Based on Stephen King's novel of the same name, The Green Mile is a heart-wrenching film that portrays the corrupt justice system in America during the Great Depression. The late Michael Clarke Duncan portrayed a larger-than-life Black convict, John Coffey, who was believed to have raped and killed two young white girls. At first, all the guards write John off as guilty, but Paul Edgecomb (Tom Hanks) begins to notice John's natural mannerisms and demeanor make it nearly impossible for him to do the crime he's been accused of. The lives of many men rest in horrible hands while in the Louisiana prison, but with John there, perspectives begin to change.
King's unusual characters and twisted conflicts are meant to teach lessons to those who read his works. However, Frank Darabont's adaptation of King's novel proves to a larger audience that many of the hardships faced by King's characters are far from over in our own society. Systems are still not perfect; African American men are still racially profiled, and good men too often suffer an unjust fate. Embodying these characters and accepting a horrible reality even for the sake of a great movie was not easy on the cast members. Since the release of the film in 1999, many of them have found great success in their careers and personal lives.
Check out where the cast members of The Green Mile are today.
Tom Hanks
Before taking on his role as a prison guard, fans already knew Tom Hanks from a few successful films such as Sleepless in Seattle and Forrest Gump, but many could also pinpoint his voice as Woody from Toy Story.
After The Green Mile was released, Hanks went on to star in dozens of different films and television series including Castaway, Catch Me if You Can, and The Da Vinci Code. He continued to voice Sheriff Woody in the Toy Story series as well as the stern train conductor in The Polar Express. Hanks does not stay within a single genre of two, nor does he wish to only be in front of the camera. Hanks has been the producer of many films; he has written several screenplays, and he has directed a few episodes on different television series. Within the past year, Hanks has starred in Elvis, Pinocchio, and A Man Called Otto.
As of right now, Hanks' latest projects include a comic-to-film adaptation entitled Here and a miniseries based on the Eighth Air Force in WWII called Masters of the Air. Hanks is labeled as a producer of both works, but he will also star in the movie. It is no doubt that Hanks is a master within the film industry, and he will be forever known as one of the greatest actors of our time.
Michael Clarke Duncan
When people think of Michael Clark Duncan, they often remember the sheer size of this incredibly talented man. Shows like The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air, The Wayans Bros., and The Suite Life of Zack & Cody welcomed Duncan on their sets, and they gave his character names that brought attention to his size.
Duncan rightfully won three awards for his portrayal of John Coffey in The Green Mile, and he was nominated for several others. Over the next 13 years, Duncan lent his great booming voice to more than a dozen different movies, animated films, and television series including Cats & Dogs, Kung Fu Panda, and Green Lantern. He was well sought after in the industry for both his astounding acting abilities and his one-of-a-kind voice.
In the summer of 2012, Duncan suffered a heart attack that would lead to his passing months later. Fans from all over mourned the loss of this incredible man, but his kind spirit still lives on through his incredible works.
Doug Hutchison
Doug Hutchison could make anyone's skin crawl with his perfect portrayal of the sick and sadistic prison guard, Percy Wetmore. He is able to look fearful one moment and then change his expression to rage with just a few simple muscle movements. Hutchison is no amateur when it comes to playing the most hated guy on-screen. He played Obie Jameson in The Chocolate War before his role in Stephen King's film adaptation, and afterward, he was cast as a serial killer in The X-Files television series.
Unfortunately for Hutchison, people's hatred for him did not stop with his characters. In 2011, Hutchison received horrible criticism from his family and friends when he, at the age of 51, married his 16-year-old student. For several years, Hutchison took a step back from acting other than picking up guest roles in a few different television series, and it is likely a result due to his public relationship. The couple split up and officially divorced in 2020, and now Hutchison is getting back to work in the entertainment industry. Right now, his latest film, Escape from Black Water, is awaiting a release date.
David Morse
Before his time as Brutus Howell in The Green Mile, David Morse was already an established film and television series actor as well as an award-winning stage performer. Most people recognize him for his roles in the television series St. Elsewhere and House, the film Disturbia, and the Max miniseries John Adams. However, Morse has proven that he is just as versatile as some of the biggest actors, and he does not need to be in the spotlight to make a great impact.
Morse has remained consistent with his work both on-screen and on the stage, but what is interesting about this elite actor is that he has voiced several audiobooks. In 2016, Morse was able to rekindle his love for Stephen King's works by recording a partial reading of King's novel Skeleton Crew. As of right now, Morse guest-starred in the miniseries The Last Thing He Told Me, and he is in the post-production process of the film The Gettysburg Address where he was the voice of Abraham Lincoln.
Sam Rockwell
Much like Hutchison, Sam Rockwell knew his character like the back of his hand. Becoming "Wild Bill" Wharton seemed almost too easy for Rockwell to do. In an interview with The New York Times, Rockwell admitted that he likes to play the deeply disturbed characters, but he would have to accept other roles in different films and series as to not put a label on himself as someone who was only good at being bad.
Since his time as the troubled young man in The Green Mile, Rockwell has kept a steady line of work in the industry. Some of his most recognizable works include Iron Man 2, Conviction, and The Way, Way Back. Rockwell has won numerous awards for his role as Officer Jason Dixon in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri including The Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor. Most recently, he has lent his voice to Disney for Trolls World Tour and The One and Only Ivan. In 2022, Rockwell received a Tony nomination for his role in the Broadway play American Buffalo.
James Cromwell
Though James Cromwell rarely finds himself as the lead of a film or series, his presence typically takes the spotlight when the camera is on his character. Before landing the role as the sympathetic yet stern Warden Moores, Cromwell had been in a couple dozen different films, and he was a guest star in even more television series. Some of his more notable works include Babe, Star Trek: First Contact, and Easy Street.
After his time working on The Green Mile, Cromwell continued to get cast in other successful works such as The Longest Yard, The Artist, and Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom. In 2013, he won an Emmy Award for his role as the despicable Dr. Arthur Arden in American Horror Story: Asylum. At this time, thriller movie fans can expect to see Cromwell in Jeremy Saulnier's latest film entitled Rebel Ridge where Cromwell and several others unwrap the wrongdoings of America.
Bonnie Hunt
Though she gave a great performance alongside Tom Hanks as his character's wife, Bonnie Hunt is mostly known for her lively and fun personality and characters. Many will recognize her from Jumanji and both Cheaper By The Dozen movies, but millions of people can pick out her voice in films such as Monsters, Inc., the Cars series, Zootopia, and the last two Toy Story films.
Though Hunt has solidified a spot for herself working with Pixar on several different films and television series, she has not stepped away from the on-screen life just yet. Most recently, Hunt played Dr. Lubinsky in The Ultimate Playlist of Noise, and she is currently filming a Christmas movie entitled Red One where she plays the iconic Mrs. Clause. Fans can always expect great things from Hunt, and lucky for them, she does not seem to be going anywhere anytime soon.
Michael Jeter
Michael Jeter's performance as Eduard "Del" Delacroix was nothing short of perfection. He was a squirrely yet sympathetic character, and no one could not love the connection he had with Mr. Jingles. Before his time as the humorous convict, Jeter had been a part of some very successful films and series such as Evening Shade, Air Bud, and Patch Adams.
Many recognize Jeter from his performances as Mr. Noodle's brother in Sesame Street and the rugged Udesky who gets into some trouble with the raptors in Jurassic Park III. Jeter met an untimely death in 2003, and two final films — Open Range and The Polar Express — he worked on were released after his cremation. The industry lost an incredible man, but he is still remembered and loved by many.