Party of Five cast: See where Matthew Fox, Neve Campbell, and more actors are now

The Salinger siblings learned to survive on their own in San Francisco. Here's what the actors who played them are doing 30 years later.

Party of Five
Photo:

Fox/Everett

Fox's Party of Five (1994–2000) was one of the seminal shows of the '90s, following the orphaned Salinger siblings and casting a cohort of burgeoning stars. Initially pitched to the show’s creators Amy Lippman and Christopher Keyser as a Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead-inspired companion to Beverly Hills, 90210, the duo felt the concept had the potential to be more than a lighthearted teen drama. 

“‘Kids, living on their own! Having fun! No parents! Woo-hoo!’” Lippman told Vulture in 2019. “We thought, 'This is a really depressing concept… We should mine how difficult that would be in reality. It wouldn't be a lark. It would be about being thrust into the adult world prematurely."

For its first two seasons, the emotionally turbulent tale of Charlie (Matthew Fox), Bailey (Scott Wolf), Julia (Neve Campbell), Claudia (Lacey Chabert), and newborn baby Owen, was far from a ratings smash. But thanks to a surprise 1996 Golden Globe win for Best Drama Series, a devoted fanbase, a catchy theme song, and its headline-grabbing plotlines involving addiction, cancer, and domestic violence, Party of Five picked up steam and went from being on the cusp of cancellation to being beloved by critics and viewers alike. Lippman and Keyser even launched a reboot on Freeform in 2020.

As the show celebrates its 30th anniversary, read on to see what the Party of Five cast is up to now.

01 of 09

Matthew Fox (Charlie Salinger)

Matthew Fox

Jeffery Newbury/TV Guide/Fox Network/Everett; Brendon Thorne/Getty

Matthew Fox was the immature older brother Charlie, who suddenly found himself as the head of the Salinger household.

As Fox told TV Guide in 2002, emotions ran high on and off camera: “I was frustrated a lot of the time because I was being asked to do stories and to play a role that I had problems with,” he said. “I just felt that the show was very soft, very emotional… It wasn't visceral enough… But am I proud of [the show]? I'm very proud of it.”

After the Party of Five cast left San Francisco behind, Fox landed the role of Jack in the hit series Lost (2004–2010), earning an Emmy nomination. He fleshed out his big-screen bonafides in Smokin’ Aces (2006) and Speed Racer (2008), and even tried his hand on stage at London’s West End

The actor appeared on the big screen in the franchise reboot Alex Cross (2012) and the gnarly genre hybrid Bone Tomahawk (2015), opposite Kurt Russell, before taking a break from acting for several years. He later returned in Last Light (2022) and the Australian series Caught (2023) before signing up to join Michelle Pfeiffer in the upcoming Yellowstone spinoff The Madison.

Fox wed Margherita Ronchi in 1992 and they have two children.

02 of 09

Scott Wolf (Bailey Salinger)

Scott Wolf

 Jeffrey Thurnher/Columbia Pictures Television/Everett; Olivia Wong/Getty

Teen heartthrob Scott Wolf played the formerly rebellious Bailey, who grapples with everything from alcoholism to a custody dispute during the show's six-season run. Wolf was the first actor hired. "We cast Scott first, and we cast him on the first day,” series creator Amy Amy Lippman told EW in 1996. “He’s such a warm person that he seemed completely right for that character.”

Wolf spoke with PEOPLE in 2019 about watching a Party of Five rerun on TV: “It was like a family reunion. I was surprised at how emotional it still made me after all that time. I think that was the defining quality of that show. It did feel honest.”

As Party of Five established him on the small screen, Wolf made inroads in cinemas as well, starring in Double Dragon (1994) and Ridley Scott’s White Squall (1996). The actor also appeared in cult favorite Go (1999) and joined the cast of Everwood (2004–2006) for its final two seasons. 

The actor has been in a handful of short-lived series over the years, including The Nine (2006–2007), V (2009–2011), and Perception (2013–2015). He later played Carson Drew, the father of the titular character, on the CW’s Nancy Drew (2019–2023). Looking ahead, he will soon appear in the medical drama Doc (2025).

Wolf was engaged to Alyssa Milano in the early '90s, and then dated his Party of Five costar Paula Devicq. He has been married to The Real World: New Orleans (2000) alum Kelley Marie Limp since 2004 and they have three children.

03 of 09

Neve Campbell (Julia Salinger)

Neve Campbell

TV Guide/Fox Network/Everett; Jamie McCarthy/Getty

Neve Campbell played the shy, aspiring writer Julia. Throughout the series, she wrestled with divorce, domestic violence, and sexual experimentation.

In 2024, PEOPLE asked Campbell where she thought Julia would be today: “She'd be a professional writer,” she said. “Maybe she's written a few novels, maybe she's writing for The New York Times… She's a bright girl… She probably ended up with Justin.”

Campbell was a ballet dancer in her native Canada before transitioning to acting at age 15. She appeared in local productions like Are You Afraid of the Dark? (1994) and The Kids in the Hall (1992) and was a regular on Catwalk (1992–1993) before moving to the U.S. and landing the role on Party of Five. Her star rose considerably thanks to The Craft (1996), the slasher hit Scream (1996), and the cheeky erotic thriller Wild Things (1998).

Campbell’s career has been largely defined by the Scream franchise, having starred in all but one sequel over the last three decades. But her screen career has extended beyond playing Sidney Prescott, including writing, producing, and acting in Robert Altman’s ballet drama The Company (2003) and earning raves for her performance in the indie drama When Will I Be Loved (2004).

After popping up in Grey’s Anatomy (2012) and Mad Men (2014), the actress found a foothold in the later seasons of House of Cards (2016–2017) as a ruthless political strategist. She later appeared alongside Dwayne Johnson in the summer blockbuster Skyscraper (2018), followed by series adaptations of Twisted Metal (2023) and The Lincoln Lawyer (2022–present). Next up, she’ll return to Woodsboro for Scream 7 (2025).

Campbell was married to Jeff Colt from 1995 to 1998 and actor John Light from 2007 to 2011. She has been in a relationship with actor JJ Feild since 2011 and they have two sons, Caspian and Raynor.

04 of 09

Lacey Chabert (Claudia Salinger)

Lacey Chabert

Columbia Pictures Television/ Everett; Phillip Faraone/Getty 

Lacey Chabert played the precocious violin prodigy Claudia.

“I think about who I am today and how so much of that is a result of that wonderful group of people,” she told Good Day DC in 2023. “We're forever bonded and connected.” 

The Southern actress got her start plating Erica Kane’s (Susan Lucci) daughter, Bianca, on All My Children (1992–1993). While on Party of Five, she built an impressive list of voice credits, including providing the singing for the young version of the princess in Anastasia (1997) and playing Eliza Thornberry on The Wild Thornberrys (1998–2004). She also originated the role of Meg Griffin on Family Guy’s (1999–2000) first two seasons and made her big-screen debut as Penny Robinson in Lost in Space (1998).

Chabert made a mark in comedies like Not Another Teen Movie (2001) and Daddy Day Care (2003), and of course tried to “make fetch happen” as Gretchen Wieners in the original Mean Girls movie (2004). After roles in the slasher remake Black Christmas (2006) and rom-com Ghosts of Girlfriends Past (2009), Chabert became a Hallmark Channel staple, appearing in over 30 movies for the network, ranging from A Christmas Melody (2015) with Mariah Carey to whodunits like the Crossword Mysteries series.

Chabert and her husband, David Nehdar, have one child. 

05 of 09

Michael Goorjian (Justin Thompson)

Michael Goorjian

Columbia Pictures Television/ Everett; Michael Tullberg/Getty

Michael Goorjian played Julia’s on-again, off-again friend turned boyfriend Justin.

The actor, a Bay Area native, arguably had the most distinguished pedigree of the cast thanks to supporting roles in Newsies (1992), Forever Young (1992), and Chaplin (1992), plus an Emmy for his work in the TV movie David’s Mother (1994) with Kirstie Alley. During his time on Party of Five, he wrote and directed the comedy Oakland Underground (1997), starred in the cult favorite SLC Punk! (1998) with Matthew Lillard, and wrote and starred in The Invisibles (1999).

After Party of Five, he headlined the movie Amerikana (2001) and reunited with Campbell in Reefer Madness: The Movie Musical (2005). Over the years, Goorjian has appeared on Alias (2005), House (2005), Lie to Me (2009), and Covert Affairs (2014), as well as HBO’s The Wizard of Lies (2017). He has directed nine more features, including Illusion (2004) with Kirk Douglas and the recent drama Amerikatsi (2022).

In 2015, Goorjian married Jolie Martin, with whom he shares one child. He and Campbell have remained close. She told PEOPLE that her former onscreen beau is the godfather to her two children.

06 of 09

Jennifer Love Hewitt (Sarah Reeves Merrin)

Jennifer Love Hewitt

Columbia Tri-Star TV/Everett; JB Lacroix/Getty

Jennifer Love Hewitt played fan favorite Sarah, Bailey's girlfriend who struggles with learning she's adopted.

"Sarah was supposed to be in nine episodes," Hewitt said in a 2000 interview, according to E! Online. "When it got picked up, they asked me to stay on for another 13, and I thought it was only going to be 13, and then they asked me to do another season so it keeps going and going. I am so incredibly grateful for it."

Before becoming a fixture in the Salinger household, Hewitt had gotten her recording career started and appeared in Sister Act 2: Back in the Habit (1993). Like Campbell, her star continued to rise thanks to a slasher franchise — in her case, I Know What You Did Last Summer (1997) and its sequel, I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998).

She also starred in the teen comedy Can’t Hardly Wait (1998), the con-artist caper Heartbreakers (2001), opposite Sigourney Weaver and Gene Hackman, and the TV movie The Audrey Hepburn Story (2000). 

Sarah eventually got a spinoff series, Time of Your Life (1999–2001), but it was canceled after one season. Hewitt, however, has maintained a permanent home on TV. She headlined the supernatural procedural Ghost Whisperer (2005–2010) and The Client List (2012–2013), joined the main cast of Criminal Minds (2014–2015) for season 10, and now stars in 9-1-1 (2018–present).

Hewitt has been in several high-profile relationships, including with Carson Daly, John Mayer, and Jamie Kennedy. In 2013, she wed Client List costar Brian Hallisay, and the couple have three children.

07 of 09

Jeremy London (Griffin Chase Holbrook)

Jeremy London

Ron Batzdorff/Columbia Pictures Television/Everett; Maury Phillips/Getty

Jeremy London played Julia’s bad boy love interest, Griffin.

London first introduced himself to TV viewers on the Civil Rights drama I’ll Fly Away (1991–1993). He snagged a lead role on the big screen in Kevin Smith’s Mallrats (1995) and costarred with Alicia Silverstone in The Babysitter (1995).

After Party of Five ended, London joined the cast of 7th Heaven (2002–2004) for a two-year run. He’s found steady work ever since, including the HBO drama Tell Me You Love Me (2007) and the Civil War film Gods and Generals (2003). He also directed and starred in The Devil’s Dozen (2013). 

In 2010, the actor reported he was kidnapped by a group of men in Palm Springs for 12 hours and forced to take drugs. His mother and twin brother, actor Jason London, publicly cast doubt on his claims due to a history of substance abuse issues, and Jeremy attempted to file a restraining order against them in response.

One suspected kidnapper eventually pled guilty to felony false imprisonment and a misdemeanor charge of unlawfully taking London’s vehicle. The actor told PEOPLE he felt “vindicated” by this outcome. Later that year, he was cast in season 4 of VH1’s Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew (2010–2011). 

London was married to Melissa Cunningham from 2006 to 2011. They share a son, Lyrik. He wed Juliet Reeves in 2014, and they have a son, Wyatt.

08 of 09

Paula Devicq (Kirsten Bennet Salinger)

Paula Devicq

Columbia Pictures Television/ Everett; Bruce Glikas/FilmMagic

Paula Devicq played the Salingers’ nanny, Kirsten, who sparks a romantic rivalry between Charlie and Bailey.

The series pilot was the former model’s first onscreen role. She followed Party of Five with the Sidney Lumet-produced legal drama 100 Centre Street (2001–2002) and the terrorism miniseries The Grid (2004). Since her six-episode arc on Denis Leary’s Rescue Me (2004–2005), she has appeared in the Richard Gere thriller Arbitrage (2012) and Finding Julia (2019).

Devicq was in a relationship with Scott Wolf from 1996 to 1997. She married her 100 Centre Street costar Joseph Lyle Taylor in 2001, though they later divorced.

09 of 09

Scott Grimes (Will McCorkle)

Scott Grimes

Columbia Pictures Television/ Everett; Casey Durkin/Peacock via Getty

Scott Grimes portrayed Bailey’s best friend, Will.

By the time he appeared on the show, Grimes had been nominated for eight Young Artist Awards and released a self-titled album. Though his early credits included Critters (1986) and Crimson Tide (1995), he was arguably most recognizable for his role in the landmark HBO miniseries Band of Brothers (2001).

He later made the rounds on ER (2003–2009) for six seasons and joined Russell Crowe's band of merry men in Robin Hood (2010). The actor has since popped up in everything from Justified (2015) to Oppenheimer (2023) while maintaining steady voice and onscreen work in Seth MacFarlane’s TV projects, most prominently American Dad! (2005–present) and the prequel series Ted (2024–present). He has also released two more albums since Party of Five and had a minor hit with the 2005 single “Sunset Blvd.”

Grimes was previously married to Dawn Bailey, with whom he shares two children, from 1997 to 2007, and to Megan Moore from 2011 to 2017. He later wed his Orville costar Adrianne Palicki in 2019. They filed for divorce two months later and briefly reconciled before filing for divorce a second time in 2020.

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