Summary
- The cast of John Carpenter's Christine has gone on to have long and successful careers in Hollywood, with some transitioning to directing.
- Keith Gordon, who portrayed Arnie Cunningham in Christine , has become a prolific director, with credits on shows like Nurse Jackie and Better Call Saul .
- Kelly Preston, who played Roseanne in Christine , became a well-known actor with roles in films like Jerry Maguire and Battlefield Earth , and married John Travolta. She passed away in 2020.
With many decades having passed since the 1983 release of John Carpenter's Christine, it's safe to say that the movie's cast has done a lot since then. Carpenter's horror film was written by Bill Phillips, based on Stephen King's horror novel of the same name. It follows a teenage nerd named Arnie Cunningham, who becomes obsessed with his new car, the titular Christine. Like the author's other works, the story takes a dark turn, with Christine revealed to be one of Stephen King's many killer cars prevalent in his novels and short stories.
Given its focus on teenage characters, the film adaptation starred a number of young actors who were just starting out in their careers, including Alexandra Paul, John Stockwell, and Kelly Preston. While relative unknowns in 1983, they've mostly gone on to have long careers in the many years since Christine's premiere, becoming much bigger names than they were when cast in the horror movie. Two of the film's main stars even changed careers to focus more on directing than acting.
Keith Gordon (Annie Cunningham)
After portraying the main character Arnie Cunningham in Christine, Keith Gordon went on to star in a few TV shows and movies, including Back to School, and appearing in single episodes of series like Miami Vice and Dexter. Since making his feature directorial debut in 1988 with The Chocolate War, Gordon has spent most of his time behind the camera, with credits on shows like The Leftovers, Nurse Jackie, and Better Call Saul and the movies A Midnight Clear and Mother Night. More recently, he directed an episode of Dispatches from Elsewhere.
John Stockwell (Dennis Guilder)
John Stockwell played former football player Dennis Guilder in Christine. Like Keith Gordon, he's also primarily worked as a director while continuing his acting career. Stockwell most notably appeared in 1986's Top Gun as Cougar, with his most recent credited acting work being in the 2018 limited series Escape at Dannemora. The movies he has directed include Blue Crush and Into the Blue, and he also helmed episodes of the TV series The L Word from 2007 through 2009. More recently, he directed the 2017 action-horror film Armed Response.
Alexandra Paul (Leigh Cabot)
New student Leigh Cabot was portrayed in Christine by Alexandra Paul, whose most notable work after the John Carpenter horror movie was playing Stephanie Holden on Baywatch from 1992 through 1997. Paul reprised the role in Baywatch: Forbidden Paradise, Baywatch Nights, and Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding. Her other popular movies have included Dragnet and Spy Hard. In later years, she mostly appeared in lesser-known shows and movies, including her role of Abigail Muñoz in the 2023 movie Baby Steps.
Robert Prosky (Will Darnell)
Played by Robert Prosky in the film adaptation of Christine, Will Darnell owns the garage where Arnie restores his car. The actor went on to appear in many popular films, including his roles as Grandpa Fred in Gremlins 2: The New Batch, Mr. Lundy in Mrs. Doubtfire, Ernie Merriman in Broadcast News, Nick in Last Action Hero, Father Cavanagh in Rudy, Hilton Barber in Dead Man Walking, and Judge Harper in 1994's Miracle On 34th Street. Prosky died in 2008, and his final performance arrived posthumously in the 2009 movie The Skeptic.
Harry Dean Stanton (Detective Rudy Junkins)
One of the greatest character actors of all time, Harry Dean Stanton was already a Hollywood veteran by the time he played Detective Rudy Junkins in Christine. After appearing in the Stephen King adaptation, Stanton appeared in the films Pretty In Pink, Repo Man, Red Dawn, The Green Mile, Lucky, and Marvel's The Avengers. He was a regular collaborator of David Lynch, having co-starred in the movies Wild at Heart, The Straight Story, Inland Empire, and Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me and later appeared in five episodes of Twin Peaks: The Return. Stanton died in 2017, though his final credit came posthumously in the 2020 movie Frank and Ava.
Christine Belford (Regina Cunningham)
After her role as Arnie's mom, Regina Cunningham, in Christine, Christine Belford acted regularly for two decades, primarily in television, but has slowed down since the '90s. While mostly playing one-off characters on episodes of such shows as Who's the Boss and The Golden Girls, Belford had recurring roles on the sitcom Silver Spoons, the soap opera All My Children, and the teen drama Beverly Hills, 90210. Her last acting credit came with the 2007 TV movie Ruffian.
Roberts Blossom (George LeBay)
Roberts Blossom played George LeBay in Christine before continuing his acting career through the '80s and '90s. His most famous role came in 1990 as Kevin's seemingly scary neighbor, Marley, in Home Alone. He also played Doc Wallace in the 1995 Western The Quick and the Dead, Judge Evans in Doc Hollywood, and Weasel Mayfield in the 1999 Disney TV movie Balloon Farm, which was his final role. Blossom died in 2011.
William Ostrander (Clarence "Buddy" Repperton)
William Ostrander played the bully Clarence "Buddy" Repperton in Christine. He hasn't acted in many popular shows or movies since, though he appeared in episodes of the shows Angel, Touched by an Angel, and Knots Landing. Ostrander also worked as the 2nd Assistant Director on the production of David Lynch's Mulholland Drive. In the 2000s, he mostly left acting behind and began a contracting business. In 2016, he ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, which he lost, and in 2018 also unsuccessfully ran for a seat in the California State Assembly.
David Spielberg (Mr. Casey)
David Spielberg played the high school teacher Mr. Casey in Christine. Like Alexandra Paul, he later appeared in Baywatch, though he only filled a number of different one-off roles over the course of a few episodes of the show. He also had a brief recurring role on ER and appeared in episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation and Law & Order. His last credited role was in the 2007 horror movie Flight of the Living Dead. Spielberg died in 2016.
Malcolm Danare (Peter "Moochie" Welch)
Out of everyone in the Christine cast, Malcolm Danare, who played Buddy's friend Peter "Moochie" Welch, is one of the actors who worked the most consistently throughout the years. He has appeared in such movies as National Lampoon's European Vacation, Heaven Help Us, Independence Day, and 1998's Godzilla where he played a role that he reprised in voice form for a Godzilla animated series. In 2012, he voiced the character Kipling in the animated film Monster High: Escape from Skull Shores, and through the 2010s, he voiced Tiny in the Monster High series Ever After High, based on the line of dolls of the same name.
Steven Tash (Richie Trelawney)
After playing Richie Trelawney in Christine, Steven Tash booked a role in one of the most popular movies of the '80s. Tash is credited as "Male Student" in 1984's Ghostbusters. He hasn't acted in anything since the 1988 movie Beach Balls but has participated in events tied to both Christine and Ghostbusters in recent years.
Stuart Charno (Don Vandenberg)
Another one of Buddy's friends in Christine is Don Vandenberg, portrayed by Stuart Charno. The actor worked in various genres after Christine, playing Reptile in the teen comedy Just One of the Guys, Bennie in an episode of the fantasy drama series Beauty and the Beast, and The Puppet on an episode of The X-Files. He returned to the horror genre for 2011's Horrorween. Charno also wrote three episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation but hasn't done any credited screen work in Hollywood since 2011.
Kelly Preston (Roseanne)
Kelly Preston played Roseanne in Christine and went on to become one of the most well-known actors in the film. Her career rose in the '80s with starring roles in Mischief, Secret Admirer, Twins, and SpaceCamp. She later co-starred in Jerry Maguire, Battlefield Earth, What a Girl Wants, The Cat in the Hat, Sky High, For Love of the Game, and The Last Song. Preston also memorably played a socialite in the music video for Maroon 5's 2004 single "She Will Be Loved." While filming 1987's The Experts, Preston met John Travolta, whom she married in 1991 and had three kids with. She died in 2020.
Robert Darnell (Michael Cunningham)
Robert Darnell played Arnie's father, Michael Cunningham, in Christine. In the decade after co-starring in the horror movie, the actor appeared in the movie Malibu Express and the TV shows L.A. Law, The Bold and the Beautiful, and The A-Team. He died in 1991.