‘Carrie’ Turns 50: Where Is the Cast of the 1976 Horror Classic Now?

Lauren Novak September 26, 12:00 pm

CARRIE, Sissy Spacek, 1976 — Everett Collection

This November marks 50 years since Carrie hit the big screen based on Stephen King‘s first published novel. Directed by Brian De Palma, who is now 86, the film opened on November 3, 1976, with Sissy Spacek as the bullied teenager whose telekinetic powers turn prom night into a nightmare. Piper Laurie played her controlling mother, while several of the young actors playing her classmates were just getting started in Hollywood.

A new version is arriving ahead of the anniversary. Mike Flanagan‘s eight-episode Carrie series premieres October 7 on Prime Video, with Summer H. Howell in the title role. Before meeting the new cast, here’s a look at what happened to the original film’s stars.

Sissy Spacek as Carrie White

Everett Collection; Kimberley French/MUBI/Everett Collection

Spacek was 26 when Carrie opened, despite playing a teenager. She had already starred opposite Martin Sheen in Badlands, but her performance as Carrie brought her an Oscar nomination. A few years later, she won Best Actress for playing Loretta Lynn in Coal Miner’s Daughter. Her later films included Missing, JFK, In the Bedroom, and The Help.

Spacek is now 76 and still acting. In 2025, she played Michelle Williams‘ mother, Gail, in FX’s Dying for Sex and appeared in Die My Love. Television viewers have also seen her in Bloodline, Castle Rock, and Night Sky.

Piper Laurie as Margaret White

Everett Collection; Gravitas Ventures/Everett Collection

Laurie earned an Oscar nomination for playing Carrie’s mother, adding to the nomination she had received for The Hustler. She received a third for Children of a Lesser God and later played Catherine Martell on Twin Peaks. Laurie died on October 14, 2023, at 91.

Amy Irving as Sue Snell

Everett Collection; Dada Films/Everett Collection

Irving made her feature film debut as Sue, who tries to make amends after joining in Carrie’s bullying. She returned to the role in The Rage: Carrie 2 in 1999. In between, she earned an Oscar nomination for Yentl, starred in Crossing Delancey and provided Jessica Rabbit’s singing voice in Who Framed Roger Rabbit.

Now 73, Irving has been spending more time on music. She released her first album, Born in a Trunk, in 2023, followed by Always Will Be in 2025. The second album features 10 songs written by Willie Nelson, who also appears on the record. The two had worked together decades earlier in Honeysuckle Rose.

William Katt as Tommy Ross

Everett Collection; Lionsgate/Everett Collection

Katt played Tommy, Sue’s boyfriend, who takes Carrie to the prom. He later starred in Big Wednesday and House, although television fans may know him best as Ralph Hinkley on The Greatest American Hero, which aired from 1981 to 1983. He also worked alongside his mother, Barbara Hale, in the Perry Mason television movies, playing investigator Paul Drake Jr.

Katt is now 75 and has stayed involved with his best-known television character. He joined the new Greatest American Hero comic series as an executive producer. AMP Comics launched the series in 2026, bringing Ralph and his superhero suit back for another story.

John Travolta as Billy Nolan

Everett Collection; Vertical Entertainment/Everett Collection

Travolta had already appeared on Welcome Back, Kotter when he appeared in the horror film as Chris’ boyfriend, Billy. Saturday Night Fever and Grease followed, making him one of the biggest movie stars of the late 1970s. His later career included Look Who’s Talking, Pulp Fiction, Get Shorty and Hairspray.

At 72, Travolta added directing to his résumé with Propeller One-Way Night Coach, which arrived on Apple TV on May 29, 2026. He wrote, directed, and narrated the film, which is based on his 1997 book about a young boy’s airplane trip. His daughter, Ella Bleu Travolta, appears as a flight attendant.

Nancy Allen as Chris Hargenson

Everett Collection; New World Pictures/Everett Collection

Allen played Chris, the classmate who helps arrange the cruel prom-night prank. She worked with De Palma again in Dressed to Kill and Blow Out, the latter reuniting her with John Travolta. Another familiar role followed in 1987, when she played Officer Anne Lewis in RoboCop. She returned for the next two films.

Allen is now 76 and serves as executive director of WeSPARK Cancer Support Center. She helped her friend Wendie Jo Sperber establish the organization and was its program director when it opened in 2001. Allen became executive director in 2010. The center provides free support programs for people with cancer and their loved ones.

Betty Buckley as Miss Collins

Everett Collection; 20th Century Fox Film Corp./Everett Collection

Buckley made her film debut as the gym teacher who tries to help Carrie. She soon became a familiar television face as Abby Bradford on Eight Is Enough and won a Tony for playing Grizabella in Cats. Her connection to Carrie continued on Broadway in 1988, when she played Margaret White in the musical.

Now 79, Buckley continues to perform and record music. Her live album Enough was released on July 17, 2026, and her fall concert schedule includes dates in Arizona, California and Nevada. She has also continued appearing in films, including Split, Imaginary and By Design.

P.J. Soles as Norma Watson

Everett Collection; Epic Pictures/Everett Collection

Soles played Norma, Chris’ friend with the red baseball cap. Two years later, she was Lynda in John Carpenter’s Halloween. She also starred as Ramones fan Riff Randell in Rock ‘n’ Roll High School and appeared in the comedies Private Benjamin and Stripes.

Soles is now 76. Her later horror credits include Candy Corn and Hanukkah. She also made a brief return to the Halloween series in 2018, voicing a teacher.