THEN AND NOW: The cast of Newsies 28 years later – Business Insider

captionChristian Bale was the break-out star of Newsies.sourceBuena Vista Pictures, Jason Merritt/Getty Images

In 1992, Disneys movie musical Newsies made its debut and its since become quite a treasure.

Loosely based on the true story of the 1899 newsboys strike in New York City, the film features a crew of so-called newsies as they sing their way through oppression and fight for a fairer working system.

Newsies was a box-office flop when it first released, reportedly making less than $3 million at the box office even though it cost over $15 million to make.

But in the years since, Newsies has built up a passionate group of fansies and has been adapted into a majorly successful Broadway musical. It has also helped launch the careers of a few young stars.

Heres what the cast of Newsies is up to nearly 30 years later.

In 1992, Christian Bale was 17 years old and had a few acting credits to his name until Newsies came along.

Bale portrayed the films lead Jack Kelly, one of the ringleaders behind the newsies strike.

A triple threat, Bale gives a riveting performance singing, dancing, and acting as a rough, 19th-century Manhattan teen fending for himself and his chosen family.

He also had his first on-screen kiss in the film with Ele Keats, according to Christian Bale: The Inside Story of the Darkest Batman by Harrison Cheung and Nicola Pittam.

Newsies wouldnt be Bales last Disney movie.

Hed later star in the early 1990s Disney flop Swing Kids, go on to voice Thomas in 1995s Pocahontas and recently lent his vocals to Bagheera in 2019s Mowgli.

Of course, the actor is perhaps most well known for his roles in American Psycho, Ford v Ferrari, and the Batman franchise though he has starred in several major movies since his Newsies days.

David Moscow and Bale had undeniable synergy while starring alongside each other in Newsies.

Moscow played David Jacobs, a mouth with a brain and a co-leader in the fictionalized strike against Joseph Pulitzer and William Randolph Hearst.

Newsies might have been Moscows first Disney musical, but the young star was no stranger to the big screen, having starred in Tom Hanks Big just a few years prior.

Nearly three decades after singing and dancing next to the future star of the Batman series, Moscow continues to leave his mark on Hollywood.

He appeared in 2003s Just Married with Ashton Kutcher and Brittany Murphy and produced over a dozen movies.

Recently, Moscow starred in 2017s This Is Christmas but hes mostly been focusing on behind-the-scenes work, having produced several films throughout the past few years.

Starring as David Jacobs younger brother Les in the musical, Luke Edwards was no stranger to acting when he landed the role.

The actor had just turned 12 when the movie was released and was made to play the young newsie alongside Moscow and Bale.

Before starring in Newsies, which was his first major film, Edwards had several acting credits to his name, including a role as a young Johnny Depp in 21 Jump Street.

Although hes had the opportunity to guest-star on shows like Without a Trace and True Detective, you might remember Edwards from American Pie 2 or even Jeepers Creepers II.

More recently, Edwards starred in The Super alongside Val Kilmer and he currently has a few movies in post-production.

One of the older Newsies in the bunch, Max Casella was 24 years old when he officially made his musical debut as Racetrack Higgins.

Aside from having a few minor TV roles in the 1980s and early 1990s, Casella had never appeared in a major theatrical production prior to this one.

He was, however, most well known as the time for his role as Vinnie Delpino on Doogie Howser, M.D.

Since Newsies, Casella has gone on to make an impressive resume for himself.

Hes lent his voice to characters in The Little Mermaid 2, Dinosaur, and Courage the Cowardly Dog. Hes appeared on over two dozen Sopranos episodes, acted in Leatherheads, and even joined Boardwalk Empire in 2010.

Recently, you might have spotted Casella in Jackie alongside Natalie Portman, or on a few episodes of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel.

He currently has a number of films in post-production, so its safe to say youll see more of the former child actor in the near future.

Although he was only 15 years old when he starred as the spunky Brooklyn newsie Spot Conlon, Gabriel Damon was already quite a seasoned actor with over 30 acting credits to his name.

Aside from a few appearances on Baywatch and a few one-off roles on shows like ER and Sirens, Damon has shied away from the acting industry. His last noted role was in 2006.

Newsies was Marty Belafsys first-ever movie role and his third role overall.

In the musical, he appeared as the goofy but lovable Crutchy. He was only 16 years old when Newsies was released.

With roles in Pearl Harbor and Men In Black II, Belafsky has been on the big screen a few times since 1992.

His last acting credit was in 2013 in a short called Archie Black.

When he appeared as Boots in the 1992 musical drama, Arvie Lowe Jr. was a 12-year-old actor with no other roles to his name.

After Newsies wrapped, Lowe Jr. found himself starring on popular 1990s shows like Sister, Sister, Moesha, and Smart Guy.

He even starred on the early-2000s Disney Channel show Lizzie McGuire alongside Hilary Duff.

Since then, hes had a few minor roles in Hollywood and hes appeared in a few video shorts.

Ele Keats had quite a bit of experience in Hollywood before landing the role of Sarah Jacobs in Newsies.

Playing Jack Kellys love interest in the film caused the star to experience backlash from fans who were not so happy about her kiss with Bale, with some even referring to her character as the Destroyer of Dreams.

Since starring in Newsies, Keats has had a number of small roles and has even guest-starred on shows like CSI, CSI: NY, and Cold Case.

In the last few years, shes made a name for herself in the horror-film industry, starring in Insidious: Chapter 3 and Ouija: Origin of Evil.

Actor Bill Pullman played one of the only redeeming adult characters Newsies had to offer.

Previously known for his work in Spaceballs, among other films, Pullman starred in the Disney musical as passionate journalist Bryan Denton.

The same year Newsies was released, Pullman was featured in Tom Hanks A League of Their Own.

Hes also appeared in Sleepless in Seattle, Casper, Scary Movie 4, and Torchwood, among many others.

He currently stars on the USA show The Sinner.

Starring as publishing mogul Joseph Pulitzer in Newsies, Robert Duvall was quite the villain in the musical.

After Newsies, Duvall appeared in projects like The Apostle, Deep Impact, Gone in 60 Seconds, and Kicking and Screaming.

He continues to make a name for himself in Hollywood and he recently appeared in Widows as Jack Mulligans father.

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THEN AND NOW: The cast of Newsies 28 years later - Business Insider

Reviewed and Recommended by Erik Baquero