliott in the iconic sci-fi film when he was just 11 years old, Henry Thomas has continued to make his mark in the entertainment industry.
That's right, since his days as a child star, Thomas has successfully maintained a steady career in acting, you just might not recognise him now!
He has appeared in various notable projects, including films like Legends of the Fall (1994), Gangs of New York (2002) and Dear John (2010), as well as the TV miniseries The Haunting of Hill House (2018).
Despite the early success he experienced, Thomas maintained a grounded perspective on his career. While he has continued to work in the industry, he acknowledged in an interview with Yahoo Entertainment! that being famous came with its challenges.
As E.T. catapulted him into the spotlight, Thomas discovered that fame eroded his sense of anonymity.
"Really, I couldn't go anywhere... I became super-recognisable, and people were excited to see me," he recalled. The sudden shift in how he was treated made him wary of people and altered his perception of the world.
Henry Thomas on his side gig
In addition to his acting career, Thomas delved into the world of writing in latter years, expanding his creative pursuits.
In an interview with Metro, he expressed his lifelong admiration for fantasy books and his eventual disillusionment with the genre's formulaic nature. This prompted him to take matters into his own hands and craft a compelling fantasy story.
While working in Romania for a three-month period, Thomas devoted his time to writing. Reflecting on the experience, he humorously remarked that he had two options: "become an alcoholic and get a divorce" or write his novel.
Opting for the latter, Thomas launched the first instalment of an envisioned series in 2019 titled The Window and The Mirror.
Henry Thomas' family life
Thomas has found contentment on a farm in Oregon, stepping away from the twinkling lights of Los Angeles for the most part. Although he has cherished his time in the spotlight, the former child star values his privacy and appreciates the tranquility of his current lifestyle.
Thomas married actress Marie Zielcke in 2004 and they had a daughter, Hazel. The couple decided to part ways in 2007 and currently Thomas is happily married to his wife Annalee, with whom he shares two children, Evelyn and Henry.
Interestingly enough, Thomas's kids weren't particularly impressed with their dad's most famous role, which he discovered when he planned to show them E.T. for the first time.
"I was going to make a big deal of presenting the film to my kids at a certain point, when I thought they were old enough to appreciate it," he told Yahoo Entertainment!
"I did this big reveal only to find out that they had seen the trailer a thousand times! So it went over like a wet sandwich. My middle daughter, who was seven or eight at the time, said: 'Dad, why are you hanging out with that alien?' And my son just kind of cowered in fear every time that E.T. came onscreen. He was a little bit too young to watch it then, I think. Bad dad — I ruined it for him."
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