THEN AND NOW: The cast of 'Titanic'

• "Titanic" premiered about 26 years ago in December 1997.

• The real-life Titanic sank 112 years ago, on April 15, 1912.

• Since the movie's release, Kate Winslet and Leonardo DiCaprio have maintained their friendship.

"Titanic" premiered almost 27 years ago, in December 1997.

The film, which was written, produced, and directed by James Cameron, was inspired by the real events of the Titanic sinking, which occurred on April 15, 1912, after the "unsinkable" ship hit an iceberg and sank during its maiden journey.

Upon its release, the film became a pop-culture juggernaut, and it was the first movie ever to earn more than $1 billion worldwide.

Many of the film's stars, including Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet, have gone on to have illustrious film careers.

Here's what the cast of "Titanic" is up to now.

Leonardo DiCaprio played the adventurous vagabond artist Jack Dawson.

Jack falls in love with Rose and eventually meets his demise in the Atlantic. He is holding onto a door, which is carrying Rose, when he succumbs to the icy waters.

In 2017, director James Cameron defended his movie ending, saying Jack had to die, despite years of fans insisting he and Rose both could have fit on the door.

Since "Titanic," Leonardo DiCaprio has appeared in many critically acclaimed films including "Revolutionary Road," in which he starred alongside Kate Winslet.

The A-list actor, who's appeared in many well-received movies such as "The Departed" and "Inception," finally won his first Oscar in 2016 for his work in "The Revenant" after years of jokes and memes.

DiCaprio is also active in education about the climate crisis and attended the 2017 People's Climate March in protest of President Donald Trump.

He also starred in the 2021 Netflix film "Don't Look Up," an assumed commentary on the climate crisis, and the 2023 movie "Killers of the Flower Moon." Both movies were nominated for best picture at the Oscars.

Kate Winslet played the rebellious upper-class 17-year-old Rose DeWitt Bukater.

Rose falls in love with Jack despite her engagement to the arrogant Cal Hockley.

Kate Winslet went on to star in several highly acclaimed films including "Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind," "Little Children," and "The Reader," for which she won an Oscar and a Golden Globe.

Winslet also contributes to humanitarian efforts and was named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People in 2009.

Winslet recently starred alongside "Little Women" star Saoirse Ronan in "Ammonite," a period drama released in 2020, and "Avatar: The Way of Water." Winslet also received an Emmy Award in 2021 for her starring role on HBO's "Mare of Easttown."

Billy Zane played the repugnant steel heir Cal Hockley.

Throughout the movie, Cal becomes more and more jealous of Rose's relationship with Jack.

Since "Titanic," Zane has had a number of film and television roles. He also appeared as Colonel Sanders for KFC in 2017.

His most recent acting credits include roles in the 2023 film "The Oath" and the 2024 film "Food Fight."

Kathy Bates played the Unsinkable Molly Brown, a philanthropist, socialite, and actual survivor of the sinking of the Titanic.

The real-life Molly Brown is famous for her efforts to help lower-class survivors of the Titanic by fundraising from wealthier passengers. The movie version of her character is known for her quippy one-liners and for serving as an ally to Jack.

Since playing Molly Brown, Kathy Bates has had roles in "Six Feet Under," "The Office," and "American Horror Story," among others.

She also reunited with DiCaprio and Winslet on the set of "Revolutionary Road."

Bates was already an Oscar winner by the time she was in "Titanic" — she won the best actress award for "Misery" in 1991 — but she received her fourth nomination in 2020 for "Richard Jewell."

Frances Fisher played Rose's uptight socialite mother, Ruth.

Ruth arranges the engagement between Rose and Cal in order to maintain her first-class lifestyle after being widowed.

She and her daughter are eventually separated at the end of the movie after Rose changes her last name to Dawson aboard the Carpathia, which rescued the survivors of the Titanic.

Frances Fisher has had a number of television roles since playing Ruth DeWitt Bukater in "Titanic."

She had recurring roles on both ABC's "Resurrection" and Showtime's "Masters of Sex."

Gloria Stuart played Rose Dawson Calvert, Kate Winslet's older counterpart in the present day.

Rose Dawson Calvert takes treasure hunter Brock Lovett on a wild goose chase to find "The Heart of the Ocean," which Rose has kept the entire time.

She eventually throws it back into the ocean before dying in her sleep and going to "Titanic" heaven, surrounded by others who perished on the ship.

Stuart died of respiratory failure in 2010. She was 100 years old.

Before "Titanic," she was a famed actor of the 1930s and '40s. After the movie, she held a few roles in television movies and series, including "Murder, She Wrote" and "General Hospital." Her last credit was in 2004.

Bill Paxton played treasure hunter Brock Lovett, who was searching the Atlantic for "The Heart of the Ocean" and other items from the Titanic wreck.

He has a change of heart at the end of the movie and recognizes he never "let in" the tragedy of what happened.

Paxton played polygamist Bill Hendrickson on "Big Love" for five seasons and held roles on "Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D." and "Training Day" before dying of a stroke in 2017.

Paxton's last role was in the Tom Hanks and Emma Watson thriller, "The Circle," which was released after his death. He was 61 years old.

David Warner played Cal Hockley's valet, Spicer Lovejoy, who spies on Rose and helps to frame Jack for stealing the priceless necklace.

It's implied that he dies after the ship splits in half mid-sinking, causing him to fall into the enormous crack.

David Warner has lent his voice to several animated series including "Toonsylvania,""Men in Black," and "The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy."

In 2018, he played Admiral Boom in "Mary Poppins Returns," starring Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda.

Warner died on July 24, 2022, at the age of 80.

Danny Nucci played Fabrizio, Jack's Italian best friend.

Fabrizio dies after one of Titanic's funnels falls on him while he attempts to swim to a lifeboat.

Fabrizio died with the Titanic, but Danny Nucci's career lives on. He continues to appear in TV shows.

Nucci has had multiple roles in television shows like "Castle," "NCIS," "CSI: Miami," "9-1-1," "Dynasty," and the film "World Trade Center." He also played Mike Foster in Freeform's "The Fosters."

Victor Garber plays the kind-hearted shipbuilder Thomas Andrews.

Andrews is the first person who believes the ship will not survive once it has hit the iceberg.

Garber joined the Marvel Universe as Dr. Martin Stein, who has made appearances in "The Flash," "Supergirl," "Arrow," and "Legends of Tomorrow."

He also had a recurring role on the Lisa Kudrow show "Web Therapy" and as Sydney Bristow's father on "Alias." In 2001, he played the villainous Professor Callahan in the pop-culture classic "Legally Blonde."

Garber currently stars in "Family Law," which premiered in 2021 on the CW.

Bernard Hill plays Captain Edward John Smith.

Captain Smith is last seen clinging to the ship's wheel before ocean water breaks through the glass windows into the locked room.

Since "Titanic," Bernard Hill has lent his voice as a narrator in multiple television series.

Hill also starred in the immensely popular "Lord of the Rings" trilogy as well as "Valkyrie," "Wimbledon," and "The Scorpion King."

Amanda McKelvey contributed to a previous version of this article.

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