The Cast of Forrest Gump, Then and Now

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. So he had more of an impact on the end product than he likely thought at the time. That initial scene of young Forrest running for the first sight is nothing short of iconic.

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.

Sally Field played Forrest's mother in the film, a woman willing to go to any length for his well-being and the success of his future. She's been a star in the industry since the '60s, starring in shows such as The Flying Nun and Gidget. She's a two-time Oscar winner, just like Hanks was at the time, and her 1984 acceptance speech is still one of the most well-known moments in the history of the awards show.

Over the years following 1994, Sally Field has received a Hollywood star of fame, and she still stars in many roles in various films and TV series, as well as theater. She has even written a book, which was published in 2018. Most recently, however, she has been focusing on activism and advocation for personal rights and liberties in the United States, going so far as to participate in public protests. Her voice has proved very influential in those causes.

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.