It’s been over 25 years since the hit film ForrestGump came to this world. One look at how much the cast members changed over the years makes it obvious just how long it has been.
Michael Conner Humphreys as Young Forrest
Humphreys played the younger Forrest in the movie, which was actually the young actor’s debut in a film as a whole. Interestingly, Hanks even went as far as to say that he modeled the voice of the older Forrest Gump off of the way Humphreys himself spoke.
Michael Conner Humphreys – Now
Following the film, Humphreys didn’t initially return to cinema, instead choosing to remain a normal kid in Mississippi. He served in the United States Army from 2005 to 2010, which included more than one deployment in Iraq. After enlistment, he actually did find his way back to Hollywood, starring in the 2011 war film Pathfinders: In the Company of Strangers. Since then, Humphreys has been living a relatively normal life as a teacher, though he claims that he would like to return to acting at some point in the future.
Sally Field as Mrs. Gump
Sally Field played Forrest’s mother in the film, a woman willing to go to any length for his well-being and the success of his future. She’s been a star in the industry since the ’60s, starring in shows such as The Flying Nun and Gidget. She’s a two-time Oscar winner, just like Hanks was at the time, and her 1984 acceptance speech is still one of the most well-known moments in the history of the awards show.
Sally Field – Now
Over the years following 1994, Sally Field has received a Hollywood star of fame, and she still stars in many roles in various films and TV series, as well as theater. She has even written a book, which was published in 2018. Most recently, however, she has been focusing on activism and advocation for personal rights and liberties in the United States, going so far as to participate in public protests. Her voice has proved very influential in those causes.
Gary Sinise as Lieutenant Dan
Ah, Lieutenant Dan. Your lack of legs only added to your charm and character development. Gary Sinise, who played Lieutenant Dan Taylor, actually started his career in traditional theater, but he caught Hollywood’s attention after playing a starring role in the 1992 movie adaptation of the book Of Mice and Men, which he also had a hand in directing. It was that success that helped Sinise make the cut for Forrest Gump, and we’re glad he did: he played Lieutenant Dan better than anyone could have.
Gary Sinise – Now
Since playing Lieutenant Dan, Gary Sinise has had roles in many shows and movies, including Apollo 13 and CSI: NY. Most notably, he started the Gary Sinise Foundation in 2011, which raises money for disabled veterans and even helps provide them with smart homes tailored to their needs. His band, The Lt. Dan Band, has performed for veterans on hundreds of stages, including military bases and even warzones. In 2018 the foundation raised $35 million for veterans of the United States Armed Forces.
Hanna R. Hall as Young Jenny
Just like someone had to play a young Forrest, Hanna R. Hall played a young Jenny in Forrest Gump. Like Humphreys, the movie was her film debut as an actor. Unlike Humphreys, who decided to call it quits on movies for several years, Hall went on to play in roles in Goldilocks and the Three Bears and the 1999 drama The Virgin Suicides. Maybe she found a taste for cinema in her performance in 1994.
Hanna R. Hall – Now
Since her debut in 1994, Hall has been consistently carrying on with her career as an actor, with her most recent roles including characters in the 2018 film Dying for the Crown, with a role in the short film Another Skin coming one year earlier. It seems like she has no intention of stopping anytime soon, though there’s no word on when her next major role will be, especially taking the current state of the world into account.
Mykelti Williamson as Bubba Blue
An odd fact that most people don’t know is that Mykelti Williamson used a prosthetic lower lip while portraying Bubba Blue, the shrimp-loving Army bud of Forrest in the film. Said role had actually been offered to Dave Chapelle, who said that he regretted turning it down after the fact. Williamson was previously a TV actor before Forrest Gump, starring on shows such as Midnight Caller and The New WKRP Cincinnati.
Mykelti Williamson – Now
Williamson’s most recent role in the film was as Sergeant Hayes in the film The 24th, as well as a handful of episodes in the TV series Lethal Weapon. His acting career is still going strong, with a penchant for playing military men and tough guys, so we expect to see him continue along those lines. Ironically, many of is characters give the same vibe that Bubba Blue did, even when he isn’t playing military types.
Haley Joel Osment as Forrest Gump Jr.
This famous child actor “saw dead people” in the classic The Sixth Sense, but not before he took on the role of Forrest Gump Jr. Oddly enough, he was picked for the role by the director after being seen in an advertisement for Pizza Hut. At the time, Osment was six years old. We’re not really sure which particular Pizza Hut ad scored him the role, but it must have sold a lot of pies.
Haley Joel Osment – Now
Unlike his fellow child actor Humphreys, Osment continued playing in various roles in many films and TV shows after his debut in 1994. Admittedly, most of the films weren’t extremely huge hits, but he’s been acting consistently regardless. More notably, he voiced the main character of the popular video game series Kingdom Hearts, Sora. Today he is still acting in various films and shows as well as playing voices in video games.
Geoffrey Blake as Wesley
Forrest Gump didn’t really have an antagonist in the traditional storytelling sense: there was no big bad villain to be defeated by the protagonist. But if you had to pick someone that played an antagonistic role, it was Wesley, Jenny’s boyfriend, who got a bit rough with her and incurred Forrest’s fury. Wesley was played by Geoffrey Blake, an individual that had guest-starred on shows such as L.A. Law and Hunter.
Geoffrey Blake – Now
Like many of the other actors that played in the movie, Geoffrey Blake has continued his acting career since 1994. Most recently, he had a role in Season 2 of Charmed, and a role in the 2019 World War Two film Midway. The latter film was a major hit last year as far as war movies are concerned, and out of all the movies the actors mentioned here have participated in, this is probably the one most people have seen recently.
Robin Wright as Jenny
In the film, Robin Wright was the love of Forrest’s life, Jenny, and played a huge role in his character development throughout the story. But the movie wasn’t her first major role, nor where she started. That would be the nighttime soap Santa Barbara, with her real rise to popularity being the role she played as the titular character of the classic The Princess Bride. There’s little doubt that her success in those roles influenced the decision to have her play Jenny in Forrest Gump.
Robin Wright – Now
Robin Wright’s career in film and TV hasn’t slowed down at all since Forrest Gump. In fact, one could say it has only accelerated. She was nominated for several awards due to her performance in the TV series Drama House of Cards, which ended in 2018, and she played in Wonder Woman as well. Her life has not changed that much since 1994: she was acting then, and she’s acting now, but she has a much more extensive repertoire.
