Henry Jackson Thomas, Jr. (born September 9, 1971) is an American actor and musician. He has appeared in over 40 films and is best known for his role as Elliott Taylor in Steven Spielberg's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial (1982). He is also known for his roles in films such as Cloak & Dagger (1984), Legends of the Fall (1994), and Gangs of New York (2002).