Henry Thomas
The child actor whose wide-eyed wonder and profound connection with a stranded alien in E.T. created one of cinema's most magical friendships.
Born 1971 (age 55)·American actor·Birthday: September 9·Generation X
Biography
Henry Thomas didn't just play a role in 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial'; he provided its beating, human heart. At age ten, his raw, unguarded audition tape, where he pretended his father had died, convinced Steven Spielberg he had found his Elliott. On screen, his performance was a miracle of naturalism, capturing the loneliness, fierce loyalty, and desperate hope of a boy bridging worlds. The film's colossal success could have typecast him forever, but Thomas deliberately stepped away from the Hollywood spotlight, choosing eclectic, often darker indie films over blockbuster fame. He built a respected, under-the-radar career as a character actor, delivering solid work in films like 'Gangs of New York' and 'Legends of the Fall.' In recent years, a new generation discovered his talent through his chilling performances in Mike Flanagan's horror series, proving that the soulful kid from 'E.T.' had matured into a master of quiet, compelling intensity.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Henry was born in 1971, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Henry Was Born
The biggest hits of 1971
#1 Movie
Fiddler on the Roof
Best Picture
The French Connection
#1 TV Show
Marcus Welby, M.D.
Henry's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1971Born
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1976Started school
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1984Became a teenager
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Could drive
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1989Could vote
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1992Turned 21
LA riots after Rodney King verdict
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $84,300Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"End of the Road" — Boyz II MenBest Picture: Unforgiven
2001Turned 30
September 11 attacks transform the world
Gas: $1.46/galHome: $126,400Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Hanging by a Moment" — LifehouseBest Picture: A Beautiful Mind
2011Turned 40
Osama bin Laden killed; Arab Spring sweeps the Middle East
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $138,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Rolling in the Deep" — AdeleBest Picture: The Artist
2021Turned 50
January 6 Capitol breach; COVID vaccines roll out globally
Gas: $3.01/galHome: $298,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Levitating" — Dua LipaBest Picture: CODA
2026Age 55 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- His lead performance as Elliott in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial earned him a Golden Globe nomination at age 11.
- Won a Young Artist Award for his starring role in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.
- Delivered a critically acclaimed performance as adult Hugh Crain in Netflix's The Haunting of Hill House series.
- Has built a decades-long career with notable roles in films ranging from Valmont to Gangs of New York.
Did You Know?
He is an accomplished musician and plays guitar, harmonica, and mandolin, having performed in the band The Blue Heelers.
He wrote and performed the song "Walk the Moon" for the soundtrack of the film 'The Last of the Mohicans,' though it was not used.
He is an avid fly fisherman and outdoorsman.
“You don't act a feeling; you have to actually feel it.”
