Henry Thomas Now: Net Worth, Age, and Life After E.T.

Few child actors have managed to balance the weight of a breakout role like Henry Thomas, the boy who played Elliott in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial didn’t vanish after that moonlit bike ride — he quietly built a career spanning more than four decades. This guide traces his path from 1980s stardom to his current slate of indie films and streaming horror series, with a clear-eyed look at the numbers, the myths, and what he’s doing now.

Age: 54 (as of 2025) ·
Birth year: 1971 ·
Breakthrough role: Elliott in E.T. (1982) ·
Notable later work: Legends of the Fall, The Haunting of Hill House ·
Years active: 1981–present

Here are the key personal details about Henry Thomas.

This table summarizes the most authoritative information available.

What is Henry Thomas doing now?

Henry Thomas continues to work steadily in 2025. His upcoming projects include the film Due West and High Ground, as well as the post-production thriller The Asylum. These roles follow a string of high-profile streaming appearances in Mike Flanagan’s horror universe, including The Fall of the House of Usher (2023) and The Haunting of Bly Manor.

The pattern is clear: Thomas remains a working actor, not a relic of the past.

Henry Thomas in 2025: recent roles and projects

According to IMDb, Thomas is attached to Due West (2025) and High Ground (2025), and The Asylum (post-production). Rotten Tomatoes also lists The Curse of the Necklace (2024). These continue his pattern of working in independent films and genre television.

Where does Henry Thomas live now?

Thomas resides in Los Angeles, California, with his family, though the precise location is private.

How rich is Henry Thomas?

Estimates of Henry Thomas’s net worth vary widely, as no official figure has been disclosed. Multiple sources place it around $5 million, but this is unconfirmed.

Henry Thomas net worth estimate

Most sources estimate his net worth at $5 million, derived from decades of acting income, residuals from E.T., and later roles in television and film.

How much did Henry Thomas get paid for E.T.?

Reports indicate Thomas earned approximately $100,000 for his role in E.T., with additional residuals over the years.

Ultimately, without official disclosure, the numbers remain speculative.

What happened to the actor who played Elliott in E.T.?

After the immense success of E.T., Henry Thomas did not disappear. He continued acting throughout the 1980s and 1990s, appearing in films like Legends of the Fall (1994) and later in television series such as The Haunting of Hill House (2018).

Henry Thomas’s career after E.T.

Thomas worked steadily, avoiding the pitfalls that often end child-star careers. He collaborated frequently with director Mike Flanagan, starring in Ouija: Origin of Evil, Doctor Sleep, and multiple Netflix series.

“I never wanted to be a star. I just wanted to act.”

— Henry Thomas, as told to The Guardian (2022)

How old was Henry Thomas when he played Elliot?

Henry Thomas was 11 years old during the filming of E.T. in 1982.

Was E.T. a 12 year old boy in a suit?

No, that’s a myth. The E.T. costume was operated by multiple performers, including a dwarf actor and puppeteers. Additionally, animatronics and a 12-year-old boy with no legs were used for specific scenes.

The performers inside the E.T. costume

The main performer was Pat Welsh, who provided the voice, while the physical suit was handled by several people, including Matthew De Meritt (a young actor with no legs) for certain shots.

Did Drew Barrymore believe E.T. was real?

Yes, then-six-year-old Drew Barrymore reportedly believed E.T. was a real creature due to the sophisticated puppetry and animatronics used on set.

Henry Thomas movies and TV shows: a full guide

Thomas has amassed over 70 credits since his debut in 1981. His early work included Raggedy Man (1981) and, of course, E.T. (1982).

Henry Thomas young roles and early career

His first role was in the TV movie The Greatest American Hero in 1981, followed by his breakthrough the next year.

• 1981: The Greatest American Hero (TV)
• 1982: E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
• 1994: Legends of the Fall
• 2018: The Haunting of Hill House

These milestones show his evolution from child star to versatile character actor.

Henry Thomas in Legends of the Fall

In 1994, Thomas played the young Samuel Ludlow in the epic drama Legends of the Fall.

Timeline of Henry Thomas’s career

• 1981: First acting role in TV movie The Greatest American Hero. (AlloCiné filmography)
• 1982: Cast as Elliott in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. (Wikipedia article)
• 1994: Played young Samuel in Legends of the Fall. (Biography.com actor profile)
• 2018: Portrayed Hugh Crain in Netflix series The Haunting of Hill House. (The Guardian interview)
• 2020–2025: Continues appearing in TV series and independent films. (AlloCiné filmography)

This timeline demonstrates the breadth of Thomas’s sustained career.

“Henry, now 54, had appeared in only two on-screen projects before landing his breakout role.”

— Hello Magazine (2026)

“He had the most expressive eyes of any child actor I’ve ever met.”

— Steven Spielberg, on casting Henry Thomas

See also: Wil Wheaton: Career, Relationships, and Net Worth and Matthew Gray Gubler: Biography, Health & Career Facts

Frequently Asked Questions

These FAQs address the most common queries about Henry Thomas’s life and career.