How have Phoebe Cates, Corey Feldman, and the rest of the cast coped with being terrorized by little green monsters in the 1984 classic?
Forty years ago, somebody didn’t follow the very strict and very clear rules about their new pet, unleashing havoc in the process.
Director Joe Dante’s 1984 horror comedy, Gremlins, saw a horde of frighteningly hilarious little monsters take over a small town at Christmastime, and film-goers loved it — but hopefully not after midnight! The film came in second at the box office on its opening weekend (behind another ’80s classic, Ghostbusters). In the four decades since, it’s become not only a cult favorite but also an offbeat holiday staple.
In 1990, the film spawned an even more wild sequel, Gremlins 2: The New Batch, and more recently, Netflix revived the franchise in an animated series, Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai.
On the 40th anniversary of Gremlins’ release, let’s check in on the film’s cast to see how they’ve fared since being tormented by the little green ghouls.
Zach Galligan as Billy
In recent years, Zach Galligan has revisited the Gremlins universe. He appeared in a 2021 Mountain Dew commercial alongside his furry Mogwai companion Gizmo (voiced by Howie Mandel) and lent his voice to a character in Netflix’s animated series Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai.
Galligan married Ling-Ling Hu Ingerick in 2005, but the couple divorced five years later.
Phoebe Cates as Kate
After making a splash in an iconic bikini scene in 1982’s Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Phoebe Cates stole the spotlight again as Billy’s love interest, Kate, in Gremlins. She delivered a memorable monologue about why she hates Christmas — a moment she spoofed in Gremlins 2.
She continued to work throughout the ’80s and early ’90s in comedies like Date with an Angel (1987) and Drop Dead Fred (1991), as well as dramas like Bright Lights, Big City (1988).
Phoebe Cates met her future husband, Kevin Kline, while auditioning for The Big Chill. The couple married in 1989, appeared in two films together, and then Cates stepped away from acting to focus on raising their children. In 2001, she briefly returned for Leigh’s directorial debut, The Anniversary Party, and in 2015, she reprised her Gremlins role for the video game Lego Dimensions.
Howie Mandel as Gizmo
Already a star of NBC’s St. Elsewhere, Howie Mandel lent his voice to the adorable fuzzy Mogwai Gizmo in Gremlins. He went on to feature in ’80s comedies and voice characters on Muppet Babies, and even starred in his own animated series, Bobby’s World (1990-1998).
Mandel has remained active in films and TV, frequently appearing as himself. More recently, he’s embraced roles as a game show host and reality show judge, most notably on Deal or No Deal and America’s Got Talent. Last year, he competed as the Rock Lobster on The Masked Singer.
He met his wife Terry in their teens, and they married in 1980. The couple has three children, and Mandel has spoken openly about his struggles with obsessive-compulsive disorder, a condition he shares with his eldest daughter.
Corey Feldman as Pete
After playing Billy’s sidekick Pete in Gremlins, Corey Feldman starred in iconic ’80s movies like The Goonies, Stand by Me, and The Lost Boys, making him a major child star. He also partnered with Corey Haim in films, earning them the “The Two Coreys” nickname.
Feldman has struggled with addiction and faced controversy, including allegations of sexual misconduct. In 2020, he released a documentary alleging that he and Haim were sexually abused as child stars.
Besides acting, he has released several albums. Feldman has been married three times and has one son with his second wife, Susie Sprague.
Hoyt Axton as Billy’s Dad
A prolific singer-songwriter and actor, Hoyt Axton brought warmth to the role of Billy’s father. After Gremlins, Axton continued acting in shows like Diff’rent Strokes and Murder, She Wrote, as well as releasing music through the ’90s.
Axton was married four times and had five children. He passed away at the age of 61 in 1999.
Keye Luke as Mr. Wing
Before his role as Mr. Wing in Gremlins, Keye Luke had a long career starting in the 1930s with roles in Charlie Chan films and The Green Hornet serials. He continued working into his 80s with appearances on The A-Team, Miami Vice, and The Golden Girls.
Luke reprised his role in Gremlins 2 and appeared in his final role in Woody Allen’s Alice. Luke was married to his wife Ethel until her death in 1979 and he passed away in 1991 at the age of 86.
Dick Miller as Mr. Futterman
Dick Miller was a familiar face in Joe Dante’s films, and his role as Mr. Futterman in Gremlins was no exception. He appeared in several Dante films and became the subject of a 2014 documentary, That Guy Dick Miller. His final film, Hanukkah, was released posthumously in 2019.
He was married to Lainie Miller from 1959 until his death in 2019 at the age of 90. They had one daughter.
Polly Holliday as Mrs. Deagle
Polly Holliday, best known as Flo in CBS’s Alice, played the sinister Mrs. Deagle in Gremlins. She appeared in guest roles on The Golden Girls and Home Improvement, and films like Mrs. Doubtfire and The Parent Trap.
Holliday’s last acting role was in 2010’s Fair Game.
Judge Reinhold as Gerald
Phoebe Cates’s co-star Judge Reinhold played Billy’s rival, Gerald, in Gremlins. He also starred in Beverly Hills Cop and its sequels, and in The Santa Clause series. His guest appearance on Seinfeld earned him an Emmy nomination.
Reinhold is set to return in the upcoming Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F. He married Amy Miller in 2000, and their daughter Haley was born in 2013. Reinhold was previously married to Carrie Frazier in the ’80s.
Jonathan Banks as Deputy Brent Frye
Jonathan Banks, known for his roles in Beverly Hills Cop and Gremlins, is perhaps best recognized today by Breaking Bad fans as Mike Ehrmantraut. His performance earned him five Emmy nominations from Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul.
His latest work includes the Apple TV+ sci-fi series Constellation and an upcoming role in HBO Max’s Kite Man: Hell Yeah! Banks has three children with his second wife, Gennera, and one daughter from his first marriage.
