Henry Thomas' experience of early fame in "ET" led him to advise against children acting for their own children.
Escape to Nowhere (1961) – Early Steven Spielberg film (the most complete version)
Steven Spielberg has made several brilliant films, but one of his most prolific films stands out from the rest for its tear-jerking, heart-pounding nature. No less than a cultural phenomenon, Spielberg's ET the Extra-Terrestrial has touched the hearts of millions since its release in 1982. The film now ranks among the greatest films of all time and is especially captivating thanks to Henry Thomas.
Starring as Elliot, a young boy who befriends an alien, Thomas was a child prodigy whose portrayal made the film even more special and touching. As the young star became an overnight superstar, the rapid rise to success was a double-edged sword as it made his life extremely tumultuous. The impact on his childhood and family life was such that the actor did not want his children to pursue acting.
Little Henry Thomas could not have imagined the impact a small audition would have on his life and that of his family. After making a single film, the young star was only nine years old when he auditioned for one of Steven Spielberg's greatest films of all time, ET the Extra-Terrestrial. The audition changed his life in many ways. One, it made little Thomas an overnight superstar, and two, it disrupted his family life in ways he couldn't have imagined.
