What Happened To The Cast Of The 1996 Matilda Movie?

Roald Dahl was my favourite author as a child and I knew Matilda would be a smash too when it debuted in 1996 on screen.

“Matilda” is a children’s novel written by British author Roald Dahl. The story follows the titular character, a young girl named Matilda, who is a brilliant and curious child but is often mistreated by her neglectful parents and tyrannical headmistress. With the help of her kind teacher, Miss Honey, Matilda discovers that she has the power of telekinesis and uses it to stand up to her oppressors and bring about positive change. “Matilda” has been widely popular since its publication in 1988 and has been adapted into several stage and screen productions, including a film adaptation released in 1996 and a successful Broadway musical. It is considered a classic of children’s literature and has been praised for its humor, wit, and themes of empowerment and overcoming adversity.

Adapted from the Roald Dahl novel of the same name, the comedy was co-produced and directed by Danny DeVito who also starred in the film. The new Netflix adaptation Matilda the Musical starring Emma Thompson, Alisha Weir, and Lashana Lynch, has sparked a renewed interest into the classic musical which features a cast of unforgettable characters, including the fearsome Agatha Trunchbull and everyone’s favorite school teacher, Miss Honey, you’re probably a little curious what they’re all up to these days.

Despite its popularity, the movie didn’t do well at the box office, earning around $33 million on a budget of $36 million. Matilda has a 91% score on Rotten Tomatoes and has become a classic movie with a powerful message that resonated with audiences who gave it a 73% score from over 250,000 ratings.

Roald Dahl’s ‘Matilda’ adaptation became a solid film favorite when it was released in 1996. But where are the cast of the film now?

8 Where Is Jean Speegle Howard Now?

Before she was in Matilda, Jean Speegle Howard was an already established actress having debuted four decades prior. After portraying Miss Phelps, the librarian, in the movie, she went on to star in many other movies and TV shows including appearances in Buffy the Vampire Slayer (1997) and Unhappily Ever After (1996-1998).

Howard starred in The Hiding Placein June 2000 just before she passed away from complications from heart and respiratory illness in September that year. Her sons, Ron and Clint Howard, also have successful careers in Hollywood.

7 What Happened To Rhea Perlman?

In the movie Rhea Perlman played Matilda’s narcissistic mom Mrs. Wormwood. Like, Jean Speegle Howard, Perlman, too, has had a very long career that dates back to the early 1970s.

She has starred in Houdini (1998), Lemon 2017, and most recently she appeared in 13: The Musical and as Dawn in Little Demon in 2022. Perlman, who is now 74, is set to appear in the upcoming Barbie movie and four other projects currently in production.

6 What Is Danny Devito Doing These Days?

Danny Devito famously played Mr. Wormwood in Matilda, he also voiced Swackhammer in Space Jam and starred in Mars Attacks! in 1996. Since then, he’s starred in When In Rome (2010), Dumbo (2019), and alongside Rhea Perlman, he voiced Satan in Little Demon (2022).

The actor is a part of about five projects that are being produced including Disney’s Haunted Mansion which is set to be released in 2023.

5 Pam Harris Played Miss Trunchbull

Pam Harris is known for playing Agatha Trunchbull the tyrannical headmistress at Crunchem Hall school. She is also known for Children of Men (2006) and Harry Potter and the Prisoner of Azkaban (2004). The award-winning actress most recently played Marie in Beauty and the Beast: A Comic Relief Pantomime for Christmas (2021).

4 Embeth Davidtz Played Miss Honey

When Emeth Davidtz was cast as Miss Honey in Matilda, she had already appeared in several films and TV shows. With nearly 50 acting credits, the 55-year-old actress continues to appear on the big and small screens.

In 2014, Davidtz starred in The Amazing Spider-Man 2 as Mary Parker, and she finished her tenure as Dr. Nancy Shepherd on Grey’s Anatomy in 2019. Davidtz, who appeared this year on an episode of Tales of the Walking Dead, will be starring in the upcoming action thriller Retribution.

3 Who Played Bruce Bogtrotter In Matilda?

Roald Dahl’s cake-stealing schoolboy Bruce Bogtrotter was Jimmy Karz’s first acting role.

He was just 12 years old when he was cast for the role. Karz starred in one more film after Matilda, The Wedding Singer, and the TV series ER in 1998. He is now a doctor at the Philadelphia College of Osteopathic Medicine.

2 What Happened To Kiami Davael?

Like Karz, Kiami Davael’s role in Matilda was her first acting gig. The 10 year old was cast as Matilda’s friend, Lavender, who slipped a salamander into Miss Trunchball’s water glass.

Since then, Kiami has starred in seven TV shows and the 2000 movie, Bruno. After Bruno, Kiami went off the radar for a while, but she returned this year in two projects The Forfeiture Clause and Whealthy and Wise.

1 What Happened To Mara Wilson ?

Before being cast to play Matilda, Mara Wilson had already starred in several blockbuster hits like Mrs. Doubtfire in 1993 and just a year later she played Susan Walker in Miracle on 34th Street. When Mara Wilson played Matilda Wormwood, she was just 9 years old, the same year that her mother died following a battle with breast cancer. The film was dedicated to her memory.

Mara Wilson is an actress, writer, and producer best known for her roles as a child actress in films such as “Mrs. Doubtfire,” “Miracle on 34th Street,” and “Matilda.” She started her acting career at a young age and appeared in several films and television shows before retiring from acting in the late 1990s. Since then, Wilson has focused on writing and producing, and has published a book of personal essays and a play. She is also active on social media, where she shares her thoughts and experiences as an actress and writer.

The former child star had previously taken a break from acting, but in recent years, Mara Wilson has mostly done voice acting for shows including BoJack Horseman for which she voiced Jill Pill.