Whatever Happened To The Cast Of Children Of The Corn
While not considered one of the better Stephen King adaptations (it currently has a 5.6 rating on IMDb), 1984's "Children of the Corn" nevertheless was a box office hit and spawned a franchise of 10 films and a remake. The story of a group of creepy children who murder adults in order to bring about a bountiful corn harvest, "Children of the Corn" is based on a short story from King's 1978 collection "Night Shift."
The film was released during a particularly high period for King on screen, as the previous year saw the release of "Cujo," "The Dead Zone," and "Christine," as well as "Firestarter" two months later. The film has gained a cult following over the years, thanks in part to its irresistible premise as well as some truly creepy performances by the children in the cast. Given how young most of the actors were in their iconic roles, you might be wondering if they have continued to work in films or have left the industry altogether. Here's what happened to the cast of "Children of the Corn."
Linda Hamilton
Playing one of the few adults in the film, Linda Hamilton gives a fantastic performance as Vicky, who travels through Nebraska with her boyfriend Burt so he can start his new career. Though mostly known for her television roles at the time, 1984 was a breakout year for Hamilton, as the March release of "Children of the Corn" was followed in October by "The Terminator," featuring her iconic performance as Sarah Connor. She followed this up with her role as Catherine on the 1987 cult TV series Beauty and the Beast (costarring Ron Perlman) and her return as Sarah Connor in 1991's "Terminator 2: Judgment Day."
Unfortunately, nothing she starred in after "Terminator 2" had the same kind of success, and Hamilton focused mainly on television roles and voice work, most notably on "Buzz Lightyear of Star Command" as Dr. Furbanna and as a regular on the series "Chuck." She returned to her most famous role as Sarah Connor in 2019's "Terminator: Dark Fate," but instead of being a triumphant return after two sequels and a reboot, "Dark Fate" instead was a major box office bomb, losing over $120 million. Even though this was intended to be the start of a new trilogy, any sequels to "Dark Fate" were immediately cancelled after the film's performance (per The Hollywood Reporter).
Peter Horton
Though he didn't get as many memorable scenes as the rest of the cast, Peter Horton turned in a solid performance as Burt, whose new career kicks off the story proper. Before his turn in "Children of the Corn," Horton was known for his role on the 1982 TV series "Seven Brides for Seven Brothers," based on the musical of the same name. Though he did have film roles after "Children of the Corn" was released, none were as big as his co-star Linda Hamilton's role in "The Terminator." His biggest role after "Children of the Corn" was his role as Gary Shepherd on the 1987 TV series "Thirtysomething," as well as starring on the short-lived 1998 Fox series "Brimstone" and 2000's "The Geena Davis Show."
Aside from his acting work, Horton has been working as a director since 1985, when he directed his then-wife Michelle Pfeiffer in the ABC Afterschool Special "One Too Many." The couple divorced in 1987 (per People). He has also directed episodes of "Thirtysomething," "The Shield," and "Grey's Anatomy," on which he also served as an executive producer. He recently co-created the series "New Amsterdam," which was initially titled "Bellevue" (per Deadline).
John Franklin
One of the most memorable characters in the film, John Franklin gives a fantastically disturbing performance as Isaac Chroner, the cult leader who begins the sacrifices central to the plot. Though 23 years old at the time, Franklin was cast as the 12-year-old Isaac partly because of a growth hormone deficiency, as he told The Chicago Tribune. After "Children of the Corn," he reunited with costar Linda Hamilton with a role as young Vincent on the "Beauty and the Beast" TV series. He was credited as a "Walkabout Chucky" for his suit work in "Child's Play," but his biggest role was that as Cousin Itt in "The Addams Family" and "Addams Family Values." He also made an appearance in the 1994 cult film "Tammy and the T-Rex."
Franklin returned to the "Children of the Corn" franchise by cowriting and starring in the sixth entry in the series, 1999's "Children of the Corn 666: Isaac's Return." Following a string of impactful events — including the murder of a pregnant friend, the death from cancer of his agent, and the 9/11 attacks — Franklin decided to briefly step away from acting to reflect on his legacy (per Oprah.com). He spent 14 years as an English teacher before deciding to come back to acting and writing. In 2013, Franklin and his cowriter Tim Sulka released the graphic novel "Prime Cuts."
Courtney Gains
Playing Isaac's creepy second-in-command Malachai, Courtney Gains made his film debut in "Children of the Corn" and has gone on to appear in over 100 roles ever since. In addition to low-budget fare such as "Hardbodies," "The Orkly Kid," and "Lust in the Dust," Gains also appeared in hits such as "Back to the Future," "Can't Buy Me Love," and "Sweet Home Alabama." He returned to horror with brief roles in Rob Zombie's 2007 "Halloween" remake and 2011's "Mimesis: Night of the Living Dead." According to Gains, at one point he was on TV every week due to the number of his TV and film roles (per Bands About Movies). He is also widely recognized for his role as a video store clerk in the "Seinfeld" episode "The Smelly Car."
In addition to film work, Gains has also worked as an acting coach and, most notably, as a musician. He has performed with the band Phish and appeared on their live album Vegas 96 (via Discogs). He has released multiple EPs and albums, both solo and as the frontman for his bands Ripple Street and Benny Bliss and the Disciples of Greatness. His music is currently available on Spotify.
Robby Kiger
One of the unlikely heroes of the film, Robby Kiger plays Job, a child who is reluctant to participate in the cult's activities and saves Burt in the climax. Kiger, unlike some of the other children in the film, had multiple roles prior to appearing in "Children of the Corn," including appearances on "The Greatest American Hero," "Who Will Love My Children," and "Happy Endings." After his role in "Children of the Corn," Kiger's next biggest role was in the 1987 cult film "The Monster Squad," in which he played Patrick. He also had a role on the 1984 TV series "Crazy Like a Fox," which ran for two years, and its follow-up 1987 TV movie "Still Crazy Like a Fox."
Unlike the rest of the cast, details on Kiger's post-film life are scarce. His last film role was in 1990's "Welcome Home, Roxy Carmichael," with no further roles in film or TV since. He is currently represented by Convention All Stars LLC, and tours the convention circuit signing autographs for fans.
Anne Marie McEvoy
Playing Job's sister Sarah, Anne Marie McEvoy is one of the lucky survivors of the film, helping Burt and Vicky evade sacrifice and leave the city of Gatlin with their lives. Getting her start with a role on "Archie Bunker's Place," McEvoy's career was almost exclusively limited to appearing on TV shows and in made-for-TV movies. Her only other feature film role was starring in the Japanese film "Piramiddo no kanata ni: White Lion densetsu." She also had a small recurring role as Kathy Santori on the TV series "Full House."
After an appearance on the 1991 series "Sons and Daughters," she retired from acting and focused on her education, receiving a B.A. in Psychology in 2000 from the University of California, Berkeley and a Ph.D. in Education and Psychology in 2007 from the University of Michigan. She has published multiple academic articles and is currently an Assistant Professor at the University of California, Irvine, as seen on the university's website. In 2016 she made a brief return to acting by reprising her role as Kathy Santori in an episode of the "Full House" sequel "Fuller House."
Julie Maddalena
Playing the sermon leader Rachel Colby in her feature film debut, Julie Maddalena left an impression as a disturbing true believer. Though Isaac and Malachai dominate the film as villains, Maddalena holds her own and shows that it's not just the boys in the film that are a threat. Despite her convincing work as an actress, she only had sporadic work in live-action films afterward, appearing in TV shows such as "Falcon Crest" and films such as 1988's "To Die For."
The larger part of her career has been as a voice actress, with a particular focus on anime dubs, cartoons, and video games. With over 150 credits to her name, she has worked steadily ever since getting her start, and has one of the most prolific careers among her peers. Her voice work can be heard everywhere from "Cowboy Bebop" to "Monster High," as well as video games such as "Resident Evil: Outbreak" and "Final Fantasy VII Remake." In addition to her voice work, she also does private coaching and demo prep, teaching directing and acting, as seen on her website.
Jonas Marlowe (Seaman)
Playing the unfortunate child Joseph, a character who is murdered by Malachai while trying to escape Gatlin, Jonas Marlowe has a brief but memorable appearance in "Children of the Corn," his feature film debut. His career in film is also brief, with a mere six credits to his name. "Children of the "Corn" was his only appearance in a feature film, with the rest of his work being on TV. This includes roles in made-for-TV movies and the 1986 TV series "Starman."
Marlowe ended his acting career in 1987, and in an interview with a "Children of the Corn" fan blog, said that when he was 18 he decided that he no longer wanted to pursue a career as an actor. Going by Jonas Seaman, he now works as a professional photographer with his wife Mary. His work has been featured on "The Today Show," "The Ellen Degeneres Show," and "Martha Stewart Weddings."
John Philbin
Playing the child who has a pentagram carved into his body while the other children drink his blood, John Philbin's character Amos shows what happens to the children of Gatlin when they turn 19. Philbin went on to have a memorable role as Chuck, one of the punks in 1985's "Return of the Living Dead," and also made appearances in "Point Break" and "Tombstone." Philbin's skill as a surfer led him to pursue work as a surf instructor, most notably working with the cast of the 2002 film "Blue Crush" (per The Intertia).
In 2015, Philbin had a run-in with the law and faced a weapons charge. During an argument with his girlfriend, Philbin waved a loaded gun while walking out of his house, which was reported by his neighbors. He was sentenced to 30 days in jail and three years probation, as well as mandatory Alcoholics Anonymous meetings and domestic violence classes (via TMZ).
R.G. Armstrong
Playing the elderly mechanic Diehl, the last adult in Gatlin who is killed by Malachai after trying to warn Vicky and Burt to leave the town, Robert Golden "R.G." Armstrong was by far the most experienced actor in the film. Early in life Armstrong wanted to be a writer, but because he came from the steel mills he was concerned about the stigma his community would attach to such an artistic profession (per AL.com). Regardless, in 1966 he told The Idaho Statesman that he had written "nine full-length plays, four unpublished novels, and 50 unpublished poems." Armstrong's acting career began in 1954 and included roles on such famous TV series as "The Rifleman," "Maverick," "The Twilight Zone," and "The Andy Griffith Show." He was mainly known as an actor in Westerns, and in addition to his work on "Gunsmoke" and "Bonanza" he also worked with famed director Sam Peckinpah on the films "Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid," "The Ballad of Cable Hogue," and "Ride the High Country."
After his appearance in "Children of the Corn," Armstrong continued to appear in memorable films such as "Predator" and "Dick Tracy." He also played the evil Lewis Vendredi on "Friday the 13th: The Series." His last film role was in 2001's "The Waking." He died at the age of 95 of natural causes in 2012.