Character: Elliot
Played by: Henry Thomas
Now: ET's human buddy, Thomas was only nine-years-old when he played opposite the big-eyed puppet. He carried on appearing in films every few years, the most notable of which were Milos Forman's ambitious "Valmont" in 1989 and the tacky made-for-telly "Psycho IV: The Beginning" (1990) where he played the young Norman Bates. More recently, his career seems to have picked up, with roles in "Legends of the Fall", "All the Pretty Horses", and the endlessly delayed Scorsese flick "Gangs of New York".
Character: Mike
Played by: Robert MacNaughton
Now: Mike was Elliot's - and everyone else's - annoying older brother. After "E.T.", he made that international blockbuster "I am the Cheese". A couple of equally forgotten about misfires later, MacNaughton jacked it all in and is now working for the US Postal Service in Arizona, where he sports one of the worst haircuts you'll ever see.
Character: Gertie
Played by: Drew Barrymore
Now: Ah, Drew - where do you start? Spielberg's god-daughter and total teenage tearaway, Barrymore's drink and drug problems kept her in the papers for years. Post "E.T." she played the little girl in two lousy Stephen King adaptations: "Firestarter" and "Cat's Eye", and after puberty turned to playing trashy vamps in such low-cut dross as "Poison Ivy" and "Guncrazy". However, after cleaning up her act, she's produced and starred in "Charlie's Angels" (the sequel's due in 2003), "Riding in Cars With Boys", and the upcoming "Barbarella" remake.
Character: Mary (the kids' mom)
Played by: Dee Wallace-Stone
Now: Married actor Christopher Stone (who recently died), Wallace-Stone has never really made it on the big screen despite "E.T.", though she continues to appear in a steady stream of TV movies to this day.
And the best of the rest...
Peter Coyote - played Keys. The bad guy investigator identified by the keys on his belt. Intense and reliable supporting actor who was excellent as the prosecutor in "Jagged Edge" and can be seen next in Brian de Palma's "Femme Fatale".
C Thomas Howell - played Tyler. One of Mike's bicycle gang who help E.T. escape. Went on to star in such 80s favourites as "The Outsiders", "Red Dawn", and "Soul Man". Only one of the gang to keep working steadily.
Erika Elniak - the girl Elliot kisses. My my, didn't she grow up! After being Playmate of the Month 1989, the model-turned-life-saving beach babe 'acted' in Baywatch and stripped off in Steven Seagal's "Under Siege". Strangely not part of the "E.T." cast reunion celebrations...
