With many decades having passed since the 1983 release of John Carpenter’s Christine, it’s safe to say that the movie’s cast has done a lot since then. Carpenter’s horror film was written by Bill Phillips, based on Stephen King’s horror novel of the same name. It follows a teenage nerd named Arnie Cunningham, who becomes obsessed with his new car, the titular Christine. Like the author’s other works, the story takes a dark turn, with Christine revealed to be one of Stephen King’s many killer cars prevalent in his novels and short stories.
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Given its focus on teenage characters, the film adaptation starred a number of young actors who were just starting out in their careers, including Alexandra Paul, John Stockwell, and Kelly Preston. While relative unknowns in 1983, they’ve mostly gone on to have long careers in the many years since Christine‘s premiere, becoming much bigger names than they were when cast in the horror movie. Two of the film’s main stars even changed careers to focus more on directing than acting.
Related Christine: 8 Biggest Changes The Movie Made From Stephen King’s Book
Director John Carpenter’s movie Christine strayed pretty far from the Stephen King book the horror was based on, but that’s not a bad thing.
Keith Gordon
Played Arnie Cunningham In Christine
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After portraying the main character Arnie Cunningham in Christine, Keith Gordon went on to star in a few TV shows and movies, including Back to School, and appearing in single episodes of series like Miami Vice and Dexter. Since making his feature directorial debut in 1988 with The Chocolate War, Gordon has spent most of his time behind the camera, with credits on shows like The Leftovers, Nurse Jackie, and Better Call Saul and the movies A Midnight Clear and Mother Night. More recently, he directed an episode of Dispatches from Elsewhere.
Related Christine Ending Explained
John Carpenter’s 1983 killer car movie Christine is a cult classic, but the Stephen King adaptation changes the novel’s original ending significantly.
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John Stockwell
Played Dennis Guilder In Christine
John Stockwell played former football player Dennis Guilder in Christine. Like Keith Gordon, he’s also primarily worked as a director while continuing his acting career. Stockwell most notably appeared in 1986’s Top Gun as Cougar, with his most recent credited acting work being in the 2018 limited series Escape at Dannemora. The movies he has directed include Blue Crush and Into the Blue, and he also helmed episodes of the TV series The L Word from 2007 through 2009. More recently, he directed the 2017 action-horror film Armed Response.
Alexandra Paul
Played Leigh Cabot In Christine
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New student Leigh Cabot was portrayed in Christine by Alexandra Paul, whose most notable work after the John Carpenter horror movie was playing Stephanie Holden on Baywatch from 1992 through 1997. Paul reprised the role in Baywatch: Forbidden Paradise, Baywatch Nights, and Baywatch: Hawaiian Wedding. Her other popular movies have included Dragnet and Spy Hard. In later years, she mostly appeared in lesser-known shows and movies, including her role of Abigail Muñoz in the 2023 movie Baby Steps.
Related How A Prank On John Carpenter Made It Into The Movie Christine
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Robert Prosky
Played Will Darnell In Christine
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Played by Robert Prosky in the film adaptation of Christine, Will Darnell owns the garage where Arnie restores his car. The actor went on to appear in many popular films, including his roles as Grandpa Fred in Gremlins 2: The New Batch, Mr. Lundy in Mrs. Doubtfire, Ernie Merriman in Broadcast News, Nick in Last Action Hero, Father Cavanagh in Rudy, Hilton Barber in Dead Man Walking, and Judge Harper in 1994’s Miracle On 34th Street. Prosky died in 2008, and his final performance arrived posthumously in the 2009 movie The Skeptic.
Harry Dean Stanton
Played Detective Rudy Junkins In Christine
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One of the greatest character actors of all time, Harry Dean Stanton was already a Hollywood veteran by the time he played Detective Rudy Junkins in Christine. After appearing in the Stephen King adaptation, Stanton appeared in the films Pretty In Pink, Repo Man, Red Dawn, The Green Mile, Lucky, and Marvel’s The Avengers. He was a regular collaborator of David Lynch, having co-starred in the movies Wild at Heart, The Straight Story, Inland Empire, and Twin Peaks: Fire Walk with Me and later appeared in five episodes of Twin Peaks: The Return. Stanton died in 2017, though his final credit came posthumously in the 2020 movie Frank and Ava.
Christine Belford
Played Regina Cunningham In Christine
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After her role as Arnie’s mom, Regina Cunningham, in Christine, Christine Belford acted regularly for two decades, primarily in television, but has slowed down since the ’90s. While mostly playing one-off characters on episodes of such shows as Who’s the Boss and The Golden Girls, Belford had recurring roles on the sitcom Silver Spoons, the soap opera All My Children, and the teen drama Beverly Hills, 90210. Her last acting credit came with the 2007 TV movie Ruffian.
Roberts Blossom
Played George LeBay In Christine
Roberts Blossom played George LeBay in Christine before continuing his acting career through the ’80s and ’90s. His most famous role came in 1990 as Kevin’s seemingly scary neighbor, Marley, in Home Alone. He also played Doc Wallace in the 1995 Western The Quick and the Dead, Judge Evans in Doc Hollywood, and Weasel Mayfield in the 1999 Disney TV movie Balloon Farm, which was his final role. Blossom died in 2011.
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William Ostrander
Played Clarence “Buddy” Repperton In Christine
William Ostrander played the bully Clarence “Buddy” Repperton in Christine. He hasn’t acted in many popular shows or movies since, though he appeared in episodes of the shows Angel, Touched by an Angel, and Knots Landing. Ostrander also worked as the 2nd Assistant Director on the production of David Lynch’s Mulholland Drive. In the 2000s, he mostly left acting behind and began a contracting business. In 2016, he ran for a seat in the U.S. House of Representatives, which he lost, and in 2018 also unsuccessfully ran for a seat in the California State Assembly.
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David Spielberg
Played Mr. Casey In Christine
David Spielberg played the high school teacher Mr. Casey in Christine. Like Alexandra Paul, he later appeared in Baywatch, though he only filled a number of different one-off roles over the course of a few episodes of the show. He also had a brief recurring role on ER and appeared in episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation and Law & Order. His last credited role was in the 2007 horror movie Flight of the Living Dead. Spielberg died in 2016.
Malcolm Danare
Played Peter “Moochie” Welch In Christine
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Out of everyone in the Christine cast, Malcolm Danare, who played Buddy’s friend Peter “Moochie” Welch, is one of the actors who worked the most consistently throughout the years. He has appeared in such movies as National Lampoon’s European Vacation, Heaven Help Us, Independence Day, and 1998’s Godzilla where he played a role that he reprised in voice form for a Godzilla animated series. In 2012, he voiced the character Kipling in the animated film Monster High: Escape from Skull Shores, and through the 2010s, he voiced Tiny in the Monster High series Ever After High, based on the line of dolls of the same name.
Related How Christine’s Awesome Car Repair Scene Was Done (Before CGI)
Christine’s iconic car repair scene, done under the direction of Roy Arbogast, was a wonder of its time and still holds up years later, without CGI.
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Steven Tash
Played Richie Trelawney In Christine
After playing Richie Trelawney in Christine, Steven Tash booked a role in one of the most popular movies of the ’80s. Tash is credited as “Male Student” in 1984’s Ghostbusters. He hasn’t acted in anything since the 1988 movie Beach Balls but has participated in events tied to both Christine and Ghostbusters in recent years.
Stuart Charno
Played Don Vandenberg In Christine
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Another one of Buddy’s friends in Christine is Don Vandenberg, portrayed by Stuart Charno. The actor worked in various genres after Christine, playing Reptile in the teen comedy Just One of the Guys, Bennie in an episode of the fantasy drama series Beauty and the Beast, and The Puppet on an episode of The X-Files. He returned to the horror genre for 2011’s Horrorween. Charno also wrote three episodes of Star Trek: The Next Generation but hasn’t done any credited screen work in Hollywood since 2011.
Kelly Preston
Played Roseanne In Christine
Kelly Preston played Roseanne in Christine and went on to become one of the most well-known actors in the film. Her career rose in the ’80s with starring roles in Mischief, Secret Admirer, Twins, and SpaceCamp. She later co-starred in Jerry Maguire, Battlefield Earth, What a Girl Wants, The Cat in the Hat, Sky High, For Love of the Game, and The Last Song. Preston also memorably played a socialite in the music video for Maroon 5’s 2004 single “She Will Be Loved.” While filming 1987’s The Experts, Preston met John Travolta, whom she married in 1991 and had three kids with. She died in 2020.
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Robert Darnell
Played Michael Cunningham In Christine
Robert Darnell played Arnie’s father, Michael Cunningham, in Christine. In the decade after co-starring in the horror movie, the actor appeared in the movie Malibu Express and the TV shows L.A. Law, The Bold and the Beautiful, and The A-Team. He died in 1991.
The Legacy Of John Carpenter’s Christine
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The 1983 movie Christine, despite not having really any contemporary A-listers or names of note on the cast, has become something of a cult classic over the years. However, it must also be noted that the movie is something of an under-the-radar gem when it comes to 1980s horror, although there are several valid reasons why. Specifically, Christine is often overshadowed by other projects associated with the two creative powerhouses behind its story – Stephen King and John Carpenter.
As an adaptation of a Stephen King novel (published the same year as the John Carpenter movie), Christine due immediate attention when it released – a trend that continues to this day with films based on the prolific horror author’s work. However, as the decades rolled on, Christine was constantly in the shadow of higher-profile movies based on Stephen King books. Already having to contend with the likes of 1976’s Carrie, 1980’s The Shining, and Cujo the same year, within a few years of the release of Christine audiences were treated to 1984’s Children of the Corn, 1986’s Stand by Me, and Misery in 1990.
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The decades that followed saw even more prominent works based on Stephen King novels too, such as 1994’s The Shawshank Redemption and 1999’s The Green Mile. Modern Stephen King movies like 2017’s IT and Gerald’s Game have only served to push Christine deeper into obscurity. Christine has become something of a niche watch for fans of the author doing a deep dive into the Stephen King adaptation back catalog – a solid film in its own right, but one that has to contend for recognition against some of the greatest films of the 20th and 21st century, horror or otherwise.
Christine‘s legacy also faces the same issue with its director. Director John Carpenter is himself a highly regarded name in the horror genre, responsible for the likes of 1978’s Halloween, 1981’s Escape from New York, and, of course, 1982’s The Thing. When many critics and viewers rate their best John Carpenter movies, Christine rarely appears as the best example of the director’s work. As with its place among Stephen King adaptations, this isn’t because Christine is a bad film or not enjoyable, it’s just that Carpenter’s other projects are much more well known and had a more notable impact on pop culture.
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However, when considered in its own right, Christine still has a place in the heart of many horror movie fans, especially those with a soft spot for the genre films of the 1980s (which have a distinct style and aesthetic). What’s more, while it may not be as well known as King’s The Shining or Carpenter’s The Thing, Christine still stands out for the uniqueness of its premise. A movie about a killer car is definitely a story that draws attention, and this has led to Christine being parodied in several shows over the years, ensuring it never completely fades into obscurity.
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Christine R
Christine is a 1983 horror film from director John Carpenter. The film was based on the novel by Stephen King, in which an evil car is purchased and starts having a negative influence on its new teenage owner. The film stars Keith Gordon as the main character Arnie, who buys Christine.
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*Availability in US Director John Carpenter Release Date December 9, 1983 Cast Keith Gordon , John Stockwell , Alexandra Paul , Robert Prosky , Harry Dean Stanton , Christine Belford Runtime 110 minutes