The ’80s may have come and gone, but all of your favorite stars are still here today! We have seen them transform from action into religious advocates, pop singers in serious actresses, and of course, child stars that turned veteran professionals. If you have missed out on what the biggest stars of the ’80s are up to today, do not fret – we are here to fill you in!
There are some child stars who have not managed to stay in the spotlight and have had their fair share of struggles, but there are those who took what they learned during their earlier years in Hollywood and made it even greater for themselves as they grew up in front of the camera. However, there are those who did not stay relevant and we learned what ended up happening to them after the spotlight was taken away. From Christina Applegate, Demi Moore, Geena Davis, and Kirk Cameron, to Kirstie Alley and Rob Lowe, we have the rundown of all of your favorite 80s stars and what they are up to today.
Kathleen Turner is an 80’s icon who has done it all. She mastered the soap genre on The Doctors, starred in off-Broadway productions like Mr. T, and has many mega-hit films under her belt like Crime of Passion, Romancing the Stone, and Body Heat.
In 1985, she won a Golden Globe as Best Actress her role in Prizzi’s Honor. Turner’s raspy voice, raw talent, and visionary eye have made her a grand success throughout the 80’s and the following decades.
In 1986, Kathleen Turner became an Academy Award-nominated actress for Peggy Sue Got Married. In the 90’s, Turner played Chandler Bing’s cross-dressing father on Friends, and also works as a voice-over actress.
In 2007, she divorced her husband, New York entrepreneur Jay Weiss, who she had been married to for 23 years. The Oscar-nominated actress has also been nominated for two Tony Awards – one for her performance in Cat on a Hot Tin Roof and another for Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf?
The stunner with the blue eyes and the tight-braided hair, will always be mostly famous for her slow-motion epic run in the 1979 film, ’10’.
Ever since that movie, Bo has become a household name.
The beautiful 60-year-old has definitely aged well! Throughout her career, Derek mostly appeared on television where she had brief stints.
She has been dating Carrie Bradshaw’s object of affection (besides Mr. Big of course), actor John Corbett since 2002.
At age 16, Samantha Fox began appearing as a topless model on Page 3 of British tabloid newspaper, The Sun, and continued doing this until 1986. She became the most popular pin-up girl of her era, and one of the most photographed British women of the 1980s. In 1986 she launched a pop music career with her debut of her catchy single, "Touch Me (I Want Your Body)", which peaked at number one in seventeen countries.
In 1988 she received a Brit Award nomination for Best British Female Artist. She was also in many films and reality television shows, and occasionally worked as a television presenter.
In 2003, Fox made the announcement that she wanted to live as a gay woman, and in 2009, she announced her plans to form a civil partnership with Stratton, saying "People say I'm gay..I don't know what I am. All I know is that I'm in love with Myra .
I love her completely and want to spend the rest of my life with her." Fox then spent much of her life donating to LGBT campaigns, and unfortunately, in 2015, Stratton died of cancer at 60 years old.
These days, Brooke Shields has a lot on her plate. Not only is she a successful film and tv star, she’s married to her second husband and together, they’re raising two daughters.
Brooke is currently the spokeswoman for Tupperware’s Chain of Confidence SMART Girls and continues to act, although, very seldom. Her most memorable credits include Suddenly Susan, Freeway, Black and White, and The Disenchanted Forest.
Brooke Shields was one of the most controversial breakout stars of the 80’s. Her film debut in Pretty Baby was followed up by the polarizing classic Blue Lagoon, a film that would cement Shields’ iconic status as a young, child actress. During her teenage years, she was a print and high-fashion model and in all honesty, we completely understand why.
Who else could pull off a pair of eyebrows like those? In 1983, she put her modeling and acting career on hold to get her Bachelor’s Degree from Princeton University in Romance Languages but triumphantly returned to the entertainment industry before ringing in the new decade.
Dianne West isn’t just another pretty face – She’s an Academy Award-winning actress with a long list of accolades to back up her star-studded status. Her career took off in the 80’s and in 1986, she received her first Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her role in Hannah and Her Sisters.
Throughout the 80’s, she starred in three more Woody Allen flicks; The Purple Rose of Cairo, Radio Days and September. Then, for her performance in Parenthood, West was nominated for another Academy Award.
Dianne’s career didn’t slow down once the 90’s hit – she starred alongside Johnny Depp in Edward Scissorhands, The Birdcage with Robin Williams, Dan in Real Life, and Rabbit Hole. West had a recurring role on Law & Order, appearing as Nora Lewin throughout three seasons of the long-running show.
Currently, the actress lives in New York City with her two, adopted daughters.
Kirstie Alley began her career as an interior designer, believe it or not. In 1982, she was surprisingly offered the role as Lieutenant JG Saavik in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan and as they say, the rest is history.
One of the roles that Kirstie is most recognized for is Rebecca Howe on Cheers; after Shelley Long left the universally praised sitcom, Alley stepped in and won an Emmy Award, as well as a Golden Globe, for her role on the classic hit. As the 90’s drew near, Alley picked up more roles in film such as Look Who’s Talking, Shoot To Kill, Sibling Rivalry, and Drop Dead Gorgeous.
Kirstie Alley hit a temporary, career plateau in the late 90’s after Veronica’s Closet went off the air. In 2000, the sitcom star became the subject of her own reality tv show and the cameras promptly followed Kirstie around, documenting the average day in her life.
Now, Kirstie just finished a run as a cast member on Ryan Murphy’s Scream Queens. In 2016, Kirstie became a first-time grandmother to a baby boy, the son of her oldest child, William.
Like most beautiful women do, Geena Davis entered the entertainment industry as a model. She graduated from Boston University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Drama and was finally able to put it to good use when she was offered a role in 1982’s Tootsie.
After the success she garnered from the film, she transitioned into acting full-time and made a life-changing move to Los Angeles. Geena became a household name after the release of Thelma & Louise but for the bright young star, it was only the beginning.
In 2005, Geena won her first Golden Globe for her role on Commander in Chief. Since then, her acting career has slowed down but for good reasons; the Hollywood actress is a mother to three children and she is currently married to her second husband, plastic surgeon Reza Jarrahy.
Her last on-screen appearance was in Grey Anatomy, where she played the role of Dr. Nicole Herman.
In 1985, Kirk Cameron debuted as Mike Seaver on Growing Pains. While it’s true that the sitcom is the teen heartthrob’s claim to fame, the remainder of the 80’s was still quite eventful for the young actor. In 1987, Kirk starred in Like Father Like Son, he guest-starred (enthusiastically) on Full House in 1988, and was basically on the cover of like, every teen magazine sold in the U.S.
market. His equally famous sister, Candance Cameron Bure (aka: Dj Tanner), also may have added a bit edge to his fame level.
Kirk Cameron’s acting career died down after the 80’s but for fans of Growing Pains, it was a real treat when he reprised his the role of Mike for the Growing Pains movie in 2000, that was followed up with a sequel in 2004. Today, Kirk is a born-again Christian and has been married to his wife and former Growing Pains co-star, Chelsea Noble, for many years.
Erika Eleniak
Together, they had two biological children and adopted four more!
Erika Eleniak became a Hollywood bombshell once she began playing the role of Shauni McClain on the hit TV series “Baywatch.” She played Shauni from 1989-1992. Also, in the early 90s, she had big roles in “Under Siege” and “The Beverly Hillbillies.” She has continued to land roles in movies, however, she is still heavily remembered for her time lifeguarding in the red one-piece.
She is currently credited with the title role of a movie about Marilyn Monroe that is in pre-production.
Christina Applegate made her first small-screen debut on Days of Our Lives alongside her mother, Nancy Lee Priddy. Then, she quickly rose to superstardom as the dim-witted, fairly provocative Kelly Bundy, alongside Ed O’Neill and Katey Sagal in Married… With Children.
Applegate’s comedic genius would soon be taken into consideration as she transitioned from television to film, with her one of her first silver-screen roles playing a young Grace Kelly.
Since the early 90’s Christina’s film credits include The Vacation, Anchorman, Wild Bill, The Sweetest Thing, View From the Top, Hall Pass, Bad Moms, and Youth in Oregon. Since 2008, Christina has been in an ongoing battle with breast cancer and later that year, underwent a double mastectomy.
Regardless of her health, the veteran actress has remained focused on her career. In 2005, Christina was nominated for a Tony Award and won her first Theatre World Award for her Broadway performance in Sweet Charity.
Madonna released her first studio album in 1982 and almost immediately acquired international fame. The Queen of Pop quickly became notorious for her outlandish outfits and risky behavior but somehow, some way, made it work for her better any other artist could prior to her mainstream debut.
Her 1984 performance at Video Music Awards is one of the most iconic live performances of all time, more specifically, in the world of award ceremonies.
Towards the end of the 80’s, Madonna set her sights on bigger feats. She began acting appeared in classics like A League of Their Own, Body of Evidence, Desperately Seeking Susan, Evita, and Who’s That Girl.
Over the course of her music career, she has sold 300 million albums worldwide and is VH1’s top pick for Most Influential Women in Music. The pop God has been married twice – first, to Sean Penn in 1985 and then, to Guy Ritchie, whom she divorced in 2008, and still co-parents their child, Coco, with.
In 1984, Melanie Griffith got her big break in Body Double, a role that earned her a National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress. In 1988, she starred in Working Girl alongside Sigourney Weaver and Harrison Ford; her performance as Tess McGill resulted in a Golden Globe win and an Academy Award nomination.
During the peak of her career, she attracted a lot of unwanted attention for her two-time marriage to Don Johnson, the father of Melanie’s oldest daughter, 50 Shades actress – Dakota Johnson.
In the 90’s, she maintained steady star status by starring in films like Milk Money, Lolita, Now & Then, Pacific Heights, and Crazy in Alabama. In 1996, she starred in Too Much with Antonio Banderas whom she became married to shortly afterward.
Melanie checked into rehab twice between 2000-2010, receiving treatment for a painkiller addiction with the support of Antonio. The power couple was married for almost 2 decades before they decided to call it quits in 2015.
One of the highest-paid actors in the world, Tom Cruise, got his start on the Hollywood scene when he was just 19 years old. His first film role in Endless Love may have not provided him with the stardom he so craved but when he was offered high-profile roles in Rainman, The Color of Money, Risky Business, and Top Gun, his career soon spawned a life of its own.
At the time of his budding success, he was famously married to Mimi Rodgers before getting together with Nicole Kidman.
Now, Tom has what some would call a “mixed reputation.” His status as a film star is thoroughly cemented with projects like Jerry McGuire, the Mission Impossible franchise, Eyes Wide Shut, Vanilla Sky, Valkyrie, and War of the Worlds.
Recently, his strong advocacy for Scientology has overshadowed his talent as an actor and his divorce from Katie Holmes has called into question the credibility of the Church he allegedly convinced her to join before they wed and had a child together – Suri Cruise.
Demi Moore may have made the risky decision to drop out of high and chase after her dreams but hey, it worked, didn’t it? Demi started out as a soap actress on General Hospital but didn’t gain widespread attention until the release of her first feature film, Blame It On Rio.
Following the romantic comedy, her performance in About Last Night shot her straight to celebrity stardom that would well surpass the 80’s.
Ghost, Striptease, G.I. Jane, her marriage to Bruce Willis – where do we begin when it comes to Demi Moore? The actress with the flawless skin and bangin’ body seems to never age and her talent is just as present as ever.
She’s starred in major hits like Charlie’s Angels ll: Full Throttle, A Few Good Men, Mr. Brooks, Bobby, Wild Oats, LOL, and Five. Since her divorce from Ashton Kutcher in 2013, she has remained happily single and is a “high-profile” doll collector.
Jessica Lange has a lot to be proud of and not just because of her earlier success. In the 80’s, she was nominated for the Best Actress Academy Award four years in a row, winning the Oscar in 1982 for her role in Tootsie.
In 1989, she picked up her second Academy Award for her performance as Ann Talbot in Music Box. Lange’s career on the stage, in television, and most significantly in film, only took off from there.
Jessica Lange has officially won the Triple Crown of Acting: A Tony Award, An Academy Award, and a Golden Globe Award. Starting in 2011, Jessica joined the cast of American Horror Story for its first season and was a centerpiece of the anthology series until she left after the fifth season.
Now, she currently stars as Joan Crawford in Ryan Murphy’s newest FX series, Feud: Bette and Joan.
When Rob Lowe stepped into the spotlight during the 80’s, ladies everywhere drooled with their mouths wide open. The blue-eyed heartthrob made his presence known in the film industry with films like The Outsiders, Oxford Blues and About Last Night.
His first television movie, Thursday’s Child, earned him a Golden Globe nomination. He earned his second Golden Globe nomination for performance in Square Dance, where he played the role of a mentally disabled individual.
Rob has been happily married since 1983 to his wife, Sheryl Berkoff – together, they have two sons.
Rob has also maintained a dominant presence in the movie industry starring in films Wayne’s World, Austin Powers, Thank You For Smoking, View From the Top, Killing Kennedy, The Invention of Lying, Perfect Strangers, and Prosecuting Casey Anthony.
Sigourney Weaver will forever be remembered as Ellen Ripley from the Alien franchise, as well as the unforgettable Ghostbusters. During the 80’s, however, Weaver also performed in an off-Broadway play, Das Lusitania Songspiel, and for her stage role was nominated for a Drama Desk Award.
Then, she was nominated for a Tony Award following her performance in the Broadway production of HurlyBurly
Sigourney is still married to her husband, Jim Simpson, since 1984, and they have one daughter together. Over the span of her career, she has won 2 Golden Globes and a BAFTA and has been nominated for 2 Academy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, a Tony Award, and 3 Satellite Awards.
More recently, she provided voice-over work in Finding Dory and Wall-E and starred in James Cameron’s Avatar alongside Sam Worthington and Zoe Saldana.
Former Brat Pack member, Molly Ringwald, was practically the princess of the 1980’s. She got her start on The Facts of Life but was cut after season 1, which evidently, turned out to be a blessing in disguise. She starred in cult classics like The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, and Sixteen Candles.
In 1983, she was nominated for a Golden Globe for her role in tempest and provided the lead vocals for not one, but two Disney albums! The John Hughes prodigy took a hiatus from acting in the 90’s, eventually returning to the world of tv sitcoms.
Today, Molly is considered one of the biggest teen stars of all time. She made a return to acting in ABC Family’s Secret Life of the American Teenager and currently, stars on the Canadian sitcom, Raising Expectations. The former teen queen is still married to her second husband, Panio Gianopoulos, a Greek-American author.
Together, they have three children. Molly has been writing an advice column for The Guardian since 2014, offering words of wisdom to anyone with questions regarding “love, family, or life in general.”
You may remember Jon Cryer as Molly Ringwald’s best friend (and secret admirer) in Pretty in Pink but the young comedian did so much more worth talking about in the 80’s. In 1984, he had a role in No Small Affair.
played Lex Luthor’s son in Superman IV: The Quest for Peace, and starred as the title character in Morgan Stewart’s Coming Home. In 1989, Cryer was given his own sitcom that was, unfortunately, canceled after its season due to bad reviews.
Jon is currently married to his second wife, Lisa Joyner, and the couple share an adopted daughter together. The 80’s actor has turned into a sitcom king, starring on Two and a Half Men since its inception in 2003 and until the final episode aired in 2015.
For his role of Alan Harper, first starring alongside Charlie Sheen, then Ashton Kutcher, he was nominated for multiple Primetime Emmy’s.
In the 80’s, Carrie Fisher was either described as General Organa or Princess Leia – Regardless, she’s royalty. The Star Wars actress had her hands full with the George Lucas sci-fi trilogy until 1985, then she went on to star in the Woody Allen flick Hannah and Her Sisters, followed by The Blues Brothers.
Carrie’s acting career was stifled by her own personal issues. She struggled on and off with addiction and was eventually diagnosed with bipolar disorder, the reason for her extreme self-medicating.
Sadly, Carrie Fisher passed away in 2016 just one day before her mother, Debbie Reynolds, died. Carrie’s memory is preserved not just because of her epic Star Wars role, but because of her talent as a writer. She penned an autobiography entitled Postcards from the Edge, that details her relationship with drugs, men, and her mother.
Before she passed away she completed filming for the new Stars Wars installment, The Last Jedi, and the movie will be released posthumously. Carrie and Debbie are both survived by Billie Lourd – daughter of Carrie, granddaughter of Debbie, and rising star.
Alyssa Milano began her career as a stage performer in the Broadway production of Annie. She toured with the show for a year and a half, along with the supervision of her mom, and then began auditioning for television. It was in 1984 that she landed her first breakthrough, on-screen role as Tony Danza’s daughter on Who’s The Boss?
By the end of the 80’s, Alyssa had starred in major motion flicks like Old Enough, Commando, and The Canterville Ghost. The character of Ariel, in Disney’s The Little Mermaid, was based off of the body and personality type of Milano.
The 90’s boosted Milano’s career more than the young actress could have ever imagined. She starred in a plethora of hit tv shows like Melrose Place, Charmed, Mistresses, Spin City, My Name is Earl, and Breaking In.
She’s cultivated an impressive list of film credits that include Hall Pass, New Year’s Eve, Public Enemy, Deadly Sins, Fear, and Hugo Pool. Alyssa is married to her second husband, David Bugliari, and they have two children together.
Michael J Fox first debuted himself to the world as Alex P. Keaton in Family Ties, a classic sitcom that ran from 1982 until 1989. In 1985, he transformed his public image with an iconic role as Marty McFly in the Back to the Future trilogy.
He also starred classics like Teen Wolf, The Secret of My Success, Casualties of War, Light of Day, ad Bright Lights, Big City. Fox’s career departed from the 80’s with a bang and during the 90’s, he went on to appear in Mars Attacks!, Life With Mikey, The American President, and Stuart Little.
Today, Michael J Fox is balancing his career with his battle against Parkinson’s Disease. First diagnosed when he was 29 years old, Fox has become a research advocate for finding a cure (or effective treatment) and is a spokesperson educating communities on disease awareness.
In 2000, he was given his own star on Canada’s Walk of Fame and the Back to the Future star also starred in his own sitcom, The Michael J Fox Show, from 2013 until 2014. On the bright side, Michael and Tracy Pollan are still happily married and support each other during this difficult health obstacle.
Glenn Close became a three-time Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress nominee throughout the 80’s for roles in some of her most important films – The World According to Garp, The Big Chill, and The Natural. For her work as a versatile, flexible actress, she has been rewarded with three Emmy’s and three Tony’s.
If Glenn Close wins an Academy Award before her retirement from acting, she’ll be amongst the ranks of other Triple-Crown winners, like Jessica Lange, for example.
In 2003, Glenn won a Golen Globe for Lion in the Winter and was handed the coveted role of Disney villain, Cruella De Ville, in the live-action production of 101 Dalmations. From 2007 until 2012, Close played the role of Patty Hewes on the FX original series, Damages.
The screen (and stage) legend has been married three times since the 70’s; her last divorce was from David Shaw in 2015, after 9 years of marriage.
Before the 80’s, Bill Murray was cast as a comedy genius on Saturday Night Live and won an Emmy Award for his participation in the long-running comedy sketch show.
In the following decade, he was cast in roles that would cement his career as a laugh artist in the entertainment industry, starring in films like Tootsie, Ghostbusters, Caddyshack, Scrooged, and Stripes.
In the 90’s, Bill Murray put out classics like Groundhog Day, Rushmore, What About Bob?, Space Jam, and The Man Who Knew Too Little. Today, Bill Murray is commonly referenced in modern films and is often cast in cameo roles that pay tribute to earlier projects in his career or as a nostalgia fix. Despite his millennial success with movies like Lost In Translation, The Monuments Men, The Jungle Book, and The Life Aquatic, Murray is still criticized for his personal life.
In 1994, his first wife, Margaret Kelly, divorced him after news of his extra-marital affair broke. Murray then married his mistress, Jennifer Butler, and they had four children together. They divorced in 2008.
Elle Macpherson was nicknamed “The Body” during the 80’s, after appearing 5 Sports Illustrated covers. Her modeling career began as a means to financially support her law education but as it turns out, the fashion industry had a plan for her.
Soon enough, Elle began modeling for the biggest names in the business – Ralph Lauren, Dior, and Calvin Klein were just a few of the high-profile designers who made the young model into a superstar, international model.
At the age of 52, Elle Macpherson is still as stunning as ever. As a retired model, Elle became an entreprenuer and used her experience in the fashion industry to create and design her own lingerie line, the self-titled Elle Macpherson Intimates. She also dabbles with skin care and previously, produced a product line.
Elle is married to her billionaire husband, Jeffrey Soffer, and they have 5 children together. They currently reside in Miami, Florida.
The 80’s was the golden decade for blonde bombshell, Kim Basinger. She made the move from New York to Los Angeles and abandoned her modeling career to become an actress at the end of the 70’s.
She found her claim to fame with a role in Hard Country, that led to her 1983 debut as Bond Girl Domino Petachi, in the 007 film Never Say Never Again, alongside Sean Connery.
In 1997, Kim won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance as Lynn Bracken in L.A Confidential. Since the early 2000’s, she has appeared in a number of other film credits including I Dreamed of Africa, 8 Mile, and Cellular.
Her most recent film role is in the screen adaption of E.L. James’ Fifty Shades Darker, as Elena Lincoln, the former dominant of Christian Grey.
Anjelica Huston began her career with a serious bang, picking up an Oscar for her role in 1985’s Prizzi’s Honor. Throughout the 80’s, she would receive three more Academy Award nominations for Enemies, A Love Story, and The Grifters.
Her immediate success wasn;t surprising to the general public or the Hollywood community – Huston descends from an entertainment dynasty and is the daughter of film director John Huston, and the granddaughter of actor, Walter Huston.
One of her most famous roles in the 90’s was as The Addams Family matriarch, Morticia Addams. Huston took home two Golden Globes for the first Addams Family film and her role reprisal in the sequel, Addams Family Values.
The actress’ preferred director was always Wes Anderson and in favor of his work, she starred in several of his films including The Royal Tenenbaums and The Life Aquatic. Today, Anjelica Huston is primarily focused on her writing and has released two autobiographies.
Barbara Hershey began acting at the age of 17 years old and landed her first big break in Martin Scorsese’s The Last of Temptation of Christ; for the role of Mary Magdalene, she was nominated for the Best Supporting Actress Golden Globe Award. Hershey also appeared in Beaches, A World Apart, Shy People, and A Killing In A Small Town.
The success she cultivated after 1988 made her one of “America’s Finest Actresses In History” according to the Chicago Tribune.
For 1990’s A Killing in a Small Town, Hershey won an Emmy, as well as a Golden Globe. Suddenly, the actress’ career began to suffer when she a turbulent, 6-year relationship with actor David Carradine, who struggled with severe mental health issues. Hershey separated from Carradine after they had a child together and soon enough, she was able to focus on her career again.
She made a grand comeback in Black Swan, starring alongside Natalie Portman and Mika Kunis. Hershey can also be seen on the tv show, Damien.
Daryl Hannah made her acting in the 1978 horror film The Fury but didn’t make a name for herself in Hollywood until she starred alongside Tom Hanks in Splash. As a true horror icon, Hannah worked within the scary genre for the remainder of the 80’s, starring in films like The Final Terror, Attack of the 50 Foot Woman, and Blade Runner.
She also appeared in Steel Magnolias with Julia Roberts, Sally Field, Dolly Parton, and Shirley MacLaine.
Daryl Hannah’s most recent and modern major role was in the Kill Bill films, as Elle Driver, cast and directed by Quentin Tarantino. She’s been in a relationship with singer Neil Young since 2014.
In 2015, she appeared in Sense8, a tv show created by the Matrix producers, the Wachowski brothers.
Before joining the cast of Back to the Future, Lea Thompson made her screen debut in Jaws: 3D. However, it was her role as Lorraine Baines McFly in the time travel comedy that made her a recognized actress.
After Back to the Future, and during the remainder of the trilogy, Lea starred in films such as All The Right Moves, The Wild Life, Some Kind of Wonderful, and The Wizard of Loneliness. For her role in Nightbreaker, she earned a CableACE Award nomination.
In 1989, Lea Thompson married film director Howard Deutch, after the pair met on the set of Some Kind of Wonderful; they are still happily married today. Lea’s career took a turn from film and into television roles, where she had a major, supporting role on the ABC Family show, Switched at Birth.
She also competed in season 19 of Dancing with the Stars and finished in 6th place.
Once Kelly LeBrock’s Pantene commercial hit the airwaves, she was instantly recognized by everyone and anyone that shampooed their hair in America. Her famous slogan, “Don’t hate me because I’m beautiful.” just so happened to draw attention to the fact that Kelly was a total bombshell.
Her modeling career soon preceded her acting career and she was cast in films like The Woman in Red (alongside Gene Wilder) and 1985’s Weird Science. Her marriage and imminent divorce to Steven Seagal also grabbed headlines for a brief period of time.
In the 90’s, Kelly appeared in films like Betrayal of the Dove, Hard to Kill, and Wrongfully Accused. Afterward, the ex-Mrs. Segal disappeared from the limelight until she re-emerged in 2005, appearing on VH1’s Celebrity Fit Club.
Kelly has also had small cameos in The Sorcerer’s Apprentice and the Zerophilia. Otherwise, Kelly is keeping a low-profile these days and as of 2011, is the celebrity spokesperson for “Club Carson” – a foundation dedicated to terminally ill children.
The 80s were the beginning of Sean Penn’s film career. His first film was 1981’s Tap, followed by his breakout role in Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
Penn packed the 80s with hit after hit, thrusting him into the spotlight as a leading actor.
These days, Penn is very involved with environmental and aid relief charities, especially the Hurricane Katrina and Haiti disaster relief.
Penn was married twice in his life, in the 80s to pop diva Madonna and from 1996 to 2010 he was married to actress Robin Wright, whom he has two children with.
The 80s were the decade Robin Wright flourished. Her breakout role as Buttercup in the film The Princess Bride was all Wright needed to get recognized in Hollywood.
Her only role before The Princess Bride was in Hollywood Vice Squad in 1986, which was Robin’s first ever film role.
Since her early days, Wright has come a long way in terms of her acting and her stellar reputation in the acting community. Wright has transitioned into television roles in addition to her films.
She currently stars in House of Cards.
SJP’s first film was in 1983 in Somewhere Tomorrow. She went on to play Rusty in Footloose, Lisa in Firstborn, and Janey in Girls Just Want to Have Fun.
The 80s were rocked by this girl!
No longer a girl but an even bigger star, SJP is now known as her starring role in the television show Sex and the City. Playing Carrie opened doors for SJP and had her praised non-stop for her acting chops and style.
SJP is married to fellow actor Matthew Broderick whom she has three children with.
Richard got his start in the acting game in the 70s but his roles in the 80s were what put him on the map.
During that decade, Gere played leading roles in films like American Gigolo, An Officer and a Gentleman, and The Cotton Club.
Now, Gere is a Hollywood heavyweight who can pick and choose any given role.
His biggest roles in recent years were in Night in Rodanthe, Amelia, The Second Best Exotic Marigold Hotel, Chicago and Shall We Dance?
1981 was the year Dana got her first film gig.
She got her start in television beforehand but it was her role in Almost You, Where the River Runs Black and Patty Hearst that set her apart from other actresses.
Today, Delany has balanced a career in both film and television, choosing to do more television roles than film.
Her most notable television roles were in Desperate Housewives, Castle, Body of Proof and her current regular role on Hand of God.
It was hard not to notice Sean Young from the get-go.
She is best known for her role in the 1982 film Blade Runner, as well as Dune, No Way Out and Wall Street; all of which were in the 80s.
Since then, Young has been busy stricktly in the film genre.
Young’s most recent projects were The Man Who Came Back, Parasomnia, Star Trek: Renegades, and Done Tomahawk.
Let’s be honest, we all fell in love with Olivia when she played the role of Sandy in Grease. Yes, the film technically came out in 1978 but her fame spilled well into the 80s and then some.
In the 80s she starred in films like Two of a Kind and Xanadu.
In recent years, Olivia has been a host and guest judge on television competition shows like Dancing with the Stars and RuPaul’s Drag Race.
She has also been on television shows like Glee, and 1 a Minute which was a documentary she was in.
Harrison Ford took Hollywood by storm from the 1970s due to his role as Han Solo in the Star Wars films.
In the 80s, though, Ford got a second wind with yet another incredible role – Indiana Jones.
Ford is now married to actress Calista Flockhart and has a son with her whom they adopted. Ford has four more children from his previous marriages to Mary Marquardt and Melissa Mathison.
Ford’s most recent films were the latest Star Wars film and Cowboys & Aliens.
Linda’s career has been relatively short and sweet.
She started in the 80s with films like The Moderns, Wildfire, and The Neon Empire.
Her most famous roles came later. Linda starred as the female lead in both Dogma and Men in Black.
Her latest role was in the 2009 film Once More with Feeling.
Michelle starred in the 1982 sequel to Grease – Grease 2. The film was a flop but it got Michelle noticed.
After Grease she landed her breakout role as Elvira in Scarface. She went on to act in The Witches of Eastwick, Dangerous Liaisons, and The Fabulous Baker Boys.
Pfeiffer is a bonafide queen in Hollywood. Her film and television credits run into one very long list.
Her recent projects include The Family, Dark Shadowes, and People Like Us.
Diana Spencer married Prince Charles in 1981 and was thus thrust into the spotlight for better or worse. Princess Diana of Wales was loved by all those who met her and millions who looked up to her.
The princess bore two sons with Prince Charles before divorcing him in 1996.
In a stroke of tragedy, Diana passed away in 1997 due to injuries sustained from an automobile accident.
Diana will always be remembered as a style icon, philanthropist, and incredible human being.
The 80s were very good to Chevy Chase. The National Lampoon films put him on the map and in front of American families.
Chase continued to win over audiences with filmslike Deal of the Century and Spies Like Us.
Today, Chase is still as funny as can be and acting his talent out.
He has been in both television and film, in shows like Community and Hot in Cleveland, and in films like Jack and the Beanstalk, Before I sleep, Vacation and Dog Years.
Jeff Bridges made an impression on us with his role in the film Against All Odds.
He kept busy the rest of the 80s with films like Starman, Jagged Edge, The Morning After, and The Fabulous Baker Boys.
Jeff is now one of the biggest names in Hollywood with an Academy Award to his name.
He has been in hit films like K-Pax, Iron Man, Tron: Legacy, R.I.P.D., Seventh Son and The Giver.
Vanna White hs been the eye candy and letter-turner on Wheel of Fortune since 1982! Honestly, without her the show wouldn’t be the same.
Her ease in front of the camera makes her a natural television personality.
Today, Vanna is STILL turning those letters on one of the longest-running television game shows around. Amazingly, Vanna is in her 60s and looks more like she’s in her late 30s at best!
She is divorced and has two children.
Debbie Harry was the frontwoman of the 80’s band sensation, Blondie. Over the course of her career, she appeared in over 60 films and had numerous worldwide, #1 hits with her new wave project.
Blondie’s most famous hits include Rapture, Heart of Glass, and Call Me. In 1999, she was listed as VH1’s 12th greatest woman of rock and roll.
Today, the reigning Queen of 80’s rock is 71 years old and still performing. In 2015, she confirmed and performed a residency at Café Carlyle in New York.
Inspired by Elton John, Debbie Harry has dedicated a large fraction of her free time to HIV/AIDS philanthropy efforts. She also invests in endometriosis and cancer charities.
Ally Sheedy was an essential member of the 1980’s Brat Pack, alongside Molly Ringwald and Emilio Estevez. She starred in several of the decade’s hits, such as St.
Elmo’s Fire, The Breakfast Club, Wargames, and Short Circuit. In 1998, Sheedy won an Independent Spirit Award for her performance in High Art.
Ally Sheedy joined the cast of Psych in 2009, playing Mr. Yang, a role she would continue to reprise into the 7th season of the show.
One year prior, the former stage and film actress announced her divorce from David Lansbury, whom she had been married to since 1992. Together, the estranged couple have one daughter.
In the 80’s, Heather Locklear rose to fame on TJ Hooker as Officer Stacy Sheridan. She also had a high-profile relationship with Tommy Lee, the drummer of Motley Crue; the couple was married from 1986 until 1993.
In the early 90’s, Heather was offered the role that she would become the most remembered for – Amanda Woodward on Melrose Place. In 1994, she married Bon Jovi guitarist Richie Sambora.
Heather achieved moderate success throughout the 2000’s, starring in projects like Spin City, Dynasty, and The Perfect Man alongside Hilary Duff. Recently, she joined the cast of Hot in Cleveland and Franklin & Bash.
She divorced Sambora in 2007 and has checked into rehab 5 times since 2008. In 2011, she was briefly engaged to her former Melrose Place co-star, Jack Wagner.
Jennifer Grey was a teen queen in the 80’s, starring in film classics like Dirty Dancing, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, The Cotton Club, and Red Dawn (her first film with Swayze). For her role as Baby in Dirty Dancing, Grey was nominated for a Golden Globe Award.
In 1987, her relationship with Matthew Broderick went public after the couple got into a car accident while vacationing in Ireland.
Today, Jennifer Grey is married with 1 child and the family resides in Venice, California. Following the car accident with Matthew Broderick, which unintentionally killed 2 people, Grey decided to take a hiatus from acting to recover from her guilt and trauma.
She has returned the industry since, though, appearing in shows like John from Cincinnati, Strictly Come Dancing, and she was a contestant on Dancing with the Stars.
Janet Jackson’s singing career took off in the 80’s, after spending nearly a decade on sitcom television classics. With the release of her third studio album, Control, she began to taste a portion of her older brother’s success. In 1991, Janet became one the first 2 multi-million contract signers at Virgin Records.
The dancer turned pop icon was married to James DeBarge from ’84 until ’85 and then to René Elizondo, Jr. from ’91 until 2000.
From 2000 until 2010, Janet focused on her career and consistently flourished on the record charts. She also starred alongside Eddie Murphy in the Nutty Professor 2, performed at the Superbowl Halftime Show in 2004 (with that, uh, wardrobe malfunction), and in 2015, she launched her own record label – Rhythm Nation.
In 2017, Janet gave birth to a son with her husband, Wissam Al Mana, and one month later they announced their plans to divorce.
Mia Sara was everyone’s dream girl during the 80’s thanks to Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. She also starred in Timecop and Legend but the character of Sloan Peterson is still her most famous performance to date.
For Timecop, Sara was given the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Currently, Mia Sara is married to Brian Henson (the son of Muppets creator, Jim Henson). Their daughter, Amelia Jane, was born in 2005 and Mia has a child from her first marriage to Jason Connery, Sean Connery’s son.
The last role Mia Sara played before becoming a family woman was in 2002’s Bird of Prey as Dr. Harleen Quinzel.
Phoebe Cates made an impression on the entertainment industry in the 80’s after starring Fast Times At Ridgemont High, followed by Gremlins. In the 90’s, she starred in Drop Dead Fred and the popular tv mini-series, Lace.
Then, Phoebe ventured to the stage and made her Off-Broadway debut in Rich Relations. While auditioning for The Big Chill in 1983, she met and began dating Kevin Kline, despite their 16 year age difference.
Phoebe has since retired from acting and lives in New York City. Pheobe and Kevin were married in 1989 and they have 2 children together, a son and a daughter.
Phoebe currently owns and operates a boutique on Madison Avenue, called Blue Tree.
In the late 80’s, Tiffany soared to the top of the charts with her first hit single (and cover), I Think We’re Alone Now. Following this initial release, Tiffany continued to gain popularity with Could’ve Been and a Beatles song cover of I Saw Him Standing There.
Tiffany released 2 more albums during the 90’s but neither could compare to the success of her debut project.
In the past 15 years, Tiffany made appearances on reality shows like Celebrity Fit Club, Rachael vs. Guy: Celebrity Cook-Off, and Hulk Hogan’s Celebrity Championship Wrestling.
In 2002, the singer posed for the cover of Playboy Magazine and the issue became one of the highest-selling of all time. She has been married to British businessman Ben George since 2004.
Now, Pat Benatar is a 4-time Grammy Award winner, has 2 certified multi-platinum albums, 5 certified platinum albums, and 3 certified gold albums. She as the second music artist to have performed live on MTV, at the inception of the channel, singing You Better Run.
Pat lives in Los Angeles with her husband and their 2 daughters.
Cyndi Lauper was the first female music artist to release a debut album and instantly reach four #1 singles. Girls Just Want to Have Fun, Time After Time, She Bop, and All Through the Night topped the Billboard 100 and in 1985, Lauper was awarded a Grammy for Best New Artist.
Since 1989, the flamboyant pop star has released 9 follow-up albums.
Today, Cyndi Lauper is an LGBT activist and in 2013, won a Tony Award for Best Original Score; she single-handedly composed the score for the Broadway musical, Kinky Boots.
She has been inducted into the Songwriters Hall of Fame, the Rock N Roll Hall of Fame, and was given a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
The 80s were filled with Lethal Weapon for Gibson.
The native Australian got his big break in Hollywood thanks to his roles in Mad Max 2, The Year of Living Dangerously, The River, Lethal EWeapon and Tequila Sunrise.
Flash forward to today, Gibson has been through quite a bit of controversy due to his treatment of his former partner Oksana, as well as his past anti-Semitic rant.
Despite his unfortunate words, Gibson is a successful filmmaker and director who has made quite an impression on Hollywood.
Darling Johnny got his acting start in 1984 in A Nightmare of Elm Street. He then moved on to Private Resort, Platoon, and 21 Jump Street.
His rugged good looks and acting chops were enough to get him noticed.
The 80s were only the beginning for Depp. Today, he is one of the most well-known actors in the world.
The films that put him on the maps were Edward Scissorhands, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, Sleepy Hollow, and, of course, the Pirates of the Caribbean film franchise.
Ryder also struck stardom in the 80s when she got starred in the film Beetlejuice back in 1988.
Ryder then went on to rule the 80s with films like 1969, and Heathers.
Winona went on to have an incredible career, with a small detour in the early 2000s due to theft allegations against her.
She is known for her role in films like Little Women, Girl, Interrupted, The Crucible, and most recently as Joyce Byers in the Netflix hit show Stranger Things.
Everyone remembers Ralph as The Karate Kid. He shot to fame thanks to the 1984 film, which made the film and him a Hollywood icon.
Ralph also appeared in the film’s sequels, as well as films like The Outsiders, Distant Thunder and Teachers during the 80s.
Since the 80s, Ralph has been in both television and film roles.
His most notable roles since then were in shows like Ugly Betty, The Whole Truth, Happily Divorced, How I Met Your Mother, and Psych.
Robert definitely has the 80s to thank for his career origins.
He was on Saturday Night Live from 1985 until 1986 and starred in films like Back to School, America, 1969, and True Believer.
These days, Robert is known for playing the role of Tony Stark in the Iron Man and Avenger films.
He was also a part of filmd like Zodiac, Kiss Kiss Bang Bang, Charlie Bartlett, Tropic Thunder and Sherlock Holmes.
John began acting in 1983 when he played the role of Roscoe in the film Class. His second film and the one that really got his name out there was none other than Sixteen Candles in 1984.
After that, he went on to star in The Sure Thing, Stand by Me and Hot Pursuit.
John has had a stable and noteworthy career as an actor.
He has been in film such as 2012, Grace is Gone, Must Love Dogs, The Raven, Serendipity, and most recently, Cell and Arsenal.
Charlie Sheen comes from an acting family but has always been the bad boy of them all. He got his start in film in the 70s but it wasn’t until the 80s that he shot to fame.
Sheen’s role in Red Dawn got him noticed, while his continued work in films like The Boy Next Door, Lucas, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Major League were the continued hits.
Sheen went from glory to strange with weird behavior on and offsets, as well as two messy divorces, one of them from longtime wife Denise Richards.
Charlie was on the show Two and a Half Men for years before being written off due to conflicts with the writers, as well as shows like Anger Management and #Cybriety.
It all started with Diane’s role in Touched by Love in 1980. It then continued with her roles in Six Pack, The Outsiders, Streets of Fire, The Cotton Club, and Priceless Beauty.
The 80s were good to Diane but not as good as the rest of her career.
Diane has been in film after film throughout her career, not stopping for very long.
She was in hit fillms like The Perfect Storm, The Glass House, Under the Tuscan Sun, Must Love Dogs, Nights in Rodanthe, Secretariat, and Man of Steel.
Tom Hanks is a constant in Hollywood. His breakout roles in the 80’s can pretty much be chopped up to 1984’s Splash and 1988’s Big, both memorable films that would set the remaining course of his career.
When Hanks was cast on the ABC sitcom Bosom Buddies, it was there that he met his future wife, Rita Wilson. Some of his most notable 80’s film credits include Turner & Hooch, The Money Pit, The ‘Burbs, and Punchline.
Tom Hanks is still kicking cinema in the bottom, these days. Throughout his career, he’s cultivated a filmography that most actors could only dream of – Forrest Gump, Sleepless in Seattle, The Green Mile, Cast Away, Saving Private Ryan, and The Toy Story franchise are just the tip of the iceberg when referencing his long, deserving success.
For his role in Philadelphia, he earned the Best Actor Oscar and a Golden Globe Award. Tom and Rita have remained married since the 80’s and they’re currently one of Hollywood’s longest marriages.
Jami’s acting career got started through her television days. She was on shows like Square Pegs, Diff’rent Strokes, The Facts of Life, and Family Ties, before graduating to films.
She was in hit 80s films like Sixteen Candles, Crossroads, and The Lost Boys.
Today, Jami is one of the wealthiest women in the world as her and her husband were a part of a hedge fund group sale that earned them billions. In terms of her acting career, she does what she wants to do since money is no object.
She has been in shows like This Is Us, The Neighbors, Entourage, and Still standing.
Helen spent her teen years busy on various television shows and films. In the 80s, Hunt graced the television screens in shows like The Facts of Life, Knots Landing, Mork & Mindy, It Takes Two, and St.
Elsewhere. Her career was just beginning to gain momentum.
Today, Helen is a Hollywood heavyweight who works on projects that make her happy.
Over the years, Hunt has been in productions like Mad About You, Cast Away, Pay It Forward, What Women Want, Soul Surfer, and Shots Fired, to name a few.
For Justine, the 80s were filled with television sitcoms. She was on shows like Tale from the Darkside and her longtime role on Family Ties.
Bateman was the epitome of the girl next door character and was beloved by audiences everywhere.
Today, Justine has continued to maintain her on-screen presence with her roles in Man in Trees, Psych, Californication, Private Practice, Criminal Minds, Easy to Assemble, Desperate Housewives, and Modern Family.
Keifer is the son of legendary actor Donald Sutherland and the brother of other actors as well. It’s safe to say there is something in the gene pool here.
Keifer’s big break came when he starred in Stand by Me and The Lost Boys. His bad boy attitude got him noticed and wanted by other Hollywood producers.
Today, Keifer is as big a name in Hollywood as his father. He has won many awards for his role on the show 24, as well as starred in shows like The Confession, Touch, and Designated Survivor.
His film roles include Pompeii, Zoolander 2, and Forsaken, to name a couple.
Jamie shot to stardom with her role as Laurie in the Halloween film franchise. It started out in 1978 and worked its way all the way until today.
Her screaming role in the slasher film was her ticket into the Hollywood big leagues.
Today, Jamie is still known for her screaming role but has been in many projects throughout her long and successful career.
Curtis has been in productions like True Lies, My Girl, Freaky Friday, NCIS, Veronica Mars, New Girl, and most recently as Dean Cathy Munsch on the hit show Scream Queens.
Val was introduced to America and the world with his role as Iceman in the film Top Gun.
There was something about the strong jaw and blonde hair that made people stop and take notice of Kilmer.
Kilmer was in many other films in the 90s, including Batman Forever, Heat, The Prince of Egypt, and At First Sight. He has been in plenty of other productions since but in recent years there has been speculation as to his health, which was confirmed by Kilmer just recently.
The actor is struggling with throat cancer.
James was a part of the cast of the hit 80s sitcom The Family Tree.
He also spent the 80s starring alongside other 80s stars in films like Pretty in Pink, Mannequin, Wall Street, and The Rachel Papers.
James’ acting career has gone through many evolutions during its 30 years. In recent years, Spader has been starring in shows like The Practice, Boston Legal, The Office, and The Blacklist.
His films include Avengers: Age of Ultron, Lincoln, and Shorts.
Debbie is a singer and an actress, in addition to her other credits. In the 80s, Debbie was known as the singing girl with the adorable black hat.
She performed on shows like Beverly Hills 90210, Street Justice, and appeared as an actress on the 1984 film Ghostbusters.
Since her 80s hit years, Debbie has been in many more television movies and television shows. Her latest acting credits include Summer of Dreams, The Music in Me, Acting Dead, Mega Shark vs.
Mecha Shark and Rock of Ages.
Young Joan got her start in the 1980 film My Bodyguard, which was her first film.
Since her first film, Joan has been in other hits like Sixteen candles, Grandview USA, Working Girl, and Married to the Mob.
Today, Joan is beloved by fans and critics alike.
She has been in films like Addams Family Values (remember Debbie, Fester’s crazy wife?), Nine Months, Where the Heart Is, Runaway Bride, Raising Helen, and television shows like What about Joan, Peep and the Big Wide World, and most recently A Series of Unfortunate Events.
Elisabeth Shue rose to fame when she appeared in the 1984 film, The Karate Kid.
Her next big role was when she starred alongside Tom Cruise in Cocktail, just four years after her film debut, where she won over everyone’s hearts.
Throughout her career, Shue has been nominated to several awards, including an Academy Award. The 53 year old’s latest work includes Battle of the Sexes where she plays alongside Steve Carell and Emma Stone.
She has been married since 1995 to Davis Guggenheim and the couple has three children.
In the 80s, Nina was one of the most well-known adult film stars around.
She acted in more than 1,028 adult films and directed 18 of them.
These days, Hartley is still a dabbler in the adult films but added educator, author and feminist to her titles.
Her goal is to educate women on the possibilities they have in terms of their own power and abilities.
Connie Sellecca is an American actress who started her on stage career as a model. She made her movie debut in 1978 when she landed the role of Jennie Haniver in the TV movie “The Bermuda Depths”.
Sellecca’s big break was actually in the 80s after starring in The Greatest American Hero, Flying High and Hotel.
In 1987, Sellecca, who is 65 today, was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for the role of Christine Francis in the TV series “Hotel”. It was probably one of her more notable achievements.
She continues working in the TV and movie industry until today.
Traci Lords was extremely controversial during the 80s. She was an American actress, model, writer, producer, and director. During the 1980s, she was one of the most sought-after pornographic actresses in the industry. She achieved Hollywood notoriety when it was discovered by law enforcement that she was underage when she posed nude and appeared in numerous X-rated films.
The resulting withdrawal from her distributors and rental stores costed the industry millions of dollars and it became the biggest scandal to affect the adult film industry. She then studied method acting after departing from the pornography industry at eighteen. She appeared in Roger Corman's sci-fi classic Not of This Earth, Cry-Baby, MacGyver, and many other films. She pursued music in addition to her film career, and her song, "Love Never Dies", was featured on the soundtrack to the film Pet Sematary Two.
These days, Lords has now dedicated her talents to the fashion industry. She created a collaboration with Pinup Girl Clothing, inspired by the character of Wanda Woodward, her character in Cry-Baby.
She has also confirmed that she will be directing her first feature film entitled The Unquiet Grave. In July 2017, Helmut Lang's fashion campaign for the Fall 2017 collection featuring Lords was unveiled.