Childs Play: Where Are They Now

In the 90s, the horror movie genre was in full deadly swing: with a slash-slash here and a stab-stab there, there was no shortage of movie monsters from every corner. Some met you in your dreams, some caught you in the midst of getting it on but there was one who managed to stand above the rest, although he truly came no taller than your kneecaps. The doll possessed with a maniacs soul, better known as Chucky (or Charles Lee Ray, if you will) carved his own force of mayhem and destruction beginning with 1998s Childs Play. The thought of that cute little plush person you had in the corner of your bed, coming to life to be your friend to the end of your life brought people to theaters in droves and managed to hold onto a following 25 years in the making and onward with a new inclusion of the series, Curse of Chucky coming straight to DVD on October 8. Throughout the six films, there have been a number of victims that have met their doom at the end of the Good Guy dolls knife, as well as other means of certain death. But of course, those were mostly fictional characters that is of course, not including the almost meta take of the previous flick, Seed of Chucky, which brought heightened versions of actors, actresses and rappers. That piece of the Chucky mythos isnt necessarily a fave of the fandom, but it did help to push the story forward to its latest piece. Even as the death toll climbed, there were a few survivors scattered throughout that managed to be the winner of Chuckys deadly games. So what are they up to today?

Alex Vincent (Andy Barclay; Childs Play, Childs Play 2)

We were first introduced to Chuckys greatest enemy early on; a precocious tyke who wanted nothing more in life than a Good Guy doll that was all his own. Unfortunately, his well-meaning mother ended up picking up a toy from a homeless street vendor, who stole the doll from the same store that Charles Lee Ray broke into in hopes of transferring his soul into a human body to continue his carnage. Throughout the first two movies, Chucky hoped to move his soul from that of the fun-sized doll to that of little Andy and failed both times, although he came pretty close to succeeding in the latter film.

Following the success of both films, Vincent didnt do too much to further his career, although here were some commercials and minor roles in independent films and commercials. Vincent eventually settled in Florida (he hails from New Jersey, originally) where he attended college to study sound engineering and audio post-production, graduating with an Associates Degree in Recording Arts back in 2009. He mostly chose to nearly drop out completely from the Hollywood scene and instead lead a much more normal life, although he did appear at certain horror conventions throughout the years to fans delight.

However, the lull of a favorite childhood moment couldnt help but to bring him back in front of the camera this year: (spoiler alert) he makes an awesome cameo appearance in Curse of Chucky.

Catherine Hicks (Karen Barclay, Childs Play)

A birthday gift for her young son caused so much turmoil in the life of department store worker, Karen Barclay. Her best friend and co-worker fell out of a window following some very sketchy circumstances. Her son is eventually found at the scene of a murder of a psychopaths partner... and he blames it all on the doll she picked up for him. What follows is a bit of insanity, figuratively and literally: after discovering that her son was telling the truth all along, the race is on to get the police to believe her as well as save her sons life and soul. The last we hear of the mother of our young protaganist is that she now resides in a mental home, with no one believing that a doll could cause such mayhem and destruction.

Following Childs Play, Hicks continued her already long standing career in television and film, but most of us probably recall her as another famous mother; Annie Camden, the wife of a well-to-do pastor on the WB sitcom, 7th Heaven. The inspirational series lasted a decade and made her a household name. In a surprisingly sweet nod, it was on the set of Childs Play that Hicks met her husband, special effects guru, Kevin Yeagher. The two have been married ever since and have one child together.

Christine Elise (Kyle; Childs Play 2)

Following the actions of the first movie, Andy is eventually placed in a foster home where a teenage girl named Kyle already resides. Head strong and a bit rambunctious, she eventually warms up to the little boy who believes his Good Guy doll is still out to get him. It isnt until she discovers another Good Guy doll buried in the yard (Chucky ended up taking his place) and her foster parents dead that she realizes that maybe this young kid isnt as crazy as everyone was percieved. She has her own show down with Chucky that leads to his doom in the second film and we last see her walking into the sunset (literally) hand-in-hand with Andy.

Elise was already well on her way to stardom when she appeared in the movie with a few high-notched TV appearances to her name, with roles in 21 Jump Street (the original series) and Head of the Class. However, it wouldnt be until a year after the movie that she would find her most noted role: she played Brandon Walshs crazy girlfriend, Emily Valentine in the original Beverly Hills, 90210 yeah, shes the

one who tried to burn his house down. In another nod of work imitating life, she was engaged to her then on-screen boyfriends portrayer, Jason Priestly from 1992 to 1997, before ending the relationship. She also appeared on other numerous popular television shows, such as Charmed, Law and Order: SVU and Castle and is now credited under her full name, Christine Elise McCarthy. Jeremy Sylvers (Ronald Tyler (Tyler), Childs Play 3)

With Andy all grown up (and portrayed by a different actor this time around), Chucky needed a young life to transfer his soul into. Enter a young boy named Tyler, a student at the Kent Military School --Andy is eventually sent there following years of being kicked out of foster homes. When Chucky finds out where his now-teenaged victim is now residing, he mails himself there in hopes to surprise him and introduce him to the end of his knife. However, its Tyler who finds him first after catching a peek at whats inside the package. Chucky uses this to his advantage (as hes in a new body and therefore, can use his secret to move into a human one), but Andy eventually befriends young Tyler and tells him of Chuckys evil ways before tossing him into a fare-owned wind machine and chomps him up into tiny bits (he gets a bit of the Humpty Dumpty treatment in the next installment, Bride of Chucky).

Following Childs Play 3, which was only his second role, Sylvers appeared in only one other thing: an episode of the 2000s sitcom, My Wife and Kids. The role didnt even have a name: hes listed as Boy #3 on the IMDB website. According to his Twitter, he was hoping to get chosen for a Miller Lite commercial in 2011 (no word on if he actually got the part) and is set to appear in a web series entitled Hip Rock Dreams at some point in the near future. Oh and he goes by J-Syl now. Well, at least hes still active somewhat.

Brad Dourif (Charles Lee Ray / Chucky; all Childs Play films)

Being burned, shot, stuck with hot plastic doll pieces, blown up, having half of his face sliced off, being chopped up, shot up and shot up again hasnt stopped the killer doll from making his way across a very bloody America. His journey started in 1988 and 25 years later, the doll possessed with the soul of Charles Lee Ray is still at it and (spoiler alert) following his surprising survival in the newest part of the Chucky story, Curse of Chucky may live to see another day unless that ending after the credits was a true ending (but I doubt it).

Many may not actually remember the face of the man who has voiced Chucky since his inception (it was only shown briefly in the first movie before his characters death and only in a quick picture montage in the third), but in truth, character actor Brad Dourif would probably use that to his advantage: hes been at this acting game since the mid-1970s and has appeared in some surprisingly well known roles that you more than likely never even noticed. Hes had turns in Murder, She Wrote, Miami Vice, Law and Order, Tales From The Crypt, Deadword and countless other television shows and even appeared in some huge movies such as Mississippi Burning and the Lord of the Rings trilogy, where he portrayed Grima Wormtongue. Although hes mostly known for ominous and dark roles, hes a surprisingly well-rounded actor. Dourif has always been surprised of his notoriety, including his recievement of an Oscar nomination back in 1975 for a small part in the film, W.W. and the Dixie Dancekings. The upcoming Curse of Chucky sees him passing on the torch, so to speak: one of his co-stars is his oldest daughter, Fiona.