Cast of 'Stand by Me': Then and Now

It's nearly impossible to find a Gen X-er who doesn't have a special place in their heart for Stand by Me, the now-classic coming-of-age drama that debuted in theaters on Aug. 22, 1986. Take a look back at the incredible cast -- which includes some very familiar household names -- then and find out where they are 30 years later.

Feldman as Teddy Duchamp

Fondly known as one of "The Coreys," Feldman was one of the biggest teen heartthrobs of the '80s. His first pairing with the other Corey, Haim, was in 1987's The Lost Boys, and the two would go on to star in seven more movies together, including License to Drive and Dream a Little Dream, as well as a reality show, The Two Coreys. Feldman, now 45, became emancipated from his parents at age 15, and he also struggled with addiction, entering rehab in 1991. He was married to actress Vanessa Marcil from 1989 to 1993 and he wed his second wife, Susie Sprague, on the set of The Surreal Life in 2002. The two divorced in 2014 following five years of separation and have one son, Zen. His most recent roles were as the voice of Slash in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles and as Nolan in Intrusion: Disconnected. Also a singer, Feldman released a solo double-album, Angelic 2 the Core, in June.

O'Connell as Vern Tessio

Everyone's favorite tubby sidekick lost the baby fat and went on to star in the TV series My Secret Identity, Las Vegas and Crossing Jordan, but his most notable adult role came in the 1996 mega-hit Jerry Maguire. Though a number of O'Connell's more recent sitcoms have failed to make it more than one season, the steady actor has turned up in plenty of guest starring roles, including spots on the most recent seasons of Young & Hungry and Mistresses, and he's currently filming the TV movie A Mermaid's Tale. Now 42, O'Connell has been married to actress Rebecca Romijn since 2007, with whom he has twin girls, Dolly and Charlie.

Wheaton as Gordie Lachance

The 44-year-old actor has become something of a geek hero. In his post-Stand by Me life, Wheaton is best known for his role as Wesley Crusher on Star Trek: The Next Generation and for poking fun at his childhood fame and geekdom as a fictionalized version of himself on The Big Bang Theory. He's also done a ton of voiceover work, is a well-known poker and Dungeons & Dragons player, and is a fixture at the Nerdist, the comic book and comedy haven founded by his former UCLA roommate, Chris Harwick. Wheaton and his wife, Anne, have been married since 1999 and have two sons, Nolan and Ryan.

Phoenix as Chris Chambers

The teen idol transitioned to well-received indie roles following his starring turn in Stand by Me, including 1988's Running on Empty, which scored him an Academy Award nomination, 1990's I Love You to Death, and 1991's My Own Private Idaho, which earned him rave reviews. Phoenix tragically died at age 23 of drug-related heart failure after collapsing outside of The Viper Room in West Hollywood, California, on Oct. 31, 1993. All of his siblings -- sisters Rain, Liberty, and Summer and brother Joaquin -- are actors, with him and Joaquin being the only two brothers ever nominated for Academy Awards in acting categories.

Sutherland as Ace Merrill

It's hard to forget Sutherland was ever anything but Jack Bauer, but aside from the long-running hit TV show 24, he also played a badass vampire bully in 1984's The Lost Boys, plus roles in such fare as Young Guns, Flatliners, and Freeway. Basically, the now 49-year-old actor is always moving. His next leading man role will come in the form of president, when he plays Tom Kirman on the new series, Designated Survivor. The son of Donald Sutherland has also passed his famous family's acting genes down to another generation -- his daughter Sarah Sutherland, with ex-wife Camila Kath, plays Julia Louis-Dreyfus' daughter on Veep.

Cusack as Denny Lachance

Everyone's favorite underdog has had a pretty stellar career in Hollywood. Already known for Sixteen Candles and Better Off Dead... by the time Stand by Me hit theaters, Cusack went on to rule the '80s with his boyish charm in One Crazy Summer, The Sure Thing (also directed by Rob Reiner), and Say Anything..., then stole hearts with starring roles in rom-coms like Grosse Point Blank, Must Love Dogs, and Serendipity, though he may be most beloved on the indie scene for High Fidelity. Now 50, Cusack has pretty much hit every genre -- there was also horror (1408), action (2012), and stoner comedy (Hot Tub Time Machine) -- and starred alongside his sister, Joan Cusack, in a number of movies, and we'll next see him in 2017's Southern Fury.