Where Is the Original ‘Hand That Rocks the Cradle’ Cast Now?
A new remake of The Hand That Rocks the Cradle premieres on Hulu on October 22, 2025, reviving the story of a nanny with a big secret and terrifying intentions for the family she works for — which might leave you wondering what happened to the cast of the original film.
The Hand That Rocks the Cradle, released on January 10, 1992, was a massive hit that had a nation side-eyeing their babysitters. Directed by Curtis Hanson (who later won an Academy Award for his work on L.A. Confidential), the movie followed a grieving widow who takes a nanny job as part of a twisted plan for revenge. It was one of the biggest hits of the early ’90s, topping the box office for four straight weeks, and while every member of its central cast is still alive today, their careers have taken very different paths. Here’s a look at the stars of the film and where they are now:
Rebecca De Mornay (66)
Peyton Flanders / Mrs. Mott
Buena Vista Pictures/Everett Collection; Jesse Grant/Getty Images for Disney
De Mornay was already well known for her breakout role in Risky Business when she took on the role of Peyton, the nanny who becomes the film’s villain. She went on to appear in films like The Three Musketeers, Mother’s Day and Lords of Dogtown, along with TV projects such as ER and Jessica Jones. Today, De Mornay continues to act, with more than 60 credits to her name. Her most recent role was in a few episodes of NCIS.
Annabella Sciorra (65)
Claire Bartel
Everett Collection; Rob Kim/Getty Images
Sciorra played Claire Bartel, the mother who slowly realizes her nanny’s sinister intentions. Already an established actress at the time, she had starred in films like True Love, Jungle Fever and Reversal of Fortune. After the film, Sciorra went on to a varied career in both film and television. She is perhaps best remembered for her Emmy-nominated role as Gloria Trillo on The Sopranos and has continued to appear in shows such as Law & Order: Criminal Intent and Tulsa King.
Matt McCoy (67)
Michael Bartel
Buena Vista/Everett Collection; Mike Coppola/Getty Images for RFK Ripple Of Hope
McCoy played Michael Bartel, Claire’s husband. Before the film, he was already known for roles in the Police Academy franchise. Over the years, McCoy has enjoyed a steady career in Hollywood, with dozens of television guest appearances on series like Seinfeld, The West Wing and Silicon Valley. He has also been the face of Hartford Insurance in commercials.
Ernie Hudson (79)
Solomon
Buena Vista/Everett Collection; Kevin Winter/Getty Images
Hudson played Solomon, the handyman who becomes an unlikely ally to the Bartel family. Of course, audiences already knew him best as Winston Zeddemore from Ghostbusters, the role that made him an icon. His credits include Oz, The Crow, Miss Congeniality and more recently NBC’s reboot of Quantum Leap. With an acting career spanning more than 50 years, Hudson remains a favorite at conventions and fan events around the world.
Julianne Moore (64)
Marlene Craven
Buena Vista/Everett Collection; Mike Coppola/Getty Images
Moore appeared in the film as Marlene Craven, Claire’s friend, in one of her earliest notable screen roles. Though she had appeared in soap operas and small TV parts, The Hand That Rocks the Cradle helped launch her career toward bigger projects. Since then, she won an Academy Award for Still Alice and has starred in hits ranging from Boogie Nights to The Hunger Games franchise. In recent years, she has continued to balance film and television, appearing in Mary & George and the Netflix series Sirens.
Madeline Zima (40)
Emma Bartel
Buena Vista/Everett Collection; Amy Sussman/Getty Images
Zima made her film debut as Emma Bartel in the film. She went on to build a steady acting career, best known for roles such as Grace Sheffield on the sitcom The Nanny and Mia Lewis on Californication. She recently appeared in the film Subservience.
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