Watching The Omen again recently, I found myself haunted by the chilling fate of young Damien, portrayed by Harvey Spencer Stephens.
His remarkable performance not only earned him a Golden Globe nomination for Best Acting Debut in a Motion Picture, but it also marked the pinnacle of his career.
After such a strong start, however, things took an unexpected turn.
Horror movies from the 70s have a distinct charm, often characterized by their soft, gritty aesthetics that evoke a sense of authenticity. Among these classics, The Omen (1976) stands out as one of the greatest horror films of all time.
An aging Gregory Peck delivers a masterful performance as the American ambassador, Robert, who lives in Rome with his wife, Kathy.
After a traumatic childbirth results in the death of their baby, Robert is given the chance to swap the child for another newborn — a decision he makes without telling Kathy. They name the boy Damien, but as he reaches the age of five, scary events begin to plague the family.
Gregory Peck’s son died before the movie
In one biography of Gregory Peck, it’s noted that he accepted the role at a significant salary reduction, earning just $250,000, but he secured a deal for 10% of the film’s box office revenue. When The Omen went on to gross over $60 million in the U.S. alone, it turned into the most lucrative performance of Peck’s career.
Gregory Peck is also remembered as a paragon of Hollywood integrity, rarely associated with controversy. But his connection to this horror movie took on a darker edge, especially considering the tragic fate of his own child, who ended his life shortly before the film’s release.
Peck was drawn to the character of a guilt-ridden father partly because he felt the weight of not being there for his son Jonathon.
The incident, much like the film The Omen, deeply affected Gregory Peck — he took a two-year hiatus from acting following the tragedy.
Who is Harvey Spencer Stephens?
But now, let’s unravel what happened to Harvey Spencer Stephens, the young actor who played Damien, and how this iconic role impacted his life both on and off the screen.
Harvey Spencer Stephens was born on November 12, 1970, and is best known for his iconic role as the devilish child Damien Thorn in the 1976 classic The Omen.
Growing up in London, he was just four years old when he landed this life-changing role. In a fun twist, little Harvey had to dye his naturally-blond hair black to match his character.
The story of how he snagged the part is quite amusing as well. Director Richard Donner had a unique audition method: he encouraged all the boys to ”attack” him as if they were going after Katherine Thorn during a tense church scene.
Stephens took it to heart — screaming, clawing, and even giving Donner a kick to the groin for good measure. According to News and Record, the young English lad performed so intensely that he also split the director’s lip.
It was so convincing that he got the role on the spot.
Promise to father
The Omen was a massive success, but it turned out to be the only major film role for Stephens. In many ways, he was just an ordinary kid who happened to land a role in one of the most talked-about horror films of all time.
In interviews from that time, he preferred talking about his toys rather than future movies. After the film, he promised to buy his father Jim (a scrap dealer) a Rolls-Royce for $40,000.
His angelic look also led him to appear in several commercials, including ones for baked beans and fish pies. After his breakthrough, Stephens was also asked if he was afraid to watch his own R-rated film.
”I don’t get scared easily, though I don’t like going upstairs by myself in the dark. That’s the only thing that frightens me, really,” he said.
His answer reflects just how small and innocent Stephens was at that time. Decades later, he could reflect on his role and the film in a completely different way.
Left school and got a normal job
”It was good, but I was only five, a lot of it went over my head. It wasn’t a big deal. It was good while it lasted,” Stephens said in 2007.
Sure, he made a brief appearance in the 1980 TV movie Gauguin the Savage, but that was pretty much it.
”I did a film in Paris with David Carradine called In Search of Eden. After that, I was 10 or 11, I went to normal school, left school, went and got a job in the city.”
”Acting wasn’t something I really had my heart set on.”
In 2003, he popped up on The Howard Stern Show to discuss a project he’d been involved with to get back in the spotlight. He even mentioned that he started attending autograph signings and horror conventions, humorously bringing along his tricycle.
Why was Harvey Spencer Stephens arrested?
While his acting career after The Omen didn’t flourish as expected, Stephens has gained attention for other reasons that aren’t exactly what you’d call positive.
In 2017, Stephens found himself in hot water after a road rage incident involving two cyclists in Kent, England. He repeatedly honked his horn at the riders, who were cycling side-by-side. When one of them flicked his middle finger at Stephens, things escalated quickly.
Stephens pulled over, got out of his flashy Audi RS6, and threw a punch, knocking the cyclist out cold. When the second cyclist tried to step in, Stephens retaliated by punching him twice, leaving him with dental injuries.
As a result, Stephens received a 12-month jail sentence, which was suspended for two years, for causing bodily harm. Ironically, he was sentenced on Friday the 13th of December.
Is Harvey Spencer Stephens married?
He also received a two-month sentence, suspended for two years, for criminal damage. Back then, he was Living in Edenbridge, Kent, and was ordered to complete rehabilitation, perform 150 hours of unpaid work, and pay $1,300 in compensation to each victim.
Not exactly the kind of publicity you want, especially for the child star of a horror classic!
Since Stephens has stepped away from the acting spotlight, there’s not a ton of info out there about him. However, according to The Sun, the 54-year-old is now a happily married dad of two daughters. After his security firm went into liquidation in 2016, he’s found a new path as a property developer.
Harvey Spencer Stephens today
Who knew that the devil child could turn into a real estate mogul?
I probably would have never recognized Harvey Stephens and believed he was the same man who played the creepy Damien! Would you? Today, his hair is much thinner and not as blond as it used to be.
He even joked about how dying his hair black for the film ”ruined” it, but we can take that with a grain of salt!
Do you remember watching The Omen and Damien? Feel free to share this article if you also remember this classic horror film!