In the decades since its release, 1997's Starship Troopers has become a cult classic. Many of
the actors from this sci-fi favorite have never stopped working, so let's see what they've
been up to since nuking those bugs. Here's what the cast of Starship Troopers is doing
today.
Casper Van Dien got the role of a lifetime when he was cast as the lead in Starship Troopers.
He played Johnny Rico, a young man who had a troubled start to his life in the infantry.
However, he soon worked his way up to lieutenant with natural talent and a very simple military
strategy...
"Kill them! Kill them all!"
Shortly after the film came out, Van Dien found himself with another prominent role,
this time he was acting alongside Johnny Depp in Sleepy Hollow.
Since the late-'90s, Van Dien has appeared in dozens of films on the big and small screen,
but he hasn't forgotten his roots. He returned to the part of Rico for Starship Troopers
3: Marauder and he provided the voice for the same character in the CG animated film
Starship Troopers: Traitor of Mars.
In recent years, Van Dien appeared on television in Sharktopus vs. Whalewolf and Hawaii Five-O.
In 2019, he returned to theaters in the sci-fi action-adventure Alita: Battle Angel. The
James Cameron-produced project may have been a relatively rare big-screen appearance for
Van Dien, but he's always busy and we definitely haven't seen the last of him.
Dina Meyer played Private "Dizzy" Flores in Starship Troopers. Initially, she was one
of Rico's classmates but she ended up as a member of his infantry squad. Diz and Rico
fought giant, killer bugs side-by-side and, eventually, formed a romantic relationship.
Just a few years after appearing in Starship Troopers, Meyer joined the cast of the short-lived
TV series Birds of Prey as Barbara Gordon, also known as Oracle. It was a role she would
reprise many years later. This time, however, it was a short voiceover part for The Flash,
as part of the "Crisis on Infinite Earths" crossover arc.
In between appearances as Oracle, Meyer made a name for herself in the horror genre. She
played a prominent role in the Saw franchise as Detective Kerry, appearing in the series
all the way up until Saw IV. Other horror movies you might have seen her in include
Piranha 3D and The Evil Within. No stranger to the small screen, she also made an appearance
in an episode of American Horror Story.
Before she appeared in tabloids alongside Charlie Sheen, Denise Richards played the
role of Carmen Ibanez in Starship Troopers. While it was one of her first major
film roles, it wouldn't be her last. Not long after the movie came out, she co-starred in
the successful and notorious film Wild Things. And in 1999, Richards was in the James Bond
movie The World Is Not Enough, where she played a nuclear physicist with a very memorable
name.
"Doctor...Jones. Christmas Jones. And don't make any jokes. I've heard them all."
"I don't know any doctor jokes."
In 2000, Richards met her future husband Charlie Sheen on the set of Good Advice. The pair
tied the knot in 2002, and they would go on to appear together in the 2003 film Scary
Movie 3. After a rocky and very public relationship, Richards and Sheen divorced in 2006.
Through the years, Richards has kept extremely busy appearing in films and TV shows. Since
2019, she's been a regular cast member of The Bold and the Beautiful and The Real Housewives
of Beverly Hills.
As the son of Gary Busey, Jake Busey was destined to become an actor. After many smaller roles,
his big break came in 1997 when he starred in two major sci-fi flicks, Contact and Starship
Troopers. Since that time, he's been working non-stop, appearing in a wide variety of TV
shows and films.
One of his most popular roles came in 2014 when he landed a part in From Dusk till Dawn:
The Series. You've also likely seen him make brief but memorable appearances in other TV
shows, such as Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D. and Stranger Things, where his character morphed
from annoying to deadly. Also, in 2018, Busey followed in the footsteps of his famous father
and appeared in a Predator film.
While Michael Ironside has been acting since the '70s, many movie fans were first introduced
to him in Starship Troopers. He played Lieutenant Rasczak, the commander of the bug-crushing
Roughnecks and Johnny Rico's old high school teacher. Rasczak was highly respected for
his combat skills, leadership qualities, and keen battlefield observations.
"They sucked his brains out."
Since his time leading the Roughnecks, Ironside has portrayed an endless array of tough guys,
including an animated one. He voiced the character of Darkseid on Superman: The Animated Series,
Justice League, and Justice League Unlimited.
However, you've still been able to see his face on many occasions. He was the Captain
of the 7th Fleet in X-Men: First Class and he's appeared in The Flash television series
as Lewis Snart, the father of Captain Cold. Most recently, Ironside had a major role as
J.P. Morgan in The Alienist and, like Casper Van Dien, he appeared in an episode of Hawaii
Five-O.
Seth Gilliam played the heroic Sugar Watkins in Starship Troopers a loyal member of the
Roughnecks who gave his all to protect his comrades and take out as many bugs as possible.
After that role, Gilliam went on to star in 17 episodes of the hit series Oz as Clayton
Hughes.
It wouldn't be the last time he would star in a prestigious HBO series. You also likely
recognize him as Sergeant Ellis Carver from The Wire.
However, his most prominent role as of late has been as Gabriel Stokes on The Walking
Dead. After being filled with regret over those he didn't save from the zombie outbreak,
Gabriel goes on to become one of Rick Grimes' most trusted allies in the fight for peace.
Neil Patrick Harris was already a recognizable star by 1997, thanks to his years playing
the title role in the hit series Doogie Howser, M.D. In Starship Troopers, however, he was
able to show off a bit more of his adult sensibilities with his portrayal of the brilliant Carl Jenkins
a role which had a major impact on some fans.
"Your part in Starship Troopers truly, truly changed my life."
"Really?"
Harris went on to score various parts on television, but he jumped back into the mainstream when
he played himself in the film Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle. It was his chance to let
his comedic skills take center stage, and it likely played a part in his landing the
role of Barney Stinson on How I Met Your Mother.
Since the final episode of that beloved sitcom in 2014, Harris hasn't slowed down in the
slightest. He's portrayed a wide range of characters on stage and film, including Desi
Collings from the movie Gone Girl. Also, in 2017, Harris joined the world of streaming
television with his role as Count Olaf, and his various incarnations, in A Series of Unfortunate
Events on Netflix.
"I prefer long-form television to the movies. It's so much more convenient to consume entertainment
from the comfort of your own home."
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