Few films have captured the imagination and hearts of audiences like the 1985 Steven Spielberg-produced classic, “The Goonies.” This timeless coming-of-age masterpiece centered around a lovable group of friends from the “Goon Docks” neighborhood of Astoria, Oregon who embark on a life-changing treasure hunt adventure.
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Though several decades have passed since the theatrical debut of “The Goonies,” the film continues to resonate profoundly with fans both old and new. Its endlessly quotable dialogue, spectacular set pieces and universal themes of enduring friendship make “The Goonies” essential viewing for each new generation.
Let’s take a nostalgic trip to catch up with the cast behind this unforgettable, magical movie that refuses to be forgotten:
Sean Astin (Mikey)
As the optimistic leader of the Goonies gang, Sean Astin left an indelible mark on pop culture as Mikey. Though “The Goonies” served as Astin’s film debut, his acting career took off afterwards with starring roles in beloved films like the inspirational football drama “Rudy” and the epic fantasy trilogy “The Lord of the Rings“, where he portrayed the loyal Samwise Gamgee.
Decades after first yelling the iconic line “Goonies never say die!”, Astin continues his prolific acting career with recent appearances in hit shows like “Stranger Things” (an ode to the nostalgic 1980s movies that influenced it like “The Goonies”) and “The Big Bang Theory.” Off-screen, Astin has been happily married since 1992 and has three daughters.
Josh Brolin (Brand Walsh)
As Mikey’s cynical, intimidating yet ultimately devoted older brother Brand Walsh, a young Josh Brolin held his own against the formidable Sean Astin. Though Brolin maintained a steady acting career after “The Goonies,” his major Hollywood breakthrough came decades later when he delivered an Oscar-worthy performance as the chilling assassin Anton Chigurh in the 2007 Coen Brothers classic “No Country for Old Men.”
Though Brolin maintained a steady acting career after “The Goonies,” his major Hollywood breakthrough came decades later when he delivered an Oscar-worthy performance as the chilling assassin Anton Chigurh in the 2007 Coen Brothers classic “No Country for Old Men.”
Other critically acclaimed dramatic turns in films like “Milk,” “True Grit” and “Sicario” solidified Brolin as one of the industry’s most respected actors. Of course, mainstream audiences now best recognize him as Thanos from the record-shattering Marvel Comics Universe films “Avengers: Infinity War” and “Avengers: Endgame.” Married and divorced twice over the years, Brolin has two adult children in addition to two young daughters with his current wife Kathryn Boyd.
Corey Feldman (Clark ‘Mouth’ Devereaux)
Fans best remember Corey Feldman for his hilarious take on the brazen, girl-crazy jokester Mouth whose nonstop antics irritated and entertained in equal measure. Thanks to his magnetic, memorable comedic performance in “The Goonies,” Feldman shot to fame as a veritable 1980s teen idol.
He quickly parlayed his newfound stardom into major starring roles in era-defining hits like “The Lost Boys,” “License to Drive” and “Stand By Me,” where he played Tedy Duchamp — the incorrigible, mischievous storyteller perfectly complementing his Goonies character. Though his film and TV opportunities waned after his early success, Feldman switched directions and spent much of the 1990s focused on his music career.
He named his dear friend Michael Jackson as a major influence, even releasing a song referencing their timeless friendship shortly after Jackson’s tragic death. Now a father himself living in Los Angeles, Feldman still acts occasionally when not focused on touring with his eclectic band Corey Feldman and the Angels.
Jeff Cohen (Lawrence ‘Chunk’ Cohen)
As the adorably roly-poly, food-obsessed Chunk, Jeff Cohen crafted an instantly iconic character whose signature Truffle Shuffle dance moved an entire generation. Though Chunk represented Cohen’s big screen debut as well, he soon stepped away from life as an actor after struggling to land roles outside of his Goonies fame.
Rather than bitterness at his acting prospects, Cohen channeled that ambition into an entirely different career path: entertainment law. After graduating with a law degree from UCLA in 1991, Cohen co-founded the prominent Beverly Hills firm Cohen & Gardner, LLP which represents major players across Hollywood, including his costar, Jonathan Ke Quan who played Data in the film.
When not passionately fighting for the rights of actors, writers and directors in court, the former on-screen jokester Cohen displays his quick wit and humor as a writer for outlets like Huffington Post. He revisits his past acting glory by making occasional cameo appearances too, as seen in a 2022 Super Bowl commercial featuring several Goonies cast members introducing the Truffle Shuffle to a new generation.
Jonathan Ke Quan (Richard ‘Data’ Wang)
As the ingenious gadget whiz Data, Jonathan Ke Quan made an immediate splash with his scene-stealing performance. Capitalizing on the momentum from “The Goonies,” Ke Quan reunited with executive producer Steven Spielberg to play the iconic role of Short Round — Indy’s daring young sidekick in the blockbuster sequel “Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom.”
Though Ke Quan’s acting career subsequently slowed over the next few decades, he actively worked in Hollywood as an acclaimed stunt choreographer and coordinator behind the scenes. After his industry hiatus from acting, Ke Quan recently returned to the screen with a bang thanks to an emotional, universally-praised supporting turn in the indie sci-fi hit “Everything Everywhere All At Once.”
With critics clamoring for an Oscar nomination for his moving portrayal of the heroine’s husband Waymond Wang, it seems safe to say that Ke Quan is crafting an inspiring comeback story for the ages.
Kerri Green (Andrea ‘Andy’ Carmichael)
As Andy, the girl-next-door love interest of shy Brand, Kerri Green epitomized the sweet, approachable girl of one’s dreams for many viewers. Though “The Goonies” catapulted Green’s early career as an in-demand young actress, she eventually stepped back from acting in the early 1990s to study art and history at Vassar College.
After completing her studies, Green co-founded an independent film company focused on creating more substantive roles for women both in front of and behind the camera called Independent Women Artists. She continues balancing her producing duties with the occasional return to acting through appearances in shows like “Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.”
Martha Plimpton (Stephanie ‘Stef’ Steinbrenner)
With her pitch-perfect tomboyish edge as the sarcastic, brazen Stef, Martha Plimpton completed the Goonies gang and appealed to young female viewers in particular who idolized her strength and attitude. Rather than chase mainstream Hollywood stardom after her attention-grabbing turn in “The Goonies,” Plimpton carved her own path overflowing with challenging character roles across cinema as well as Broadway.
She earned her first Tony Award nomination for her fierce performance in the play “The Coast of Utopia” in 2007, following that up with two more nominations in just a few short years. Plimpton also earned an Emmy nomination for her complex portrayal of a harried NYC attorney juggling the legal and personal turmoil of clients and family alike in the critically acclaimed series “The Good Wife.” Moviegoers most recently heard her stellar voice work as the protective warrior Yelena in the animated Disney fantasy sequel “Frozen II.”
John Matuszak (Lotney ‘Sloth’ Fratelli)
As the grotesque yet good-natured Fratelli family outcast Sloth, the late football legend-turned-actor John Matuszak left behind an immortal cinematic legacy despite his tragically short career. Though covered in layers of makeup that took hours to apply before filming on “The Goonies”, Matuszak brought a surprisingly nuanced, emotional quality to the physically-deformed but warmhearted Sloth.
Audiences connected to his longing for friendship and bonding with Chunk in particular, cementing Sloth as a fan favorite character. In addition to the Goonies, Matuszak’s acting career had memorable moments like guest spots on “The A-Team” and “MAS*H“. Sadly his life was cut short in 1989 due to an accidental prescription drug overdose.
The Goonies Cast Today & The Goonies Legacy
Though the individual paths of the starring young actors may have diverged over the years since first joining together for the life-changing magic of filming “The Goonies”, their bond rooted in this once-in-a-lifetime shared experience seems greater than ever before.
Sean Astin perhaps sums up the overwhelming sentiment of his fellow cast members best: “The friendships still exist; the relationships still exist…This movie has maintained its exalted status in our lives because it was our first opportunity to bond, and we’ve kept that bond our whole lives.” From Josh Brolin’s enthusiastic social media re-posts of Goonies tributes to Corey Feldman naming his music label “Goonies Never Say Die Records”, the kids who made movie history together so many years ago remain tied together forever thanks in large part to this classic movie.
Though the old pirate ship is now dusty and the underground caverns long since collapsed, the magical spirit of “The Goonies” sails on for generations to come — urging both the cast and devoted fans alike to keep chasing unforgettable adventures against all odds just like the Goonies themselves.
The Goonies Movie Cast: Where Are They Now?
Not only was the Goonies movie a must-watch film for every 1980s tween, but it also served as a launching pad for several talented child actors. Among them are Josh Brolin (The Avengers, No Country For Old Men and True Grit), Sean Astin (The Lord of the Ring, Encino Man), and Martha Plimpton (Pecke, 200 Cigarettes).The Goonies also stars Jeff Cohen, Corey Feldman, Kerri Green, Jonathan Luke Ke Huy Quan, John Matuszak, Robert Davi, Joe Pantoliano, and Anne Ramsey.
So where are the Goonies cast today? Some of them went on to star in major film projects, while others chose to pursue life behind the camera. Here’s what the Goonies cast has been up to since the film’s release in 1985.
- Sean Astin (Mikey): Goonies was Sean Astin’s first major film. In the years since, he’s starred in a string of successful projects, including Rudy (1993) and The Lord of the Rings trilogy (2001-2003) and the second season of Stranger Things (2017).
- Corey Feldman (Mouth): Goonies helped launch Feldman as a 1980s teen idol. He followed up Goonies with a string of Hollywood hits, including Stand By Me (1986), The Lost Boys (1987), The ‘Burbs (1989), and License to Drive (1988).
- Josh Brolin (Brand): Brolin didn’t have the same instant success as some of his costars, like Felman and Astin, but he would go on to have an incredibly successful film career. After Goonies, Brolin acted in smaller films and TV shows until 2007 with his breakout roles in No Country for Old Men, American Gangster, and Grindhouse. Some of Brolin’s other notable films include True Grit (2010), W. (2008), Men In Black 3 (2012), and both Avengers: Infinity War (2018) and Avengers: Endgame (2019), where he played the mega villain, Thanos.
- Jeff Cohen (Chunk): If you’ve been wondering what happened to Chunk from Goonies, you aren’t alone. Jeff Cohen, the actor who played Chunk, quit acting after the film. He’s still “in” show business, just not in front of the camera. Cohen is now an entertainment lawyer at Cohen Gardner Law in Beverly Hills, and in 2011 he wrote a book on dealmaking.
- Ke Huy Quan (Data): At the time Goonies was released, Ke Huy Quan was already a familiar face in Hollywood. Right before Goonies, he played Harrison Ford’s sidekick in Indiana Jones And The Temple Of Doom (1984). After some acting roles, including Encino Man (1992) and an episode of Head Of The Class (1986), Ke Huy Quan focused on coordinating stunt projects behind the camera. But in 2022, he made a triumphant return to the main screen in the film Everything Everywhere All At Once where he won an Oscar for his supporting role.
- Kerri Green (Andy): In addition to Goonies, Green starred in a couple more 1980s hit films, including Lucas (1986) and Summer Rental (1985). She then took a break from acting to attend Vassar College. After acting in a string of TV shows, she now has a film production company called Independent Women Artists.
- Martha Plimpton (Stef): After Goonies, Plimpton went on to star in both film and Broadway projects. A few of her major stage roles include The Coast of Utopia (2006-2007), Top Girls (2007-2008), Pal Joey (2008-2009), and Hedda Gabler (2005). She has three Tony Awards nominations. Plimpton’s notable TV and film roles have included Pecker (1998), 200 Cigarettes (2002), The Mosquito Coast (1986), The Blacklist, and Frozen II (2019).
- John Matuszak (Sloth): Professional football player turned actor, Matuszak’s other TV and film credits include One Crazy Summer (1986), Cheers, M*A*S*H, and Miami Vice. He died in 1989, just a couple of years after Goonies from an accidental overdose.
- Robert Davi (Jake): After reviewing Davi’s list of work, it looks like he is either cast as a villain or a cop. Davi has played the “bad guy” in Die Hard (1988), License To Kill (1989), and Stargate: Atlantis (2004-2008), to name a few. But when he’s not the bad guy, he’s a cop or FBI agent. You might have recognized Davi playing law enforcement roles in The Pretender and Profiler, among others.
- Joe Pantoliano (Francis): In addition to having significant roles in The Sopranos (1999-2006), Sense8 (2015-2018), and The Matrix (1999), Pantoliano is also an author. His book is titled “Asylum: Hollywood Tales from My Great Depression: Brain Dis-Ease, Recovery, and Being My Mother’s Son” and details his struggles with depression.
- Anne Ramsey (Mama Fratelli): Ramsey had something in common with her young Goonies costars: Goonies was the first major film for all of them. Throughout the 1970s, Ramsey played small episodic roles in TV shows, including Wonder Woman, CHiPs, and Charle’s Angels. But she wouldn’t get her first significant film role until The Goonies when she was already in her mid-50s. Ramsey followed up Goonies with Danny DeVito and Billy Crystals’ film, Throw Momma from the Train (1987) and received an Oscar nomination for her acting. Ramsey sadly passed away from cancer a couple of years later in 1989.
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