What Forrest Gump child star looks like now

He became an overnight star after appearing alongside Tom Hanks in Forrest Gump, but has barely been seen in the 30 years since.

Michael Humphreys in Forrest Gump.

Michael Humphreys, the child star who played young Forrest in the blockbuster film Forrest Gump, is all grown up.

Now 38, the Memphis-born actor has been providing fans with updates on his Instagram, where he’s shown off his various hair styles and changing looks — as well as “interesting requests” for his autograph, reports Page Six.

Humphreys ditched Hollywood after starring in the blockbuster film.

He’s now 38.

Nearly three decades since delighting audiences with his leg brace-shattering sprint, Humphreys now lives a quiet life in Portland, Oregon.

And just like the eponymous film character, who memorably joined the army and served in Vietnam, Humphreys also enlisted in the US Army.

When Humphreys was 8 years old, he was taken to an open casting call in Memphis where producers were searching for a young Tom Hanks with a “quirky disposition.”

Humphreys in an iconic scene with his on-screen mum, Sally Field.

The movie was a massive hit.

The casting team was reportedly enamoured by Humphreys’ thick Southern accent and he was cast in the movie adaptation of Winston Groom’s 1996 novel.

Hanks later said in interviews that he copied Humphreys’ drawl for his own character.

With exception to a school production and an uncredited role in the 2003 television adaptation of John Grisham’s A Painted House, Humphreys did not pursue a career in acting.

After high school, Humphreys was stationed in the 1st Battalion 36th Infantry Regiment and completed an 18-month deployment in Iraq. He completed his 4-year service in 2008.

He served time in the military.

In a 2019 interview with The Sun, Humphreys sounded relieved that he didn’t become a child star.

“I’m not sure I would have wanted to be a child star — it doesn’t always seem to turn out that well for a lot of them,” he shared. “I reckon I am right, looking at some of them today.”

“I don’t think Hollywood is a healthy lifestyle for kids and you do not have a childhood or mature quickly. I was much better off going the route I did,” he added.

Humphries explained that his parents never pushed him.

“Back then, my parents just let me decide for myself what I wanted to do next and they never pushed me to pursue other acting roles,” he said. “I honestly think that was a good thing, as I never thought of Hollywood as anything glamorous or fame as something I wanted to chase. It was the opposite.

“I loved my home and was just interested in having fun and playing with my friends, especially as I liked school.”

Although it’s been decades since the beloved film was released, Humpheys is still asked to sign memorabilia and in 2019 met up with his on-screen mum, Sally Field, after 25 years.

This article originally appeared in Page Six and was reproduced with permission.

Originally published as What Forrest Gump child star looks like now