Henry Jackson Thomas Jr. (born September 9, 1971) is an American actor and musician. He is best known for his breakout role as Elliott in Steven Spielberg's film E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial and more recently with his frequent collaboration with Mike Flanagan. Thomas had a major role as a young Hugh Crain in The Haunting of Hill House and as Henry Wingrave in its follow up The Haunting Of Bly Manor. Later, Thomas had a major role in Midnight Mass as Ed Flynn and The Fall of the House of Usher as Frederick Usher as well as a cameo in The Midnight Club. He appeared as Freedom Jack in one episode of The Midnight Club
Early life[]
He was born in San Antonio, Texas. His mother, Carolyn L. (née Davis), is a homemaker and his father, Henry Jackson Thomas Sr., is a hydraulic machinist. He attended East Central High School and Blinn College.
Career[]
Acting[]
He struggled with the popularity he gained in the months following the release of E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. In November 2019, Thomas reprised his role as Elliott for an Xfinity & Sky UK commercial, in which E.T. returns to visit a now-adult Elliott and his family for the holidays.
Music[]
He wrote songs and played guitar for a San Antonio band, The Blue Heelers (named for the breed of dog), in the 1990s. Although the band was not signed to a record label, it self-produced an album, Twister. Thomas continued to write and record songs. In 1998, his song "Truckstop Coffee" (recorded with the Blue Heelers) appeared on V2's soundtrack for Niagara, Niagara. In 2003, Thomas and Nikki Sudden collaborated on the music for Mika Kaurismäki's film Honey Baby, which featured four original songs written and performed by Thomas as the fictional musician Tom Brackett. An album was in the works, but Sudden died unexpectedly in 2006.
Personal life[]
He married actress Marie Zielcke on May 10, 2004. They have a daughter, Hazel. The couple were divorced in 2007. He also has two children with his current wife Annalee, Evelyn and Henry, and in 2014 moved to Wilsonville, Oregon.
On October 21, 2019, he was arrested and charged with DUII ("driving under the influence of intoxicants") in Tualatin, Oregon, and pleaded no contest on November 18, 2019. He was ordered to participate in a year long diversion program and install a breathalyzer in his car.