The Cast of Forrest Gump, Then and Now

It’s been over 25 years since the hit film ForrestGump came to this world. One look at how much the cast members changed over the years makes it obvious just how long it has been.

Michael Conner Humphreys as Young Forrest

Humphreys played the younger Forrest in the movie, which was actually the young actor’s debut in a film as a whole. Interestingly, Hanks even went as far as to say that he modeled the voice of the older Forrest Gump off of the way Humphreys himself spoke.

Michael Conner Humphreys – Now

Following the film, Humphreys didn’t initially return to cinema, instead choosing to remain a normal kid in Mississippi. He served in the United States Army from 2005 to 2010, which included more than one deployment in Iraq. After enlistment, he actually did find his way back to Hollywood, starring in the 2011 war film Pathfinders: In the Company of Strangers. Since then, Humphreys has been living a relatively normal life as a teacher, though he claims that he would like to return to acting at some point in the future.

Gary Sinise as Lieutenant Dan

Ah, Lieutenant Dan. Your lack of legs only added to your charm and character development. Gary Sinise, who played Lieutenant Dan Taylor, actually started his career in traditional theater, but he caught Hollywood’s attention after playing a starring role in the 1992 movie adaptation of the book Of Mice and Men, which he also had a hand in directing. It was that success that helped Sinise make the cut for Forrest Gump, and we’re glad he did: he played Lieutenant Dan better than anyone could have.

Gary Sinise – Now

Since playing Lieutenant Dan, Gary Sinise has had roles in many shows and movies, including Apollo 13 and CSI: NY. Most notably, he started the Gary Sinise Foundation in 2011, which raises money for disabled veterans and even helps provide them with smart homes tailored to their needs. His band, The Lt. Dan Band, has performed for veterans on hundreds of stages, including military bases and even warzones. In 2018 the foundation raised $35 million for veterans of the United States Armed Forces.