It’s hard to believe it’s been almost 40 years since Noah Hathaway first captured our imaginations as the valiant young warrior Atreyu in 1984’s beloved fantasy epic The NeverEnding Story.
With his earnest portrayal of the brave warrior tasked with saving the mythical land of Fantasia, Hathaway became an emblem of courage and adventure for a generation of moviegoers. But as the credits rolled and the theme song faded, many have found themselves wondering: Whatever happened to Noah Hathaway after his journey through Fantasia?
Background Info
Noah Leslie Hathaway was born On November 13, 1971 in Los Angeles, California.
Despite playing an ostensibly Native American character in The NeverEnding Story, Noah Hathaway is not Native American. He is Irish, German, and English on his father’s side, while also Ashkenazi Jewish on his mother’s side. Most of his lineage goes back to a couple of generations of European and Jewish ancestry.
Early Career
Noah Hathaway began acting as early as the age of three years old. He would start his career in commercials but later appear in TV films and series, such as High Midnight, Supertrain, and Mork & Mindy
Battlestar Galactica
His first significant role would be in 13 episodes of Battlestar Galactica, which would earn him a nominator in the first Young Artists Awards.
The original Battlestar Galactica of the late 1970s was a science fiction adventure series that ran on ABC for 24 episodes. Glen A. Larson created the series. It starred Lorne Green, Richard Hatch, and Dirk Benedict.
The show followed humans fleeing aboard the titular ship as they sought a new home.
Noah Hathaway played the character Boxey in the original Battlestar Galactica. He was the son of Serina and later adopted by Apollo. Boxey was a survivor of the Caprica colony who would often find his way into the adventures by accident.
The NeverEnding Story
The NeverEnding Story was a 1984 West German fantasy film directed by Wolfgang Peterson. Based on the novel of the same name, it tells the story of a young boy named Bastian who reads a magical book that transports him into the world of Fantasia.
There he encounters the warrior Atreyu, played by a 13-year-old Noah Hathaway. Atreyu is sent on a quest by the Childlike Empress to find a cure for her illness and save the land from destruction by The Nothing.
The images of Hathaway as Atreyu riding Falkor through the skies and crying over the loss of his horse Artax have become iconic scenes from the film.
What did he do after The NeverEnding Story?
After his breakout role in The NeverEnding Story, Noah Hathaway worked steadily as a child actor in the 1980s with parts on shows like Family Ties, Simon & Simon, and the voice role of Harry Potter Jr. in the animated series Troll.
He also made guest appearances on CBS Storybreak, Call to Glory, and The Magical World of Disney.
As he moved into adulthood, roles became scarce for Hathaway. In the 1990s he appeared mostly in obscure, low-budget films like 1994’s Phil and the TV movie Case Closed.
He also worked occasionally as a voice actor for animated series including Wildfire. While failing to match the success and acclaim of The NeverEnding Story, Hathaway remained active in acting through the 1980s and into the 1990s before retreating from the public eye.
What is he doing now?
Noah Hathaway has moved away from acting and is now focused on writing and directing. He wrote a coming-of-age story called Parting Seas that he plans to direct as an independent film in 2023 or 2024.
Hathaway has also been working on TV show ideas with his wife, developing a few sitcom scripts that they hope to produce.
Though he still makes appearances related to The NeverEnding Story, he doesn’t seem interested in pursuing many acting roles.
Instead, Hathaway is looking forward to taking on more creative control and getting behind the camera. He talked about surrounding himself with trusted friends to help produce his indie film in roles like stunt coordination and effects.
It seems Noah Hathaway is excited to move into the next phase of his career as a writer-director while maintaining his connection to fans from his childhood roles.
Personal Life
Noah Hathaway can be found on Twitter and Instagram. He is most active on Instagram, but be careful as his Instagram may not be ideal for the general audience due to nudity.
Leave a Reply