Following his career-launching role in Pet Sematary, Hughes went on to have a successful career as a child star, starring alongside acting greats like Bruce Willis (in 1998's Mercury Rising) and Tom Hanks in Apollo 13, in 1995. He also appeared on such recognizable TV shows as Baywatch and Touched By An Angel, and appeared on the cult favorite Roswell as a teen.
As an adult, Hughes has flown somewhat under the radar, though he continues to act, in addition to occasionally directing and writing. According to his Instagram page, he currently lives in Los Angeles and, judging by recent photos, enjoys spending time behind the camera.
During a 2016 interview with Screen Horror Mag, Hughes said that he has been appearing at conventions for years and continues to act in horror films. When asked if he knew as a kid that Pet Sematary would become a classic, he explained that he barely had any idea what he was doing.
"I don't think I knew I was acting for Pet Sematary; I was just playing pretend," he said. "I was practically a baby. I think a lot of it I owe to the director, and the cast and crew, for cultivating that character out of me at such a young age. I was a bit older before I started really having conscious thought about characters and development. Pet Sematary, I was so young that I don't think there was a lot of that going on."
Regardless of how aware of his performance he was, Hughes' performance as a terrifying, evil zombie child was truly unforgettable.
