'Gremlins' at 27: Where Are They Now?

On June 1, "Gremlins," a memorable comic thriller from the 1980s, celebrated its 27^th anniversary. To commemorate almost three decades of Gizmo, Stripe and dozens of other memorable mogwai, here's a look at the primary cast and what happened to them.

Zach Galligan (Billy Peltzer)

Good-hearted Billy Peltzer received the mogwai named Gizmo from his father as a Christmas gift. Although carefully instructed in the rules of caring for such a special creature, Billy exposed Gizmo to water, prompting the creation of less benevolent creatures. Though Gizmo returned to his original owner at the end of the film, Billy became Gizmo's permanent guardian in "Gremlins 2: The New Batch."

A memorable face from the 1980s, Zach Galligan never managed to equal his "Gremlins" success with films like " Waxwork " and "Storm Trooper." Still a working actor, Galligan's last known screen credit was 2008's Let Them Chirp Awhile."

Phoebe Cates (Kate)

Billy's friend Kate hated Christmas because of a family tragedy, so when the gremlins took over the town, it fueled her dislike for the holidays even more. Still, by film's end, Kate warmed up to Gizmo, even taking his temperature with a thermometer and telling him "Don't chew."

The star of several 1980's teenage sex comedies, Phoebe Cates was one of many "Fast Times At Ridgemont High" cast members who went on to notable Hollywood careers. Cates starred in Lace," a popular television mini-series about an actress looking for her real mother. The role allowed Cates to utter the now infamous line "Which one of you bitches is my mother?"

The late 1980s allowed Cates to do more serious roles as she co-starred with Michael J. Fox in the underappreciated "Bright Lights, Big City." Cates also reprised her Kate character for "Gremlins 2: The New Batch" and, in 1989, married actor Kevin Kline. Cates and Kline have two children.

These days, Cates is still getting more rave reviews, but this time for Blue Tree, her New York City home goods store.

Hoyt Axton (Rand Peltzer)

An earnest inventor, Rand Peltzer had lots of good ideas, but his designs for cordless phones and smokeless ashtrays often resulted in disaster. Peltzer purchased Gizmo without the owner's permission, a decision that eventually led to major property damage in his hometown.

An accomplished singer/songwriter, Hoyt Axton crossed over into films with appearances in "The Black Stallion" and "Gremlins." Axton is well-known for his composing skills, especially with "The No No Song" made famous by Ringo Starr and "The Pusher," a 1969 song that appeared on the "Tropic Thunder" soundtrack.

Frances Lee McCain (Lynn Peltzer)

The very patient wife of a struggling inventor, Lynn Peltzer battled the gremlins in the kitchen, using knives, a spray can and whatever appliances were at hand to dispatch the creatures. In an iconic scene, Mrs. Peltzer forces a gremlin into the microwave oven, leading to a very explosive death.

Actress Frances Lee McCain earned a hat trick for playing three 1980's iconic movie moms in a row. In addition to Lynn Peltzer, McCain starred as Kevin Bacon's patient mom in "Footloose" and Marty McFly's unflappable future grandmother in the original "Back to the Future." McCain added another movie mom to her resume as Mrs. Lachance, mother of Gordie Lachance (Wil Wheaton) in "Stand By Me."

Currently, Frances Lee McCain is active with the Alternate Theater Ensemble in San Rafael, Calif.

Glynn Turman (Science teacher Roy Hanson)

After Billy accidentally learns how mogwai reproduce, he brings Gizmo to local science teacher Roy Hanson. Studying one of the mogwai late at night, Hanson leaves a sandwich too close to the cage, which triggers a deadly metamorphosis. Hanson also pays the ultimate price for his cold, scientific analysis of his specimen after it transforms.

This weekend, character actor Glynn Turman comes full circle with a featured role in "Super 8," another Steven Spielberg production. Turman plays Dr. Woodward, a scientist like Roy Hanson and one who has a crisis of conscience about a mysterious creature held captive in an Air Force laboratory.

Corey Feldman (Pete)

A curious neighborhood kid, Pete learns about the mogwai after visiting Billy and Gizmo. Pete knocks over a glass of water, which leads to the accidental creation of Stripe and the other malevolent gremlins. Pete also calls a local radio station to warn people about the gremlins, but the on-air host doesn't believe him until the creatures invade his studio.

In addition to "Gremlins," Feldman was a featured player in another Spielberg project, "The Goonies." He is fondly remembered as Teddy Duchamp, the troubled kid from "Stand By Me" who always was looking for the ultimate "train dodge." With real-life friend Corey Haim, Feldman was one of the stars of "The Lost Boys," a franchise that he has kept alive with several sequels.

Howie Mandel (voice of Gizmo)

Gizmo's distinctive voice came courtesy of comedian Howie Mandel. Coming to prominence during the 1980s, Mandel was a regular cast member on "St. Elsewhere" as well as a well-respected stand-up comedian. Mandel once again lent his voice to "Bobby's World," a Fox television series based on a popular Mandel character.

More recently, Howie Mandel was the host of "Deal or No Deal" and currently serves as a judge on "America's Got Talent."