'80s A-Listers: Where Are They Now?
'80s A-Listers: Where Are They Now?
From leg warmers to Jordache jeans, the ‘80s were a decade that left its mark on fashion, entertainment and pop culture. Aside from the oh-so-memorable style, the decade also introduced us to classics like The Breakfast Club, Back to the Future and Dirty Dancing. We were glued to our TVs watching Luke and Laura get married on General Hospital, singing along to Video Killed The Radio Star when it premiered as the first music video on MTV, and supporting to huge charity concerts in the original Live Aid. Whether you were a Material Girl, Jessie's Girl, or a Super Freak, there's no question that some of the biggest hits from the '80s have lasting power (even if they're mainly as karaoke classics).
The '80s catapulted some of our current favorite stars from unknown status to household names. These A-list stars topped the Billboard charts, racked up awards and graced the screen. Some child stars of the '80s have enjoyed fruitful acting careers, while others struggled with fame as they grew up in the Hollywood spotlight. Then there are those popular '80s actors and actresses who made the move behind the camera, taking on successful roles directing and producing. Thanks to the popularity of reality TV shows, some of our favorite stars are making their mark again on Dancing with the Stars, Celebrity Apprentice and Worst Cooks in America.
While you still see and hear from some of these Hollywood sweethearts today, others may have fallen off your radar. If you're missing some of your favorite stars, a reboot of your favorite shows might not be far behind. Here’s a glimpse at what some of the most popular ‘80s celebs are working on today.
THEN: JON BON JOVI
The front man for the rock band Bon Jovi gained huge success with No.1 singles like "You Give Love a Bad Name" and "Livin’ on a Prayer." After forming in 1983, the band put out hit record after hit record and toured through much of the decade. Although other bandmates have come and gone, Jon Bon Jovi cemented himself as an iconic lead for the group.
NOW: JON BON JOVI
The band continued putting out hit records and having successful tours in the ‘90s and today. Jon Bon Jovi branched out to record a hit collaboration with Jennifer Nettles in 2007, earning a Grammy for "Who Says You Can’t Go Home." Aside from singing, the singer is very involved in philanthropic work through the Jon Bon Jovi Soul Foundation. He’s a New Jersey boy through and through, supporting his home state by opening JBJ Soul Kitchen, where customers in need can eat for free.
THEN: ALYSSA MILANO
Although she’s best known as Samantha Micelli in Who’s the Boss?, Alyssa Milano actually started her career as a child star at age 7 when she was on tour in Annie. But her role as Tony Danza’s daughter made her a star—a role for which she won three Kids’ Choice Awards.
NOW: ALYSSA MILANO
Milano continued to act in notable roles on Melrose Place, Charmed, and My Name is Earl. Although she is not acting as much today, she has branched out into other endeavors. A huge Los Angeles Dodgers fan, Milano launched a clothing line in 2007 of team apparel for female baseball fans. She’s been a vocal activist for various causes, most notably regarded in her role starting the #MeToo conversation.
THEN: MADONNA
She’s referred to as the Queen of Pop, with her career taking off in 1982 with the hits Lucky Star, Borderline, and Like a Virgin. Madonna’s style made her a true icon in the ‘80s as she pushed the envelope with her sexual expression and powerful message.
NOW: MADONNA
Even in her sixties, Madonna is showing no signs of slowing down. She released Madame X, her 14th studio album in 2019. She’s certified as the best-selling female music artist of all time by Guinness World Records. Madonna also held the title role in Evita, a performance that earned her a Golden Globe. She’s also the mother to six children.
THEN: MICHAEL SCHOEFFLING
One of the original ‘80s heartthrobs, Michael Schoeffling is best known for being Jake Ryan, Samantha Baker’s high school crush in Sixteen Candles. He started his career in the mid-80s as a model before moving into acting. He enjoyed a few other acting roles, starring alongside Winona Ryder in Mermaids and Robert Duvall in Let’s Get Harry.
NOW: MICHAEL SCHOEFFLING
The actor retired from acting in 1991 and moved to Pennsylvania, where he opened a woodworking shop. He has two children with his wife, Valerie Robinson. While he’s stayed off the grid, his daughter is a professional model in New York.
THEN: MOLLY RINGWALD
The ’80 sweetheart is notably one of the biggest stars of the decade, starring in the Blockbuster hits Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, and Pretty in Pink. Although she was first noticed in a Los Angeles production of Annie in 1978, she catapulted to stardom as a teen icon as the star of the John Hughes films.
NOW: MOLLY RINGWALD
Ringwald moved to France in the mid-1990s before returning back to the U.S. every now and then for a few roles. She also experienced some success in theater, headlining as Sally Bowles in Broadway’s revival of Cabaret in December 2001. Ringwald also released a jazz album in 2013, following in her father’s footsteps as a jazz musician. Today, she has a recurring role on the CW series Riverdale.
THEN: MATTHEW BRODERICK
Matthew Broderick’s first notable success was the 1983 hit film WarGames. He shot to stardom three years later as the title character in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. It’s one of his best-known roles and still holds popularity today. He rounded out the rest of the decade with roles in Project X and Glory.
NOW: MATTHEW BRODERICK
Starting in the ‘90s, Broderick has enjoyed success on Broadway, winning a Tony Award for his performance in How to Succeed in Business Without Really Trying. He also had several roles alongside Nathan Lane, first in the stage version of The Producers in 2001, then later in the 2005 film adaptation. The same year, the two reunited in The Odd Couple on Broadway. Broderick is set to star alongside his wife, Sarah Jessica Parker, in the Broadway revival of Plaza Suite.
THEN: ANNIE LENNOX
Although the singer was successful in the late 1970s, her star took off in the 1980s when she formed the synthpop duo The Eurythmics. The group’s hit Sweet Dreams hit No. 1 in the U.S. She became an icon for her unmistakable voice and her androgynous style.
NOW: ANNIE LENNOX
Lennox went out on her own in 1992 with a few hit singles, like "Walking on Broken Glass." She released her sixth solo album in 2014. Lennox has been an outspoken advocate for LGBTQ rights, as well an HIV/AIDS activist.
THEN: JOHN CUSACK
What romantic moment can top the boom box scene in Say Anything? Aside from Peter Gabriel’s song "In Your Eyes" being synonymous with that moment, the true breakout was John Cusack. He enjoyed major success in the ‘80s with roles in Sixteen Candles, Better off Dead, and Stand by Me. Cusack went on to star in the blockbusters Bullets over Broadway, Grosse Pointe Blank, Being John Malkovich, and High Fidelity.
NOW: JOHN CUSACK
Despite speaking out against Hollywood in 2014, Cusack starred in several video-on-demand films in recent years. He has held a relatively low profile as an actor, but has stayed in the headlines with some controversial social media activity.
THEN: DEBBIE GIBSON
Gibson spent most of the ‘80s pumping out hits after the debut of "Only in My Dreams." One of her biggest successes, Electric Youth, spent five weeks at No. 1 on the Top 200 Album chart. The teen pop superstar graced the cover of Tiger Beat and YM. Her trademark style of tight jeans and vests over T-shirts became part of quintessential ‘80s fashion.
NOW: DEBBIE GIBSON
Gibson debuted on Broadway in 1992 in Les Miserables and continued in theater with successful roles in Funny Girl, Chicago, and Cabaret. The singer has also become a regular on reality TV, starring on American Juniors, Skating with Celebrities, Celebrity Apprentice, and Dancing with the Stars. She also released the dance song "Girls Night Out" in 2019.
THEN: HARRISON FORD
The actor experienced a huge rush of blockbuster hits in the ‘80s, playing Han Solo in The Empire Strikes Back and Return of the Jedi and Indiana Jones in Raiders of the Lost Ark, Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, and Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade.
NOW: HARRISON FORD
Ford continued his long, successful career to present day. He reprised his role of Han Solo in the 2015 movie Star Wars: The Force Awakens. He is involved in an untitled Indiana Jones film, slated for 2022. Ford lives on a ranch in Wyoming with his wife Calista Flockhart. Outside of acting, he is very involved in environmental causes, serving as vice-chair of Conservation International. He is also a licensed pilot.
THEN: DEMI MOORE
After gaining some Hollywood buzz acting on the soap opera General Hospital in 1981, Moore joined the Brat Pack and transitioned on to the big screen in Blame it on Rio, St Elmo’s Fire, and About Last Night.
NOW: DEMI MOORE
Moore continued acting, with notable roles in A Few Good Men, Indecent Proposal, and G.I. Jane. Although she hasn't had prominent roles in recent years, she became a New York Times best-selling author in 2019 when she released her memoir, Inside Out.
THEN: MICHAEL J. FOX
Whether you think of him as Alex P. Keaton or Marty McFly, Michael J. Fox spent most of the ‘80s churning out blockbuster hits like the TV show Family Ties and the Back to the Future movie series.
NOW: MICHAEL J. FOX
Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease in 1991. He founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation, which focuses on finding a cure for the disease. He is married to Tracy Pollan, who played his girlfriend on Family Ties.
THEN: SOLEIL MOON FRYE
When she was eight-years-old, Soleil Moon Frye was cast as Punky Brewster, a role that put her on the map as a child star. In 1989, she went on to host a weekly talk show called Girl Talk, based on the popular board game.
NOW: SOLEIL MOON FRYE
Although Frye continued acting through various guest starring roles on Friends and Sabrina, the Teenage Witch, she went on to other business ventures. She had a store in Los Angeles called The Little Seed that sold children’s clothes, which is now Internet-based. She also co-founded a company that sells party decoration kits. She will reappear in her title role in the Punky Brewster reboot, slated to premiere on Peacock in 2020.
THEN: BRYAN ADAMS
With chart-topping hits like Cuts Like a Knife, Run to You, Summer of ’69 and Heaven, the Canadian musician cemented himself as a member of rock royalty. Adams put out five studio albums in the ‘80s and showed no signs of slowing down.
NOW: BRYAN ADAMS
After steadily releasing more albums, Adams began collaborating with musicians like Nelly Furtado and Ed Sheeran. He wrote the music and lyrics for Pretty Woman: The Musical on Broadway. When he’s not producing music, he’s involved in The Bryan Adams Foundation, which works on providing learning opportunities for children worldwide.
THEN: ALLY SHEEDY
Ally Sheedy made her big screen debut as Sean Penn’s girlfriend in 1983’s Bad Boys. As one of the stars of the Brat Pack, she rose to fame as the shy Allison Reynolds in The Breakfast Club. She spent the decade with other ‘80s hits like WarGames and St. Elmo’s Fire.
NOW: ALLY SHEEDY
Sheedy had a few guest starring roles through the ‘90s and 2000s, but mainly left Hollywood in the rear view. She called out James Franco and Christian Slater in regards to the #MeToo movement, but later took down the tweets.
THEN: RALPH MACCHIO
After starring in the TV series Eight is Enough, Ralph Macchio was cast as The Karate Kid. This role put him on the map and led to another hit playing Billy Gambini in My Cousin Vinny. Macchio went on to star in several Broadway productions.
NOW: RALPH MACCHIO
Macchio is currently starring in Cobra Kai, a sequel television series to The Karate Kid. Outside of acting, he came in fourth on Dancing with the Stars.
THEN: PAT BENATAR
The four-time Grammy Award winner sang the ‘80s hits "Hit Me with Your Best Shot," "Love Is a Battlefield" and "We Belong." Benatar released 12 studio albums and toured through her entire career.
NOW: PAT BENATAR
Benatar published her New York Times best-selling memoir, Between a Heart and a Rock Place, in 2010. In 2017 she recorded the song "Shine" to support the Women’s March.
THEN: RICKY SCHRODER
As a child actor, Ricky Schroder became a household name on the sitcom Silver Spoons, a role he played from 1982-1987. Schroder continued acting through high school and college, but the performances failed to match the success of Silver Spoons.
NOW: RICKY SCHRODER
After re-establishing himself as Rick Schroder, he found success playing Danny on NYPD Blue. In 2005, he announced that he was going back to Ricky. Schroder had several later roles in TV and film, but has been in the headlines more recently for a 2019 arrest.
THEN: BELINDA CARLISLE
The lead singer of the Go-Go’s, Belinda Carlisle spent the first half of the ‘80s with chart toppers like "We Got the Beat" and "Our Lips Are Sealed." The band broke up in 1985 and she went on to have a successful solo career with the hit "Heaven Is a Place on Earth."
NOW: BELINDA CARLISLE
Carlisle co-founded Animal People Alliance in 2014, an organization based in Calcutta, India. She released her most recent record, Wilder Shores in 2017.
THEN: ROB LOWE
Rob Lowe’s career took off with the 1983 TV film Thursday’s Child, earning him a nomination for a Golden Globe. Hollywood took notice and Lowe cemented himself as part of the Brat Pack, starring in St. Elmo’s Fire and About Last Night.
NOW: ROB LOWE
Despite turning down the role of Dr. Derek Shepherd, McDreamy himself, on Grey’s Anatomy, Lowe has continued to enjoy a long, successful career as an actor and producer. Most recently, he starred in Parks & Recreation, Code Black, and 9-1-1: Lone Star. He also hosted the game show Mental Samurai.
THEN: JENNIFER GREY
Jennifer Grey played the role of Jeanie Bueller in the John Hughes classic Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. That movie’s success continued her ‘80’s stardom when she gained Hollywood’s attention as Frances “Baby” Houseman, starring opposite the late Patrick Swayze in 1987’s Dirty Dancing. She was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actress for her role in the classic film.
NOW: JENNIFER GREY
Grey and her partner Derek Hough were the winners of the 11th season of Dancing with the Stars. Now, no one puts Baby in the corner. Grey recently confirmed that she would be involved in the sequel of Dirty Dancing.
Some of today's biggest celebs got their start in the '80s. We've got updates on what they've been up to.