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Reece Thompson, the child actor who played the brief yet poignant role of the young Irish boy in Titanic, has revealed how the film continues to provide him with a steady stream of royalty checks more than 25 years after its release. The film, directed by James Cameron, remains one of the highest-grossing movies of all time, and despite Thompson’s small part, the residuals he receives each year are a reminder of the movie’s enduring legacy.
At just five years old, Reece Thompson portrayed a third-class passenger aboard the doomed Titanic. His character, along with his mother and sister, met a tragic end when the ship sank. Although his role was small—he only had one spoken line—the emotional weight of his scene added to the film’s portrayal of the harsh realities faced by many of the lower-class passengers.
Thompson himself admits that he remembers very little from his time on set, but he recalls the pivotal moment when his mother had to choose between a commercial for a gas station or the role in Titanic. She wisely decided to pursue the film, which turned out to be an iconic success. Reece reflected in an interview: “It turned out to be one of the highest-grossing films in history, so it’s pretty bizarre in retrospect.”
The royalties from the film, though not life-changing, still add up. Each year, Reece receives checks ranging from $100 to $250, depending on the film’s ongoing success. These amounts might seem modest for such a brief role, but they are still a reminder of the global reach and lasting impact of Titanic
Thompson’s connection to the movie has also been a source of amusement and surprise for him. “It’s weird because it’s not present in my mind anymore,” he said, reflecting on how strange it is to receive checks for a role he played as a child. The checks continue to roll in each year, especially when the film is shown on TV or released in new formats
While Reece Thompson is now focused on his career in digital marketing at a ski resort, his role in Titanic remains a fascinating chapter of his early life. For him, it was a once-in-a-lifetime experience that continues to pay dividends even years later
