It’s been more than 33 years since The Mighty Ducks skated its way into our hearts, but it’s more than stood the test of time.
The film was an early hit for a cast of young actors who have gone on to successful acting careers, following the lead of their coach played by Emilio Estevez.
Emilio Estevez and The Mighty Ducks cast. (Buena Vista Pictures)
There was even a reboot for recent Disney+ series The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers, with many of the original cast returning.
While you can take a trip down memory lane with The Mighty Ducks on 9Now, we’ve rounded up everything the cast has been up to since – from A-listers to those who had complete career changes.
Emilio Estevez
Emilio Estevez played coach Gordon Bombay, an arrogant lawyer turned reluctant hockey coach, in all three Mighty Ducks films as well as its 2021 reboot series Game Changers.
Emilio Estevez reprised his role as coach in the Mighty Ducks TV show. (Disney+)
Estevez first rose to prominence as part of the ’80s “Brat Pack” with roles in classics like The Outsiders, The Breakfast Club and St. Elmo’s Fire.
He later turned his focus mainly to directing, earning Golden Globe and Screen Actors Guild nominations for his film 2006 Bobby.
He has also co-starred with his father Martin Sheen and brother Charlie Sheen on multiple occasions.
Charlie Sheen, Martin Sheen and Emilio Estevez in 1994. (Ron Galella Collection via Getty)
Estevez has had many high-profile relationships over the years, mainly during his Brat Pack years.
He dated actress Mimi Rogers and model Carey Salley and had a highly publicised engagement to Demi Moore throughout the decade.
From 1992 to 1994, Estevez was married to Paula Abdul.
Joshua Jackson
Joshua Jackson was 15 when he appeared in The Mighty Ducks as hotshot rookie Charlie Conway.
Five years later, his fame skyrocketed when he landed the role of Pacey Witter on Dawson’s Creek, immediately becoming a heartthrob to millions of fans.
Joshua Jackson in The Mighty Ducks and Dawson’s Creek. (Disney/The WB)
He’s since had one of the biggest careers among the cast, including roles Cruel Intentions, Little Fires Everything and as the lead in Dr. Death, which earned him a Critics’ Choice Television Award nomination.
Reflecting on his time on the Mighty Ducks films, Jackson credited Estevez as a mentor who made a huge impact on his career.
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”I got to the set of The Mighty Ducks, that Emilio, by example, was like, ‘This is how you can do this.’ It was him laying that groundwork that has probably been the reason that I have been able to maintain this career for all these years,” the now 47-year-old shared on The Kelly Clarkson Show in May 2025.
Jackson’s personal life has made just as much of a splash as his career, beginning with his relationship with Dawson’s Creek co-star Katie Holmes during the show’s early run.
He dated Diane Kruger for a decade from 2006 to 2016.
Jackson married Jodie Turner-Smith in 2019 and a year later, the couple welcomed a daughter, Juno Rose Diana Jackson.
Jodie Turner-Smith and Joshua Jackson at the 2022 Met Gala. (Getty)
After four years of marriage, Turner-Smith filed for divorce in 2023.
Jackson then dated Lupita Nyong’o for about a year from 2023 to 2024.
Jussie Smollett
You may not have even realised it, but Jussie Smollett had a small role in The Mighty Ducks as Jesse Hall’s younger brother Terry.
One of Smollett’s earliest roles was in Mighty Ducks. (Getty/Walt Disney Studios)
Smollett had plenty of other guest roles under his belt before he became known for his role as Jamal Lyon on Empire in 2015.
In January 2019, Smollett claimed to have been the victim of a hate crime in Chicago.
However, police investigation discovered Smollett had paid two associates to stage the assault and he was arrested.
Smollett in 2022. (Richard Shotwell/Invision/AP)
In 2021, he faced trial and was found guilty of five of six counts of felony disorderly conduct, ordered to spend 150 days in jail and pay US$120,000 ($180k).
However, in 2024 the Illinois Supreme Court reversed Smollett’s conviction, stating an earlier binding agreement he made in 2019 to perform community service in exchange for dropped charges meant he could not be legally charged again for the same crime.
Unsurprisingly, the scandal derailed Smollett’s career.
He was written out of Empire and has very limited work since, mostly in projects he has directed himself as well as a Netflix documentary about the incident, The Truth About Jussie Smollett?
Elden Henson
Elden Henson played the Ducks’ intimidating (but mostly inaccurate) player Fulton Reed throughout the franchise.
He later had supporting roles in films like She’s All That and The Butterfly Effect.
These days, Henson is part of the Marvel Universe thanks to his role as Foggy in Daredevil and other shows in the universe.
These day you might recognise Elden Henson from the Marvel Universe. (Disney/Lionsgate)
Henson will also be familiar to fans of The Hunger Games, starring as cameraman Pollux in Mockingjay Part 1 and Part 2.
Henson’s younger brother Garette also appeared in The Mighty Ducks as one of the teams most naturally gifted athletes, Guy Germaine.
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Shaun Weiss
Shaun Weiss’ character Greg Goldberg was the team’s goalie who was, unfortunately, scared of the puck.
(Getty/ Instagram/ Nine)
Off camera, Weiss publicly struggled with addiction.
After being arrested for burglary and being under the influence of methamphetamine in January 2020, Weiss completed a court-ordered drug program.
In 2022, he marked two years of sobriety by sharing side-by-side images of him during his journey, showing how far he’d come.
Weiss celebrated being two years sober with a sobering look at where he came from. (Instagram)
Weiss now works as a recovery coach for others, and has also begun a stand-up comedy career.
Danny Tamberelli
Danny Tamberelli was one of the figure skating siblings in the original film, joining as one of the most known cast members thanks to his early role in Nickelodeon sitcom The Adventures of Pete & Pete.
Child star Danny Tamberelli in Mighty Ducks. (Supplied)
He continued as a Nickelodeon star for many years, with a main role in sketch comedy series All That.
These days, Danny is a podcast host and author alongside his wife Kate Tamberelli.
Marguerite Moreau
Marguerite Moreau played one of the better players, and the only girl on the team in the first movie, Connie “Velvet Hammer” Moreau.
Connie, right, was played by Marguerite Moreau. (Walt Disney Studios)
She later guest starred in several shows such as 3rd Rock from the Sun, The O.C. and Lost.
Most recently, Moreau appeared as Lynette in two episodes of The Pitt.
Lane Smith
Lane Smith was coach Jack Reilly, coach Bombay’s former coach and the man in charge of the Ducks’ rivals, the Hawks.
Smith as coach Reilly. (Disney)
Already a long time actor before the film, Smith went on to continue his career with roles across film and television.
In 2004, Smith was diagnosed with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) and died a year later in June 2005, aged 69.
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