‘Spy Kids’ Cast: Where Are They Now?

'Spy Kids' first premiered in March 2001 and starred Alexa PenaVega and Daryl Sabara

It’s been over 20 years since Spy Kids first premiered in theaters.

Originally released in March 2001, the film follows two young children, Carmen and Juni, who learn that their parents are secret spies and go on a mission to save them.

With a star-studded cast and family-centric plot, the movie was an instant hit and eventually spawned two additional sequels, Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams (2002) and Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003), with most of the main cast reprising their roles.

In 2011, a standalone sequel titled Spy Kids: All the Time in the World was released, following a new generation of young spies.

Now the franchise is getting rebooted again with the fifth film, Spy Kids: Armageddon, starring Gina Rodriguez and Zachary Levi.

With the new film’s release, here’s what the original Spy Kids cast has been up to since the third film was released in 2003.

Alexa PenaVega as Carmen Cortez

Getting her start as an actor at a young age, Alexa PenaVega (née Vega) already had a number of small TV and film roles, including Little Giants and Twister, before booking her breakout role as the fierce young spy, Carmen Cortez, in Spy Kids.

Following the initial film’s success, she starred in the two sequels, Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams (2002) and Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over (2003), both of which she also recorded songs for the soundtrack. In 2011, she reprised her role as Carmen yet again in the sequel, Spy Kids: All the Time in the World starring Jessica Alba and Joel McHale.

In addition to Spy Kids, PenaVega is well-known for her role in the 2004 teen comedy film Sleepover about a group of friends who go on an adventure together before entering high school. Over the years, she has continued to act in various TV and films, including Ruby & the Rockits, The Middle and Nashville. In 2015, she competed on Dancing with the Stars, finishing in sixth place.

In recent years, she has done countless Hallmark films, including a few with her husband, former Big Time Rush star Carlos PenaVega. Following the actress' divorce from Sean Covel in 2012, the two began dating and eventually tied the knot in January 2014 in Puerto Vallarta, Mexico, both taking PenaVega as their married name. Together, they have three children, two sons born in December 2016 and June 2019, and a daughter born in May 2021.

Daryl Sabara as Juni Cortez

After appearing on various ‘90s shows such as Murphy Brown, Friends and Will and Grace, Daryl Sabara got his big break when he was cast as the anxious and sensitive young spy, Juni Cortez, in Spy Kids. Like PenaVega, Sabara reprised his role in the film’s two sequels as well as the 2011 film Spy Kids: All the Time in the World.

Following Spy Kids, Sabara has had a number of notable film and TV roles, including Weeds, Wizards of Waverly Place and Halloween. He has also done voice work for a number of projects, including The Polar Express, Father of the Pride and Ultimate Spider-Man.

In 2016, Sabara made headlines for his romantic life as he began dating singer Meghan Trainor. They became engaged in December 2017 and married in December 2018, Trainor's 25th birthday.

In February 2021, they welcomed a son named Riley, who they constantly post photos of on social media. In January 2023, they announced they were expecting their second child, and Trainor gave birth to another boy named Barry in July.

Antonio Banderas as Gregorio Cortez

With roles in Interview with the Vampire, Evita and The Mask of Zorro, Antonio Banderas had a long-established career when he took the role of Gregorio Cortez, an undercover spy and father to Carmen and Juni, in Spy Kids.

Shortly after starring in the first three Spy Kids films, Banderas voiced Puss in Boots in Shrek 2, a role he would continue to reprise over the years, including 2022’s Puss in Boots: The Last Wish.

In addition to starring in family friends films such as The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water (2015) and Dolittle (2020), Banderas has had a number of critically acclaimed roles in recent years, including Genius (2018) which earned him an Emmy and Golden Globe nomination and Pain and Glory (2019) which earned him best actor at the Cannes Film Festival.

Banderas was married to Melanie Griffith from May 1996 until the two announced their split in June 2014, and their divorce was finalized the following year. Despite their split, the two (who share daughter Stella) have remained close friends, with Griffith’s daughter Dakota Johnson calling him a “bonus dad.”

Banderas is currently in a relationship with model Nicole Kimpel, who he first started dating following his divorce from Griffith.

Carla Gugino as Ingrid Cortez

Before Spy Kids, Carla Gugino appeared on a number of shows in the ‘80s and ‘90s, including Saved by the Bell, Who's the Boss?, and The Wonder Years, before appearing in the Shelley Long film Troop Beverly Hills.

In 2001, she starred in Spy Kids as Ingrid Cortez, a mother who is secretly a spy with her husband. Like her costars, she also appeared in the film’s two sequels.

Following the third Spy Kids film in 2003, she starred in a number of shows and films, including Karen Sisco (2003), Night at the Museum (2006), Sucker Punch (2011), Mr. Popper's Penguins (2011) and San Andreas (2015).

Recently, she gained critical acclaim for her role in the hit Netflix series The Haunting of Hill House (2018). She also appeared in the second season of the anthology series The Haunting of Bly Manor in 2020.

As for her personal life, Gugino has been in a relationship with director Sebastián Gutiérrez since 1996.

Alan Cumming as Fegan Floop

Alan Cumming was already an accomplished actor when he booked Spy Kids, having previously earned a Tony for his role as the Emcee in Broadway’s Cabaret (1998), in addition to notable film roles in Emma (1996), Romy and Michele's High School Reunion (1997), Spice World (1997) and more.

In the Spy Kids trilogy, Cumming played Fegan Floop, an eccentric television star of a children’s program that Juni loves and the initial antagonist of the first film.

Following his Spy Kids role (which he reprised in the two sequels), he continued to act on stage, notably starring in Broadway’s Macbeth in 2013 and reprising his role as the Emcee in the 2014 Broadway revival of Cabaret. Additionally, he received critical acclaim for his role on The Good Wife, which earned him various award nominations.

Most recently, he mixed his Broadway and TV background as he starred on Apple TV+’s musical series Schmigadoon!, appearing in both seasons 1 and 2 alongside fellow Broadway alum Kristin Chenoweth.

As for his romantic life, Cumming and his partner Grant Shaffer tied the knot in a civil ceremony in 2007 and got married again five years later. In September 2017, Cumming and Shaffer joined creative forces as they worked together on the children's book The Adventures of Honey & Leon about their "dearly departed doggies.”

Danny Trejo as Isador "Machete" Cortez

Following roles in Femme Fatale (1991), Heat (1995) and From Dusk Till Dawn (1996), Danny Trejo, signed on for 2001's Spy Kids as Machete, the estranged brother of Gregorio Cortez and uncle to Juni and Carmen. Like his costars, he reprised his role as Machete in the two sequels.

The role was a turning point in Trejo’s career as he later went on to play the character of Machete in Grindhouse (2007), Planet Terror (2007), Machete (2010) and Machete Kills (2013).

He has had numerous other film roles, including ​​Bubble Boy (2001), xXx (2002), Once Upon a Time in Mexico (2003), Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy (2004), Predators (2010), as well as appearances on Sons of Anarchy and American Horror Stories. In 2021, he competed on The Masked Singer as Raccoon.

As for his personal life, Trejo is the father of three children from past relationships. He's also the owner of eight Los Angeles restaurants including Trejo's Tacos, Trejo's Cantina, and Trejo's Coffee and Donuts.

Cheech Marin as Felix Gumm

Having gained recognition with Cheech & Chong in the ‘70s and ‘80s, Cheech Marin was already well-known in the world of comedy by the time he landed the Spy Kids role of Felix Gumm, aka Carmen and Juni’s “fake” uncle who is an undercover OSS agent. He also reprised his roles in the sequels and appeared in Machete (2010) alongside Trejo.

In addition to various film and TV roles, including Shotgun Wedding, Jane the Virgin and Judging Amy, he has also done a lot of voice acting, including reprising his role as Banzai for The Lion King 1 ½ (a role he previously voiced in The Lion King) as well as Pixar's Cars trilogy. In 2021, he reprised his role as Joe Dominguez from Nash Bridges for a special TV film.

On the personal front, Marin is the father of three children from previous relationships. In 2009, he married his longtime girlfriend Natasha Rubin in a sunset ceremony at their Malibu home.

Tony Shalhoub as Alexander Minion

Following his breakout role as Antonio Scarpacci on Wings from 1991 to 1997, Tony Shalhoub starred in 2001’s Spy Kids as Alexander Minion, the assistant of Fegan Floop. He reprised his role in the two sequels as well.

A year after the first Spy Kids film was released, Shalhoub landed the starring role of Adrian Monk on Monk, which earned him critical acclaim during its eight-season run, including three Primetime Emmy Awards.

Over the years, he has also had acting credits in the Cars trilogy, How Do You Know (2010), Pain & Gain (2013) and Nurse Jackie. Additionally, he has acted on the stage, winning the Tony Award for best actor in a musical for his performance as Tewfiq Zakaria in The Band's Visit in 2017.

His next big TV role came in 2017 when he was cast as Abe Weissman on The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, which received countless awards during its run, including Shalhoub’s Primetime Emmy Award for outstanding supporting actor in a comedy series. After five seasons, the show came to a close in May 2023.

As for his personal life, Shalhoub has been married to actress Brooke Adams since 1992, and together they have two children.

Ricardo Montalbán as Grandfather Valentin Avellan

Long before his breakout in Hollywood, Ricardo Montalbán gained prominence in his hometown of Mexico, notably starring in Santa (1943). After starring in Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer’s Fiesta (1947), the production company signed him to a long-term contract, paving the way for countless other Hollywood roles, including the Planet of the Apes film series and the original Star Trek television series.

In 2002, he joined the Spy Kids cast as he played Valentin Avellan, the grandfather of Juni and Carmen Cortez, in the second film. He later reprised his role in the third film, taking on a larger role as he helped Juni through the mysterious video game Game Over.

Following Spy Kids, he remained busy with voice-over work, including episodes of Dora the Explorer, Kim Possible and Family Guy.

On January 14, 2009, Montalbán died in Los Angeles at the age of 88, two years after his wife Georgiana Young died at age 83 in 2007.

Holland Taylor as Grandmother Helga Avellan

Before Spy Kids, Holland Taylor was already an Emmy-winning actress for her role on The Practice, with many other notable roles under her belt, including The Truman Show and Legally Blonde.

In 2002, Taylor joined the Spy Kids cast as she played Carmen and Juni’s grandmother, Montalbán’s onscreen wife, in the second film. She later reprised her role in the third film, Spy Kids 3-D: Game Over.

Following Spy Kids, Holland has been in numerous notable shows, including Two and a Half Men, The L Word, Hollywood and The Morning Show, as well as films such as To All the Boys: P.S. I Still Love You and The Stand In. She has also had an illustrious career on the stage, appearing in several Broadway and Off-Broadway productions.

In 2015, Holland revealed that she was in her first "deeply committed relationship," with a woman she later revealed to be actress Sarah Paulson. The two have been together ever since, and often give glimpses of their romance on the red carpet and social media.

Matt O'Leary as Gary Giggles

Matt O'Leary first made his acting debut in the Disney Channel original movie Mom's Got a Date with a Vampire in 2000, just two years before starring in Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams. In the film, he plays Gary Giggles, an OSS agent who acts as a rival to Juni and Carmen. Like his costars, O'Leary also made a small appearance in the third film.

He kept steadily working following Spy Kids, including various independent films such as Brick (2005) and Natural Selection (2011), the latter of which earned him the breakthrough performance award at the 2011 SXSW Film Festival.

He also appeared on a handful of notable shows, including CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, Project Blue Book and Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., but seems to have taken a step away from acting in recent years, with the Marvel series being his latest role on his IMDb page.

Emily Osment as Gerti Giggles

Emily Osment started acting in the late ‘90s, with roles on shows such as Touched by an Angel, Friends, and 3rd Rock from the Sun. In 2002, she made her film debut in Spy Kids 2: The Island of Lost Dreams as Gerti Giggles, Gary Giggles’ younger sister and a fellow OSS agent. She also reprised her role in the third film.

In 2005, Osment was cast as Lilly Truscott in the Disney Channel series Hannah Montana, a role that would skyrocket her career. During her time on Hannah Montana, she starred in a handful of films, including Cyberbully and The Haunting Hour: Don't Think About It. She also embarked on a singing career, with her debut EP All the Right Wrongs and debut album Fight or Flight.

In 2014, she landed her next big television role as she starred on Young & Hungry, which ran for five seasons. She has continued to act in recent years, with her notable TV roles being The Kominsky Method, Pretty Smart and most recently, Young Sheldon.

As for her personal life, Osment announced her engagement to boyfriend Jack Anthony in an Instagram post in July 2023. She wrote that she is “deliriously happy” in the caption while describing her now-fiancé as a “magical, beautiful, kaleidoscope of a person."

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