Fans of 1980s classic movie E.T. will remember Robert MacNaughton as Elliott's older brother Michael, which was his first big screen role.
The actor, then 16, starred opposite Drew Barrymore in the family Sci-Fi flick, and even has his former co-star to thank for setting up with his now wife. Let's see what the actor is up to now, some 44 years after his breakthrough role.
© Getty ImagesHe was a teen actor
Robert went on to star in a few films and TV movies in the eighties, including I Am The Cheese in 1983, and A Place to Call Home. However, he later worked mostly in theaters, including acting in Henry V at the New York Shakespeare Festival.
Revealing how he got into acting, Robert revealed in 2018: "My desire of acting came about because I wanted to be a writer. I was twelve, I wrote a script for Star Trek and the teacher couldn't find anybody else that wanted to do the script - so I performed it. Then I found out that I really loved that a lot more. It was easier than writing and I was able to express myself more with acting than as I could as a writer."
© Ron Galella Collection via GettyRetirement from acting
The former teen star retired from acting in 2002 and moved into a much more low-key job as a mail handler in Phoenix, Arizona and New Jersey.
However, he decided to return to the movies 11 years later when he starred in Laugh Killer Laugh, alongside his wife, Bianca Hunter, and Frankenstein vs The Mummy.
© Getty Images for TCMDrew Barrymore played matchmaker
Robert has his former co-star Drew Barrymore and her mother to thank for meeting his wife, as they set them up on a blind date. He and The Fighter star Bianca married in 2012 and share one son together, called Noah. Bianca is also a mum to sons Hunter, Henry and Harley from her previous marriage.
© Getty Images for TCMHe still supports E.T.
While he is no longer in the public eye, Robert still makes appearances in honor of his work in E.T., including attending the movie's 40th anniversary events in 2022 and stepping out at fan conventions.
It seems that Robert is happy to be retired from acting, and has no plans to return. Speaking to The After Movie Diner in 2018 about his future plans, he said: "That's easy I work for the US Postal Service so I don't have any acting projects. Hopefully just more conventions and I'm doing one in Manchester in two weeks which I'm looking forward to attending."
