Cary Guffey, a talented child actor who left a lasting impact in the film industry, is best known for his role as Barry Guiler in Steven Spielberg's iconic movie, Close Encounters of the Third Kind (1977). Despite his early success, Guffey's life took a different turn as he pursued a career in marketing and finance.
Born in 1972, Guffey made his film debut at the tender age of four in Close Encounters of the Third Kind, playing the role of Melinda Dillon's son. What's remarkable is that he had never seen a movie before being cast in the film, yet he delivered impressive performances in just one or two takes per scene. Director Steven Spielberg was thoroughly impressed by Guffey's abilities, considering him for award nominations and even Stanley Kubrick for the role of Danny Torrance in The Shining (1980).
Apart from his work on Close Encounters, Guffey is also remembered for his roles as the humanoid alien H7-25 in The Sheriff and the Satellite Kid (1979) and Everything Happens to Me (1980). His other credits include Martin Ritt's Cross Creek (1983),Stroker Ace (1983),Mutant (1984),and The Bear (1984). In 1985, he appeared in a TV movie and a miniseries before leaving the entertainment industry at the age of 13.
Guffey's decision to pursue a career outside of acting was a successful one, as he went on to earn a degree in marketing from the University of Florida and an MBA from Jacksonville State University. He also worked as a financial planner for Merrill Lynch. Today, Guffey is a happily married family man, leaving behind a legacy as a talented child actor who made a lasting impact in the film industry.
