Forrest Gump cast now: From tragedy to Hollywood comeback as blockbuster turns 30

Forrest Gump is officially turning 30 this year, and movie buffs now have the chance to watch the Robert Zemeckis classic for free.

The iconic historical drama is currently available to stream for anyone with a Sky Cinema or NOW Cinema subscription.

Originally released in 1994, beloved star Tom Hanks portrays Forrest, a simple but determined man with an IQ of 75.

Throughout his life, he encounters important political and cultural figures, life-changing events and tries to prove himself worthy of love to his childhood crush Jenny Curran (played by Robin Wright).

Featuring some of the most recognisable faces in movie history, what is the cast of Forrest Gump up to now?

Tom Hanks as Forrest Gump

Forrest Gump cast now: From health scares to Hollywood comeback (Image: PARAMOUNT PICTURES)

Tom Hanks

Actor, writer and director Tom Hanks is still considered royalty to this day, his films earning almost a staggering $10 billion worldwide.

After breaking out in comedies like Splash and Big, he has since dipped his toes into every genre imaginable, such as the survival drama Cast Away, war classic Saving Private Ryan, sci-fi epic Cloud Atlas and the animated Toy Story franchise.

His most recent appearances include playing the adored children’s TV presenter Mr Rogers in A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood, ’s notorious manager Colonel Tom Parker in Elvis and a bereaved father in Asteroid City.

He has recently re-teamed with Forrest Gump director Zemeckis and co-star Wright in the ambitious drama film Here, which tells a decades-spanning family story from a single perspective.

Hanks has written the books Uncommon Type and The Making of Another Major Motion Picture Masterpiece and married his current wife Rita Wilson in 1988. They have two sons, including internet personality and actor Chet.

Robin Wright and Tom Hanks

Robin Wright has starred in several huge films and recently made her directorial debut (Image: PARAMOUNT PICTURES)

Robin Wright

Hanks’ co-star Robin Wright is equally beloved by fans after starring in some of the most iconic films of all time, such as The Princess Bride and Unbreakable.

She has starred in several recent franchise films, including Wonder Woman, Blade Runner 2049 and Justice League and made her directorial debut with the 2021 film Land. Wright is also well-known for the hit series House of Cards.

After an on-off relationship with Sean Penn, their divorce was finalised in 2010 before Wright began a relationship with actor Ben Foster. They were engaged twice but finally called it quits in 2015.

She then began dating Saint Laurent executive Clément Giraudet in 2017, secretly wedding the following year but Wright has since filed for divorce in 2022.

Gary Sinise as Lieutenant Dan

Gary Sinise suffered a tragic loss at the start of this year (Image: PARAMOUNT PICTURES)

Gary Sinise

Lieutenant Dan Taylor star Gary Sinise has endured a difficult personal life away from the screen.

His wife Moira Harris was diagnosed with breast cancer in 2018 and is thankfully now cancer-free as of this year.

However, in January of this year, he suffered a devastating loss as their son McCanna ‘Mac’ Anthony Sinise died after being diagnosed with chordoma, a rare spine cancer, also in 2018.

In 2011 he founded the Gary Sinise Foundation which provides charitable support and programs for injured veterans, mirroring his role as an amputee vet in Forrest Gump and inspired by his childhood growing up in a family of veterans.

Mykelti Williamson and Tom Hanks

Bubba star Mykelti Williamson has made the transition from acting to directing (Image: PARAMOUNT PICTURES)

Mykelti Williamson

Despite portraying one of Forrest Gump’s most iconic supporting characters, Benjamin Buford ‘Bubba’ Blue, actor Mykelti Williamson hasn’t enjoyed the same level of success as some of his co-stars.

However, his career is nothing to be sniffed at as he has appeared in a number of other popular films such as Lucky Number Slevin, Black Dynamite, The Purge: Election Year and Fences, opposite Denzel Washington and Viola Davis.

He has also landed major roles in hit American shows like Designated Survivor, Chicago P.D., the Lethal Weapon reboot and this year’s Fallout.

Plus, he has also expanded his career behind the camera, too, directing episodes of shows in the Chicago Franchise, FBI and Sweet Magnolias as well as the TV film Spring Breakthrough.

Haley Joel Osment as Forrest Jr

Haley Joel Osment made his film debut playing Forrest Jr (Image: PARAMOUNT PICTURES)

Haley Joel Osment

Most recognised for his role in The Sixth Sense, child star Haley Joel Osment has turned his attention to indie films, TV and voice acting in recent years.

In 2006, his career suffered a setback when an auto accident left him with a broken rib and a fractured shoulder blade. He had to serve three years probation and 60 hours in alcohol rehab after pleading no contest to driving while under the influence and drug possession.

However, he bounced back in 2014 with an appearance in Kevin Smith’s cult comedy-horror Tusk, later landing roles in Entourage, Extremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil and Vile and Amazon Prime Video’s hit superhero series The Boys.

His latest film credit was in Zoe Kravitz’s directorial debut Blink Twice, a thriller starring Channing Tatum. Could this be the start of Osment’s big comeback?

Forrest Gump is available to watch with a Sky Cinema or NOW Cinema membership.

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