You remember the sewer grate. You remember the paper boat. Most of all, you remember that high-pitched, gravelly laugh coming from the darkness. When ABC aired the two-part miniseries in November 1990, it didn’t just adapt a massive book; it traumatized a generation of kids who are now adults still side-eyeing storm drains. Looking back at the cast of Stephen King's IT 1990, it’s wild to see how many future stars, established legends, and tragic figures shared that screen in Vancouver.
It worked because of the faces.
Without that specific group of actors, Tommy Lee Wallace’s adaptation might have been just another cheesy TV movie. Instead, we got a bifurcated story of childhood trauma and adult reckoning. The chemistry was lightning in a bottle. Honestly, the kids were so good that they often overshadowed the adults, which is a rare feat in network television.
Tim Curry: The Man Under the Greasepaint
Let’s be real. If Tim Curry hadn’t said yes, we wouldn't be talking about this thirty-six years later.
Curry was already a cult icon thanks to The Rocky Horror Picture Show, but his take on Pennywise the Dancing Clown was something else entirely. He famously hated the makeup process. He’d sit in the chair for hours, and according to behind-the-scenes accounts, he stayed in character to keep the child actors genuinely unsettled. He didn't use a lot of prosthetics—just a forehead piece and some heavy white paint. Most of what you see is just Curry’s rubbery, terrifying face doing the heavy lifting.
He brought a Vaudevillian nastiness to the role. It wasn't just "scary monster"; it was a jerk. He taunted them. He cracked jokes. When he tells Richie Tozier, "Beep beep, Richie," it’s delivered with a sneer that feels personal. Curry’s performance is the anchor for the entire cast of Stephen King's IT 1990, creating a focal point for all the disparate storylines.
The Losers' Club: The Kids Who Stole the Show
The 1950s (changed to the 60s for the show) segments are the heart of the story. You had Jonathan Brandis as Bill Denbrough. Brandis was the "it" boy of the early 90s, later starring in seaQuest DSV. His stutter was handled with a lot of grace, making Bill’s grief over Georgie feel palpable. Tragically, Brandis passed away in 2003, a loss that still hits fans of the miniseries incredibly hard.
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Then there was Seth Green.
Long before Buffy the Vampire Slayer or Family Guy, Green was the wisecracking Richie Tozier. He was perfect. He captured that "trashmouth" energy without being able to actually swear on network TV. It’s funny looking back at him in those thick glasses, knowing he’d become one of the most prolific creators in Hollywood.
Ben Hanscom was played by Brandon Crane. He gave such a sensitive performance as the "fat kid" who was actually the smartest person in the room. Crane actually made a cameo in the 2019 IT Chapter Two film, which was a nice nod to the original legacy.
Adam Faraizl played the hypochondriac Eddie Kaspbrak. He eventually left acting to become a sake expert—literally a certified Master Sake Sommelier. That’s the kind of career pivot you love to see. Rounding them out were Marlon Taylor as Mike Hanlon and Ben Heller as Stan Uris. Emily Perkins, who played young Beverly Marsh, went on to become a Canadian horror icon in the Ginger Snaps trilogy. She had this "old soul" quality that made the adult version of the character feel earned.
The Grown-Ups: Stars of the Small Screen
The adult cast was a "who’s who" of 90s television. Richard Thomas, forever known as John-Boy from The Waltons, played the adult Bill. It was a bold casting choice. Seeing a wholesome TV dad dealing with an ancient cosmic evil was a trip.
John Ritter as Ben Hanscom was arguably the best casting in the second half. Ritter was known for comedy (Three's Company), but he brought a profound loneliness to Ben. The scene where he’s drinking alone in a bar before heading back to Derry? That’s pure pathos. Ritter was a massive King fan, and his enthusiasm for the project reportedly kept spirits high during the long night shoots.
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The rest of the adult cast of Stephen King's IT 1990 included:
- Annette O'Toole as Beverly: She brought a toughness to Bev that felt like a natural evolution from Emily Perkins' portrayal.
- Harry Anderson as Richie: The Night Court star was the perfect physical match for a grown-up Seth Green.
- Dennis Christopher as Eddie: Best known for Breaking Away, he played the adult Eddie with just the right amount of nervous energy.
- Tim Reid as Mike: The librarian and "keeper of the light." Reid’s calm, steady presence gave the group its grounding.
- Richard Masur as Stan: His role was short but incredibly impactful, setting the stakes for the "reunion."
The Bully in the Background
We can’t talk about this cast without mentioning Jarred Blanchard as the young Henry Bowers. He was terrifying. Not "supernatural monster" terrifying, but "real-world sociopath" terrifying. The way he carved his name into Ben’s stomach stayed with viewers for decades. Michael Cole played the older, institutionalized Henry, bringing a manic, broken energy to the character’s final act.
Why This Cast Still Resonates
Nostalgia is a hell of a drug, sure. But the 1990 cast worked because they felt like real people. In the 2017/2019 movies, everything is very polished. The kids are snappier; the effects are bigger. In 1990, it felt lived-in. When the kids are sitting by the Barrens, they look like kids who actually spent their summers outside getting dirty.
There was a genuine camaraderie there.
Reports from the set suggest the child actors stayed close during the shoot, which translated into that "Losers against the world" vibe. Even the adults, who didn't have as much screen time together as you'd think, managed to sell the idea of a thirty-year-old bond.
The Production Reality
It wasn't a big-budget blockbuster. This was a two-night event on ABC. They had to deal with censors, limited practical effects, and a grueling schedule. The fact that the cast of Stephen King's IT 1990 made the material feel prestige-level is a testament to their skill.
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They were working with a script that had to condense a 1,100-page book into four hours (minus commercials). Some of the dialogue is clunky. Some of the ending—specifically the giant spider—is, let's be honest, pretty goofy looking today. But the actors sold it. When Richard Thomas stares at that mechanical spider with genuine horror, you believe him. You have to.
Where to Find Them Now
If you’re looking to dive deeper into the history of this production, track down the documentary Pennywise: The Story of IT. It features extensive interviews with almost the entire surviving cast. Hearing Tim Reid talk about the importance of Mike Hanlon's role or Annette O'Toole reminiscing about the "blood in the sink" scene provides a lot of context that wasn't available in the pre-internet era.
For those wanting to revisit the performances, the 1990 miniseries is widely available on Blu-ray and digital streaming. It holds up surprisingly well, especially the first half.
Next Steps for the IT Enthusiast:
- Compare the Portrayals: Watch the 1990 Part 1 and then the 2017 movie back-to-back. Focus specifically on the Richie Tozier performances by Seth Green and Finn Wolfhard; it's a fascinating study in how "funny" has changed in 25 years.
- Check Out the Documentary: Watch Pennywise: The Story of IT (2021) to see the cast reunions and hear the behind-the-scenes stories about the late John Ritter and Jonathan Brandis.
- Read the Source Material: If you’ve only seen the movies or the miniseries, read the book. It helps explain why the 1990 cast made certain choices, especially regarding the characters' psychological scars.
The legacy of the cast of Stephen King's IT 1990 isn't just about the scares. It’s about how they captured the specific, painful transition from childhood innocence to adult responsibility. They made us care about the people, which is exactly why the clown was so scary in the first place.