You might remember Danny Lloyd as the young boy who captured hearts—and chills—as Danny Torrance in Stanley Kubrick’s iconic horror masterpiece The Shining (1980). Making his film debut at just six years old, Danny Lloyd was personally handpicked by Kubrick himself, who admired the youngster’s remarkable focus and composure on set. Tasked with riding a Big Wheel through endless hallways and reacting to intense scenes opposite Jack Nicholson, it’s hard to believe that little Danny didn’t even realize he was in a horror movie at the time. That’s right—Kubrick went to great lengths to shield young Danny Lloyd from the film’s darker, more terrifying elements. It wasn’t until years later that Danny Lloyd discovered he had starred in one of the most legendary horror films ever made.

Despite the massive cultural impact of The Shining, Danny Lloyd didn’t pursue a long-term acting career. Two years after the film’s eerie release—complete with that unforgettable flood of blood bursting from the elevator—Danny Lloyd took on another role, this time in the TV biopic Will: The Autobiography of G. Gordon Liddy (1982), where he portrayed the younger version of Nixon-era figure G. Gordon Liddy. The project stirred some controversy for giving a platform to a convicted criminal, but for Danny Lloyd, it was just another role, not a political statement. Still, after that appearance, Danny Lloyd gradually stepped away from Hollywood. He shifted his focus to academics, dedicating himself to his studies and eventually building a quiet, fulfilling life outside the spotlight.

Fast forward many years, and Danny Lloyd reemerged briefly in 2019 for a touching cameo in Doctor Sleep, the long-awaited sequel to The Shining. Fans were thrilled to see Danny Lloyd return to the world of the Overlook Hotel, bringing full circle the journey of a child actor who once unknowingly became part of cinematic history. Today, Danny Lloyd is no longer in front of the camera but continues to inspire as a biology professor at a community college in Kentucky—proving that sometimes, the most meaningful roles happen far from the silver screen.