Whatever happened to the cast of the first 'Jurassic Park'?

Many of us still remember the great 1993 Spielberg-directed production about dinosaurs devouring almost the entire cast. Well, nearly 30 years have passed since then, and we've just welcomed another 'Jurassic World' instalment in cinemas. Let's review what happened to those actors after the box office success of Jurassic Park.

Born in 1947 in Northern Ireland, Sam Neill already had an on-screen presence before 'Jurassic Park.' He was a familiar face in entertainment from several TV mini-series ('Amerika' in 1987, 'Kane & Abel' in 1985, and 'Reilly: Ace of Spies' in 1983), but it was not until co-starring as the paleontologist in 'Jurassic Park' that his career took off.

Neill appeared in several Jurassic Park sequels (including the latest 'Dominion'). He appeared in TV series such as 'The Tudors' and 'Peaky Blinders,' as well as blockbuster films such as 'Thor: Ragnarok,' 'Peter Rabbit,' and, soon, the long-awaited 'Thor: Love and Thunder.'

(Photo: Sam Neill @twopaddocks on Twitter)

The daughter of actors Diane Ladd and Bruce Dern, Laura was born in Los Angeles in 1967 and obviously became familiar with film sets from a young age. Before 'Jurassic Park,' Dern had many small roles. Her debut was in 'Foxes' (1980), as a teenager alongside Jodie Foster.

After 'Jurassic Park,' it was all success for this Hollywood star. She won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress in 2020 for 'Marriage Story.' She has also been involved in numerous successful TV and film productions such as 'Twin Peaks' (2017), 'Big Little Lies' (2017-2019), 'Little Women' (2019), and, of course, 'Jurassic World: Dominion' (2022).

Born in 1952, Jeff Goldblum was a known actor in Hollywood by the time Steven Spielberg cast him for 'Jurassic Park.' Examples of his work are 'The Fly' (1986) and 'The Tall Guy' (1988). In 'Jurassic Park,' he played the cool mathematician Ian Malcolm, sceptical of the security and ethics of the new dinosaur park.

After the movie, he appeared in blockbusters like 'Independence Day,' some of the other 'Jurassic' movies, and 'Thor: Ragnarok.' He has also been a recognizable face on TV, in shows like 'Will & Grace' or 'Law & Order: Criminal Intent.' For his own documentary series on Disney+, 'The World according to Jeff Goldblum' (2019), he was nominated for a Primetime Emmy.

Born in England in 1923, the late Richard Attenborough was a well-known actor before 'Jurassic Park.' He'd won two Academy Awards for directing and producing 'Gandhi' (1982). Although he'd worked mostly behind the camera since the late 70s, Spielberg managed to convince him to star in his movie as the multi-millionaire scientist and founder of the dinosaur park.

A year after 'Jurassic Park,' Attenborough played the lovable Kriss Kringle in what became a Christmas classic: 'Miracle on 34th Street.' In addition, he appeared in the Jurassic Park sequel 'The Lost World' (1997). Before passing away in 2014, he wrote and produced his last film with 'Puckoon' (2002).

This Chinese-American actor was born in 1960 in San Francisco, California. He had a marvellous theater debut with 'M. Butterfly' in 1988, earning him a Tony and many other awards. Wong also appeared on TV and in film with small roles began his career on Broadway, with 'M. Butterfly. He appeared in small roles in the 1980s.

After playing the scientist in 'Jurassic Park,' he returned several times in the franchise's sequels, including the 2022 'Jurassic World: Dominion.' But among TV fans, who doesn't recognise him as Dr. George Huang from 'Law & Order: Special Victims Unit' (2001-2016)? Other projects included 'American Horror Story' (2018) and 'Mr. Robot' (2015-2019).

Born in 1983, Joseph Mazzello's career already began when he was 5 years old. He played a few small parts before landing the role of Tim in 'Jurassic Park' in 1993. Mazzello and the other young star of the movie, Ariana Richards, played the grandchildren of Dr. Hammond.

Since then, he has continued to appear in quality movies. How about 'The Social Network' (2010) or 'Bohemian Rhapsody' (2018)? (Yes, fans may recognize him as the bassist John Deacon in that movie). Mazzello has also appeared in TV series such as 'Providence' (2002), 'The Pacific'(2010), and 'Impeachment: American Crime Story' (2021).

Before starring in 'Jurassic Park,' this young actress (1979) appeared in TV commercials and had small roles in series like 'The Golden Girls.'

Ariana Richards is now known especially as a painter and considers herself a 'former actress.' She did a few TV films in the 1990s but then basically disappeared from Hollywood altogether.

(Photo: @arianarichards, Instagram)

As with some of the other stars in this gallery, little introduction is needed for Samuel L. Jackson (1948). His long-standing career began to see big successes with three Spike Lee films: Spike Lee films: 'Do the Right Thing' (1989), 'Mo' Better Blues' (1990) and 'Jungle Fever' (1991). He was almost too big already for the supporting role of engineer Ray Arnold in 'Jurassic Park.'

Jackson was to appear in dozens of blockbuster films after 'Jurassic Park' - some of the biggest 'Star Wars' and Marvel movies, for example. In 1995, he received an Oscar nomination for his role in Quentin Tarantino's movie 'Pulp Fiction.' He returned to work with the director in 'Kill Bill' (2003-4) and 'Django Unchained' (2012), among others.

By the time 'Jurassic Park' premiered, Wayne Knight (1955) was especially known as Jerry Seinfeld's nemesis, Newman, in the sitcom 'Seinfeld.' In 'Jurassic Park,' he would also play a bad guy: the computer programmer who tries to take some valuable dinosaur DNA off the premises.

After 'Jurassic Park,' Knight continued to gain fame as Newman in 'Seinfeld' (until 1998) while also starring as officer Don Orville in '3rd Rock from the Sun' (1996-2001). A lot of his work after these two roles has involved voice acting, small guest performances, or lesser-known comedy films.