The young stars gained global fame through their roles in the hit movie series. Still, after a few years, both slipped away from the limelight and stopped appearing on screen — though one eventually returned to acting, while the other chose a different path.
It’s been more than thirty years since the sci-fi adventure “Jurassic Park” hit theaters in 1993. Ariana Richards and Joseph Mazzello, who portrayed the on-screen siblings, have transformed quite a bit since then — take a look at how they appear now.
Ariana Richards
Richards’ memories of that time remain vivid, highlighting just how unexpected the moment was. At only 12, the star wasn’t contacted by phone — she was sitting in famed director Steven Spielberg’s office when he offered her the role.
He had seen her earlier films and even reviewed a tape of her screaming, which apparently, caught his attention. “He was just really friendly and put me right at ease,” Richards shared in an interview once. “We chatted and had a good time, and by the end of that meeting he was saying, ‘So Ariana, are you busy this summer?'”
The California-born actress, who played Lex Murphy in “Jurassic Park,” reflected on the film’s lasting impact. “It’s a film that touched so many people when it came out. I was just 12 years old — I turned 13 during the filming — and it was one of those things where I just enjoyed the experience of creating the movie,” the star shared.
Richards admitted she hadn’t anticipated the overwhelming recognition that followed the film’s release, noting that she couldn’t even eat lunch in peace without crowds gathering to speak with her.
Richards admitted she hadn’t anticipated the overwhelming recognition that followed the film’s release, noting that she couldn’t even eat lunch in peace without crowds gathering to speak with her.
The celebrity also observed that the film continues to captivate new generations, as children who never saw it in theaters are now enjoying it regularly, often alongside their parents.
This ongoing excitement from young viewers has kept Richards in the public eye, even years after the movie’s release. She admitted she still gets recognized from time to time. “Amazingly enough, it still happens,” she said, noting that she’s learned to spot the signs — like people whispering and acting uneasy nearby.
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When it comes to fan reactions, some even repeat lines from the film. Richards shared how amused she was hearing that audiences used to talk back to the screen during the movie, yelling things like, “What are you doing, you stupid girl?!” when her character picked up the flashlight.
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Despite the playful fan encounters, Richards’ connection to her role runs far deeper than just memorable scenes and quotes. When asked whether being part of such a major film made it easier to leave acting behind, she explained that it wasn’t about a clear-cut decision.
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“People ask me, ‘So did you step away from acting or decide to leave the business?’ I let them know it’s not about making a choice,” the star said. Acting, she explained, has always been part of who she is.
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Still, the “Tremors” star hasn’t closed the door on acting, saying, “I still have an agent. If some really interesting role came along and found me, I’m sure I’d be thrilled to do it.”
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Though acting remains a possibility, her creative energy has clearly found a new outlet. Her main interest has moved since toward visual art, especially oil painting. Richards later earned a B.S. degree in Fine Art and Drama from Skidmore College, graduating with distinction.
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She then sharpened her skills at the Art Center College of Design in Pasadena, where she learned from leading figures in contemporary impressionist art.
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Today, at 45, Richards stands out as an award-winning painter whose work has appeared in respected art magazines. Collectors admire her for her expressive landscapes and figures. She is also recognized as a member of both the Portrait Society of America and the California Art Club, which was established in 1909.
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Her creative accomplishments are matched by milestones in her personal life. Richards, who married Mark Aaron Bolton in 2013 and is now a mother, was last seen in the public spotlight at the Los Angeles premiere of “Jurassic World Dominion” in June 2022.
Public sightings may be rare, but when Richards does appear, fans don’t hold back their admiration. One person remarked, “Just watched Jurassic Park this weekend. When did we get old?” Another chimed in with praise, “Always beautiful.” A third viewer added, “She is so gorgeous.”
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Joseph Mazzello
While Richards found joy in art and family, Mazzello has also spoken fondly about his experience working on the “Jurassic Park” film. The actor played Tim Murphy in the movie and once described how intense it felt reading the script for the first time:
“When I first read the script, I was scared to death.”
His imagination ran wild with anticipation, especially since they didn’t shoot any dinosaur scenes for the first few weeks. “I was just dying to see them,” he recalled. “And the first one I saw was the triceratops laying there when he’s sick and just couldn’t believe my eyes at how incredibly lifelike it was.”
Mazzello held a deep respect for the way the film combined animatronics with CGI, believing the balance helped make the visuals feel incredibly real. He felt the technique had stood the test of time and noted that few films since had managed to blend the two as effectively to fully convince viewers of what they were seeing.
The New York native had a particular fondness for climbing scenes, saying he never feared heights as a child. One experience stayed with him — a moment during filming when a raptor prop, meant to move in the opposite direction, turned the same way he did.
Its metal claw struck him on the head, leaving him briefly dazed. Coincidentally, it was also his ninth birthday. Spielberg, after making sure he was unharmed, gathered the crew to sing him happy birthday. Of all the moments in the film, the intense kitchen scene where his character is pursued into a freezer remained one of the most unforgettable.
From heart-pounding moments on set to cherished birthday memories, Mazzello’s early experiences left a strong imprint — but his path after the film took several unexpected turns.
After his breakout role in “Jurassic Park,” Mazello went on to star in major films like “Shadowlands” (1993), portraying C. S. Lewis’s stepson, and “The River Wild” (1994), where he played the son of Meryl Streep’s character. He later returned as a teenager for “The Lost World: Jurassic Park” in 1997 — a film that, despite mixed reviews, achieved major box office success.
However, soon after, Mazzello stepped away from the spotlight. At 14, he chose to pause his acting career, seeking a more typical teenage life. He explained in a 2010 interview:
“As I got older, things like high school, and going to the prom, and football games, those regular things, started becoming important to me. Acting just seemed less important. So I stopped going to auditions, and took a few years out to be a regular guy.”
That break stretched over ten years. “For a while, I didn’t even have an agent,” he added. “But now I’m back.” By then, he had re-entered the scene with a major role in “The Pacific,” a World War II miniseries produced by Spielberg.
The project, one of the most costly television efforts at the time, brought Mazzello back to working with the filmmaker he still refers to as a mentor. Following his return in “The Pacific,” Mazzello remained active in the industry, reconnecting with old colleagues along the way.
In a 2020 interview, he spoke about the cast of “Jurassic Park” and shared that he had recently run into Laura Dern during awards season events tied to his work on “Bohemian Rhapsody.”
He also mentioned crossing paths with Sam Neill on occasion. Looking back, the film star noted how hard it was to stay in touch during the 1990s when communication relied mostly on phone calls or handwritten notes.
But one relationship that has endured is with Spielberg. Mazzello said they had exchanged several handwritten letters within the year, describing them as “actual paper letters.” He called Spielberg “old school” and said receiving a letter from him always felt special. Of all the cast and crew, the award-winning filmmaker remains the person he stays in closest contact with.
The “Social Network” star, now 41, described the legendary director as a joy to work with, saying Spielberg was just such a dream to work with and knew just how to handle kids.\
Richards and Mazzello both left lasting impressions as the young siblings in Jurassic Park. While Richards stepped away from acting to focus on painting and family life, Mazzello took a long break before returning to major roles.
Their shared memories from filming remain strong, and both continue to honor their connection to the iconic film. Richards found fulfillment in the art world, while Mazzello reignited his career with roles in major productions like “The Pacific” and “Bohemian Rhapsody.” Despite their different paths, both have remained grateful for their time in the blockbuster that launched their careers.
