'I was child star in ET and it has devastating impact on my life'

Daily Mirror

04-06-2025

Henry Thomas, who played Elliot in the 1982 iconic film E.T, had no idea he would become a global superstar at just the age of 10
Known eternally as the boy on a bicycle bonding with an extraterrestrial, Henry Thomas captured hearts in Steven Spielberg 's 1982 masterpiece E. T., becoming a household name overnight—at just ten years old.
For young Henry, though, the stardom from E. T. was more than a stepping stone into Hollywood; it became a towering presence throughout his life, making 'normality' something of the past.
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Hailing from San Antonio, Texas, and born in 1971, Henry entered the cinematic world relatively as a beginner, having only one film under his belt, unlike the already established young Drew Barrymore. Yet, it was Henry's remarkable audition that clinched him the defining part, reports the Mirror US.
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Said audition tape, now shared widely, illustrates the raw talent of young Henry. A casting director can be heard issuing a scenario: "They've come with a search warrant and they want to take the creature away."
Merely moments later, Henry evokes sheer emotion, tears cascading as he desperately appeals: "You can't take him away, he's mine, I don't care what the president says, he's my best friend and you can't take him away."
His poignant plea not only moved the room to tears but also prompted the legendary Steven Spielberg's voice to declare: "OK kid, you got the job."
The film's massive success, earning nine Oscar nominations and breaking box office records, drastically altered Henry's life. At a very young age, he struggled to comprehend the notion of fame that came with playing Elliot.
In an interview with The Guardian, Henry said: "It was a total unexpected side-effect of doing this fun thing I had wanted to do. I had no clue that my life would change in any way.
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"I worked on this movie, then I'm back on the farm, I'm back at school – but now people are pointing at me in the street." Henry's family, from a relatively ordinary background, was not prepared for the consequences of his newfound fame.
He added: "My whole family wasn't really well equipped to deal with anything like that. And other than a few precautions, we didn't change our lives that much."
As a result, they received unusual visitors, phone calls, and were forced to contact the authorities on several occasions.
Following E.T. , Henry continued to work in Hollywood, appearing in notable films such as Legends of the Fall, Gangs of New York, and Suicide Kings. However, his more recent projects have garnered him a new set of fans, many of whom were unaware of his role as Elliot in E. T.
The actor formed a professional bond with director Mike Flanagan, renowned for his spine-chilling films like The Shining sequel Dr Sleep, Gerald's Game and Ouija: Origin of Evil - all featuring Thomas.