What happened to the cast of Once Upon A Time? From a real-life fairytale romance to a scandalous affair and a tragic death; a look back at the stars 15 years after the show first aired

It's hard to believe it's been 15 years since fairy tale fantasy drama Once Upon A Time first hit screens back in October 2011.Spanning across seven seasons, the ABC series centered around two alternate worlds, featuring characters who lived in the real-world town of Storybrooke, Maine and their fairy tale counterparts who resided in the Enchanted Forest.The main premise saw The Evil Queen aka Mayor Regina Mills (Lara Parrilla) cast a dark curse which results in the fairy tale characters losing their memories of who they really are and becoming trapped as their alter-egos in Storybrooke.Their saviour comes in the form of bail bonds collector Emma Swan (Jennifer Morrison), who is actually the long-lost daughter of Snow White (Ginnifer Goodwin) and Prince Charming (Josh Dallas), who was sent away as a baby before the curse took hold so that she could one day return and break it. Blending a mix of fantasy, drama, adventure and romance, the age-old conflict between good and evil and a huge helping of nostalgia thanks to the plethora of classic Disney, fairy tale and folklore characters; Once Upon A Time was a major hit when it first premiered, attracting a whopping 12.93 million viewers for its pilot episode. It's hard to believe it's been 15 years since fairy tale fantasy drama Once Upon A Time first hit screens back in October 2011 The ABC series centered around two alternate worlds, featuring characters who lived in the real-world town of Storybrooke, Maine and their fairy tale counterparts who resided in the Enchanted ForestWhile much of the cast were already established actors, the show undoubtedly significantly boosted their popularity, with the stars building a solid fanbase who have continued to support them throughout their careers. However as the years went on, the show suffered a mass decline in viewership, going on to be cancelled following the seventh season, with the last episode airing in May 2018. Despite no longer producing new episodes, the fantasy series has gained a whole new following as teens who watched the original run are now watching the show with their own children, while the series continues to spark debate amid its online fandom.And as Once Upon a Time marks 15 years since it first aired, we take a look back at the varied fates of the show's main cast.... Lana Parrilla (Regina Mills / The Evil Queen)Lana excelled in her standout role as the villainous Evil Queen / Storybrooke Mayor Regina, garnering a massive fans base and numerous awards and nominations. Since leaving the show, she went on to make appearances in 2021's The Tax Collector, anthology series Why Women Kill (pictured) and 2023's The Lincoln Lawyer Lana embarked on a romance with The Gentlemen star Benjamin Clementine, following the collapse of his marriage earlier this yearLana, now 49, excelled in her standout role as the villainous Evil Queen / Storybrooke Mayor Regina, garnering a massive fan base and numerous awards and nominations. Since leaving the show, she went on to make appearances in 2021's The Tax Collector, anthology series Why Women Kill (which also featured co-star Ginnifer Goodwin) and 2023's The Lincoln Lawyer.As well as TV and film, Lana also branched into music, releasing a house song called It's Over Now in 2021 alongside Italian DJ Glovibes. She once again teamed up with Glovibes, along with singer Luciana, for the 2024 dance track, You. But while she was successful on screen, Lana has faced bad luck in her life, with the star seeing her LA home targeted by trespassers back in August 2024. TMZ reported that when security approached the person, he ventured further onto the property grounds, leaving them to call the Los Angeles Police Department.After law enforcement surveyed the property, the suspect – a 40-year-old homeless man – emerged from the house and surrendered.Lana, who herself had suffered homelessness in her early career, was out of town when the incident took place. In her personal life, Lana secretly married fiancé Fred Di Blasio in 2014, however, five years later she announced on her Instagram that she was 'no longer married' and was instead starting a 'new life path'.This new path has since led to a romance with The Gentlemen star Benjamin Clementine, following the collapse of his marriage to 'City Superwoman' Dame Helena Morrissey's musician daughter Flo earlier this year.The couple made their red-carpet debut last month at the series two premiere of The Gentlemen, in which Benjamin plays a former soldier called Nanny. Ginnifer Goodwin (Mary Margaret Blanchard / Snow White) Ginnifer, now 48, had a major career breakthrough with her lead role as Snow White and Mary, the school teacher of young Henry and the mother of long-lost daughter Emma Swan She went on to make television appearances in anthology series The Twilight Zone and Heartstring, before landing the lead role of Beth Ann Stanton in dark comedy series Why Women Kill [pictured] Meanwhile, during her time on the ABC show, Ginnifer met and fell in love with co-star Josh Dallas, who plays Prince CharmingGinnifer, now 48, had a major career breakthrough with her lead role as Snow White and Mary; the schoolteacher of young Henry and the mother of long-lost daughter Emma Swan.Following her success in the series, which she left at the end of season six, Ginnifer went on to have big triumphs with her voiceover work, including starring as Judy Hopps in Disney's Zootopia franchise – of which she won a selection of awards for. She went on to make television appearances in anthology series The Twilight Zone and Heartstrings, before landing the lead role of Beth Ann Stanton in dark comedy series Why Women Kill. Meanwhile, during her time on the ABC show, Ginnifer met and fell in love with co-star Josh Dallas, who plays Prince Charming.Their fairytale ending saw them tie the knot in California in 2014, with the couple going on to welcome two sons; Oliver, 12, and Hugo, 10.During an appearance on the Today show in 2020, Josh revealed that he fell in love with Ginnifer at first sight.'I knew right away. I knew right away, it was that thing,' he said. 'It was that thing - I turned around and I saw her and I knew I was in trouble.'Josh shared that 'understanding' has helped their relationship as well as 'willing to be flexible, and just love. You gotta love and be willing to grow with that person, or let that person grow too and give them space.'Josh Dallas (David Nolan / Prince Charming) Josh, 47, left thanks swooning thanks to his role as the handsome Prince Charming and alter-ego David Nolan Following his years on the show, Josh jumped into another long-term TV project, starring as Ben Stone in the NBC/Netflix supernatural mystery drama Manifest, which he appeared on from 2018 to 2023 Like his wife, Josh also briefly reprised his Once Upon A Time role to appear in the series finale in 2018. Back in 2023, Josh said he has 'nothing but gratitude' for 'Once Upon a Time'Josh, 47, left fans swooning thanks to his role as the handsome Prince Charming and alter-ego David Nolan.Following his years on the show, Josh jumped into another long-term TV project, starring as Ben Stone in the NBC/Netflix supernatural mystery drama Manifest, which he appeared on from 2018 to 2023.Josh also reunited with his love Ginnifer Goodwin for his voice role as Frantic Pig in 2016's Zootopia, later reprising his part in 2025 for the sequel. Like his wife, Josh also briefly reprised his Once Upon A Time role to appear in the series finale in 2018. Back in 2023, Josh said he has 'nothing but gratitude' for Once Upon a Time.He told how after years since the series finale, it is 'humbling' to know that the fantasy drama still has an audience.He told People: 'It's still finding an audience. People come up to me all the time talking about 'Once' and saying they just started watching it and they're loving it.'Or I've had people come up to me — which makes me feel old, but that's okay — they'll say, 'You were my childhood. You got me through college, all through high school' and that show changed their life and it's super humbling.'It's just nothing but gratitude to be part of a show that was such a big part of some people's fabric of their lives.'Elsewhere, in 2026, Josh made minor appearances in TV series The Hunting Party and We Were Liars, while he's set to lend his voice for animated film Hexed, which is due for release in November. Jennifer Morrison (Emma Swan)Jennifer portrayed Emma Swan, a Boston bail-bond agent who discovers she's Snow White and Prince Charming's daughter Jennifer's directing career also saw her direct feature film Sun Dogs, an episode of Euphoria and the first four episodes of the second season of Peacock anthology series Dr. DeathJennifer portrayed Emma Swan, a Boston bail-bond agent who discovers she's Snow White and Prince Charming's daughter and is lured back to Storybrooke by the son she had adopted, as he vows to break the curse. Already an established actress thanks to roles in How I Met Your Mother, after her run in Once Upon A Time, Jennifer, now 47, went on to appear in other shows including This Is Us, Will Trent and All's Fair.In 2016, Jennifer launched her own film production company, Apartment 3C (37F) Productions, going on to direct her first feature film, Sun Dogs, later that year, with the film going on to bag numerous accolades. Jennifer's directing career also saw her direct an episode of Euphoria and the first four episodes of the eight-episode second season of Peacock anthology series Dr Death.Her personal life has also seen her enjoy relationships with former Once Upon A Time co-star Sebastian Stan, Australian actor Jesse Spencer and Puerto Rican actor Amaury Nolasco.Jennifer has been with Salvadoran-American actor Gerardo Celasco since 2019. They went on to marry in April 2022, before welcoming a daughter two years later. Emilie de Ravin (Belle French/ Belle)Emilie, now 44, already had a flourishing television career, thanks to roles in Roswell and Lost. She went on to further boost her profile as Rumplestiltskin's true love Belle in the hit seriesPrior to Once Upon A Time, Emilie, now 44, already had a flourishing television career, thanks to roles in Roswell and Lost. She went on to further boost her profile as Rumplestiltskin's true love Belle in the hit series, however, Emilie found her own love life coming under scrutiny thanks to her shock 2013 affair with co-star Tom Ellis, 47, who guest starred as Robin Hood.The scandalous 'one-off fling' which occurred during filming led to the breakdown of Tom's eight-year marriage to former EastEnders star Tamzin Outhwaite.Emilie, who was herself married to Josh Janowicz, 45, at the time, went on to separate from her husband in 2013 before he filed for divorce in July 2014. The Sun on Sunday reported that Tamzin, 46, was left 'distraught' at the way he 'repaid her' as she stayed at home in the UK with their two daughters, while he pursued a glamorous acting career in America. Tamzin, who married Tom in 2006 and divorced him in 2014, told Essentials magazine in 2016: 'I wouldn't not be with my husband over a one-night stand is all I'll say' – hinting that their split was the result of more than just a single mistake. Following her stint on Once Upon A Time, Emilie continued to focus on her TV career, with appearances in A Lover Scorned in 2019, True Colours in 2022 and The Reluctant Royal in 2025.Emilie's love life went on to improve, with the actress becoming engaged to American writer-director Eric Bilitch in 2016. The couple have welcomed three children together. Robert Carlyle (Mr Gold / Rumplestiltskin)In the wake of his role as ruthless pawnbroker Mr Gold/ Rumplestiltskin, the Scottish actor, 65, has barely been off screens with his abundance of TV and film roles He then landed the lead part of Robert Sutherland in COBRA, which he played between 2020-2023 Robert also reprised his career-defining role as Gary 'Gaz' Schofield in the TV adaptation of The Full Monty in 2023In the wake of his role as ruthless pawnbroker Mr Gold/ Rumplestiltskin, the Scottish actor, 65, has barely been off screens with his abundance of TV and film roles. After wrapping up his part in Once Upon A Time in 2018, the following year saw him feature as Ogilvy in mini-series The War Of The Worlds.He then landed the lead part of Robert Sutherland in COBRA, which he played between 2020-2023, before reprising his career-defining role as Gary 'Gaz' Schofield in the TV adaptation of The Full Monty in 2023. 2025 was a particularly busy time for the thespian, with fans seeing him crop up in Toxic Town, Watson and The Hack.And it seems the best is yet to come for Robert, with the star taking on the role of Jack Ruby in upcoming biographical historical crime drama November 1963 about the assassination of John F Kennedy, which will also feature John Travolta and Jefferson White. Meanwhile, in February 2026, it was reported that 30 years on from playing Hamish Macbeth, Scottish actor Robert will return to police action as he joins the cast of Line of Duty.The star will portray a 'gruff' specialist rifle officer, Detective Constable Shaun Massie, in the seventh instalment of the BBC show.Taking his place alongside fellow Scot Martin Compston, Vicky McClure and Adrian Dunbar – who will reprise their roles in the hit crime thriller – the Trainspotting star said: 'The scripts for the series are excellent and will absolutely maintain the quality that the audience have come to expect from this fantastic show.'The new series sees the anti-corruption unit AC-12 disbanded and rebranded as the Inspectorate of Police Standards.Carlyle's character, a 'veteran marksman', is tasked with taking down organised crime groups until his boss is accused of being a sexual predator.Elsewhere, it was said last week that Robert has reportedly landed himself a role alongside the all-star cast in Guy Ritchie's The Gentlemen alongside Theo James, Vinnie Jones and Kaya Scodelario.Sources have claimed the Scotsman will be announced in the next cast after it was renewed for a third season.A source said to The Sun: 'The Gentlemen is going from strength to strength and everyone is desperate to make it work. 'Robert is an industry icon and Theo himself made it clear he wanted him to be part of the show.'The Daily Mail has approached Robert's representatives and Netflix for comment. Chris Gauthier (William Smee/ Smee) Chris had a recurring role as William Smee in the ABC series, and continued to appear in several television series in the years that followed.Chris had a recurring role as William Smee in the ABC series, and continued to appear in several television series in the years that followed.The English-born Canadian actor appeared as Phil in A Series of Unfortunate Events between 2017-2019, before making appearances in Charmed (2021) and Joe Pickett (2023)The former Supernatural, Smallville and Eureka actor, also forayed into Holiday films.Tragically, Chris passed away in February 2024 at the age of 48 following a brief, unspecified illness. His talent agency TriStar Appearances/Event Horizon Talent revealed the sad news to TVLine in a statement. His cause of death was not released at the time. Chris is survived by his wife Erin and their two sons.