The Losers’ Club Forever: 7 Shocking Secrets And The 2025 Status Of The 'IT' 1990 Miniseries Cast

The 1990 miniseries adaptation of Stephen King’s It remains a landmark in horror television, permanently etching the image of Tim Curry’s Pennywise the Dancing Clown into a generation's nightmares. This two-part psychological horror drama, directed by Tommy Lee Wallace, debuted on ABC and quickly became a cultural phenomenon, proving that network television could deliver genuine terror, even with a limited budget and strict broadcast standards. Decades later, with the miniseries celebrating its enduring legacy, new details and retrospective insights continue to emerge, cementing its status as a foundational piece of modern horror history.

As of December 2025, fan interest in the original It miniseries is higher than ever, fueled by the recent theatrical remakes and the 2022 documentary, Pennywise: The Story of IT. The miniseries is often revisited for its powerful ensemble cast, particularly the chemistry of The Losers' Club and Curry’s career-defining performance. We dive deep into the lives of the key actors and reveal the production secrets that made this terrifying adaptation a timeless classic.

The Losers' Club and Pennywise: A Complete Cast Biography and 2025 Update

The success of the It miniseries hinged on the performances of its large ensemble cast, who portrayed The Losers' Club both as children in 1960 and as adults 30 years later. Here is a look at the major players and their current status, providing a fresh update on their careers and legacies.

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• Tim Curry (Pennywise the Dancing Clown): The definitive portrayal of the cosmic entity known as It. Curry’s performance relied on theatricality and menace, with minimal makeup. Despite suffering a debilitating stroke in 2012, Curry has continued to work. His most recent appearance was in the 2024 horror film Stream, marking his first feature film role since the stroke.
• Jonathan Brandis (Young Bill Denbrough): The young leader of the Losers' Club, "Stuttering Bill." Brandis was a major teen idol in the 90s, known for his roles in The NeverEnding Story II and seaQuest DSV. Tragically, he passed away in 2003, leaving behind a significant legacy as a beloved child star.
• Richard Thomas (Adult Bill Denbrough): Known for his role as John-Boy Walton in The Waltons. Thomas has maintained a highly successful acting career, appearing in numerous films and television series, including a prominent role in the popular Netflix series Ozark.
• Seth Green (Young Richie Tozier): The mouthy, wisecracking member of the group. Green went on to become an extremely successful actor, voice artist, and producer, best known as the co-creator of Robot Chicken and for roles in the Austin Powers films and Buffy the Vampire Slayer.
• Harry Anderson (Adult Richie Tozier): A professional magician and star of the sitcom Night Court. Anderson perfectly captured the adult Richie's comedic timing and fear. He passed away in 2018, but his work in the miniseries is celebrated by fans.
• Emily Perkins (Young Beverly Marsh): The only female member of the Losers' Club. Perkins continued her career in horror, starring in the Ginger Snaps trilogy and appearing in the TV series Supernatural.
• Annette O'Toole (Adult Beverly Marsh): O'Toole is a celebrated actress with a long career, notably playing Martha Kent on Smallville and appearing in the Netflix series Virgin River.
• John Ritter (Adult Ben Hanscom): The gentle, overweight child who grows up to be a successful architect. Ritter, a beloved comedic actor from Three's Company, provided a grounding performance. He tragically passed away in 2003.
• Tim Reid (Adult Mike Hanlon): The only Loser to remain in Derry, Maine, and the one who calls the others back. Reid is still active in the industry, having co-hosted the series Roots & Shoots and starring in the 2024 film Stream alongside Tim Curry.

5 Shocking Behind-the-Scenes Secrets That Defined the Miniseries

The production of the It miniseries, filmed in Vancouver, British Columbia, with a budget of $12 million, was fraught with challenges, primarily due to its massive scope and the network television constraints of the time.

1. Tim Curry Initially Refused the Iconic Pennywise Role

In a surprising twist, the actor who would define the character for a generation was initially reluctant to take the job. Tim Curry had previously endured extensive, uncomfortable prosthetic makeup for his role as Darkness in the 1985 film Legend. He was so put off by the experience that he resisted any role requiring similar heavy prosthetics. Director Tommy Lee Wallace ultimately agreed to use minimal makeup for Pennywise, allowing Curry’s powerful facial expressions and natural, theatrical menace to carry the performance, which is a key reason his Pennywise remains so terrifying.

2. The Miniseries Was Originally Planned to Be Twice as Long

Author Stephen King’s novel is a massive tome, and the original vision for the miniseries was equally ambitious. The first draft of the script by Lawrence D. Cohen was intended to be an eight-hour miniseries. Due to network limitations and budget constraints at ABC, the story had to be condensed into a two-part, four-hour event, which explains why many fans and critics feel the second half, focusing on the adult Losers' Club, is rushed compared to the first part with the children.

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3. The Director Used Unique Methods to Create The Losers' Club Chemistry

The on-screen bond of The Losers' Club kids—Bill, Ben, Beverly, Richie, Eddie, Mike, and Stan—is a cornerstone of the miniseries' success. To achieve this authentic chemistry, director Tommy Lee Wallace dedicated the entire rehearsal period to helping the young cast members bond. By the time filming began, the actors were already genuine friends, which translated directly into the believable camaraderie of the seven outcasts facing the horror of Derry, Maine.

4. The Infamous Spider Ending Was a Major Compromise

The climactic confrontation with It in its true form—a giant spider—is the most criticized element of the miniseries. This ending was a result of the filmmakers having to adapt the novel's more abstract, cosmic horror elements, such as the 'Deadlights' and the 'Ritual of Chüd,' for a mainstream television audience. The production team used a combination of stop-motion animation and animatronics to bring the spider to life, a low-budget effect that has not aged well but was a necessary compromise for the time.

5. The Losers’ Club Actors Have Reunited Multiple Times

The bond formed during the 1990 filming has proven to be an enduring one. In honor of the miniseries’ 30th anniversary, several members of The Losers' Club cast reunited at events like the Salem Horror Fest. These reunions, often featuring actors like Brandon Crane (Young Ben Hanscom) and Emily Perkins (Young Beverly Marsh), demonstrate the lasting impact the project had on their lives and continue to be a treat for nostalgic fans.

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The Enduring Legacy: Why The 1990 'IT' Still Haunts Us

Decades after its premiere, the 1990 It miniseries remains a vital piece of the horror landscape, constantly debated and compared to the more recent cinematic adaptations directed by Andy Muschietti. The 1990 version is often celebrated for its nostalgic atmosphere and its focus on the emotional core of The Losers' Club's childhood trauma.

While the 2017 and 2019 films, starring Bill Skarsgård as Pennywise, benefited from a massive budget and modern special effects, they often lack the singular, terrifying presence of Tim Curry. Curry's performance is a masterclass in subtlety and theatricality, a key entity that elevates the entire production. Many critics argue that the 1990 miniseries, despite its flaws, better captures the duality of the story: the innocence of childhood summers contrasted with the unspeakable evil lurking beneath the town of Derry.

The documentary Pennywise: The Story of IT (2022) further explored the cultural significance of the miniseries, interviewing key cast and crew members to provide fresh context on its production and impact. The film confirmed that the miniseries was instrumental in popularizing the "killer clown" trope in media, a topical authority that continues to influence horror cinema today. The enduring fascination with the original series ensures that the story of The Losers' Club and their battle with the ancient entity will continue to float on for generations to come.