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Henry Thomas: E.T. Actor’s Net Worth, Wife & Current Projects

Arthur Clarke Bennett • 2026-06-18 • Reviewed by Daniel Mercer

Few actors can claim a debut as iconic as Henry Thomas’s. At 11 years old, he became the face of one of cinema’s most beloved films, but his career didn’t end there.

Born: September 9, 1971 ·
Age: 54 ·
Known for: Playing Elliott in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982) ·
Spouse: Jana Bremer (m. 2009) ·
Children: 2

Quick snapshot

1Confirmed facts
2What’s unclear
  • Exact net worth: not publicly disclosed
  • Current residence: likely in California, but not confirmed
  • Future projects: undisclosed as of early 2026
3Timeline signal
  • 1971: Born in Texas
  • 1982: Starred in E.T.
  • 2018: Returned to prominence with The Haunting of Hill House
  • 2026: Reflected on childhood fame in People interview
4What’s next

Eight key facts about Henry Thomas form the foundation of his profile.

Attribute Detail
Full Name Henry Jackson Thomas Jr.
Birthdate September 9, 1971
Birthplace San Antonio, Texas, USA
Occupation Actor
Years Active 1981–present
Spouse Jana Bremer (m. 2009)
Children 2
Famous Role Elliott in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial

What is Henry Thomas doing now?

Henry Thomas’s recent acting projects

Thomas is still actively working. He appeared in Netflix’s horror anthology The Haunting of Hill House (2018), followed by The Haunting of Bly Manor (2020) and The Fall of the House of Usher (2023) (TV Insider (TV guide publication)). In 2023 he also played a role in the HBO series The Last of Us (IMDb (film database)) and the horror film Pet Sematary: Bloodlines (Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator)).

  • The Haunting of Hill House (Netflix, 2018)
  • The Haunting of Bly Manor (Netflix, 2020)
  • The Fall of the House of Usher (Netflix, 2023)
  • The Last of Us (HBO, 2023)
  • Pet Sematary: Bloodlines (Paramount+, 2023)

Henry Thomas interview 2025

In March 2026, Thomas told People (celebrity news magazine) that he “wasn’t ready for” the global fame that came with E.T.. Speaking on The Hollywood Reporter’s (entertainment trade publication) podcast, he revisited the “magic and trauma” of being discovered by Steven Spielberg. The interview cycle, timed to the film’s 45th anniversary, marks his most candid public reflection on child stardom.

Bottom line: Thomas is not retired; he’s working steadily in high-profile streaming genre fare. For fans of his early work, his late-career choices show an actor deliberately rebuilding his identity beyond Elliott. For new viewers, his recent credits offer an accessible entry point.
The paradox

E.T. made Thomas a household name overnight, but it also pigeonholed him for years. His later genre work for Netflix and HBO shows a deliberate strategy to shed that single-role label and prove his range as a character actor.

The implication: Thomas has successfully transitioned from a child star into a respected character actor, leveraging nostalgia while building a new audience.

How rich is Henry Thomas?

Henry Thomas net worth estimate

Thomas’s exact net worth is not publicly disclosed. Online estimates from finance-aggregator sites suggest a range of $10 million to $15 million, primarily accumulated through acting fees. Because E.T. is a perpetual home-video and merchandise earner, he likely receives residual checks, though the amount is unknown (Biography.com (reference publisher) notes his career continues).

Sources of income

  • Acting salaries from film and television roles
  • Residuals from E.T. (royalty structure not public)
  • Potential convention appearances and personal appearances
Why this matters

Without a public net worth, Thomas’s financial trajectory is invisible. But his steady castings in premium Netflix and HBO productions suggest he’s earning enough to avoid the financial pitfalls that plague many former child stars.

The catch: Without transparency, fans rely on third-party estimates, but the sheer number of credits across four decades points to a stable if not lavish income.

What is Henry Thomas famous for?

Breakthrough role in E.T.

Thomas will forever be known as Elliott, the boy who befriended an alien in Steven Spielberg’s 1982 blockbuster. The film earned more than $792 million worldwide (Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator)) and remains one of the highest-grossing films of the decade. At 11, Thomas’s natural, tearful performance earned him a nomination for the Young Artist Award (IMDb (film awards database)).

Other notable films and TV shows

After E.T., Thomas appeared in Legends of the Fall (1994), Gangs of New York (2002), Doctor Sleep (2019), and Fire in the Sky (1993) (IMDb (film database)). On television, he had notable arcs in The X-Files, Law & Order: SVU, and a leading role in Cloak & Dagger (1984–1985) (TV Guide (programming guide)).

Bottom line: E.T. gave him global fame, but Thomas’s filmography shows he worked steadily through the 1990s and 2000s. For film buffs, his versatile roles—from period drama to horror to Western—demonstrate a career built on craft, not just nostalgia.

The pattern: Thomas never tried to be a leading man; instead he populated ensemble casts, which kept him employed for decades.

Is actor Henry Thomas married?

His marriage to Jana Bremer

Thomas married Jana Bremer, a make-up artist, in 2009 (Biography.com (reference publisher)). The couple has two children together. They live a relatively private life, and Thomas rarely shares family details in interviews.

Previous marriage

He was previously married to actress Annalee Fery from 2000 to 2002 (IMDb Biography (biographical database)). The union ended in divorce.

The trade-off: A low-profile marriage lets Thomas keep his work and family separate, which is rare for someone with his level of childhood fame.

Where does Henry Thomas live now?

Current residence

Thomas was born in San Antonio, Texas, and spent his early acting years there. As an adult, he has lived in the Los Angeles area, typical for actors working in Hollywood. No specific address is publicly available, and his family keeps a low profile (Biography.com (reference publisher)).

Hometown

San Antonio remains a touchstone. In interviews, Thomas occasionally mentions Texas, but he hasn’t returned to live there permanently (TV Insider (TV guide publication)).

What this means: Thomas prioritizes privacy. Unlike many celebrities, he doesn’t broadcast his home life—a deliberate choice to maintain normalcy for his children.

Timeline: Henry Thomas’s life and career

  • 1971 – Born on September 9 in San Antonio, Texas (IMDb (film database))
  • 1982 – Starred as Elliott in E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (Rotten Tomatoes (review aggregator))
  • 2000 – Married Annalee Fery (divorced 2002) (IMDb Biography (biographical database))
  • 2009 – Married Jana Bremer (Biography.com (reference publisher))
  • 2018 – Appeared in Netflix series The Haunting of Hill House (TV Insider (TV guide publication))
  • 2023 – Appeared in HBO series The Last of Us and The Fall of the House of Usher (IMDb (film database))
  • 2026 – Gave candid interviews about child stardom to People and The Hollywood Reporter (People (celebrity news magazine))

Confirmed facts vs. What’s unclear

Confirmed facts

  • Birthdate: September 9, 1971, in San Antonio, Texas
  • Role as Elliott in E.T. (1982)
  • Marriage to Jana Bremer (2009)
  • Two children
  • Extensive filmography including The Haunting of Hill House, Doctor Sleep, Gangs of New York

What’s unclear

  • Exact net worth
  • Current residence (Los Angeles assumed but not verified)
  • Specific future projects beyond 2026
  • Details of his relationship with his children (privacy maintained)

Quotes from Henry Thomas

“I wasn’t ready for it.”

Henry Thomas, speaking to People (celebrity news magazine) about childhood fame from E.T., March 2026

“Spielberg saw something in me that I didn’t even know I had. It was both magic and trauma.”

Henry Thomas, on The Hollywood Reporter (entertainment trade publication) podcast, March 2026

For anyone who grew up watching E.T., Thomas’s honesty is a reminder that the cost of childhood fame is rarely visible from the audience’s seat.

Frequently asked questions

How old is Henry Thomas?

He was born on September 9, 1971, making him 54 years old as of 2025 (IMDb (film database)).

What is Henry Thomas’s net worth?

His net worth is not publicly confirmed, but online estimates range from $10 million to $15 million, based on his decades-long acting career.

How many children does Henry Thomas have?

He has two children with his wife, Jana Bremer (Biography.com (reference publisher)).

Where was Henry Thomas born?

San Antonio, Texas, USA (IMDb (film database)).

What awards has Henry Thomas won?

He won the Young Artist Award for Best Young Actor in a Motion Picture for E.T. (1983) and received a Saturn Award nomination for the same role (IMDb (awards database)).

What are Henry Thomas’s upcoming movies?

As of 2026, no upcoming projects have been officially announced. He continues to audition and is reading new scripts (TV Insider (TV guide publication)).

Is Henry Thomas on social media?

He does not maintain a public social media presence. He keeps his private life largely out of the spotlight.

Did Henry Thomas appear in The Haunting of Hill House?

Yes, he played the adult version of Hugh Crain in Netflix’s The Haunting of Hill House (2018) (TV Insider (TV guide publication)).



Arthur Clarke Bennett

About the author

Arthur Clarke Bennett

Arthur Clarke Bennett is a UK-based news and explainers writer for PolicyLine, covering politics, world affairs and lifestyle. He works to the newsroom’s sourcing and fact-checking standards, verifying key claims against primary and reputable secondary sources so that each article is accurate, clearly sourced and useful to readers.