MGM/Courtesy Everett
Break out the fudge and the provocative lamp: It's time for our annual check-in with the Parkers. Since its release in 1983,A Christmas Storyhas turned into a family tradition, one of the essential films to watch around the holiday season. Capturing the nostalgic glow of childhood wonder and hijinks, the film — about an adult Ralphie looking back on one chaotic Christmas in 1940 — hits the sweet spot for viewers of all ages.
While most of theChristmas Storycast are primarily recognized for their roles in the film, each has led a wildly different career during the past four-plus decades. FromPeter Billingsleyto Ian Petrella and everyone in between, we're looking at where the cast ofA Christmas Storyis now.
Peter Billingsley (Ralphie)
Although he technically only had a handful of lines inA Christmas Story —a muddled expletive being one of them — Peter Billingsley stayed on the Christmas movie circuit later in life, appearing inElf(2003) andFour Christmases(2008) years after his iconic role.
"People ask me, 'Why does this movie resonate?'"Billingsley told EW in 2022ofA Christmas Story. "Because it's a real family, man. By the same token, it's also not quite the super dark, indie, the 'Oh, no, don't open that family door.' It's not that family, but it's also not the Bradys or Disney-fied."
Billingsley also added a handful of TV appearances over the decades on shows likeWho's the Boss?,Punky Brewster, andThe Wonder Years. He has primarily worked behind the scenes, as a director of films includingCouples Retreat(2009) andTerm Life(2016), and producer of projects likeTheBreak-Up(2006),Iron Man(2008),The Opening Act(2020),Broke(2025), and the Netflix seriesF is for Family.
He also co-produced the original 2012 Broadway musical adaptation ofA Christmas Story, and reprised his role as Ralphie in the 2022 HBO Max filmA Christmas Story Christmas.
Ian Petrella (Randy)
After his breakout role as Ralphie's little brother Randy, Ian Petrella went on to appear on a string of television shows, includingDiff'rent Strokes,Who's the Boss?,Highway to Heaven,My Sister Sam, andBeverly Hills, 90210(his last credit before a 15-year acting break).
The actor studied improv at the Groundlings Comedy Theater in Los Angeles and now focuses on animation and puppetry (having worked on the Henson Company's '90s seriesBrats of the Lost Nebula). He played Randy again inA Christmas Story Christmas.
Melinda Dillon (Mrs. Parker)
Melinda Dillon was already a Tony-winning actress before she starred as Ralphie and Randy's kind, eccentric mother inA ChristmasStory, with two Oscar nominations under her belt to boot forClose Encounters of the Third Kind(1977) andAbsence of Malice(1981).
After 1983, Dillon appeared in such films asHarry and the Hendersons(1987),Staying Together(1989),Captain America(1990),The Prince of Tides(1991),How to Make an American Quilt(1995), andMagnolia(1999). In 2005, Dillon guest-starred onLaw & Order: SVU. She was last seen on screen in 2007, with the TV seriesHeartlandand the filmReign Over Mealongside Adam Sandler, Don Cheadle, and Jada Pinkett Smith.
Dillondied in 2023at the age of 83.
Darren McGavin (Old Man Parker)
Back in 1983,Darren McGavinhelped to make a practically pornographic lamp an icon as Ralphie and Randy's major-award-winning Old Man.
FollowingA Christmas Story, he appeared in films likeTurk 182(1985),Raw Deal(1986),Dead Heat(1988), and 1990'sCaptain America —the latter alongside his former onscreen wife, Melinda Dillon. He played Adam Sandler's billionaire dad inBilly Madison(1995) and was also nominated for an Emmy in 1990 for his guest appearance onMurphy Brown(other guest spots includedMurder, She Wrote;The X-Files; andTouched by an Angel).
McGavin died of cardiovascular disease in 2006 at the age of 83.
Scott Schwartz (Flick)
AfterA Christmas Story, Scott Schwartz appeared inKidco(1984) and the TV movieA Time to Live(1985) withLiza MinnelliandCorey Haim.
In the 1990s, Schwartz worked in the adult film industry both in front of and behind the camera, appearing in such films asBeauty and the Beast Part II(1990) andScotty's X-Rated Adventure(1996). He also starred in a few low-budget horror films, including 2021'sNormal Terrorand 2025'sScissors.
Schwartz is known for his line of celebrity-based trading cards and was even featured on a 2008 cover ofSports Card Monthly.He returned to the role of Flick inA Christmas Story Christmas.
R.D. Robb (Schwartz)
Everett Collection; Ann Johansson/AP/REX/Shutterstock
Back in 1983, R.D. Robb made his acting debut by wearing a sock hat and issuing one of the more memorable, traumatizing acts of peer pressure in cinematic history.
Since then, he's gone on to appear in films likeThe Brady Bunch Movie(1995) andMatilda(1996) and on TV shows includingER,Unhappily Ever After,Touched by an Angel, andThe Goldbergs. In 1995, he wrote and directed the movieDon's Plum, which starred Leonardo DiCaprio and Tobey Maguire, both of whomtried to stop the movie from being releasedin the United States.
Later in his career, Robb served as executive producer for the seriesSirenon Freeform. He played Schwartz again inA Christmas Story Christmas.
Tedde Moore (Miss Shields)
Tedde Moore reprised the role of Miss Shields for 1994'sMy Summer Story(originally released asIt Runs in the Family), which was taken from the same book of vignettes asA Christmas Story. She was the only actor to appear in both films.
Moore later went on to appear in projects likeRoboCop: Prime Directives(2001) and the 2011 miniseriesThe Kennedys. She was also in the filmHigh-Rise Rescueand Hallmark'sMagical Christmas Ornamentsin 2017.
Music fans might also know her as the mother of Canadian producer and actor Noah James Shebib, a.k.a. 40, who is best known for his work withDrake.
Jean Shepherd (Adult Ralphie)
Prolific writer and radio host Jean Shepherd co-wrote the semi-fictional 1983 film and also served as its narrator. He also narrated the film's sequel of sorts,My Summer Story.
Shepherd also lent his signature voice toSesame Streetin the animated"Cowboy X" segmentthat aired repeatedly over the years before his death in 1999 at the age of 78. In 2005, he was posthumously inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame.
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