In a world where childhood was a mere arcade token away from vanishing, Big enchanted us with a wish spun on a fortune-teller machine’s fingertips. Josh Baskin’s leap from pint-sized mischief-maker to adult-sized wonder boy was like stepping onto a giant piano and dancing through life’s complexities with innocent feet. Now, decades later, one can only wonder about what new melodies the cast members struck in the symphony of their lives and which ones have long faded away. 

When a kid’s wish catapults him into grown-up shoes, only one actor could pirouette perfectly across that giant keyboard—meet the man who made adulthood feel like a playground.

Tom Hanks as Josh Baskin

Tom Hanks did not just play Josh Baskin, he choreographed a dance of pure-hearted delight between childhood whimsy and grown-up bewilderment. he “…took all the quirky things about being a kid — those weird, awkward things — and…had them live in him,” as David Moscow put it in a 2024 interview with PEOPLE. This role had been his quantum leap from TV obscurity into the bright constellation of Hollywood stardom. By embodying a child’s wide-eyed awe locked in an adult’s body, Hanks proved he could be both magician and muse. Since then, he has become a storyteller of grand dimensions, weaving unforgettable tales in Forrest Gump and Saving Private Ryan. Hanks remains the beloved everyman actor with grown-up shoes but also a bit of childlike magic.

Elizabeth Perkins as Susan Lawrence

Amid all the adolescent chaos, there was a steady heartbeat behind Josh’s adult facade—a woman both grounded and gently swept away by the bizarre paradox of loving a boy in a man’s world. Elizabeth Perkins, Susan Lawrence, was the lighthouse in Josh’s storm of contradictions, a beacon of compassion without losing her own edge. After Big, Perkins gracefully navigated Hollywood’s ever-shifting seas, carving a niche with roles that shimmer with emotional nuance, such as in Weeds. She continues to craft characters that possess the same delicate mix of strength and vulnerability that made Susan unforgettable, her effervescent presence sometimes even being confused with that of youngins like Millie Bobby Brown.

The innocence that launched the entire Big adventure rode on the shoulders of a young actor whose influence stretched far beyond his screen time. If Tom Hanks embodied the grown Josh’s wonder, there was a young Josh who gave a heartbeat to what Hanks sought to echo in every gesture.

David Moscow as Young Josh

David Moscow was the tiny yet boisterous spark that launched this tale of transformation. His young Josh was the innocent core, the soul’s unguarded voice begging for just one wish. Moscow’s experience on Big was more than a role; it was a collaboration with a young Tom Hanks, whose dedication to capturing the boy’s essence turned their scenes into moments of pure cinematic alchemy. Since then, Moscow has cast his light not only in front of the camera but behind it, turning his storytelling gaze toward producing and directing, proving that growing up does not mean losing your story’s heart.

The main cast of Big formed a harmonious ensemble, blending innocence and experience with subtle chemistry. Hanks’s adult Josh—added with his humbleness that acknowledges only 10 good movies from his 900 films old of career—and Moscow’s young counterpart embodied the heart of the story, while Perkins’s Susan provided emotional grounding, bridging the gap between boyish wonder and adult reality. Their intertwined dynamics created the film’s timeless appeal, with each character playing a vital note in a melody that resonates with audiences across generations, perfectly balancing whimsy, humor, and heartfelt connection.

Behind every iconic wish is a constellation of characters whose own stories twinkle with humor, grit, and heart, casting a sheen of age and wisdom over the throttle of childhood. 

Other notable cast members, where are they now?

The supporting cast of Big also wove their own vibrant threads into the film’s rich tapestry. Robert Loggia, with his gruff yet tender performance as MacMillan, embodied the archetype of the wise mentor with a heart of gold, a role that stands as a memorable highlight in his prolific career before he passed in 2015. John Heard, who brought to life Josh’s friend Paul with subtle depth, carried on a versatile career with roles in Home Alone and The Sopranos before his death in 2017. Jared Rushton, the steadfast and loyal Billy, navigated the entertainment world throughout the 1990s before stepping quietly away. Meanwhile, Jon Lovitz, who sparked comedic life in his smaller role as a coworker, continued his journey through comedy with work on Saturday Night Live, voice acting, and television roles.

Big was more than a film about growing up overnight; it was a piano played by the hands of fate, reminding us that childhood’s tune lingers beneath adulthood’s surface. The cast grew alongside their characters in an ever-unfolding dance of time and talent. Tom Hanks, Elizabeth Perkins, David Moscow, and their companions did not just capture innocence and wisdom on screen; they transformed it into living legacies. Even now, with years folded into their stories, they continue to play the oversized keys of life, proving that the magic of Big was indeed real and lasting.

Which of these Big stars do you keep a soft spot for? Let us know in the comments below.