Photo: Everett
What do you get when you mix Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Vin Diesel, Ed Burns, Steven Spielberg and the drama of World War II? The movieSaving Private Ryan,which premiered 25 years ago on July 24, 1998, and earned heaps of praise and award nominations.Here, as the film celebrates its big milestone, catch up with the starry cast, then and now.
What do you get when you mix Tom Hanks, Matt Damon, Vin Diesel, Ed Burns, Steven Spielberg and the drama of World War II? The movieSaving Private Ryan,which premiered 25 years ago on July 24, 1998, and earned heaps of praise and award nominations.
Here, as the film celebrates its big milestone, catch up with the starry cast, then and now.
01of 09
Tom Hanks as Captain Miller
Dreamworks/Amblin/Universal/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock; Samir Hussein/WireImage
Before starring as Captain John H. Miller inSaving Private Ryan,Tom Hankshad already been nominated for three Oscars, taking home two statuettes for Best Actor inPhiladelphia(1993) andForrest Gump(1995). His work as the English teacher turned leader inSaving Private Ryanscored him a Golden Globe and Oscar nomination in 1999 for Best Actor.
Hanks went on to work withSaving Private RyandirectorSteven Spielbergfour more times in the box office hitsCatch Me If You Can(2002),The Terminal(2004),Bridge of Spies(2015) andThe Post(2017) alongsideMeryl Streep.
In addition to theToy Storymovie franchise, the star’s other notable film credits includeThe Green Mile(1999),The Polar Express(2004),The Da Vinci Code(2005),Charlie Wilson’s War(2007),Angels & Demons(2009),Larry Crowne(2011), Captain Philips (2013),Sully(2016),Greyhound(2020),Elvis(2022),Pinocchio(2022) andA Man Called Otto(2022).
Hanks has been married to actressRita Wilsonsince 1988, whom hefirst met on ABC’sBosom Buddiesin 1981. Their blended family includesfour adult children—Colin, Elizabeth,ChetandTruman.
02of 09
Matt Damon as Private Ryan
Mary Evans/Ronald Grant/Everett; Noam Galai/WireImage
Matt Damon, who played the titular Private (James) Ryan, already had two Oscar nominations and one win from 1997’sGood Will Huntingbefore taking on this pivotal role.
Damon got his start in Hollywood with a small role in 1988’sMystic Pizza.He later starred inThe Talented Mr. Ripley(1999),The Brothers Grimm(2005),The Departed(2006),The Good Shepherd(2006),True Grit(2010),The Adjustment Bureau(2011),Behind the Candelabra(2013),Elysium(2013),Interstellar(2014),Downsizing(2017),Stillwater(2021) andAIR(2023). The actor is also well known for his leading roles as Linus Caldwell in theOcean’s trilogyand Jason Bourne in theBournefranchise.
Damon andLuciana Barrosotied the knotin December 2005. The longtimecouple share four daughters, including Barroso’s daughter, Alexia, from a previous relationship.
03of 09Vin Diesel as Private CaparzoDavid James/Dreamworks/Amblin/Universal/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock; Evan Agostini/Invision/AP/REX/ShutterstockVin Dieselbegan acting at age 7 but didn’t make his big film debut until Spielberg saw some of his less recognized work and decided to cast him as Private Caparzo inSaving Private Ryan, the Army Ranger who attempts to rescue a young French girl. Diesel then starred in the hit 2000 sci-fi moviePitch Black.SinceSaving Private Ryan, two of Diesel’s most famous roles are playing Dominic Toretto inThe Fast and the Furiousfranchise and voicing Groot in Marvel series likeGuardians of the Galaxy,Avengersand 2022’sThor: Love and Thunder.Other notable movie credits includexXx(2002),A Man Apart(2003),The Chronicles of Riddick(2004),The Pacifier(2005), xXx: Return of Xander Cage(2017) andBloodshot(2020).Diesel hasthree children with girlfriendand modelPaloma Jimenez— son Vincent Sinclair and daughters Hania Riley andPauline.
03of 09
Vin Diesel as Private Caparzo
David James/Dreamworks/Amblin/Universal/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock; Evan Agostini/Invision/AP/REX/Shutterstock
Vin Dieselbegan acting at age 7 but didn’t make his big film debut until Spielberg saw some of his less recognized work and decided to cast him as Private Caparzo inSaving Private Ryan, the Army Ranger who attempts to rescue a young French girl. Diesel then starred in the hit 2000 sci-fi moviePitch Black.
SinceSaving Private Ryan, two of Diesel’s most famous roles are playing Dominic Toretto inThe Fast and the Furiousfranchise and voicing Groot in Marvel series likeGuardians of the Galaxy,Avengersand 2022’sThor: Love and Thunder.
Other notable movie credits includexXx(2002),A Man Apart(2003),The Chronicles of Riddick(2004),The Pacifier(2005), xXx: Return of Xander Cage(2017) andBloodshot(2020).
Diesel hasthree children with girlfriendand modelPaloma Jimenez— son Vincent Sinclair and daughters Hania Riley andPauline.
04of 09
Tom Sizemore as Sergeant Horvath
Mary Evans/Ronald Grant/Everett; Gabriel Olsen/Getty
Tom Sizemorehad several major roles throughout the ’90s.
Throughout his career, the actor struggled withdrug addiction and several scandals. Sizemoredied on March 3, 2023, aftersuffering a brain aneurysmthe previous month. He was 61 years old. Filmed before his death, Sizemore will be featured on the season 6 premiere of Netflix’sCobra Kaiin 2023.
05of 09Edward Burns as Private ReibenDreamworks/Amblin/Universal/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock; Rob Kim/GettyIn the lead-up toSaving Private Ryan, Edward Burns was already a successful filmmaker and actor.After the success of his performance as Private First Class Richard Reiben — the defiant Brooklyn native who openly questions the mission — Burns starred inThe Holiday(2006),27 Dresses(2008),Man on a Ledge(2012) andAlex Cross(2012).He’s also appeared onWill & Grace,Entourage,Mob City,Public MoralsandBridge and Tunnel. Burns continues to write, direct and star in his own projects, including 2018’sSummer Days, Summer Nightsand 2019’sBeneath the Blue Suburban Skies.Burnsmarried supermodelChristy Turlingtonin 2003. They share two children,Finn and Grace.
05of 09
Edward Burns as Private Reiben
Dreamworks/Amblin/Universal/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock; Rob Kim/Getty
In the lead-up toSaving Private Ryan, Edward Burns was already a successful filmmaker and actor.
After the success of his performance as Private First Class Richard Reiben — the defiant Brooklyn native who openly questions the mission — Burns starred inThe Holiday(2006),27 Dresses(2008),Man on a Ledge(2012) andAlex Cross(2012).
He’s also appeared onWill & Grace,Entourage,Mob City,Public MoralsandBridge and Tunnel. Burns continues to write, direct and star in his own projects, including 2018’sSummer Days, Summer Nightsand 2019’sBeneath the Blue Suburban Skies.
Burnsmarried supermodelChristy Turlingtonin 2003. They share two children,Finn and Grace.
06of 09Barry Pepper as Private JacksonDreamWorks/Courtesy Everett ; Stefania D’Alessandro/WireImageBarry Pepper played left-handed sniper Daniel Jackson inSaving Private Ryan.After the prolific actor reunited with former costar Hanks in the Oscar-nominated filmThe Green Mile, he later appeared inWe Were Soldiers(2002),25th Hour(2002),Flags of Our Fathers(2006),Seven Pounds(2008),True Grit(2010),Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials(2015),Maze Runner: The Death Cure(2018),Crawl(2019),Running with the Devil(2019) andCreed III(2023), where he voices a narrator during a televised fight.In 2001, Pepper received an Emmy nomination for portraying baseball legend Roger Maris in61*. His performance asRobert F. KennedyonThe Kennedysearned him his first-ever Emmy win in 2011.Pepper has been married to wife Cindy since 1997, and the couple shares one daughter, Annaliese.
06of 09
Barry Pepper as Private Jackson
DreamWorks/Courtesy Everett ; Stefania D’Alessandro/WireImage
Barry Pepper played left-handed sniper Daniel Jackson inSaving Private Ryan.
After the prolific actor reunited with former costar Hanks in the Oscar-nominated filmThe Green Mile, he later appeared inWe Were Soldiers(2002),25th Hour(2002),Flags of Our Fathers(2006),Seven Pounds(2008),True Grit(2010),Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials(2015),Maze Runner: The Death Cure(2018),Crawl(2019),Running with the Devil(2019) andCreed III(2023), where he voices a narrator during a televised fight.
In 2001, Pepper received an Emmy nomination for portraying baseball legend Roger Maris in61*. His performance asRobert F. KennedyonThe Kennedysearned him his first-ever Emmy win in 2011.
Pepper has been married to wife Cindy since 1997, and the couple shares one daughter, Annaliese.
07of 09
Giovanni Ribisi as T-4 Medic Wade
David James/Dreamworks/Amblin/Universal/Kobal/Shutterstock ; Theo Wargo/Getty
As a child actor,Giovanni Ribisihad already appeared in an impressive number of films — including opposite Hanks in 1996’sThat Thing You Do!— before portraying the quiet combat medic Irwin Wade.
Ribisi continued racking up film credits, starring inGone in 60 Seconds(2000),The Gift(2000),Lost in Translation(2003),Cold Mountain(2003),Sky Captain and the World of Tomorrow(2004),Public Enemies(2009),Avatar(2009),The Rum Diary(2011),Ted(2012),Selma(2014),Ted 2(2015) andAvatar: The Way of Water(2022).
Ribisi has three children. He sharestwins with partner Emily Ward. Ribisi’s eldest daughter,Lucia, is from his first marriage to former actress and interior designer Mariah O’Brien.
08of 09
Adam Goldberg as Private Mellish
David James/Dreamworks/Amblin/Universal/Kobal/Shutterstock ; Matthew Eisman/Getty
Before playing Stanley “Fish” Mellish inSaving Private Ryan, Adam Goldberg was most known for his memorable three-episode role as Chandler’s crazy roommate Eddie onFriends.
Goldberg is also a photographer and musician. In 2009, he released an album,Eros and Omissions, a collaboration with Flaming Lips drummer Steven Drozd. Goldberg and Drozd previously composed the music for the 2003 filmI Love Your Work, featuring his former costar Ribisi andex-girlfriendChristina Ricci.
Goldberg married artist and designer Roxanne Daner in 2014, with whom he has had three children. The couple’s first son, Bix, was born stillborn in 2012, as the actor revealed onWTF Podcast With Marc Maronin December 2014. Goldberg and Daner welcomed their second son, Bud, in 2014 and a third son, Sonny, in 2018.
09of 09
Jeremy Davies as Corporal Upham
It took a decade after the release ofSaving Private Ryanfor Jeremy Davies, who played the unit’s inexperienced interpreter, to find a major role.
However, he later found success as physicist Daniel Faraday on ABC’sLostand the revered Dickie Bennett on FX’sJustified, for which he won an Emmy in 2012 for outstanding guest actor on a drama series.
Davies' film credits includeSecretary(2002),Solaris(2002),The Black Phone(2021) andBitcon(2022), as well as many independent films. He also appeared on series likeTexas RisingandSleepy Hollow.
source: people.com
