You know that feeling when you're watching an old 90s blockbuster and you see a face—or two—that just triggers a massive wave of nostalgia? For a lot of us, that moment happens during the hospital scene in Terminator 2: Judgment Day. You see the security guard, Lewis, getting "sampled" by the T-1000. It's a classic. But then you realize it wasn't just CGI or clever camera angles. It was actually Don and Dan Stanton, the most famous "secret" twins in Hollywood history.
Lately, there’s been a lot of chatter online. People are hitting up search engines asking: Are Don and Dan Stanton still alive? It’s a fair question. They’ve been out of the spotlight for a while. Honestly, in the world of character actors, if you aren't posting on Instagram every five minutes, people start to assume the worst. But if you’re looking for the short answer: Yes, as of 2026, the Stanton twins are still around. They’ve mostly stepped away from the "biz," but their legacy is basically cemented in sci-fi and cult cinema history.
Why Everyone Is Searching for the Stanton Twins Right Now
So, why the sudden interest? Kinda feels like every few years, a new generation discovers that James Cameron didn't use a split-screen for that coffee machine scene. He just hired two guys who looked exactly alike. It’s one of those "did you know" facts that never gets old.
Don and Dan were born on December 22, 1952. That makes them 73 years old now. While they aren't exactly hitting the red carpets anymore, they’ve become staples of "Where Are They Now?" threads on Reddit and nostalgia blogs.
There was some confusion recently because a few other "Dan Stantons" appeared in obituary listings—one notably in Montana and another more recently in 2025. But those weren't our Stantons. Our guys are the Van Nuys, California natives who made a career out of being two people at once.
More Than Just a Terminator Cameo
Most people only know them from T2, but these guys were everywhere in the late 80s and early 90s.
👉 See also: Martha Stewart Young Modeling: What Most People Get Wrong
Remember Gremlins 2: The New Batch? They played Mr. Katsuji's assistants, Martin and Lewis (get it?). They were also the "censors" in Good Morning, Vietnam alongside Robin Williams. They had this weird, uncanny ability to be both funny and slightly unsettling at the same time. It’s a niche market, for sure.
A Quick Look at Their Weirdly Great Filmography:
- Good Morning, Vietnam (1987): They played the twin censors, Dan and Don.
- Gremlins 2 (1990): The Clamp Center scientists/assistants.
- Terminator 2 (1991): The legendary guard and T-1000 duo.
- Eerie, Indiana (1991): They played the twins who lived in "Foreverware" Tupperware to stay young. Talk about a cult classic.
- Mom and Dad Save the World (1992): More twin hijinks in a truly bizarre sci-fi comedy.
They even popped up in The Suite Life of Zack & Cody years later, playing—you guessed it—older twins. They basically made a living being the visual punchline for "double vision" jokes for three decades.
The "Terminator 2" Magic: How They Did It
Let's talk about that Terminator 2 scene for a second because it’s still impressive. James Cameron is a stickler for realism. He didn't want the "shimmering" effect of 1991 CGI to carry the whole weight of the T-1000’s mimicry.
When the T-1000 (as Lewis the guard) walks up behind the real Lewis the guard, that’s just Don and Dan standing in the same room. No green screen. No mirrors. Just two brothers who happen to share the same DNA.
The coolest part? There’s a shot where there are actually three of them. Since there were only two brothers, they had to use a puppet for the part where the T-1000 stabs Lewis through the eye. But for the walking and talking? That was all them. It's one of the reasons that movie still looks better than half the stuff Marvel puts out today.
✨ Don't miss: Ethan Slater and Frankie Grande: What Really Happened Behind the Scenes
Life After the Limelight
By the mid-2000s, the twins started to fade away from Hollywood. Their last credited role together was around 2006 in Kill Your Darlings.
Why’d they stop? Honestly, the industry changed. The "twin gag" is a bit of a relic from a different era of filmmaking. Plus, aging as a character actor is tough. Most people who run into them these days say they’re just regular guys living their lives in California. They aren't chasing the fame anymore, and who can blame them? They've already been immortalized in one of the greatest sequels ever made.
Why Their Health Status Gets Confused
Social media is a mess when it comes to older actors. Whenever a "Dan Stanton" passes away, the algorithm picks it up and starts showing it to people who liked Terminator 2.
It’s important to verify the middle names and birth dates. The Stanton twins are 1952 babies. A lot of the recent news stories about "Dan Stanton" refer to people who are much younger or from entirely different parts of the country.
As of early 2026, there have been no official reports from reputable trade publications like Variety or The Hollywood Reporter regarding the passing of either brother. In the world of acting, no news is usually good news.
🔗 Read more: Leonardo DiCaprio Met Gala: What Really Happened with His Secret Debut
How to Keep Up With Them
If you’re a die-hard fan, your best bet for updates isn't usually the news—it’s the convention circuit. While they don't do as many shows as Robert Patrick or Linda Hamilton, they have been known to pop up at autograph signings or "90s nostalgia" events in the past.
What You Can Do Next:
- Rewatch the Classics: Go back and check out Eerie, Indiana. It’s probably their weirdest and best work outside of the big movies.
- Check Autograph Sites: Places like Convention All Stars sometimes list their upcoming appearances if they decide to do a signing.
- Spread the Word: Next time someone tells you the T2 scene was all CGI, you can be that person who says, "Actually, it was the Stanton twins."
The Stanton brothers represent a specific time in Hollywood when practical effects and unique physical traits were the gold standard. Whether they’re still acting or just enjoying retirement, they’ve given us some of the most memorable "double-take" moments in cinema.
Keep an eye on official fan groups or dedicated sci-fi archives for any rare interviews. They don't give many, so when they do, it's usually full of gold about what it was like working with James Cameron and Joe Dante back in the day.
For now, rest easy knowing that the men behind the coffee-cup-crushing guard are still part of the world.
Actionable Insight: If you're looking for more behind-the-scenes info on how they filmed the T2 scenes, check out the "Making of T2" documentaries usually found on the 4K Ultra HD Blu-ray releases. They go into deep detail about the "Twin Advantage" Cameron used throughout the film, including the scenes with Linda Hamilton's twin sister, Leslie.