Where Are the Child Actors From ‘The Goonies’ Now?
Sometimes we revisit a classic film from our childhoods, and the nostalgic joy isn’t enough to cover up the fact that it just didn’t hold up over time. The Goonies is not one of those films. Steven Spielberg’s cult classic weaves a tale that’s so universally relatable that even its distinct 1980s feel only adds to the enjoyment.
A group of childhood friends finds an old map that leads them on a once-in-a-lifetime adventure complete with one-liners and unforgettable scenes that have been passed down over the decades since its 1985 premiere.
It’s been nearly 40 years since the child stars who made The Goonies the classic that it is started filming, so what are they up to today?
Sean Astin starred as Mikey in ‘The Goonies’
Every 1980s child group had a clear and defined leader, and for The Goonies, that was Mikey. Sean Astin portrayed the protagonist, and the film gave the actor a launching pad into a successful career. Mirror reports Astin’s “most famous role was as Frodos’ friend Samwise Gamgee” in the legendary Lord of the Rings trilogy.
That certainly hasn’t been Astin’s only claim to fame. While The Goonies was one of his first roles, aside from a few small parts in TV movies, Astin has had a long-acting run that includes starring roles in Rudy and voice work in popular series like Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and Bunnicula.
Another recent appearance for Astin made a direct nod to his 1980s cult classic status as he played Bob in Stranger Things.
Josh Brolin played Brand
Arguably the most successful of the child actors on The Goonies is Josh Brolin. He has certainly stayed in the spotlight since his time playing Brand. The Goonies was his first acting gig, and it led to a plethora of impressive and critically acclaimed parts.
The most obvious success has been Thanos across the Marvel Cinematic Universe, and what would the franchise have been without its most dreaded villain? Other notable roles that have defined Brolin’s success as an actor include playing Llewellyn Moss in No Country for Old Men and the title character in Jonah Hex.
While work with the Marvel Cinematic Universe has kept him busy for several years, Brolin’s upcoming projects take a different direction. We’ll see him soon in the film adaptation of the sci-fi novel Dune, releasing in October.
Jeff Cohen portrayed Chunk
Chunk’s “Truffle Shuffle” will live on in entertainment lore for all time, but Jeff Cohen, the actor who portrayed Chunk, bowed out of the spotlight early. He had played in a handful of TV guest spots leading up to landing the part in The Goonies, but he quickly exited the scene. After some voice work on late 1980s series like Popeye and Son, Cohen took his talents elsewhere.
After attending law school at UCLA, Cohen opened up his own law firm and served as a writer for multiple news outlets, including The Huffington Post.
Corey Feldman played Mouth in ‘The Goonies’
Corey Feldman’s trajectory after The Goonies is well known for all the wrong reasons. The actor’s star was shining brightly after the success of the film. When he followed it up with Stand by Me (1986) and The Lost Boys (1987), he looked well on his way to superstardom.
Of course, we know that’s not how things panned out. For years, he struggled with drug addiction and legal troubles and lost his friend and sometimes co-star Corey Haim to drug-related health complications.
When Feldman came forward to talk about the abuse he suffered at the hands of Hollywood bigwigs, he became a target that required around-the-clock protection.
Even with all of these struggles, the actor has continued to work over the years, and he has promising upcoming projects — including a sequel to The Goonies.
Martha Plimpton played Stef
Born to acting parents, Martha Plimpton was only eight years old when she started acting herself. Playing Stef in The Goonies was one of her early breakthrough roles, and she has enjoyed a long list of parts since.
Notable appearances include the 1989 film Parenthood — which inspired the dramatic TV series of the same name — and the 1996 film Beautiful Girls. Her most recent work has been on the TV series Generation, an HBO Max original dramedy with an ensemble cast.
