What Happened to the Cast of 'Once Upon a Time' 15 Years Later

It has been 15 years since the fantasy drama "Once Upon a Time" first premiered in October 2011. The ABC series explored two parallel worlds, featuring characters who lived in the real-world town of Storybrooke, Maine, and their fairy tale counterparts in the Enchanted Forest. The show's premise centered on the Evil Queen, Mayor Regina Mills, casting a dark curse that erased the fairy tale characters' memories, trapping them as their alter-egos in Storybrooke. Their salvation came in the form of bail bonds collector Emma Swan, the long-lost daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming, who was sent away as a baby to ultimately break the curse.

"Once Upon a Time" blended fantasy, drama, adventure, and romance, drawing heavily on classic Disney characters and fairy tales. The pilot episode attracted 12.93 million viewers. While many cast members were already established actors, the show significantly boosted their popularity, cultivating a dedicated fanbase. However, viewership declined over its seven seasons, leading to its cancellation with the final episode airing in May 2018. Despite concluding, the series has found a new audience, with teens who watched the original run now sharing it with their children, and it continues to spark discussion within its online fandom.

Lana Parrilla (Regina Mills / The Evil Queen)

Lana Parrilla, 49, garnered a massive fanbase and numerous awards for her role as the villainous Regina Mills. Since leaving the show, she has appeared in "The Tax Collector" (2021), the anthology series "Why Women Kill," and "The Lincoln Lawyer" (2023). Parrilla also ventured into music, releasing house tracks "It's Over Now" (2021) and "You" (2024) with DJ Glovibes. In August 2024, her Los Angeles home was reportedly targeted by trespassers. In her personal life, Parrilla secretly married Fred Di Blasio in 2014, but announced their separation five years later. She is now in a relationship with "The Gentlemen" star Benjamin Clementine, making their red-carpet debut in May 2024.

Ginnifer Goodwin (Mary Margaret Blanchard / Snow White)

Ginnifer Goodwin, 48, achieved a career breakthrough as Snow White and Mary Margaret. After leaving "Once Upon a Time" at the end of season six, she excelled in voiceover work, notably as Judy Hopps in Disney's "Zootopia" franchise. Her television credits include "The Twilight Zone" and "Heartstrings," and she starred as Beth Ann Stanton in "Why Women Kill." Goodwin met and fell in love with co-star Josh Dallas on set, and they married in 2014, later welcoming two sons.

Josh Dallas (David Nolan / Prince Charming)

Josh Dallas, 47, starred as Prince Charming and his Storybrooke alter-ego, David Nolan. Following "Once Upon a Time," he took on the lead role of Ben Stone in the NBC/Netflix drama "Manifest" from 2018 to 2023. Dallas also reprised his role as Frantic Pig in "Zootopia" (2016) and its sequel. He and Ginnifer Goodwin, who played Snow White, married in 2014 and have two sons. Dallas has expressed "nothing but gratitude" for "Once Upon a Time," noting its continued audience reach.

Jennifer Morrison (Emma Swan)

Jennifer Morrison, 47, portrayed Emma Swan, the daughter of Snow White and Prince Charming. After her role in "Once Upon a Time," she appeared in "This Is Us" and "Will Trent." Morrison launched her production company, Apartment 3C Productions, in 2016, directing her first feature film, "Sun Dogs." Her directing credits also include an episode of "Euphoria" and several episodes of "Dr. Death." Morrison married actor Gerardo Celasco in 2022, and they welcomed a daughter in 2024.

Emilie de Ravin (Belle French)

Before "Once Upon a Time," Emilie de Ravin, 44, had notable roles in "Roswell" and "Lost." As Belle, she played Rumplestiltskin's true love. De Ravin's personal life gained attention due to an affair with co-star Tom Ellis in 2013, which reportedly contributed to the end of his marriage. De Ravin separated from her then-husband, Josh Janowicz, in 2013. She has since become engaged to writer-director Eric Bilitch, and they have welcomed three children. Her recent acting credits include "A Lover Scorned" (2019) and "True Colours" (2022).

Robert Carlyle (Mr. Gold / Rumplestiltskin)

Scottish actor Robert Carlyle, 65, has maintained a prolific career since "Once Upon a Time." His post-show roles include "The War of the Worlds" (2019), the lead part in "COBRA" (2020-2023), and reprising his iconic role as Gary "Gaz" Schofield in "The Full Monty" TV adaptation (2023). Carlyle appeared in "Toxic Town," "Watson," and "The Hack" in 2025. He is set to star as Jack Ruby in the upcoming John F. Kennedy assassination drama "November 1963" and will join the cast of "Line of Duty" for its seventh installment as Detective Constable Shaun Massie. He is also reportedly joining the cast of Guy Ritchie's "The Gentlemen."

Chris Gauthier (William Smee / Smee)

Chris Gauthier, who played William Smee, continued to appear in television series such as "A Series of Unfortunate Events" (2017-2019), "Charmed" (2021), and "Joe Pickett" (2023). Tragically, Gauthier passed away in February 2024 at the age of 48 following a brief illness. He is survived by his wife, Erin, and their two sons.