Most child stars fade into a “where are they now?” footnote, but Henry Thomas took a different path. Instead of chasing the spotlight that found him at age 10, he quietly built a career that has lasted more than four decades, trading Hollywood’s frenzy for steady character work and a life in Texas.
Born: September 9, 1971 (age 54) ·
Breakthrough Role: Elliott in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) ·
Net Worth Estimate: Approx. $4 million (various sources) ·
Spouse: Annalee Fery (married since 2004) ·
Number of Children: 2
Quick snapshot
- Born in San Antonio, Texas on September 9, 1971 (Wikipedia biography)
- Best known as Elliott in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (Biography.com profile)
- Married Annalee Fery in 2009 after two previous marriages (Wikipedia)
- Has worked steadily since his child-star debut (TheRichest analysis)
- Exact net worth figures vary between $1.5 million and $5 million across sources (TheRichest estimate)
- Current residence details — past addresses include Oregon, but recent interviews suggest Texas (Wikipedia)
- Relationship status: married to Annalee Fery since 2009, though some reports mention a 2025 dating rumor (Wikipedia)
- 1982: Breakout role in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (Biography.com)
- 2018-2023: Netflix resurgence via Mike Flanagan horror series (Wikipedia)
- 2024-2025: Multiple new film projects including High Ground and The Curse of the Necklace (IMDb filmography)
- Upcoming film The Asylum listed in post-production (IMDb)
- Continued collaboration with Mike Flanagan expected (Wikipedia)
- Appearances at fan conventions including Terrificon 2025 (YouTube panel footage)
Seven key facts about Henry Thomas, drawn from verified sources:
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Full Name | Henry Jackson Thomas Jr. |
| Date of Birth | September 9, 1971 |
| Place of Birth | San Antonio, Texas, USA |
| Height | 5 ft 9 in (1.75 m) |
| Net Worth | Approx. $4 million |
| Spouse | Annalee Fery (m. 2004) |
| Children | 2 |
What is Henry Thomas doing now?
Recent Film and Television Roles
Since 2016, Henry Thomas has been part of what fans call the “Mike Flanagan ensemble,” appearing in six of the director’s productions. The run began with Ouija: Origin of Evil and continued through Gerald’s Game, Doctor Sleep, The Haunting of Hill House, The Haunting of Bly Manor, and Midnight Mass (Wikipedia filmography). In 2023 he starred in the Lifetime film Secrets at the Museum (E! News report).
- 2023: Secrets at the Museum (Lifetime) — lead role
- 2023: The Fall of the House of Usher — appeared in Netflix limited series (Saturn Awards interview)
- 2024: The Curse of the Necklace — horror feature (IMDb)
2025 Projects and Appearances
As of 2025, Thomas has at least three projects in various stages. High Ground and The Curse of the Necklace are listed as completed or released, while The Asylum — where Thomas plays a character named Axel — is in post-production (IMDb). He also attended fan conventions including Terrificon 2025, where he discussed his career and upcoming work (Terrificon panel video).
Thomas has found a second career act not by chasing bigger roles, but by latching onto a single director’s horror universe — a strategy that gave him eight years of steady, high-profile streaming work.
The implication: Thomas has effectively traded the uncertainty of audition-based acting for a reliable partnership. For a former child star, that kind of professional stability is rare.
How rich is Henry Thomas?
Estimated Net Worth
Net worth estimates for Henry Thomas range widely. TheRichest celebrity finance tracker pegs his net worth at approximately $1.5 million, while other aggregate sources estimate between $3 million and $5 million. The discrepancy reflects the difficulty of tracking residuals from a 1982 film and income from smaller indie projects.
Sources of Income
Thomas’s income comes from three main streams: acting salaries, residuals from E.T. (though these diminish over time), and voice work. He has not been involved in major endorsement deals or business ventures. He also performs music with the Los Angeles band Farspeaker (Biography.com), though this is unlikely to be a primary income source.
Thomas’s career choices — indie films, streaming series, steady but unflashy roles — suggest he prioritized longevity over earning potential. For a former child star, that trade-off has paid off in career duration rather than accumulated wealth.
The catch: without a public financial disclosure, any net worth figure is an educated guess. The safest read is that Thomas is comfortable but not wealthy by Hollywood standards.
What is Henry Thomas famous for?
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
Henry Thomas is undeniably defined by his role as Elliott in Steven Spielberg’s E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. He was cast at age 10 after being discovered at a local audition in Texas (Biography.com). The film became the highest-grossing movie of its time and earned Thomas a Saturn Award nomination. Decades later, fans still approach him about the role — a weight he has acknowledged in interviews.
Other Notable Roles
Thomas built a substantial resume beyond E.T. He appeared in Legends of the Fall (1994), Martin Scorsese’s Gangs of New York (2002), and The Last Ride (2004) (Biography.com). More recently, his work in Flanagan’s horror anthology series introduced him to a new generation of viewers who may not have known his child-star past.
- Legends of the Fall (1994) — co-starred with Brad Pitt
- Gangs of New York (2002) — directed by Martin Scorsese
- The Haunting of Hill House (2018) — Netflix, as adult Hugh Crain
- The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020) — Netflix, as Henry Wingrave
- Midnight Mass (2021) — Netflix, as Ed Flynn
E.T. didn’t trap Thomas the way child stardom traps many actors. He used it as a foundation rather than a ceiling — a distinction that explains both his career longevity and his low public profile.
What this means: Thomas’s filmography reads less like a former child star’s decline and more like a working actor’s steady climb.
Where does Henry Thomas live now?
Residence in Texas
By 2014, Thomas had moved to Wilsonville, Oregon (Wikipedia). However, more recent reports and interviews suggest he has returned to his home state of Texas, likely in the Austin area. He has deliberately avoided the Los Angeles celebrity circuit, which aligns with his career choices — filming on location or in studios rather than seeking Hollywood proximity.
Family Life and Privacy
Thomas keeps his personal life guarded. He does not maintain an active public social media presence and gives few interviews. When he does speak publicly, it is usually at fan conventions or film festivals where the conversation stays focused on his work (Saturn Awards interview).
The pattern: Thomas’s location choices mirror his career philosophy — stay out of the spotlight, work consistently, raise a family on his own terms.
Who is Henry Thomas’s wife?
Annalee Fery: Background
Henry Thomas’s marriage history is more complicated than most profiles acknowledge. He has been married three times. His first marriage was to Kelley Hill (2000–2002). His second was to Marie Zielcke on May 10, 2004, which ended in divorce by 2007; they had a daughter together (Wikipedia).
He married Annalee Fery in 2009 (Wikipedia). An AOL entertainment article noted that Thomas has two children with Fery, in addition to his daughter from his previous marriage to Zielcke.
In a conversation with People magazine (March 2026), Thomas reflected on childhood fame: “I wasn’t ready for the attention that came with E.T.”
Marriage and Children
Thomas and Fery have two children together, a son and a daughter (IMDb). The family lives in Texas, and Thomas has deliberately kept his children out of the public eye.
The implication: Thomas’s three marriages and blended family reflect a man who eventually found stability after several attempts — a parallel to his career path.
Henry Thomas: Career Timeline
- 1971 — Born in San Antonio, Texas
- 1981 — Film debut in The Black Stallion Returns (cameo)
- 1982 — Stars as Elliott in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
- 1994 — Appears in Legends of the Fall
- 2002 — Role in Martin Scorsese’s Gangs of New York
- 2004 — Marries Marie Zielcke (divorced 2007)
- 2009 — Marries Annalee Fery
- 2018 — Stars in The Haunting of Hill House (Netflix)
- 2021 — Appears in Midnight Mass (Netflix)
- 2024–2025 — Continues acting in film and TV projects
Confirmed Facts vs. Unclear Claims
What’s Confirmed
- Henry Thomas played Elliott in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982)
- He was born on September 9, 1971 in San Antonio, Texas
- He has been married three times
- He is currently married to Annalee Fery
- He has three children total: one from a previous marriage and two with Fery
- He has acted consistently since childhood
- Since 2016, he has worked extensively with filmmaker Mike Flanagan
What’s Unclear
- Exact net worth (sources range from $1.5 million to $5 million)
- Specific details about his current residence (Texas vs. Oregon)
- Full list of upcoming projects in 2025 beyond what IMDb lists
- Whether a 2025 rumor about dating India Eisley has any merit
thehistorymakers.org, scene.ikere-west.mlga.ek.gov.ng, sword-buyers-guide.com, instagram.com, entertaining-options.com
Fans curious about his more recent work can find a comprehensive Henry Thomas update at a comprehensive Henry Thomas update.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is Henry Thomas’s real name?
Henry Jackson Thomas Jr.
How old is Henry Thomas?
Born September 9, 1971 — he is 54 years old as of 2025.
What is Henry Thomas’s nationality?
American. He was born in San Antonio, Texas.
Is Henry Thomas still acting?
Yes. He has multiple projects in 2024–2025, including High Ground, The Curse of the Necklace, and The Asylum.
What is Henry Thomas’s height?
5 ft 9 in (1.75 m).
Did Henry Thomas win an award for E.T.?
He received a Saturn Award nomination for his performance as Elliott in E.T. He did not win.
What other movies has Henry Thomas been in?
Notable films include Legends of the Fall, Gangs of New York, and Netflix series The Haunting of Hill House, Midnight Mass, and The Fall of the House of Usher.
Is Henry Thomas active on social media?
No. He maintains a very low public profile and does not have an active verified social media presence.
Related reading
- Tina Majorino 2026: Still Acting? Relationship, Net Worth & More — another former child star’s career trajectory
- Dean Winters: Health, Career, and Net Worth – Full Biography — biography of a character actor with a similar steady-career arc
For the actor who grew up in front of cameras he never asked for, the choice is clear: keep working, stay quiet, and let the work speak for itself. Or chase the spotlight and risk losing the balance it took four decades to find.
James Mitchell is Editor-in-Chief at Southern Monitor, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.