Robert MacNaughton
The older brother from 'E.T.' who captured the skepticism and wonder of a generation before stepping away from the Hollywood spotlight.
Born 1966 (age 60)·American actor·Birthday: December 19·Generation X
Biography
Robert MacNaughton's name is forever linked to one of the most beloved films in history, though his own story took a quieter path. As Michael in 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial,' he was the perfect foil to his younger brother Elliott—initially cynical, then utterly convinced, embodying the film's bridge between childhood wonder and adolescent doubt. His performance earned him a Young Artist Award, but the intense fame that followed the film's phenomenon was not a mantle he sought to wear long-term. He chose a lead role in the darker, lesser-known adaptation 'I Am the Cheese,' showcasing his range, but ultimately left acting behind for a life outside the industry. MacNaughton's legacy is that of a performer who, in one iconic role, perfectly captured a slice of suburban American adolescence before charting a private course.
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.
Robert was born in 1966, 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 Robert Was Born
The biggest hits of 1966
#1 Movie
The Bible: In the Beginning
Best Picture
A Man for All Seasons
#1 TV Show
Bonanza
Robert's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1966Born
Star Trek premieres on television
Gas: $0.32/galHome: $14,200Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"The Ballad of the Green Berets" — SSgt Barry SadlerBest Picture: A Man for All Seasons
1971Started school
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
1979Became a teenager
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1982Could drive
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1984Could vote
Apple Macintosh introduced
Gas: $1.13/galHome: $59,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"When Doves Cry" — PrinceBest Picture: Amadeus
1987Turned 21
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
1996Turned 30
Dolly the sheep cloned
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $99,700Min wage: $4.75/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Macarena" — Los del RioBest Picture: The English Patient
2006Turned 40
Twitter launches; Pluto reclassified as dwarf planet
Gas: $2.59/galHome: $174,700Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Bad Day" — Daniel PowterBest Picture: The Departed
2016Turned 50
Donald Trump elected president; Brexit vote
Gas: $2.14/galHome: $181,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Love Yourself" — Justin BieberBest Picture: Moonlight
2026Turned 60
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Won a Young Artist Award for his role as Michael in the blockbuster film 'E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial.'
- Starred as the lead, Adam Farmer, in the film adaptation of the novel 'I Am the Cheese.'
Did You Know?
He left acting in the late 1980s and later worked as a postal carrier for the United States Postal Service.
In 'E.T.,' the line 'You're not gonna believe this' during the flying bicycle sequence was his improvisation.
He is an accomplished musician and has performed with a band.
“You can't be cynical when you're riding a bike across the moon.”
