Here's What A Christmas Story Star Peter Billingsley Looks Like Today
Peter Billingsley will forever be the spectacle-wearing, blond little boy with the bright blue eyes that nearly shot his eye out in the classic "A Christmas Story."
Billingsley's portrayal of Ralphie increased his celebrity status, although he was already an established actor before the movie premiered. The New York native launched his acting career at age 7 in commercials before going on to appear in shows and made-for-TV movies (via Good Housekeeping). Out of all those early jobs, Billingsley was best known for his role as "Messy Marvin" in the Hershey Chocolate Syrup commercials, according to Biography.
Now he's known for his friendship with Jon Favreau of "Swingers" fame. In fact, he directed the "Wedding Crashers" actor and director of "Iron Man" and "Iron Man 2" in the movie "Couples Retreat" (via A Christmas Story House and Museum). He's racked up director and producer credits since starring in the 1983 holiday film too (via IMDb).
These days the actor may spend more time behind the camera, but he does act from time to time. He may be all grown up, but we'd recognize those crystal blue anywhere. Here's what "A Christmas Story" star Peter Billingsley looks like today.
Peter Billingsley is a director and producer
Peter Billingsley is almost unrecognizable these days, having outgrown the boyish haircut and round cheeks. If it wasn't for those piercing blue eyes it may be difficult to convince people that he did, in fact, play Ralphie Parker, the character who sulked down the stairs in a pink rabbit costume on Christmas morning.
He's proved that there's more to the actor than his most famous role as the boy who wanted a Red Ryder BB gun. The celebrity has been in several films since "A Christmas Story," including "Iron Man," "The Break-Up," "Spiderman: Far from Home," and "Four Christmases" (via IMDb). Although he did resemble an older version of Ralphie in the movie "Elf," where he took on the role of an elf with glasses and rosy cheeks, Billingsley today is a far cry from the young boy he portrayed in the holiday film.
He's also broken into directing and producing. Notably, he produced the animated Netflix series "F is For Family" and the 2005 movie "Zathura: A Space Adventure." Besides "Couples Retreat," Billingsley has also directed episodes of "Sullivan & Son" and the film "Term Life."
He's come a long way from the boy who was warned, "You'll shoot your eye out, kid!"
The actor returns as Ralphie Parker in A Christmas Story Christmas
"A Christmas Story" fans will be delighted to learn that Peter Billingsley is reprising his role of Ralphie Parker in HBO Max's sequel, "A Christmas Story Christmas." In the movie, which is set in the 1970s, Ralphie, now a grown man with a family of his own, comes back home to Cleveland for Christmas. Viewers also get to meet Ralphie's children.
Nostalgia runs deep as Ralphie meets up with his childhood friends Scott "Scut" Farkus, Flick, and Schwartz, portrayed by Ian Petrella, Zack Ward, and R.D. Robb. Sadly, Ralphie's father has passed away in the sequel, and his desire to restore his bond with family and friends is what drives him to return to his hometown.
This isn't the first sequel of the beloved holiday classic. There have been several different versions but none including Peter Billingsley (via Variety). In 1994, the sequel "It Runs in the Family” was released in theaters. "A Christmas Story: The Musical" debuted on Broadway in 2012, and the TV musical special "A Christmas Story Live!" premiered in 2017.
Now a middle-aged man, Ralphie will do his best to give his own kids a memorable Christmas, just like the ones he and his friends had so many years ago. The movie premiered on HBO Max on November 17, 2022.