When ALF crash-landed into our living rooms in 1986, television audiences quickly fell in love with the wisecracking alien from Melmac and the family who took him in after his spaceship crash-landed in their garage. Mixing sitcom laughs with science-fiction charm, the series became one of the most memorable shows of the late 1980s and turned its cast into familiar faces for millions of viewers. More than three decades have passed since the Tanner family last shared their home with ALF. While some cast members continued acting and found success in new projects, others stepped away from the spotlight altogether, and a few faced heartbreaking endings far too soon. Here’s a look at what happened to the cast of ALF and which beloved stars are still with us today. Max Wright (Willie) Willie and Max Wright / NBC and Facebook As the head of the Tanner family, Willie had a lot on his plate. That happens when an alien crash-lands into your home and life, upending everything. However, he got something out of all this: he could feed his inquisitive nature and conduct research with ALF’s help. That made up somewhat for Willie needing to be the straight man to ALF’s antics. MAX WRIGHT who appeared in films such as Reds , Soul Man and Alf has died aged 75 – RIP pic.twitter.com/WFVTE4tP02 — We Love Movies (@MoviePolls4U) June 27, 2019 Max Wright’s rise in the industry began in the ’70s and he immediately landed a strong supporting role in Jaws. He could also be seen in All That Jazz in 1979. Nineteen-eighty-three marked Wright’s involvement in the short-lived series Buffalo Bill. Jump ahead three years, and Wright became the one and only Will Tanner, though he did endure some grievances throughout the show. Reportedly, ALF ended because Max was ready for it to be over; he disliked playing second fiddle to a puppet. Additionally, a lot of the cast grew tired from the dangerous working conditions. For Fusco to operate ALF, the set needed trap doors, so the actors had to block their moves very carefully — one episode could take days to film because of this need for caution. It has been said that he walked away without even saying goodbye to the cast. However, later in life, he admitted that the show was a joy. He went on to focus on theater and other shows like Dudley. Additionally, he helped bring Stephen King’s The Stand from book-to-screen and then worked on Norm MacDonald’s show, Norm, in 1999. He sadly died in 2019 from lymphoma, two years after his wife died from breast cancer. Benji Gregory (Brian) Brian and Benji Gregory / NBC and Facebook Just about any kid would find it exciting to have a years-long sleepover with an actual alien. So, even though Brian Tanner couldn’t have friends over — lest they discover ALF — he made the best of it. The two ended up close friends through the series. Benji Gregory actually grew up in showbiz, living in LA with his dad, uncles, and sister — all actors, too. This put Benji as a young child commercial actor. Benji’s first gig came as the orphaned ‘Dash’ in a two-parter of Punky Brewster in 1985. The young actor, who is now 45, continued working in the industry for a bit after the show ended. Primarily, he provided voice work in 13 episodes of the animated spin-off, Back to the Future in 1992. That would be his final big role, since Benji didn’t want to continue acting much longer after ALF. He studied film and joined the Navy in 2003, being honorably discharged two years later. Sadly, Gregory’s life came to a tragic end in June 2024. He was found dead in his car in Arizona at the age of 46 alongside his service dog, Hans. According to reports from his family, Gregory had been struggling with depression, bipolar disorder, and a sleep disorder. The medical examiner later determined that he died from heat exposure after apparently falling asleep in the vehicle during extreme temperatures. Though his acting career was brief, he remains fondly remembered by generations of fans for bringing Brian Tanner to life and helping make ALF such a beloved part of 1980s television. With his death, we mourn the passing of another member of the out-of-this-world ALF cast. Paul Fusco (ALF) Paul Fusco and ALF / Facebook When former Melmackian space guard ALF crashed into the Tanner family home, everyone experienced culture shock. The Tanners had to contend with the existence of aliens — and very troublesome ones at that — and ALF had to learn about Earth’s customs. Through all the grief he sometimes caused the family, though, ALF proved to be a very caring guest. He’d help school some stubborn teachers for the kids and he tried to boost Mrs. Tanner’s self-esteem. Oh, he also got Mr. Tanner arrested, but he had good enough intentions. Paul Fusco and ALF / Everett Collection Paul Fusco brought ALF to life while balancing a whole lot of other commitments before the show even started. He could stay in-character while doing puppetry and magic, which was how his career started, beginning on children’s shows. Naturally, he took up ventriloquism and that’s when he met other up-and-coming puppeteers Bob Fappiano and Lisa Buckley. They brainstormed and became a powerful trio for HBO and Showtime with programs like The Crown of Bogg in ‘81. All the while, he nurtured the roots for the future ALF, who existed as a character before the show. Fusco took to bugging his family with a bizarre-looking puppet he’d use around the house. This silly concept became the show we enjoy to this day. ALF actually grew so popular it got not one but two cartoons: ALF: The Animated Series and ALF Tales, the two actually airing concurrently in 1989. Paul Fusco was the only cast member to reprise his role from the live-action series He admitted that the puppet wasn’t easy to move around, but we think he did a great job! He still does ads and other projects as ALF and made appearances on Young Sheldon, Mr. Robot, Duncanville and, in 2023, The Simpsons. The show also endured a dispute in ownership rights, so NBC ended up trading in an alien for an alien fighter with Will Smith’s Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. Today at 71, Fusco enjoys family time with his wife and son. But he still honors the puppet that made him such a big name and as of 2019 he announced plans for a reboot. All the while, fans still celebrate ALF, too, with a potential statue right in Fusco’s hometown. Andrea Elson (Lynn) Lynn and Andrea Elson / NBC and Facebook When someone’s stranded and homesick, the best thing is a friend. And that’s what Lynn Tanner was for ALF, for better or worse — worse being when she enabled his more ridiculous schemes. It’s the thought that counts, though, and it was always a two-way street, with ALF being a pretty big help for the shy young girl’s self-esteem. Andrea played the teen daughter Lynn after entering the industry as a print model and commercial actor. Her first big break came when she was just 14 and acted in Whiz Kid alongside the future Detective Wojo himself, Max Gail. The show didn’t run all that long, but it was enough for Andrea to be featured in the magazine Teen Beat. After another guest star spot on Silver Spoons, she was all set for a life-changing role on ALF. Even after that sitcom, more guest-star roles kept coming in, including on Married with Children. She ended up dating and marrying a production assistant named Scott Hopper who worked on ALF. She had a guest appearance on Mad About You, but these days the 54-year-old focuses on being a wife, mother, and yoga teacher. Anne Schedeen (Kate) Kate and Anne Schedeen / NBC and Facebook ALF caused a lot of trouble, but he taught Kate Tanner that a woman of such radiant beauty could only blossom with time. But then he also had her give a massage to a brooding homesick alien, so it balances out. At least she could appreciate when he waxed poetic. Anne Schedeen today / Wikipedia Anne Schedeen brought the Tanner mother to life and set herself up for a lot of success in the industry. She had to. As a child, Schedeen was almost chronically shy and hid from guests. Her mother decided acting classes might help her with stage fright of a different kind and it seemed to have worked. In fact, it paid off in 1974 when she booked a recurring role as Carol in the hit show, Emergency. At the same time, she played Dr. Welby’s daughter Sandy Porter on Marcus Welby, MD. What a start! She also guest-starred over the years on Three’s Company and was one of the stars of Paper Dolls. On ALF, she provided a voice of reason while also hiding an alien from law enforcement. That turned around when she helped uphold the law as Detective Peggy Fraser in Judging Amy in 2001. After the show, she became a comedy coach and an interior designer. She actually did some interior design for celebrities like George Clooney! Schedeen, 75, is also an ambassador for Holiday Heroes, a charity that focuses on bringing joy to hospitalized children. ALF, (clockwise from left): Andrea Elson, Max Wright, Anne Schedeen, Alf, Benji Gregory, 1986-90. photo: Mario Casilli/TV Guide/courtesy Everett Collection Next up: Nicolas Cage Says His Life Is Now Focused Almost Entirely On Fatherhood The post The Only ‘ALF’ Cast Members Still Alive Today appeared first on DoYouRemember? - The Home of Nostalgia. Author, Dana Daly

Nicolas Cage is opening up about how dramatically his priorities have changed as he enters his sixties, revealing that the wild and impulsive lifestyle once associated with his Hollywood image has largely disappeared. The Oscar-winning actor recently admitted that he now lives what he describes as a “very monastic life” while focusing most of his energy on raising his young daughter. For decades, Cage built a reputation not only for his intense acting performances but also for his unpredictable off-screen decisions and extravagant purchases. From luxury properties to unusual collectibles, the actor often made headlines for his larger-than-life personality and impulsive behavior. But according to Cage himself, that version of his life is now firmly in the past. Nicolas Cage’s Private Life Has Become Much Quieter Nicolas Cage/ImageCollect Speaking during an appearance on The New York Times podcast The Interview, Nicolas Cage reflected honestly on the lack of impulse control he had earlier in life. He acknowledged making reckless decisions involving expensive cars, properties, and other purchases during his younger years, often acting without fully thinking things through. The Nicolas Cage private life discussion revealed just how different things look for him today compared to even seven years ago. At 62, the actor said he avoids taking unnecessary risks and now spends most of his time focused on work and family life, particularly raising his three-and-a-half-year-old daughter with wife Riko Shibata. Cage explained that fatherhood now consumes the majority of his emotional energy and attention. He described wanting to be fully present in his daughter’s life while helping nurture and guide her as she grows up. The Actor Says Fame And Age Changed His Perspective Nicolas Cage/Instagram The Nicolas Cage private life changes also extend to his public behavior and daily habits. The actor joked that his biggest “vices” now involve caffeine and excessive phone use rather than partying or alcohol. He admitted he no longer drinks martinis or seeks out unpredictable adventures the way he once did. Cage also shared that age has made him far more conscious about how he treats people in public. He explained that he understands how disappointing it can feel to meet someone you admire only to have them behave unkindly, something he actively tries to avoid. Nicolas Cage/Instagram According to Business Insider Africa, Cage has also begun reconsidering the pace of his acting career altogether. In recent interviews, he suggested he may only have a handful of movies left in him as he increasingly prioritizes spending time with his daughter and enjoying a quieter personal life. For longtime fans who grew up watching Cage’s unpredictable energy both on and off screen, the actor’s reflections reveal a much calmer chapter built around family, stability, and personal growth rather than chaos or excess. Next up: Alan Alda Reveals How ‘MAS*H’ Inspired Fans To Become Doctors The post Nicolas Cage Says His Life Is Now Focused Almost Entirely On Fatherhood appeared first on DoYouRemember? - The Home of Nostalgia. Author, Ruth A

ABC was so eager to have ‘Salvage 1’ go away that four episodes remained unaired for more than a decade.

Alan Alda has learned that one of his most famous roles reached far beyond television entertainment. Decades after playing Hawkeye Pierce on MAS*H, the actor recently reflected on the surprising way the character helped shape the lives of some viewers. According to Remind Magazine, Alan Alda shared that people still approach him to say his role on the classic series inspired them to become doctors. For the actor, that lasting influence connects to the idea of living usefully and making a contribution that continues long after the work first airs. Alan Alda Said Fans Still Thank Him For ‘M*A*S*H’ M*A*S*H, aka M*A*S*H, Alan Alda, (1972–1983). TM & Copyright © 20th Century Fox Television. All rights reserved. Courtesy Everett Collection Alda played Hawkeye, a U.S. Army Reserve captain and surgeon, on the medical drama and dark comedy set during the Korean War. The role became one of television’s most recognizable performances, blending humor, compassion, exhaustion, and moral seriousness in a way that helped define the show’s emotional power. REMEMBERING GENE WILDER, Alan Alda, 2023. © Health Point Productions / Courtesy Everett Collection While speaking with Joy Behar and Roger Rosenblatt during a 92NY event, Alda said a line from Rosenblatt’s book More Rules for Aging stood out to him: “Live usefully.” He connected that phrase to the many people who have stopped him in public and told him that watching MAS*H made them want to study medicine. He joked that none of them said the show made them want to become actors, but the impact still felt personal. The Series Respected The Real People Behind The Story M*A*S*H, clockwise from bottom center: Alan Alda, Mike Farrell, William Christopher, Jamie Farr, David Ogden Stiers, Loretta Swit, 1972-1983. ph: TV Guide / ©20th Century Fox Television / courtesy Everett Collection Alda has also reflected on why MAS*H connected so deeply with audiences. In a 2022 interview, he said the show worked not only because of strong writing, acting, and directing, but also because it carried respect for the real people who lived through wartime medical experiences. Even when the stories became funny or light, that awareness remained underneath. That balance helped make the show more than a workplace comedy. It allowed viewers to laugh while still sensing the pain, pressure, and humanity behind the characters’ lives. For those who later became doctors, Hawkeye may have represented more than a witty television surgeon. He showed care under pressure, intelligence in crisis, and the emotional cost of helping others when the world around him felt unstable.  Everett Collection Alan Alda’s comments also show how television can quietly shape real decisions. A role written for one series in the 1970s became a spark for viewers who later entered medicine. That kind of influence is difficult to measure, but the people who speak to Alda have made it clear that the show stayed with them. At 90, Alan Alda can look back on MAS*H as more than a career-defining project. It became part of many viewers’ personal histories, including some who turned inspiration into a life of service. For an actor thinking about what it means to live usefully, that may be one of the most meaningful legacies a performance can leave. The post Alan Alda Reveals How ‘MAS*H’ Inspired Fans To Become Doctors appeared first on DoYouRemember? - The Home of Nostalgia. Author, Ruth A

James Handy passed away in his home in Tarzana, CA on June 3, 2026.(Photo Courtesy: https://www.dailymail.com/news/article-15875711/Actor-James-Hardy-stabbed-murder-Michael-Gledhill.html)Born in New York City, NY, James' debut was on ABC's Ryan's Hope and many recurring roles on Castle, NYPD Blue, Profile, The X-Files, The West Wing,