Child actors don’t always develop into adult stars who regularly attend red carpet events. In fact, when assessing some of the biggest movies featuring children from over the years, many of the young actors fail to make it further in the movie industry.
People might assume that the same has happened to the stars of the classic movie, The Goonies. In actual fact, though, many of the young actors from Hollywood’s seventh-biggest box-office hit of 1985 have had mixed careers, some in acting and some away from it. The movie, which follows the story of a gang of friends who are on the hunt for One-Eyed Willy’s treasure, is truly iconic and even has a The Goonies slot game named after it, alongside merchandise and a range of other Goonies-themed products. All of this and more has come to fruition thanks to the movie’s undoubted success, with the young actors featured in the film helping to create what is a classic release that many grey-haired members of society grew up with. But what are some of the cast up to these days and how have their careers panned out since 1885, when the movie was released? Let’s take a look below.
Josh Brolin (Brandon Walsh)
What’s he up to now? Well, he ‘snapped’ half of the universe, then got his head cut off by Thor. Brolin was, of course, Thanos in the MCU, playing the nemesis of the Avengers, climaxing with Avengers: Endgame. Brolin is a fine actor, and his star has continued to rise in recent years. While he is most known for his work in Marvel movies, his body of work is fantastic. A particular highlight is in his turn in the brilliant Sicario.
Joe Pantoliano (Francis Fratelli)
One-half of the fearsome Fratelli brothers, Joe Pantoliano has gone to feature in an extensive selection of Hollywood hits. His most notable performances are in Midnight Run (1988), The Fugitive (1993), Bad Boys (1995), and The Matrix (1999). He even appeared in the smash hit Italian-American mafia-themed show, The Sopranos, winning an Emmy for playing Ralphie Cifaretto.
Martha Plimpton (Stef)
After playing Stef in the movie, Martha Plimpton went on to shine in roles in films such as The Mosquito Coast (1986) and Running on Empty (1988). Plimpton also gained a reputation for playing more serious roles in a variety of productions, namely in Hobson’s Choice and Coast of Utopia. She has even tried her hand at acting in sitcoms too and played an integral role in the success of shows such as Raising Hope, The Real O’Neals, and The Good Wife.
Jeff Cohen (Chunk)
Jeff Cohen, who played Chunk in the movie, carried on acting but eventually left the industry to focus on academics, something he pursued that has since led him to work in entertainment law. He has gone to establish himself as a credible face in the space after graduating from UCLA School of Law, also helping to co-found Cohen Gardner LLP.
Sean Astin (Mikey)
After appearing in The Goonies, Sean Astin featured in a range of other movies. His best performances include Toy Soldiers (1991) and Rudy (1993). Astin has also been in the humongous show Stranger Things, as well as playing Samwise Gamgee in The Lord of the Rings trilogy. Astin was perhaps always likely to venture further into the world of acting given the fact that his mother, Oscar-winning actress Patty Duke, reportedly inspired him to do so. He has done rather well for himself, too.
Corey Feldman (Mouth)
If it isn’t managed carefully, childhood fame can have a dramatic effect on people as they grow into adulthood. Sadly, this appears to be the case with Corey Feldman, who ended up being arrested for heroin possession in 1990 after appearing in Stand By Me (1986), The Lost Boys (1987), and License to Drive (1988). After his brush with the law, Feldman failed to find success in the movie world again but did have a stint in reality television instead. He has also gone on to do some magnificent work in raising awareness of child sexual abuse in Hollywood.