The iconic war film Saving Private Ryan celebrated its 25th anniversary this week, and we are taking a look back at what the cast has been up to since its release.
The film is set in 1944 France during World War II, following a battalion lead by Captain John Miller (Tom Hanks) to find Private James Ryan, after it was learned his three brothers had been killed in action.
Saving Private Ryan is considered to be one of legendary director Steven Spielberg’s best films, and one of the best war films ever made, nominated for 11 Oscars and winning six, including Best Director for Spielberg.
However, many pundits believe Saving Private Ryan losing Best Picture to the Harvey Weinstein-produced Shakespeare in Love is among the biggest Oscar upsets.
Here, DailyMail.com takes a look back at the stars of this classic war movie, and where they are now, plus some famous faces who were just starting out with small roles in the film…
Then: The iconic war film Saving Private Ryan celebrated its 25th anniversary this week, and we are taking a look back at what the cast has been up to lately
Tom Hanks (Captain John Miller)
Hanks had already won two back-to-back Oscars for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump when he was cast as John Miller, a U.S. Army Captain suffering from PTSD.
The film opens with a glimpse into the mayhem on June 6, 1944 at Omaha Beach in Normandy, France, which would come to be known as D-Day.
Miller was able to command a small group and survive the battle, leading them behind enemy lines, before he gets his mission to save Private Ryan.
Hanks won universal critical acclaim for his performance and his fourth Oscar nomination, though he ultimately lost to Life Is Beautiful star/writer/director Roberto Benigni.
Hanks already was, and continues to be, one of Hollywood’s most beloved stars, earning another Oscar nomination two years later for Cast Away and in 2020 for A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood.
He’s coming off a strong 2022, playing Colonel Tom Parker in Elvis, Geppetto in Pinocchio and the title character in A Man Called Otto.
Hanks can currently be seen in theaters in Wes Anderson’s new film Asteroid City, which debuted last month.
The actor is set to star in director Robert Zemeckis’ Here, alongside Robin Wright, Kelly Reilly, Paul Bettany and Michelle Dockery
Now: Hanks (seen above in June 2023) can currently be seen in theaters in Wes Anderson’s new film Asteroid City, which debuted last month
Matt Damon (Private James Ryan)
While he’s only in the movie for a few fleeting scenes at the end, Damon’s Private James Ryan is still the driving force of the movie, even though he’s unseen for most of it.
When Miller and his group finally locate Ryan, he refuses to abandon his post, Miller – as the only officer present – takes command of Ryan’s small group and prepares them for battle against the Germans.
While other in the small group do die during the battle, Ryan survives, as the mortally wounded Miller tells Ryan to, ‘Earn this, earn it,’ before dying, asking him to honor the sacrifices made for him and return home.
The touching final scene fast-forwards to Ryan as an old man, visiting the grave of Miller at Arlington National Cemetery, saying he has tried to live his life the best he could and that he hoped it was enough to earn the sacrifices made for him.
Damon had just come off his breakthrough role in Good Will Hunting (which he won an Oscar for writing with Ben Affleck) when he was cast in Saving Private Ryan.
Damon’s career continued to soar after the one-two punch of Good Will Hunting and Saving Private Ryan, and he hasn’t stopped working since, while also transitioning to producer as well.
He most recently starred as Nike salesman Sonny Vaccaro in the hit biopic Air and he can currently be seen in theaters as Leslie Groves in Oppenheimer.
The actor will next be seen in Ethan Coen’s new comedy-thriller Drive-Away Dolls, in theaters September 22 and he lends his voice to director John Krasinski’s Imaginary Friends, set for release on May 24, 2024.
Few scenes: While he’s only in the movie for a few fleeting scenes at the end, Damon’s Private James Ryan is still the driving force of the movie, even though he’s unseen for most of it
Oppenheimer: He most recently starred as Nike salesman Sonny Vaccaro in the hit biopic Air and he can currently be seen in theaters as Leslie Groves in Oppenheimer
Vin Diesel (Private Adrian Caparzo)
Long before he was a stalwart of the Fast & Furious franchise, Vin Diesel (born Mark Vincent) was a struggling New York City bouncer who had wrote, directed and starred in two low-budget indie films dubbed Strays and Multi-Facial.
While Multi-Facial was selected for Cannes and Strays selected for Sundance, neither film earned major distribution, though director Steven Spielberg did take notice.
Diesel recalled in a 2017 Yahoo! interview that Spielberg enjoyed Multi-Facial so much he wrote a role for him in Saving Private Ryan, Private Adrian Caparzo.
Caparzo was part of Miller’s detachment that went out searching for Ryan, though he was killed in a small French town by a German sniper, as he was trying to rescue a young French girl.
Though the role was quite small, it paved the way for bigger and better things, landing the role voicing the title character in 1999’s Iron Giant, a role in the 2000 indie drama Boiler Room and his 2000 breakthrough role as Riddick in Pitch Black.
Just one year later, he was cast as Dominic Toretto in the 2001 film The Fast and the Furious, which launched his career into the stratosphere.
Diesel is coming off Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (where he voices Groot) and Fast X, the penultimate film in the Fast & Furious saga.
Fast X: Part Two is set for release in 2025, while he’s attached to return as Riddick in Riddick: Furya, and as Xander Cage in xXx 4.
Role: Diesel recalled in a 2017 Yahoo! interview that Spielberg enjoyed Multi-Facial so much he wrote a role for him in Saving Private Ryan, Private Adrian Caparzo
Vin now: Diesel is coming off Guardians of the Galaxy Vol. 3 (where he voices Groot) and Fast X, the penultimate film in the Fast & Furious saga
Tom Sizemore (Sergeant Mike Horvath)
Sizemore established himself in the early 1990s as a talented character actor with roles in Point Break, Passenger 57, True Romance, Natural Born Killers and Heat, leading to his first major leading role in 1997’s The Relic.
He plays Sergeant Mike Horvath in Saving Private Ryan, a longtime friend of Miller and his second-in-command on their journey to Ryan.
Horvath is one of the final ones killed in the final battle with the Germans, before waves of reinforcements arrive.
The actor never stopped working, showing his versatility in several different genres including thriller (Enemy of the State), comedy (Big Trouble) and biopic (Hustle, where he played controversial baseball icon Pete Rose).
He also made headlines for his off-screen troubles as well, including battles with drug addiction and his 2003 of domestic violence against his then-girlfriend, the ‘Hollywood madam’ Heidi Fleiss.
While he largely worked in low-budget indie movies for the last several years, he was seen in the 2017 version of Twin Peaks and the 2017 movie Mark Felt: The Man Who Brought Down the White House.
He most recently was featured in a 2023 episode of Cobra Kai, though in February he suffered a brain aneurysm and was hospitalized in critical condition.
His family announced that after consulting with doctors, they recommended to pull the plug, with the actor passing on March 3 at the age of 61.
Tom as Mike: He plays Sergeant Mike Horvath in Saving Private Ryan, a longtime friend of Miller and his second-in-command on their journey to Ryan
R.I.P.: His family announced that after consulting with doctors, they recommended to pull the plug, with the actor passing on March 3 at the age of 61
Edward Burns (Private Richard Reiben)
Burns burst onto the indie scene a few years earlier, self-financing, writing, directing and starring in his 1995 debut The Brothers McMullen, which became the first ever film released under 20th Century Fox’s indie label, Fox Searchlight.
He followed that up in 1996 with She’s The One, starring alongside Jennifer Aniston and Cameron Diaz, with Saving Private Ryan the first film he acted in that he didn’t write and direct himself, playing Private Richard Reiben.
The actor told The Dan Patrick Show in 2015 that his agents suggested that he try acting in some studio films to raise his profile and help get his own films made easier.
‘One of the first scripts I get is Private Ryan and they originally told me to look at the part of the Sarge, that Tom Sizemore played. There was another part of the wise-a** from Brooklyn, and I was like, “I don’t think I have the chops for the Sarge, but I can definitely handle the wise-a** from Brooklyn,’ Burns said of his character, Private Richard Reiben.
Burns would continue acting in other directors’ films such as 15 Minutes, Confidence, The Holiday, 27 Dresses, Alex Cross and the TNT series Mob City, where he played gangster Bugsy Siegel.
He also continued making his own films as well, including No Looking Back, Sidewalks of New York, The Groomsmen, Nice Guy Johnny, Newlyweds, Summer Days, Summer Nights and Beneath the Blue Suburban Skies.
The multi-hyphenate most recently starred in, created and directed the TV series Bridge and Tunnel on Epix.
The dramedy series is set in 1980, following a group of college graduates pursuing their dreams in Manhattan while clinging to their life at home in Long Island.
Private: He followed that up in 1996 with She’s The One, starring alongside Jennifer Aniston and Cameron Diaz, with Saving Private Ryan the first film he acted in that he didn’t write and direct himself, playing Private Richard Reiben
New series: The multi-hyphenate most recently starred in, created and directed the TV series Bridge and Tunnel on Epix
Barry Pepper (Private Daniel Jackson)
Saving Private Ryan was one of two breakout movies for Pepper that both debuted in 1998, with the other being Enemy of the State.
The British Columbia native played Private Daniel Jackson, a sniper who was also devoutly religious, and part of Miller’s party.
He was also one of the last characters killed in the war epic, with the role helping him lander bigger and bigger roles.
Pepper played Dean Stanton in The Green Mile a year later and portrayed baseball legend Roger Maris in the HBO TV movie 61, which earned him an Emmy nomination, and he’d later get his first Emmy win for playing Robert F. Kennedy on The Kennedys.
Other notable roles included The 25th Hour, Knockaround Guys, 3: The Dale Earnhardt Story, We Were Soldiers, Flags of our Father, Seven Pounds, True Grit, The Lone Ranger and many more.
He most recently lent his voice to the hit sequel Creed III, voicing Showtime All-Access.
He also has the upcoming TV series Lawmen: Bass Reeves, where he plays Esau Pierce, debuting on Paramount Plus later this year.
The actor also has Solitary with Olivia Washington and David Oyelowo and Bring Him To Me with Sam Neill and Rachel Griffiths in post-production.
Breakout: Saving Private Ryan was one of two breakout movies for Pepper that both debuted in 1998, with the other being Enemy of the State
Coming soon: He also has the upcoming TV series Lawmen: Bass Reeves, where he plays Esau Pierce, debuting on Paramount Plus later this year
Giovanni Ribisi (Irwin Wade)
Ribisi, a Los Angeles native, was born into showbiz, with his father Al a musician and his mother Gay a manager, and he started acting at a very young age.
He starred on the sitcom My Two Dads as a teenager and became well-known for playing Frank, the half-brother of Lisa Kudrow’s Phoebe on Friends.
The young actor had also been featured in a handful of movies such as That Thing You Do!, Suburbia, Lost Highway and The Postman before playing Irwin Wade in Saving Private Ryan.
Irwin was the…
