The world has seen many great species come and go over the years. However, it looks as though one has been able to make a comeback after all this time. This giant extinct parrot has just been discovered in New Zealand after going under the radar for so many years.

Finding The Evidence

Researchers in New Zealand recently uncovered fossils that show Heracles inexpectatus once roamed across the country. This was unlike any other parrot they had ever seen. In fact, the remains showed that this is the tallest known parrot to have ever walked the Earth.

Special Features

This parrot weighs a whopping 15 pounds – around the same as a bowling ball, but that’s not all. The bird also had a large beak that means it could break through almost anything it came across. The remains show the bird would have lived around 19 million years ago.

Plenty Of Differences

Although the remains were of a giant parrot, the species was very different from the bird we know today. The parrots would have walked along the forest floor looking for food and didn’t fly. However, its break meant that not a lot could stand in this incredible bird’s way.

Not The First

It turns out this giant parrot isn’t the first oversized bird to live in New Zealand. The country was once home to a penguin that stood taller than a human, and nine different species of moa. The largest of these birds would have once measured in at a staggering 12 feet tall.

New Zealand is home to all kinds of hidden wonders, and it seems as though it’s the country that just keeps on giving. Although they have been gone for millions of years, this giant extinct parrot helps envision the journey the species has been through throughout time.

Lea Thompson played the role of Lorraine Baines McFly in Back to the Future. Lorraine was Marty McFly’s (played by Michael J Fox) mother. In the movie, Lorraine develops feelings towards her son when he travels back in time as ‘Calvin Klein.’

Post Back to the Future, Lea was seen in The Beverly Hillbillies. She will be soon seen in a host of projects such as Unplugging and 10 Tricks. She was last seen in 2020 series The Goldbergs as Fran.

Crispin Glover played Marty McFly’s father George in the first installment. However, he did not reprise his character in the following films. In an interview, Glover revealed that this decision was made because he did not like the ending planned for his character.

Glover went on to sign many projects such as What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Charlie’s Angels, Hot Tub Time Machine, and American Gods. In 2016, he wrote a book Round My House. In 2005, he made his directorial debut with What Is It?

Christopher Lloyd played the zany Dr. Emmett ‘Doc’ Brown in the Back to the Future franchise. Dr. Brown was the inventor of the time machine fashioned out of the 1981 DeLorean car. In the movie, he is shown to be quite focused on his invention.

Currently, Lloyd is starring as King Lear in Shakespeare & Company’s play King Lear. Previously, Lloyd was part of other Shakespeare-based projects including Macbeth and A Midnight Summer’s Dream.

While Back to the Future III is arguably the least popular installment of the three, one of the high points of the movie was surely the character played by Mary Steenburgen. Clara Clayton is the classy love interest of Doc.

Of course, Mary Steenburgen has been in a high-profile relationship with Ted Danson since the mid-90s. The couple even parodied their own marriage in the show Curb Your Enthusiasm. Steenburgen continues to act in shows such as The Good Place.

James Tolkan played the role of Gerald Strickland in Back To The Future films. Gerald was an authoritarian Principal at Hill Valley High School. Gerald vehemently despised the students who erred, and he would call them slackers.

James Tolkan got busy in the 1990s workwise as he went on to do many shows and movies such as Cobra, Beyond Betrayal, The Pretender, Heavens Fail, Leverage, Phil Spector and more. Tolkan was last seen in 2021 television miniseries Expedition: Back to The Future.

Anyone who has seen Back to the Future will remember that iconic song “The Power of Love” that plays early on in the movie. It was played by none other than Huey Lewis and the News. But not everyone knows that the lead singer actually had a cameo in the movie, playing one of the judges at a school music contest Marty performs at.

In the last few decades, Huey Lewis has continued to perform with his band, recording albums and performing on the road.

Donald Fullilove played the part of Goldie Wilson in Back to the Future. Goldie Wilson was the Mayor of Hill Valley and used to work in Lou’s Café as a teenager before he entered the world of politics.

Donald Fullilove was seen in a lot of television and movie project post his role in Back to The Future. Some of the projects he gave a nod to included Domestic Import, Curious George, The Hustle, Monsters University, Martin and All of Us!

Viewers would have been taken aback when the character of Jennifer was recast in the next two installments of the Back to the Future franchise. Claudia Wells left in order to take care of her mother, and Elisabeth Shue stepped in to carry on the role.

In recent times, Shue has seen something of a resurgence in her acting career. The talented actress has had prevalent roles in shows such as CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, The Boys and Cobra Kai.

Billy Zane began his acting innings with Back to The Future wherein he played the role of Match. Match was one of the four boys from the much-dreaded gang led by Biff Tannen. Match lived up to his name through his mannerisms.

Post Back to The Future, Billy Zane went onto do a series of television and movie projects such as Samson, The Adventure Club, Swing State, Twin Peaks, Psych, Legends of Tomorrow, and more.

Marc McClure portrayed the character of Dave McFly in Back to The Future. David or Dave, as he was called, was the eldest son of George McFly and Lorraine Baines McFly. He had two younger siblings – Linda McFly and Marty McFly.

Post Back to The Future, Marc McClure had a robust career and was seen in a host of projects such as Storm, Deep Core, Python, Smallville, Proud American and more. Marc was the only actor to appear in both the installments of Freaky Friday.

During that iconic “Enchantment Under the Sea” dance, Marty gets the chance to perform in front of his parents with a popular band. One of the band members is Marvin Berry, who happens to be a cousin of the upcoming musician Chuck Berry. He plays “Johnny B. Goode” to him over the phone, inspiring him to become a rock star.

Truth be told, Harry Water Jr. hasn’t appeared in much more on the big or small screen over the years. Outside of his handful of other roles, Harry has taught acting at Macalester College.

Lisa Freeman played the role of Babs in the two installments of the Back to the Future series. Babs was Lorraine’s friend with dark hair. She often used to hang out with Lorraine and her other friend Betty.

Post Back to The Future, Lisa didn’t take up many television and movie projects. However, she was seen in a couple of projects such as Bringing Up Jack and Doogie Howser, M.D. Lisa established herself as an author by penning several books such as Doing It, Honey Girl, Riptide Summer.

In one of the most fascinating scenes in the first movie, Marty is forced to have dinner with his mother’s Lorraine’s family back in 1955. When he claims to have two TVs, Lorraine’s brother Milton can’t believe it and thinks Marty must be rich.

A couple of years after his role in Back to the Future, Hervey starred as Wayne Arnold in the hit sitcom The Wonder Years. Through the years, Hervey has had less success as an actor and more as a TV writer/executive producer.

It’s pretty self-explanatory why the character played by Casey Siemszko is called 3-D. Of course, it’s because this member of Biff’s gang wears 3-D glasses all the time.

Siemaszko’s most recent film role came in the Johnny Depp-led Public Enemies in 2009. Since then, he has had minor roles in TV shows such as The Blacklist, Elementary and Billions. Casey’s family also have experience in TV, with his sister Nina being a prolific actress too. His brother Corky writes for the Daily News.

Jeffrey Jay Cohen (or JJ Cohen) played the role of Skinhead in the first two installments of Back to The Future. Skinhead was a member of Biff Tannen’s gang. For the final part (III), Cohen played a member of Needles’ gang.

After tasting success with Back to the Future, JJ Cohen went on to do many television and movies such as The Night Caller, Object of Obsession and Almost Famous. He was last seen in a cameo in a 2021 production Still Toking With.

Thomas F Wilson played Biff Tannen. Biff was a tyrant who liked to torment George McFly (Marty’s father) – often coming in Marty’s way as he sought to bring his parents closer. In the movie, Biff is portrayed as an aggressive individual who loves to swear at the drop of a hat.

Post Back To The Future, Thomas became a part of the television show Freaks and Geeks. He has also done episodic roles in several shows including Two And A Half Man.

George DiCenzo played the role of Sam Baines in Back to the Future. Sam Baines was married to Stella with whom he had five children. If you were to add two and two, he was Marty McFly’s granddad.

Post his notable character in Back to the Future; George did a lot of television and movie projects such as Gypsy Eyes, Tempted, Hotel, It Had to Be You and more. He also appeared in a small but important role in The Exorcist: III.

Frances Lee McCain portrayed the role of Stella in Back to the Future. Stella was married to Sam Baines (played by George DiCenzo) with whom she mothered five children – Lorraine Baines, Toby Baines, Milton Baines, Ellen Baines and Joey Baines. She was grandmom to Marty McFly.

Post Back to The Future, Frances did projects such as Stand by Me, The Lookalike, Scream and It Takes Two. In 2018, she was seen in Ideal Home. In 2000, Frances went on to pursue her Master’s in Psychology.

It might not have been so clear at the time, but fans were surprised when Jeffrey Weissman was brought in to take over the role of George McFly in Back To The Future II. Weissman wore heavy prosthetics, which included a false chin and cheekbones.

While he might not be the most high-profile actor on this list, Jeffrey Weissman has continued to find work right up until the present day. In fact, the actor has found minor success through a variety of mediums such as TV, film and theater.

Claudia Wells played Jennifer Parker, who is Marty McFly’s love interest in Back To The Future. She didn’t reprise her role for the second and third instalments of the films owing to certain personal reasons– and her character was thus played by Elisabeth Shue.

Post Back To The Future, Wells stepped away from the screen for many years to spend time with her ailing mother. Besides being an actor, Wells is an entrepreneur. She owns and manages her clothing label Armani Wells.

Who would have thought that Flea from the Red Hot Chili Peppers would star in Back to the Future II? The popular bassist has a fairly minor role as Douglas J. Needles. His role in the movies is to goad Marty into doing audacious things, to prove he is not a “chicken.”

Flea continued to have minor roles in movies as the years went on, including the likes of Family Guy, The Big Lebowski and Baby Driver, to name a few. Obviously, the talented musician continues to record music with the Chillis until this very day.

Wendie Jo Sperber played the role of Linda McFly in Back to The Future. Linda was Marty’s older sister and the middle child of Lorraine and George. Linda was often seen sporting thick glasses. She had a penchant for eye shadows and often craved attention from boys.

Post Back to The Future, Sperber went on to do projects such as Love Affair, Desperate But Not Serious, Sorority Boys, Will And Grace, Touched By An Angel, American Dad, and more. Sperber passed away in 2005.

There is no denying that Chester the bartender is one of the most insignificant characters from the Back to the Future trilogy on this list. With that said, every scene he was part of in the third installment was fun and entertaining, to say the very least.

Clark is another example of someone whose apex mountain came in Back to the Future. A couple years after his role as Chester, Clark directed the movie Da. His daughter-in-law Kimberly Beck has had more success in acting than him.

Elsa Raven played The Clocktower Lady in the first movie, a protester who is always yelling “save the clock tower!” She also asks locals for donations in a desperate attempt to preserve it, and to stop Mayor Wilson from replacing it.

In the years following Back to the Future, Raven also appeared in movies such as Titanic and Indecent Proposal. In 2020, at the age of 91, Raven passed away and her ashes were returned to her family.

Initially, Michael J Fox was roped in to replace Eric Stoltz to play the famous Marty McFly. The director felt that Fox fit the role better than Stoltz and approached him again and ultimately, the casting paid off.

Post Back to the Future, Fox went on to do many hit shows and movies such as Spin City, Rescue Me and The Good Wife. He authored No Time Like The Future: An Optimist Considers Morality in 2020 where he shared his personal reflections on illness, aging, time, friends, and family.