Spielberg movie spawned a worldwide following
Published 12:15 am Thursday, June 5, 2025



“The Goonies” has been described as an “adventure comedy.”
A bunch of kids live in the Goon Docks neighborhood of Astoria. Elgin Perkins, a millionaire without scruples, is scheming to foreclose on their parents’ homes so he can demolish them to expand his country club. He has an obnoxious son, Troy, who tries to muscle in on one of the main character’s rapport with a cheerleader.
The youngsters — a gang called “the Goonies” — gather to lament this threat and discuss what can be done. They discover a 1632 doubloon and a map hinting at a way to locate the treasure of a pirate called “One-Eyed Willy.”
They are on their bikes, pedalling off to search.
The youngsters’ efforts are initially foiled by the Fratelli crime family, whose son “Sloth” turns out to be a willing ally to the gang.
It’s probably OK to reveal that they do find some treasure, but the path isn’t easy.
Probably the best happy-ever-after ending was that when the child actors grew up, they enjoyed busy careers in Hollywood. All have spoken fondly of their experiences in Astoria in movie magazine interviews.
Here is the cast:
“The Goonies” (1985)
Directed and co-produced by Richard Donner from a screenplay by Chris Columbus, based on a story by Steven Spielberg.
Main cast:
The Walsh family
Sean Astin as Michael “Mikey” (won a Young Artist Award for Best Starring Performance by a Young Actor)
Josh Brolin as Brandon “Brand”
Mary Ellen Trainor as Irene, their mom
Keith Walker as Irving, their dad
Lupe Ontiveros as Rosalita, family housekeeper
The kids:
Jeff Cohen as Lawrence “Chunk” Cohen
Corey Feldman as Clark “Mouth” Devereaux
Ke Huy Quan as Richard “Data” Wang
Kerri Green as Andrea “Andy” Carmichael
Martha Plimpton as Stephanie “Stef” Steinbrenner
The Fratellis:
John Matuszak as Lotney “Sloth”
Robert Davi as Jake
Joe Pantoliano as Francis
Anne Ramsey as Mama Fratelli (won a Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress)
Other characters:
Steve Antin as Troy, “Brand’s” rival for Andy’s attention
Curt Hanson as Troy’s father, responsible for foreclosure threats
Michael Paul Chan as “Data’s” father
Paul Tuerpe, the sheriff
George Robotham, a prison guard
Did you recognize director Richard Donner as the sheriff’s deputy?