Here’s What Really Happened To The Stars Of 'The Lost Boys'

Although he had already quit acting, a teenage Alex Winter decided to return to the screen as The Lost Boys’ magnificently mulleted Marko. He even took a break from film school for the gig. But the whole thing was a risk, as Winter wasn’t convinced the movie would be a hit. He explained in the 2019 documentary In Search of Darkness, “It was impossible to see it working. I was like, ‘[This is] not going to work in spades.’”

Of course, Winter was very, very wrong! The Lost Boys became a huge hit. And two years later, the star returned to acting once again in Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure. With Winters cast as co-lead opposite Keanu Reeves, the film became a classic in its own right – spawning two sequels and a bodacious new form of teen slang.

Despite this success, Winter became burned out by stardom and eventually took a more permanent break from acting. What did he do instead? He began directing, and he’s since made documentaries on the very varied subjects of file sharing, tax havens, and children in Hollywood. Oh, and you may have seen a little sequel called Bill & Ted Face the Music? Winter’s in that, too. Perhaps he still has the acting bug after all.

Joel Schumacher knew he needed someone with just the right amount of sex appeal to play the strong and brooding Dwayne. And, luckily, the director found that in abundance with former model Billy Wirth. In 2020 the filmmaker told Empire, “I thought, ‘I’m gonna put [Wirth] in a motorcycle jacket with no shirt on, and he is gonna be a fabulous Lost Boy.’” Can’t argue with that...

Wirth would prove to be more than just eye candy, though. Following The Lost Boys’ run in theaters, the Brown University alum practically became a jack of all trades as an artist, filmmaker, and musician. He even had a stint on American Gladiators in 1989.

And much like his former co-star Winter, Wirth has been active in the production side of filmmaking – having made his own flick MacArthur Park in 2001. But for all his accomplishments, the actor’s experience on The Lost Boys remains hard to beat. In 2017 he recalled to CherryLosAngeles, “We really did sleep all day, party all night. [It was] a fun time.”

Jason Patric may have been born into a family of actors, but at the time of The Lost Boys’ filming, he was pretty green in Hollywood. Yep, back then, the son of Jason Miller and grandson of Jackie Gleason had only one other theatrically released movie under his belt. But did Patric’s relative inexperience stop him from shining as Michael? Absolutely not!

To start with, Patric had actually resisted The Lost Boys, as he had a loathing for vampire films. No surprise, then, that he’s since stuck almost exclusively to drama. Some of his later work, for example, includes grittier fare such as Sleepers and Narc. Then again, the actor also starred in the 1997 blockbuster Speed 2: Cruise Control. That’s a flop he’d probably rather forget, as it earned him a Razzie nomination for Worst Actor.

But Patric’s most dramatic role would actually occur off screen. In 1991 the actor was at the heart of a shocking celebrity scandal when he stole Kiefer Sutherland’s fiancé Julia Roberts just days before the pair’s wedding. Gasp! In the end, though, Patric and Roberts’ relationship lasted just one year. And, luckily, his friendship with Sutherland – who he acted with on stage in 2012 – since appears to have been salvaged.

As the pack’s only female member, Jami Gertz’s Star was the key in recruiting Michael into the Lost Boys. And, fittingly, the actors had a similar influence on each other before filming began. In real life, however, their roles were reversed. Patric and Gertz had worked together previously, and it was actually he who encouraged his co-star to audition for the film.

Schumacher was similarly wowed by Gertz’s screen presence and even tweaked his initial plans for Star in order to fit the actress’ look. But even though she shone in The Lost Boys and later films such as Twister, Gertz would eventually step back from the movie business. In fact, she would start playing in a completely different court altogether.

What did Gertz end up doing after leaving acting behind? Well, in 2015 she and her husband purchased the NBA’s Atlanta Hawks, and the star now serves as the team’s media ambassador. “If you’re thinking that this is an unusual career change, then don’t worry. You aren’t the only one!” Gertz joked to The Hollywood Reporter in 2018. “It’s not your everyday Hollywood actress tale.”

Blonde-maned Paul was one of the Lost Boys’ more frightening members – even with the laughable nickname of “Twisted Sister.” But Brooke McCarter himself just wasn’t terrifying enough for Schumacher. The director even slapped the star to get a menacing performance out of him during a pivotal scene. Schumacher confessed to Empire, “It’s outrageous – he should have reported me...” Quite.

McCarter didn’t end up pressing charges against Schumacher. But maybe the experience made an impact, as he didn’t pursue his acting dreams much further after The Lost Boys. Instead, after a handful of later roles, McCarter focused on composing, music production, and filmmaking. He even tried his hand at management, overseeing co-star Corey Haim’s career in the ’90s.

McCarter ultimately left Hollywood for Tampa, Florida, where he found a job in telecommunications. But between his work and his role as a single parent, he still found time to appear at conventions. His approachable nature made him a favorite with fans, too. That makes it even sadder to hear that McCarter passed away in 2015 from a liver condition. He was just 52.

While the Lost Boys themselves all looked pretty young, their ringleader took on the appearance of a nerdy middle-aged man. All the better to fool people with? Probably, as in a surprise twist, it’s revealed that Max – the nebbish video shop owner – is really the head vampire. But his reign is abruptly brought to an end with – what else? – a stake through the heart.

Before his stint playing Max, Edward Hermann was primarily known for portraying real-life figures on TV – Franklin D. Roosevelt, for instance. That meant he apparently leaped at the chance to portray something different in The Lost Boys. The actor admitted in 2004’s The Lost Boys: A Retrospective, “I was approached with the script, and I read it and thought it was great. You know, anything to get out of a suit and stop playing historical characters.”

Following The Lost Boys, Hermann would continue acting to great acclaim in film and TV. He even won an Emmy for a 1999 part in The Practice. And, of course, he endeared himself to many as Richard Gilmore in The Gilmore Girls. But this glittering career would come to a sad end in 2014, when Hermann passed away from brain cancer at the age of 71.

Alongside his brother Edgar, Alan was one of the only crusaders fighting against the undead swarm in Santa Carla. But did you know that his character was originally written as an eight-year-old? Yep, you read that right! It goes without saying that they eventually aged Alan up a little – making the 17-year-old Jamison Newlander a better fit for the part.

Newlander had originally dreamed of becoming a doctor. In fact, he actually took up acting in order to pay for his tuition fees. But fate would intervene. Schumacher gave a talk at the young star’s acting class, and this would serve him in good stead when he auditioned for The Lost Boys. Then, following his role as Frog, Newlander made another major screen appearance in 1988’s The Blob.

So, did Newlander ever become a doctor? Nope! He even went so far as to earn a bachelor’s in acting from New York University. From there, he transitioned into writing and directing as well as creating the online user-created soap opera WikisoapTM. But Newlander eventually found himself on the other side of the camera again for 2010’s Lost Boys: The Thirst, which sees Frog join the hordes of the dead.

Barnard Hughes made his acting debut way back in 1935, making him undoubtedly The Lost Boys’ most distinguished cast member. Perhaps that’s why the actor – in character as the Emerson brothers’ root beer-loving grandpa – got the film’s ice-cool closing line. Say it with us: “One thing about living in Santa Carla I never could stomach: all the damn vampires.” Nice.

But Hughes’ vast career wasn’t defined by The Lost Boys, of course. Prior to his casting, the star was an incredibly hardworking actor whose resume looks about as long as War and Peace in length. Yes, it’s estimated that Hughes appeared in 400 film, television, and stage productions throughout his life. He was awarded handsomely, too, winning a Tony and an Emmy.

So, where else have we seen Hughes demonstrate his talent? Well, the actor was most recognizable for films such as Midnight Cowboy and Tron prior to his theater work. And although he was already in his seventies at the time of The Lost Boys’ release, he continued to earn roles long after that. Maybe you remember him from Sister Act 2 or the TV series Blossom? In 2006, though, Hughes would pass away at the age of 90.

Plenty of directors make their own fantasy cast lists for their movies, and Schumacher was no different. He was dead set on getting Dianne Wiest in The Lost Boys, although he wasn’t optimistic. You see, the actress had earned an Oscar for her role in Hannah and Her Sisters the previous year. Schumacher assumed, then, that a vampire film wouldn’t appeal to her tastes.

But much to the filmmaker’s surprise, Wiest was receptive to the idea. And soon enough, Schumacher’s “pipe dream” became a reality when the thespian signed up for the role of the Emerson boys’ mom Lucy. The director admitted on The Lost Boys: A Retrospective, “I couldn’t believe [it] when she said ‘Yes.’ [Wiest] is one of my favorite actresses.” Aww.

The Lost Boys wouldn’t be Wiest’s only dalliance with the fantasy genre, either. Three years later, she starred in Edward Scissorhands as a housewife who discovers a strange robotic man living near her neighborhood. Wiest has primarily stuck to prestige pics since, though, and won yet another Academy Award for her performance in 1994’s Bullets Over Broadway.

Even though he was just a teenager at the time, Corey Haim had a handful of roles under his belt before auditioning for The Lost Boys. And it seemed like earning the role of Sam Emerson was a shoo-in. According to Haim, Schumacher called him by his character’s name upon their first meeting. Talk about a lucky break!

Then, while shooting The Lost Boys, Haim met Corey Feldman. And the teen heartthrobs – known affectionately as “the two Coreys” – went on to have a friendship and successful screen partnership. Feldman recalled to PR.com in 2008, “Whether it be coincidence or some master plan from the studio system, we ended up doing three films back to back.”

Alas, the duo’s popularity would wane in the following decade. And aside from his A&E documentary The Two Coreys, Haim would work mainly outside the mainstream with roles in shlocky B-movies. He also struggled with addiction issues, although his death at just 38 was ultimately chalked up to pneumonia.

As the son of Donald Sutherland, Kiefer Sutherland had, well, pretty much a free pass into Hollywood. He even made his first screen appearance alongside his father in 1983’s Max Dugan Returns. But the younger Sutherland would soon step out of his pa’s shadow and emerge as a talent in his own right with roles such as the intimidating Ace in Stand by Me.

Sutherland soon made an even more menacing impression in The Lost Boys as vampire ringleader David. Inspired by rocker Billy Idol, the actor’s on-screen look lent an iconic physicality to the role – equal parts cool and creepy. Schumacher explained on The Lost Boys: An Introspective, “[Sutherland] has the least amount of dialogue of anyone in the movie, but his presence is extraordinary.” Too true.

And Sutherland’s presence later shone through in Young Guns, A Few Good Men, and Dark City. He also teamed up with Schumacher for four more films, including 1990’s Flatliners. But while Sutherland spent the following decade immersed in moviemaking, it would take a role on television to truly bring him to the next level.

Debuting on Fox in 2001, 24 was a game-changer for Sutherland. As hard-edged government agent Jack Bauer, the actor became beloved by millions. He racked up countless Golden Globe and Emmy Award nominations in the process, too. And it gets better: his frequent on-screen use of the phrase “Damn it!” even inspired a drinking game.

Since 24’s final episode in 2014, Sutherland has remained a mainstay of TV through shows such as Designated Survivor and The Fugitive. But what you may not know is that the star has actually rebranded himself as a country music singer. We wonder what a character as rock and roll as David would think about such a career change...

Corey Feldman was apparently pushed into acting by his parents. Well, we assume they had something to do with it, as he started working in the industry at the tender age of three. But it wasn’t until his teen years that Feldman really made a name for himself with the hits Gremlins, Stand by Me, and The Goonies. And, crucially, it was his work in that last film that led to his casting in The Lost Boys.

Yep, Feldman had a meeting with Schumacher at the suggestion of The Goonies’ director Richard Donner. The result? The young actor became gung-ho vampire killer Edgar Frog, of course! And as fans of The Lost Boys will know, Feldman delved into the role at full throttle. In order to get into character as the merciless mini-Van Helsing, he spent hours watching action movies starring Hollywood tough guys like Sylvester Stallone.

Sadly, while Feldman does have fond memories of working on The Lost Boys, the production wasn’t without its downsides. During filming, for instance, the then-14-year-old actor was routinely using drugs. And his on-set intoxication forced Schumacher to step in with some stern advice. In 2020 Feldman explained on Twitter, “He tried to prevent my descent.”

Sadly, Feldman’s vices would end up hurting his film career. In recent times, the star is perhaps better known for his bizarre rebranding as a pop star and for an infamously strange 2017 performance on The Today Show than his acting. More alarmingly, he has repeatedly made allegations that he was abused as a child by older Hollywood figures.

To this day, Feldman continues to look back at his time on the Lost Boys set with mixed feelings. Yet it definitely wasn’t all bad. Although the movie’s production coincided with a difficult time in his life, the actor remains proud of what he accomplished on screen. He revealed on The Lost Boys: An Introspective, “Just because I had a hard time getting through it doesn’t mean that it wasn’t worth it.” Amen to that.