According to his autobiography, he was cast as Elliott's best friend in the film, E.T.: O Extraterrestre (1982), but after several rewrites, his character was reduced to almost nothing. Steven Spielberg suggested he not take one of the minor roles, and wait till he could offer him a larger part in one of his other movies. These movies turned out to be Gremlins (1984), and later Os Goonies (1985).
I'm more than an actor. I'm an icon, an industry.
[edited quote from interview segment while filming 'The Surreal Life' - full quote: "Okay, I'm more than an actor, I'm a musician, and a producer, and a dancer. And it's wonderful if people think that I'm an icon, an industry, but really, I'm just appreciative of the fact that I' still working"]