E.T. Star's Low Pay and Strange UFO Connection Revealed

The enduring success of Steven Spielberg's 1982 film "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" is well-documented, but behind the cinematic triumph lies a surprising financial reality for its young star. Henry Thomas, who portrayed Elliott, the boy who befriends the alien, reportedly received a mere $15,000 for his pivotal role. This figure stands in stark contrast to the film's phenomenal box office performance, which raked in an astonishing $792.9 million worldwide.

Despite this seemingly modest compensation for a role that became a cultural phenomenon, Thomas, now 54, has forged a substantial acting career. He has collaborated with acclaimed directors like Martin Scorsese, starring in "Gangs of New York" alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Daniel Day-Lewis. More recently, he has become a notable presence in popular psychological horror series, delivering memorable performances in "The Haunting of Hill House" and the drama miniseries "The Fall of the House of Usher."

Beyond his acting achievements, Thomas harbors a deep-seated fascination with UFOs and the possibility of extraterrestrial life. He has publicly stated his conviction that "it is not mathematically possible that we are the only things in the universe." This belief intensified after a personal encounter he claims to have had at the age of five, an experience that predates his iconic role in "E.T."

Thomas's interest in the subject extends to governmental transparency. He expressed a belief that Donald Trump would fulfill his campaign promise to release classified government data on UFOs. This prediction proved accurate when the Pentagon subsequently released hundreds of files on UFOs as part of an initiative for transparency.

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I am a big advocate that there is life out there and I don't think it is mathematically possible that we are the only things in the universe.