This Saturday, September 9, Henry Thomas celebrates his 52nd birthday. It was in 1982 that the actor made a name for himself by playing young Elliott in Steven Spielberg’s cult film, AND the extra-terrestrial. Since then, the actor has continued to pursue a series of projects, particularly on television, appearing in numerous series.
There are cult films that cross generations and become unforgettable childhood memories for everyone. Who has never found themselves sitting between their parents, in front of the television watching the saga? Back to the future, discovering for the first time, with amazed eyes, Doc’s famous DeLorean, which speeds off and goes back in time to the 50s? Who has never found themselves terrified in front of The Gremlins on Christmas Eve? And above all who has never cried when seeing AND go back to his house?
It was in 1982 that the whole world discovered for the first time the adventures of the extra-terrestrial, created by Steven Spielberg. A feature film that has become cult for many moviegoers, who will never tire of watching this tender story of friendship. A film which also allowed the world to discover for the first time two young actors: Drew Barrymore, who played Gertie and Henry Thomas, who played her brother, Elliott. Henry Thomas who, thanks to the popularity of the film, was able to appear in numerous projects, and has for some time now made a place for himself in the world of television series.
Favorite actor from the world of horror
After his role in AND, Henry Thomas played a series of roles in the cinema, appearing in numerous arthouse films such as Valmont by Milos Forman or Autumn legends by Edward Zwick, in which he opposite Brad Pitt, as well as Gangs of New York by Martin Scorsese in 2002. A career that never ceases, the actor going from role to role almost without interruption, starring in both romantic comedies like Dear John in 2010, but also in horror films. In 2016, Henry Thomas was chosen to play Father Tom in the film Ouija: the origins directed by Mike Flanagan. Very quickly, the two men got along very well, and Henry Thomas became the director’s favorite actor.
In 2017, he starred in the film Jessieadapted from the short story by Stephen King, and a year later, he played Hugh Crain in the fabulous horror series The Haunting of Hill House. In 2019, he once again reunited with Mike Flanagan and the world of Stephen King, playing the bartender of the Overlook Hotel in the sequel to the film. shiningtitled Doctor Sleep. The same year, he went to court for drunk driving, and also found AND for a short film specially designed for Christmas.
Despite his setbacks with the law, he quickly finds his way back to film sets as well as Mike Flanagan for whom he shoots series after series. The Haunting of Bly Manor, Midnight Sermons And The Midnight Club. In 2023, he returns to the world of Stephen King with the horror film Pet Sematery: Bloodlinesand will star in the Netflix horror series The Fall of House Usherwhich is the adaptation of the eponymous short story by Edgar Allan Poe, directed again and again by Mike Flanagan, who does not seem ready to abandon his favorite actor. A duo that has it all.