While some of today’s biggest A-listers got their start in the ’80s, many of their famous contemporaries in the “Me” decade live quieter, more low-profile lives today. From Tom Cruise, who bravely donned those tighty whities in Risky Business, to the boys and girls of the Brat Pack, click through to see which stars got their big breaks in the 1980s — and see where they ended up!
Ally Sheedy
Another core member of what was known as the Brat Pack, after making her film debut in 1983’s Bad Boys, Sheedy went on to star in WarGames, The Breakfast Club, St. Elmo’s Fire, Short Circuit and, later, TV series Psych.
Ricky Schroder
In 2009, he directed the adventure horror film Hellhounds.In June 2009, at Andrea’s strong urging, Schroder packed up the family and moved to Spain. They rented a home in Barcelona for a year, and celebrated Schroder’s 40th birthday in Marrakesh, Morocco. After returning in June 2010, Schroder went back to the entertainment industry. He guest-starred in a January 2011 episode of ABC’s No Ordinary Family. His production company, Ricky Schroder Productions, has produced Starting Strong, a TV show for the U.S. Army, since 2013, as well as other projects including The Fighting Season.
Ricky Schroder
Schroder was only 12 years old when he landed the lead role on ’80s TV sitcom Silver Spoons. In an interview with Oprah, the NYPD Blue alum said: “I joke with my kids, ‘You know, Dad wasn’t as big as Justin Bieber, but Dad was pretty big when he was 15!'”
Judd Nelson
The Nikita actor gained fame when he starred as the rebel John Bender in The Breakfast Club and Alec Newbury in St. Elmo’s Fire cementing his place in the Brat Pack pantheon. Nelson later appeared in TV series like CSI, Psych and Two and a Half Men. The actor also released four books to Amazon’s Kindle.
Ally Sheedy
Sheedy has also appeared in the episode “Leapin’ Lizards” of C.S.I. in which she played a woman who murdered her boyfriend’s wife while mixed up in a cult. On March 3, 2008, Sheedy was introduced as the character Sarah, in the ABC Family show Kyle XY. In 2009, she played the role of Mr. Yang on the USA Network television show Psych (in the third season finale), a role that she reprised in the fourth season, fifth season, and seventh season finales.
Judd Nelson
He portrayed Father Charley Lock on Brookwood Sleazebags (2010), a pilot he did for HBO. In 2012, Nelson played the role of Headmaster Nash in the live-action feature film Bad Kids Go to Hell, based on the best-selling graphic novel of the same name. The same year, Nelson co-wrote and starred in the short film The Spin Room: Super Tuesday. Nelson reprised his role as Rodimus in Transformers: Animated and voiced Ben 10,000 and Eon in Ben 10 Omniverse.
Molly Ringwald
John Hughes’ leading lady! The redhead starred in ’80s flicks Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, and Pretty in Pink, making her the de facto queen of the so-called Brat Pack. Ringwald went on to star in 2008 ABC Family show The Secret Life of the American Teenager and is a married mother to three kids.
Molly Ringwald
In early 2013, Ringwald released Except Sometimes, a jazz record. It follows a tradition in jazz for the Ringwald family set by her father. “I grew up in a home filled with music and had an early appreciation of jazz since my dad was a jazz musician. Beginning at around age three I started singing with his band and jazz music has continued to be one of my three passions along with acting and writing. I like to say jazz music is my musical equivalent of comfort food. It’s always where I go back to when I want to feel grounded,” Ringwald said in a statement.
Alyssa Milano
Charmed alum Alyssa Milano is best known for portraying Samantha Micelli on ABC sitcom Who’s the Boss? from 1984 to 1992. The actress then went on to star in the WB’s Charmed and ABC’s drama Mistresses.
Alyssa Milano
In 2013, Milano created the comic book series Hacktivist, which was written by Jackson Lanzing and Collin Kelly, drawn by Marcus To, and published by Archaia Entertainment. The book, which explores the modern world of hacking and global activism, is described as “a fast-paced cyber-thriller about friendship and freedom in a time of war.” The publication was released digitally in late 2013, while the first print edition issue of the four-issue miniseries was published in January 2014. A hardcover edition collecting all four issues was released in July 2014.
Tom Cruise
Still one of Hollywood’s biggest, highest-paid stars, Cruise landed a small role in The Outsiders in 1983, starring alongside fellow up-and-coming ’80s stars Matt Dillon, Patrick Swayze, and Rob Lowe before landing the leads in classics of the decade like Risky Business and Top Gun.
Tom Cruise
Tom Cruise will star in the upcoming reboot of Boris Karloff’s 1932 horror movie The Mummy, though it is not entirely clear who his character will be.The new film, also titled The Mummy, will be a reboot of the character and franchise, as well as the second installment in the Universal Studios’ Monsters Cinematic Universe. The series is intended to be a shared universe with reboots of all the studios’ classic monster characters. The film will be produced by Alex Kurtzman, Chris Morgan, and Sean Daniel. It will be written by Jon Spaihts and also directed by Alex Kurtzman.
Cyndi Lauper
Girls just wanna have fun! Pop icon Cyndi Lauper released her first solo album, She’s So Unusual, in 1983. The “Time After Time” singer later earned a Grammy for Best New Artist in 1985. Lauper went on to compose music for Broadway musical Kinky Boots, for which she won a Tony award.
Cyndi Lauper
In January 2016, Lauper officially announced the May 6, 2016 release date of a new country album composed of her interpretations of early country classics entitled Detour. The announcement was supported by a release of her version of Harlan Howard’s “Heartaches by the Number” and a performance on Skyville Live with Kelsea Ballerini and Ingrid Michaelson.On February 17, 2016 she released her version of Wanda Jackson’s “Funnel of Love”.
Demi Moore
After dropping out of high school at the age of 16, Moore starred alongside ex-fiance Emilio Estevez and Rob Lowe in St. Elmo’s Fire and About Last Night. In the ’90s, Moore went on to star in critically acclaimed roles in A Few Good Men and Indecent Proposal.
Demi Moore
Later, Moore, who was once crowned the highest paid woman in Hollywood, proved she’s still got it alongside Cameron Diaz and Drew Barrymore in Charlie’s Angels: Full Throttle.
Kevin Bacon
Six degrees of Kevin Bacon and it all leads back to Footloose! The Following actor became a household name when he took on the iconic role of Ren McCormack in 1984’s Footloose.
Kevin Bacon
In a hilarious video in 2014, Bacon attempted to teach millennials about the ’80s. The dancing king now stars in FOX thriller The Following.
Matt Dillon
Major tough guy hunk alert! Dillon played the bad boy in numerous ’80s flicks, making teenage girls everywhere swoon. The There’s Something About Mary star appeared in flicks Little Darlings (1980), My Bodyguard (1980), Tex (1982), Rumble Fish (1983).
Matt Dillon
Starred alongside fellow hotties like Rob Lowe in The Outsiders in 1983. Later, Dillon starred in comedies like You, Me and Dupree alongside Kate Hudson and Owen Wilson.
Andrew McCarthy
Andrew McCarthy joined fellow ’80s Brat Pack stars in St. Elmo’s Fire in 1985 and Pretty In Pink in 1986. McCarthy then also starred in classics like Mannequin and Weekend at Bernie’s.
Andrew McCarthy
Later, the actor transitioned to TV, appearing in Lipstick Jungle and White Collar, among others, before starring in Royal Pains.
Emilio Estevez
Charlie Sheen’s older brother, Estevez grew up with fellow ’80s actors Sean Penn and Rob Lowe and was also a member of the Brat Pack after starring in The Breakfast Club, St. Elmo’s Fire, and The Outsiders.
Emilio Estevez
Estevez went on to star in 1992’s The Mighty Ducks and aside from acting, also now owns his own winery, Casa Dumetz, in California.
Kelly McGillis
In 1957, Kelly Ann McGillis was born. This lovely actress became an iconic face of American movies in the 80’s. Most people know her for the 1986 blockbuster hit Top Gun, which famously launched the career of Tom Cruise. Kelly also starred in the 1985 film Witness alongside Harrison Ford, a role which earned her both Golden Globe and BAFTA nominations.
Kelly McGillis
In 1988, Kelly starred in The Accused beside Jodie Foster, another role she is well remembered for. In 2009, Kelly publicly came out as a lesbian. She shared a civil union with Melanie Leis, a sales executive, from 2010 to 2011. Today, Kelly is still acting, and is a proud mother and grandmother.
Lori Singer
Born in 1957, Lori Singer is the Jewish beauty from the 1984 film Footloose, a classic that had withstood the test of time. She’s also known for her role in the television series Fame, which ran from 1982-1983.
Lori Singer
After taking a break from acting for a few years, Lori returned to acting with guest role on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. More recently, she’s worked as a producer, with her documentary Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God winning a Peabody Award.
Linda Hamilton
Born in 1956, Linda Carroll Hamilton is the American actress known for originating the famous role of Sarah Connor in the Terminator films. She was also well loved for her role as Catherine Chandler in the television series Beauty and the Beast, which ran from 1987-1990.
Linda Hamilton
She earned two Golden Globes and an Emmy for her role on the show, and its popularity even resulted in a reboot on the CW in 2012. Linda is also a mother of two, and has continued to act. Some of her more notable recent appearances have been on the television shows Chuck and Defiance.
Jennifer Connelly
Born in 1970, Jennifer Lynn Connelly originally attracted attention as a child model. She debuted on the big screen in 1984, with her role in Once Upon a Time in America. In 1986, she starred in Labyrinth, one of her most iconic roles and the reason many today know her name and face. Other notable films of hers include the The Rocketeer in 1991 and A Beautiful Mind in 2001.
Jennifer Connelly
For the latter, Jennifer won an Academy Award, Golden Globe, and a BAFTA. She still acts today, and is also busy with her work as an Amnesty International Ambassador for Human Rights Education. In addition to her acting skills and desire to help others, Jennifer has also been numerous times commemorated as one of the world’s most beautiful women by a variety of magazines and newspapers.
Mia Sara
Born in 1967, Mia Sara went became the star of one of the most memorable films of the 1980’s. The 1986 film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off ensured no one could forget her, and she was in a number of other films following up that great success.
Mia Sara
One of her other most notable roles was in the 1994 film Time cop, for which she won a Saturn Award. She still acts today, and is married to Brian Henson, the oldest son of Jim Henson, creator of the Muppets.
Lea Thompson
Born in 1961, Lea Katherine Thompson is the iconic star of the Back to the Future trilogy, one of the most memorable film franchises of the 80’s. She also starred in the 1986 film Howard the Duck and the 1993 film The Beverly Hillbillies, among many others. One of her other iconic roles was in the 1995-1999 television series Caroline in the City.
Lea Thompson
More recently, Lea has had a slew of television guest star appearances, and has been one of the stars of Switched at Birth since 2011. She is a married mother of two girls, and is still just as beautiful today as she was in her very first appearance!
Carrie Fisher
It’s impossible not to recognize Carrie Fisher as Princess Leia from the original Star Wars trilogy. She’s not just an actress though, and has found success as both a novelist and screenwriter as well. Other major films she’s remembered for include 1980’s The Blues Brothers and 1989’s When Harry Met Sally…, both of which are still beloved films today.
Carrie Fisher
Star Wars is still a major part of her life, now that she’s reprising her role in the new trilogy of films. Fans young and old find it impossible to forget Carrie Fisher!
Mia Farrow
The star of 1968’s Rosemary’s Baby, Mia Farrow is an American actress known for a wide variety of notable roles. She was nominated for a BAFTA and a Golden Globe for Rosemary’s Baby.
Mia Farrow
Also found success with 1974’s The Great Gatsby and 1978’s Death on the Nile. She still acts today, in films such as 2008’s Be Kind Rewind. She’s also done quite a bit of stage acting, and is the mother of fourteen children, ten of whom are adopted.
Barbara Hershey
In 1990, Barbara Hershey won an Emmy and a Golden Globe for her role in 1990’s A Killing in a Small Town. That’s only one example of stellar acting and success in her career, another example being 1988’s The Last Temptation of Christ.
Anjelica Huston
When she won an Academy Award for 1985’s Prizzi’s Honor, Anjelica Huston became the third generation in her family to receive the honor. She also received Golden Globe nominations for her role as Morticia Addams in 1991’s The Addams Family and 1993’s Addams Family Values.
Anjelica Huston
More recently, she’s done voice acting for the Disney series of Tinker Bell films, and has guest starred in the Amazon Video series Transparent.
Daryl Hannah
Known primarily for 1982’s Blade Runner, Daryl Hannah is an actress many will recognize. Films like 1989’s Steel Magnolias and 2003’s Kill Bill are other titles for which she is known, and she has used her fame to become a campaigner for environmental sustainability.
Daryl Hannah
More recently, she had a role in the Netflix series Sense8. Over the years she has won several awards for both her acting and her environmental activism.
Dianne Wiest
Winner of two Academy Awards, Dianne Wiest is a well known star of Hollywood. Her Oscars were earned for 1986’s Hannah and Her Sister and 1994’s Bullets over Broadway. Other films of hers include 1984’s Footloose, 1987’s The Lost Boys, and 1996’s The Birdcage.
Dianne Wiest
More recently, she has appeared in the television series In Treatment, and was featured in the 2012 film The Odd Life of Timothy Green and 2015’s Sisters. Currently, she can be found starring in the television series Life in Pieces.
Sigourney Weaver
Best known for her role in the Alien franchise, Sigourney Weaver has been in a number of notable films over the years. Ghostbusters, in 1984, and its 1989 sequel Ghostbusters II are two of her other famous works, and 2009’s blockbuster hit Avatar confirmed she was still a force to be reckoned with.
Sigourney Weaver
She is well loved for her various roles in science fiction cinema, and films such as 1999’s Galaxy Quest are still cult hits nearly two decades later.
Heather Thomas
Thomas was chosen for the role of Jody Banks in The Fall Guy, which starred Lee Majors and was produced by Glen Larson, from its 1981 premiere to its 1986 cancellation. Unfortunately, Thomas developed a cocaine addiction during her run in the program, and entered rehabilitation for that addiction in 1984.
Heather Thomas
She appeared in several movies, the first of which was Zapped! in 1982 (see below for her filmography), but she gave up acting in 1998. Thomas appeared on numerous pin-up posters during the 1980s.
Elizabeth McGovern
Nominated for an Academy Award for 1981’s Ragtime, Elizabeth McGovern has been a staple of Hollywood for decades. 1984’s Once Upon A Time In America and 1990’s The Handmaid’s Tale are other films that helped cement her significance in cinema.
Elizabeth McGovern
More recently, she became a household name while starring on the ITV television series Downton Abbey, which ran from 2010 to 2016. Films such as 2010’s Clash of the Titans and 2015’s Woman in Gold also ensured that Hollywood has no intention of letting her star fade.
Sean Young
An American actress, Sean Young is best known for her roles in 1982’s Blade Runner and 1984’s Dune. 1994’s Ace Ventura: Pet Detective and 1996’s Everything to Gain.
Sean Young
Two of her other well known films, and she is still acting today. In 2013, she appeared in the fan made pilot of Star Trek: Renegades.
Karen Allen
Best known for playing Indiana Jones’ love interest in 1981’s Raiders of the Lost Ark, Karen Allen was such a hit that she reprised the role in 2008’s Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.
Karen Allen
1993’s The Sandlot and 2000’s The Perfect Storm are also notable films she’s starred in over the years. She still acts today, and recently starred in 2015’s Bad Hurt.
Helen Mirren
A beloved English actress with an astonishing record in the film industry, Helen Mirren has been acting since 1967. She is one of the only actors in history to receive the Triple Crown of Acting. Her Academy Award was for 2007’s The Queen, her Tony was for 2015’s The Audience, and her Emmy was for her appearance in 1996 on the television series Prime Suspect.
Helen Mirren
Films like 1984’s Cal. 2014’s The Hundred-Foot Journey, and the films Red and Red 2 ensured that she remained a darling of both critics and audiences alike.
Glenn Close
An award winning actress famed for her versatility, Glenn Close has been acting since 1974. She has won three Emmys and three Tonys, and been nominated for an Academy Award six times during her career. The first time audiences saw her on screen was in 1982’s The World According to Garp.
Glenn Close
Other famous films of hers include 1987’s Fatal Attraction and 1995’s Sunset Boulevard. Younger generations grew up with her as the villainous Cruella in 1996’s 101 Dalmations, and recent audiences will remember her from Marvel’s 2014 hit Guardians of the Galaxy.
Sandrine Bonnaire
A French actress who’s been acting since 1982, Sandrine Bonnaire has appeared in over forty films during her career. In 1983, she won a Cesar Award for her role in A nos amours, and another Cesar Award in 1985 for Vagabond.
Sandrine Bonnaire
1987’s Under the Sun of Satan and 1999’s East/West are some of her other notable roles. She is still acting today, and has also found success as a director and screenwriter.
William Zabka – Then
William Zabka was born on October 20, 1965 in New York City, New York, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for The Karate Kid (1984), National Lampoon’s European Vacation (1985) and Back to School (1986). He has been married to Stacie Zabka since 2008.
William Zabka – Now
He was not at all experienced in martial arts prior to the filming of The Karate Kid (1984). He was actually an accomplished wrestler. However, in the years since, he has earned a black belt in Tang Soo Do.
His paternal grandfather was Czech, and his paternal grandmother was born in Nebraska, to Czech parents.
Steve Guttenberg – Then
Although Steve Guttenberg is firmly established as the star not only of hit motion pictures but of hit motion picture franchises, his roots are in the theater. As a result, he has moved effortlessly between comedy and drama.
Steve Guttenberg – Now
In two decades of stardom in both critical and box-office hits, Guttenberg has been the above-the-title star of six films that earned over $100,000,000 in the United States, a feat accomplished by relatively few superstars.
Curtis Armstrong – Then
Curtis Armstrong was born on November 27, 1953 in Detroit, Michigan, USA. He is an actor and producer, known for Ray (2004), Dan Vs. (2011) and Southland Tales (2006). He has been married to Elaine Aronson since January 2, 1994. They have one child.
Curtis Armstrong – Now
He has been married to Elaine Aronson since January 2, 1994. They have one child.
Tim Curry – Then
Timothy James Curry was born on April 19, 1946 in Grappenhall, Cheshire, England. His mother, Maura Patricia (Langmead), was a school secretary, and his father, James Curry, was a Methodist Royal Navy chaplain. Curry studied Drama and English at Birmingham University, from which he graduated with Combined Honors.
Tim Curry – Now
His first professional success was in the London production of “Hair”, followed by more work in the Royal Shakespeare Company, the Glasgow Civic Repertory Company, and the Royal Court Theatre where he created the role of Dr. Frank-N-Furter in “The Rocky Horror Show”.
Chevy Chase – Then
Chevy Chase was born Cornelius Crane Chase in Lower Manhattan, New York, to Cathalene Parker (Browning), a concert pianist and librettist, and Edward Tinsley “Ned” Chase, an editor and writer.
Chevy Chase – Then
