The Original 'A Christmas Story' Cast Looks So Different 37 Years Later
The Original 'A Christmas Story' Cast Looks So Different 37 Years Later
Christmas officially begins with a 24-hour marathon of A Christmas Story. Originally released in 1983, the holiday comedy introduced the Parker family with Ralphie (Peter Billingsley) on a mission to get his hands on a Red Rider 200-shot Range Model air rifle. Today, more than 37 years later, fans still laughing along to Old Man Parker (Darren McGavin) swearing at the good-for-nothing furnace, and Mother Parker (Melinda Dillon) trying to get Randy (Ian Petrella) to eat his dinner. If you’ve ever wondered what the cast of A Christmas Story is up to now, you’ll want to check out our full rundown while you watch Ralphie jump through hoops to get his most desired Christmas gift.
Then: Peter Billingsley
Before he was the iconic be-speckled Ralphie Parker, Peter Billingsley starred in a handful of shows and TV movies, including Paternity which featured actor Burt Reynolds. When the native New Yorker began his career, at age 7, he appeared in a commercial for Hershey's Syrup as "Messy Marvin" — a young boy known for creating messes except when he wanted a glass of chocolate milk.
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Now: Peter Billingsley
Since A Christmas Story, Peter has continued to act and land roles in The Dirt Bike Kid, The Wonder Years, Elf, and Spider-Man: Far from Home, among others. In addition to starring in The Break-Up, Iron Man, and Four Christmases, he was also an executive producer. With this new set of skills, Peter revisited his childhood masterpiece as the executive producer of A Christmas Story: The Musical, which premiered on Broadway in 2012 and received three Tony nominations the following year.
Then: Darren McGavin
Best known for his prolific TV career, Darren McGavin got his start on Broadway appearing in critically acclaimed productions, including Death of a Salesman, The Rainmaker, and The King and I. He then transitioned to title characters in hit series like Mike Hammer, Kolchak: The Night Stalker, and Riverboat before playing the role of Ralphie and Randy's grumpy, not-so-handy dad. The Old Man Parker, as he's affectionately known in the film, also really knew how to swear and directed most of his frustration towards that good-for-nothing furnace. Oh, and the dogs next door, of course.
Now: Darren McGavin
Darren went on to portray the opinionated patriarch in the CBS sitcom Murphy Brown, for which he received an Emmy Award nomination in 1990. Afterwards, the Washington native had supporting roles in the horror movie Happy Hell Night and comedy Billy Madison, opposite Adam Sandler. In 2006, Darren died at the age of 83 in Los Angeles.
Then: Melinda Dillon
Melinda Dillon's history with acting runs deep. Before playing beloved Mother Parker in A Christmas Story, she earned a Tony Award nomination for her 1963 Broadway debut in Who's Afraid of Virginia Woolf? She was then nominated for a Golden Globe Award for her role in the biographical film Bound for Glory. Over the next five years, she'd go on to be a two-time Oscars nominee for her performances in the sci-fi film Close Encounters of the Third Kind and the thriller Absence of Malice.
Now: Melinda Dillon
After being at the center of Ralphie's quest to get the Red Rider 200-shot Range Model air rifle for Christmas, Melinda (pictured on the right), scored notable roles in the comedy Harry and the Hendersons, Barbra Streisand's romantic drama The Prince of Tides, and the psychological drama Magnolia, among others. She has also guest starred in TV shows like The Twilight Zone, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit, and Heartland.
Then: Ian Petrella
Ian Petrella began his acting career at age 3, thanks to the encouragement of his aunt who worked at a talent agency. More than a decade later, the California native landed his iconic role as Ralphie's little brother, Randy. Before that, Ian had only appeared once in front the cameras as a guest on the crime drama TV show CHiPs.
Now: Ian Petrella
After the classic holiday film, at the age of 17, Ian became the youngest member to be accepted to the prestigious Groundling's Comedy Theater in Los Angeles, where he took comedy workshops. A jack-of-all-trades, Ian eventually decided to train and perform all over the world as a puppeteer. While doing this, he also discovered a passion for animation and cartooning. In 2013, Ian reunited with his fellow cast members for the 20th anniversary of A Christmas Story. This rekindled his love of acting and while he's appeared as new characters again, he's also co-founded a production company.
Then: Scott Schwartz
Oh, Flick. Scott Schwartz's character should have stuck up for himself instead of licking that frozen pole — but, after all, he was triple-dog-dared. Unlike many of his costars, Scott got his big break before A Christmas Story, when he starred alongside Richard Pryor and Jackie Gleason in The Toy. The New Jersey actor also filmed the comedy Kidco in 1982, but it wasn't released until two years later.
RELATED: Here's Where 'A Christmas Story' Was Filmed 37 Years Ago
Now: Scott Schwartz
Since the late 1980s, Scott has managed a sports and movie memorabilia store, Sports and Movie Stuff, with his father in Simi Valley, California. In 2014 he became president of "A Minor Consideration," an organization that lobbies for the protection of children in the entertainment industry. During the coronavirus pandemic, Scott began appearing in the YouTube comedy series The Quarantine Bunchalongside other child stars.
Then: R.D. Robb
R.D. Robb made his acting debut as Schwartz, one of Ralphie's friends, who famously dished out Flick's triple-dog-dare.
Now: R.D. Robb
R.D. continued to act after A Christmas Story and landed a role in The Brady Bunch Movie as Charlie Anderson. In 1995, he co-wrote and directed Don's Plum, an angst-ridden teen short film that starred Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire. Shortly after, R.D. appeared on the medical drama show ER and the fantasy comedy movie Matilda. He's also produced a handful of projects, including the Freeform TV series Siren. Most recently, R.D. guest starred in ABC's comedy series The Goldbergs as a photographer.
Then: Zack Ward
Zack Ward was inspired by his mother, actress Pam Hyatt, to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. Although she had initial reservations, Zack quickly proved himself. After auditioning alongside 300 other children actors, Zack landed the role of Ralphie's nemesis, "yellow-eyed" Scut Farkus. Interestingly enough, he was originally up for the part of Scut's sidekick, Grover.
Then: Zack Ward
With more than 100 credits to his name, Zack's acting career took off in 1983 and hasn't stopped since. The Canadian actor has starred in numerous TV shows, including Anne of Green Gables, Friday the 13th: The Series, NYPD Blue, Titus, Charmed, Lost, NCIS, Girlfriends, CSI, Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles, Cold Case, American Horror Story, among many others. In addition, he's played characters in films like Freddy vs. Jason, Resident Evil: Apocalypse, and Sharknado: Heart of Sharkness. In 2014, Zack co-founded Global Sports Financial Exchange, a platform that allows fans to invest in professional teams. Four years later, in 2018, he married Jennifer McMahan.
Then: Yano Anaya
Yano Anaya made his acting debut at age 11, playing Scut's sidekick, Grover Dill.
Now: Yano Anaya
Yano continued acting for a handful of years after A Christmas Story. He had a minor role in the surrealist teen dark comedy film Better Off Dead. In 1988, he was featured alongside Dylan McDermott and Dean Stockwell in the indie flick The Blue Iguana. Most recently, in 2017, he was a part of the comedy drama Sunday Mornings. Yano turned his attention to health and fitness, becoming "a body transformation expert and exercise science educator." In 2009, he married Selena Anduze.
Then: Tedde Moore
Tedde Moore's acting career began more than two decades before she appeared as Miss Shields. Starting from 1961, she appeared in TV shows like Encounter, Police Surgeon, Sidestreet, and For the Record. Tedde was also featured in a mix of movie roles, including Rip-Off, Second Wind, Murder by Decree, and The Amateur. She won Best Supporting Actress at the Canadian Film Awards for her work in Second Wind.
Now: Tedde Moore
Throughout the years, Tedde has been spotted in shows, and TV movies. Her most notable work includes the TV series Friday the 13th: The Series, RoboCop: Prime Directives, and The Kennedys. She's also lent her voice for the children's animated shows Rolie Polie Olie and Little Einsteins. What's more, Tedde has made a name for herself in the Hallmark world, appearing in Mistletoe Over Manhattan and Magical Christmas Ornaments.
Here's where the hilarious characters ended up. ??