Then and now: The cast of 'Jurassic Park' 29 years later

Publish date: 2024-06-29
Updated

THEN: Sam Neill starred as leading paleontologist, Dr. Alan Grant.

Sam Neill in "Jurassic Park." Murray Close/Getty Images

Grant gets invited to the dinosaur-filled island home to Jurassic Park.

NOW: Neill reprised his role in "Jurassic Park III" and is back in "Dominion."

Sam Neill reprises his role in "Jurassic World: Dominion." Universal Studios

After "Jurassic Park," Neill appeared in TV series, including "The Tudors" and "Peaky Blinders."

Before returning to the "Jurassic" franchise, he played Thor's father, Odin, in "Thor: Ragnarok."

THEN: Laura Dern played paleobotanist Dr. Ellie Sattler.

Never forget Dr. Sattler's glasses. Murray Close/Getty Images

She accompanied Dr. Grant on his trip to Jurassic Park.

NOW: Dern has appeared in "Star Wars" and is reprising her "Jurassic" role in "Dominion."

Laura Dern attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Universal Pictures "Jurassic World Dominion" on June 06, 2022 in Hollywood, California. Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic

Recently, Dern was in HBO's critically-acclaimed "Big Little Lies," the return of "Twin Peaks," and appeared in "Star Wars: The Last Jedi."

She's set to return for a second season of "Big Little Lies" on HBO and will star in Apple TV+'s adaptation of "Mr. and Mrs. American Pie."

THEN: Jeff Goldblum played Dr. Ian Malcolm.

Most people remember his shirtless scene. Universal

He's a mathematician who is a big believer in chaos theory.

NOW: Goldblum has appeared in many TV and movie roles since, including a Marvel movie. He's also back in "Jurassic World: Dominion."

Jeff Goldblum in "Jurassic World: Dominion." Universal Pictures

Goldblum also reprised his role in an "Independence Day" sequel. His appearance in "Fallen Kingdom" is briefer than some fans may hope

Goldblum had a scene-stealing role in "Thor: Ragnarok" and appeared on HBO Max's "Search Party." He also has a Disney+ series, "The World According to Jeff Goldblum."

THEN: BD Wong played geneticist Dr. Henry Wu.

BD Wong in "Jurassic Park." Universal Studios

Wu was responsible for overseeing the creation of the park's dinosaurs. 

NOW: He reprised his role in the "Jurassic World" franchise and is back in "Dominion."

Henry Wu, as seen in "Jurassic World: Dominion." The geneticist may have pushed his engineering skills too far in "Jurassic World: Dominion." John Wilson, Universal Pictures

In the "Jurassic World" franchise, Wu created the hybrid T. rex/Velociraptor dino called the Indominus rex. As a result, he was stripped of his doctorate.

That doesn't stop him from continuing his research. He'll be responsible for engineering something more devastating to the planet in "Jurassic World: Dominion."

Since the 1993 film's release, Wong also popped up on "Gotham" as another mad scientist, popular villain Hugo Strange. He was also in "Mr. Robot," "The Flash," and will appear on HBO Max's upcoming animated series "Gremlins: Secrets of the Mogwai."

THEN: As chief park engineer Ray Arnold, Samuel L. Jackson memorably told us to hold on to our butts.

Don't count on Samuel L. Jackson being in a sequel. Universal YouTube Channel

Arnold was killed by a raptor while trying to restore the power in the park. Sattler finds his arm when she goes in search of him.

NOW: From "Star Wars" to "The Avengers," what hasn't Samuel L. Jackson been in?

Jackson traded in the lightsaber for an eyepatch in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. Disney/Marvel Studios

Jackson currently stars in Apple TV+'s "The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey."

Jackson has played Nick Fury in several Marvel movies, including "Captain Marvel" and "Avengers: Endgame." He'll reprise the role in Disney+'s upcoming "Secret Invasion" series and 2023's "Captain Marvel" sequel, "The Marvels."

THEN: Wayne Knight was the park's computer programmer Dennis Nedry.

Dennis wears a colorful floral shirt. Universal

He gets eaten by a Dilophosaurus while trying to navigate the park with stolen dinosaur embryos.

NOW: Knight voices a villain on HBO Max's "Harley Quinn" animated series.

Wayne Knight in 2021. Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images for Sony Pictures Classics)

Knight famously played Jerry's nemesis Newman on "Seinfeld."

Recently, Knight has appeared on "Narcos" and has voiced the Penguin on HBO Max's animated "Harley Quinn" series, which is returning for a third season this summer on the streamer.

THEN: Richard Attenborough was John Hammond, the creator of Jurassic Park.

Hammond's image appears in "Fallen Kingdom." Universal via YouTube

He wanted to keep the dinosaurs in a sanctuary that visitors of all ages could visit.

NOW: Attenborough died in 2014. His last credited role was as narrator of the 2002 comedy "Puckoon."

Attenborough attends the Galaxy British Book Awards in 2008. Getty Images

Attenborough was also a director. His last film was "Closing the Ring" in 2007.

THEN: Joe Mazzello played Tim Murphy, grandson of the park's founder.

Tim looks up to Dr. Grant. Universal

Obsessed with dinosaurs, Tim really wants to see a T. rex while visiting the park. He gets his wish, but not in the way he'd like.

NOW: Mazzello has popped up in many different movies and shows since "Jurassic Park."

Joseph Mazzello attends the 2019 Vanity Fair Oscar Party hosted by Radhika Jones at Wallis Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts on February 24, 2019 in Beverly Hills, California. Jon Kopaloff/WireImage via Getty Images

Mazzello played Facebook co-founder Dustin Moskovitz in 2010's "The Social Network" and appeared in "Bohemian Rhapsody."

You may also recognize him from roles in "Justified," "Elementary," "Person of Interest," and, most recently, "American Crime Story."

THEN: Ariana Richards was Tim's sister, Lex.

Lex is the older of the two siblings. Universal via YouTube

In the film, she's a very good computer hacker.

NOW: Richards could most recently be seen in the TV horror movie "Battledogs" in 2013.

Ariana Richards attends the Los Angeles Premiere of Universal Pictures "Jurassic World Dominion" on June 06, 2022 in Hollywood, California. Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic via Getty Images

Richards also appeared in "The Lost World: Jurassic Park" in 1997. She attended the "Dominion" premiere, pictured above.

THEN: Martin Ferrero played lawyer Donald Gennaro, who meets his fate in an unfortunate place.

This was not a good hiding spot. Universal via YouTube

He gets eaten by a T. rex after he cowardly abandons the kids.

NOW: Ferrero has appeared in several movies, including "Heat" and "Get Shorty."

Here he is in 2013 at The Academy Spotlights VFX Game-Changers: "Jurassic Park 3D." Valerie Macon/Getty Images

Back in 2011 he brought Donald Gennaro back for a College Humor video.

The sketch pokes fun at the fact that his character is most likely to get eaten by a dinosaur, given that he is nowhere near as important to the story as the scientists are.

Ian Phillips contributed to an earlier version of this story.

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