80s Heartthob Heres Where They Are Today
As a result of his roles in movies like “The Outsiders” and “Oxford Blue,” which were released in the 1980s, Lowe became a popular teenage idol. Later on, he shifted his focus to television, where, thankfully, he continued to enjoy rising levels of success in terms of his fan base. He played the part of Sam Seaborn in the political drama The West Wing, for which he received nominations for a Primetime Emmys and two Oscars.
Rob Lowe Today
Despite a few misses, Lowe’s career flourished much into the ’80s, and he became a major television sensation. He was first cast as a guest star on the hit program Brothers & Sisters, but was asked to stick around for the rest of the season after generating the show’s highest ratings to date. Lowe started in the role in 2007, and he remained in it until the 2009-2010 season, when he decided he no longer liked the show’s narrative direction. A family man, Lowe is a proud father of two.
Ralph Macchio Before
Ralph Macchio, who stole the hearts of women everywhere with his robust Jersey accent as Daniel LaRusso in “The Karate Kid,” is remembered today as a cultural icon. Although he appeared in the film as a young man, he was in fact 22 years old and already married.
Ralph Macchio Before
Even though he took tap classes beginning in childhood, Ralph Macchio never dreamed of a career in acting. At the age of 16, he was spotted at a local performance and eventually cast in the lead part in The Outsiders.
Ralph Macchio Today
His young looks helped him earn the lead part in The Karate Kid, but it also worked against him. Unfortunately, despite the success he achieved with My Cousin Vinny in 1992, he was never cast in another big part because of his youthful appearance and the stereotypes that came with it.
Ralph Macchio Today
Although he no longer has the appearance of a young boy, Ralph’s attractiveness cannot be denied. In 2012, he was seen as Joe Stefano in Hitchcock, and in 2011, he made his Dancing with the Stars debut. Ralph wed his childhood love in 1987, and the couple now has two kids.
Kenneth Branagh Before
British actor-director-producer-screenwriter Sir Kenneth Branagh. He was born in Belfast, Ireland, and he has directed and performed in various cinematic versions of William Shakespeare’s plays, notably Henry V (1989). Branagh attended London’s Royal Academy of Dramatic Art and went on to have a successful career not only on stage but also in cinema and television.
Kenneth Branagh Before
Branagh and Emma Thompson co-starred in the 1989 filming of the Renaissance adaptation of Look Back in Anger, and later that year the two were married.
Kenneth Branagh Today
Kenneth and Thompson were married until 1995, when it was later found that he was cheating with Helena Bonham Carter, with whom he had co-starred in Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein, throughout their marriage. After Thompson sought a divorce, the couple decided to go public with their relationship.
Kenneth Branagh Today
A film art director he met while working on Shackleton, Lindsay Brunnock, became his wife in 2003. Branagh has received much acclaim for his work, and as a result, he has been nominated for not one but five Academy Awards, five Golden Globes, three BAFTAs, and an Emmy.
Christopher Atkins Before
In the 1980 film The Blue Lagoon, costarring Brooke Shields, Atkins made his impressive acting debut. Atkins’s agent convinced him to apply for the film despite his lack of interest in acting; he ultimately beat out 2,000 other applicants for the part.
Christopher Atkins Before
After that, he appeared in a number of other films and, in 1983–1984, he was a main cast member on the first season of the popular television show Dallas, playing Peter Richards, a camp counselor who had an affair with Sue Ellen Ewing.
Christopher Atkins Today
Although Atkins kept working as an actor after the success of his debut film, his part in The Blue Lagoon appears to be the one for which he will be most remembered.
Christopher Atkins Today
In fact, he received nominations for Best Young Actor at the Young Artist Awards and New Star of the Year at the Golden Globes for his performance in that film. With all of his youthful fame, he made an appearance on the 2009 season of Confessions of a Teen Idol on VH1.
Lorenzo Lamas-Craig Before
Nowadays, Lamas-Craig is recognized for his role as Lance Cumson in the 1980s serial series Falcon Crest. Lamas, who has played Angela Channing’s irresponsible grandson from the pilot episode onward, was the only artist to appear in each of the show’s 227 episodes and was nominated for a Golden Globe for his efforts.
Lorenzo Lamas Craig Before
In 1984, for his role in Body Rock, he received nomination at the Golden Raspberry Awards for being Worst Actor. His single “Fools Like Me” from the film was his lone Top 40 success.
Lorenzo Lamas-Craig Today
While Lamas-Craig may be most known for his role as Hector Ramirez on The Bold and the Beautiful from 2004 and2007, he has also had his share of marriages outside of his acting profession. In reality, he has an excellent record of five marriages and has been happily married to his current wife since 2011.
Lorenzo Lamas Craig Today
Also, he’s had six kids from three women (one of whom he didn’t even marry), so he’s got a lot of experience with families. His real-life family was the subject of a 2009 reality show he hosted, titled Leave It to Lamas.
David Hasselhoff Before
While Hasselhoff’s stint on The Young and the Restless may have catapulted him into the public eye, his four years as the lead in the hit series Knight Rider and his portrayal of L.A. cop Steve Austin are what he is most remembered for today.
David Hasselhoff Before
County Lifeguard Mitch Buchannon in the TV show Baywatch. He created Baywatch from 1990 until its cancellation in 2001 and earned the moniker “The Hoff” for being the most viewed guy in television history.
David Hasselhoff Today
Even though Hasselhoff reprised his role as “Snapper” on The Young and the Restless in the middle of June 2010, he has been more frequently seen on reality shows like Dancing with the Stars and America’s Got Talent in recent years.
David Hasselhoff Today
The Hasselhoffs, a reality show starring himself and his two daughters, was canceled after only two episodes. After divorcing his second wife and the mother of his two daughters in 2006, he was awarded exclusive legal and physical custody of the girls.
Philip Michael Thomas Before
Philip’s breakout role as detective Ricardo Tubbs in the 1980s popular sitcom Miami Vice is often credited with propelling him to fame. Even though he received nomination from Golden Globes and had a tremendous five-year stint on the show, his music stint was not as fruitful.
Philip Michael Thomas Before
In 1986, he put out an album titled Living the Book of My Life under his own record company, Spaceship Records. However, none of the songs from this album became commercially successful hits.
Philip Michael Thomas Today
Thomas attempted to establish a music career on multiple occasions, but his albums never found any success despite his best efforts. Actually, he did provide his voice for computer games like GTA: Vice City and Vice City Stories.
Philip Michael Thomas Today
In 1986, Thomas, meanwhile, wed Kassandra Thomas; the couple eventually had five kids: Sovereign, Noble, Kharisma, Imaj, and Sacred. They split up in 1998, and Thomas went on to have another six kids (Sacha, India, Khrishna, Chayenne, Gabriel, and Melody) from previous relationships.
Andrew McCarthy Before
Andrew McCarthy was a major star of the 1980s, and his part opposite Molly Ringwald in Pretty in Pink is still one of the most well-remembered aspects of his career. To us, he represents all that was wonderful about being young and in love. In subsequent years, he shifted his focus from performing to writing.
Andrew McCarthy Before
He has been a contributor to several periodicals and currently works as an editor for National Geographic Traveler. He made a few guest appearances on Today and other shows, but after Pretty in Pink, he hasn’t done much work in movies.
Andrew McCarthy Today
McCarthy has been making guest appearances on television programs like White Collar, and he has also directed episodes of shows like The Shield and The Following. He has directed many episodes of Orange is the New Black for Netflix and several episodes of Gossip Girl on CW.
Andrew McCarthy Today
Thanks to his starring role in a number of 1980s films, Andrew is included as number 40 on VH1’s list of the 100 Greatest Teen Stars of all time. With three offspring from his two marriages, he is clearly a family man.
Mark Hamill Before
When Mark Hamill played Luke Skywalker in the Star Wars films, he became a household name. He was an instant star after the release of the film. Both males and females were envious of his lightsaber and Jedi mastery.
Mark Hamill Before
Following his success with Legos, he moved on to action figures and cosplay. The handsome actor admitted that he got in a major vehicle accident in 1977 because he was texting and driving. His cheekbone and nose were broken in the mishap.
Mark Hamill Today
It would appear that Hamill was a one-hit wonder, as he did not achieve similar levels of success in the years following the release of Star Wars. Aside from his extensive voice work, he also portrayed himself and Luke Skywalker on The Muppet Show.
Mark Hamill Today
Since then, he’s returned with guest spots on shows like Batman: The Animated Series and Superman, as well as The Real Adventures of Johnny Quest. In terms of his physical appearance, he has grown a beard since his Star Wars days and put on some weight.
Pat Cash Before
Pat Cash, the Australian tennis champion of the 1980s, has followed a different professional route than the rest of the studs on our list, but he is just as iconic.
Pat Cash Before
Cash, a remarkable genius in his area who has been called “one of the greatest net players of all time,” won the men’s singles title at Wimbledon in 1987 and so established a new tradition. Many future tennis champions have been inspired by his decision to jump into the stands to celebrate victory.
Pat Cash Today
Cash resigned from tennis in 1997 after a great career that earned him a spot in the Sports Australia Hall of Fame in the year 2005. The retired tennis player is a father of four. It’s hardly surprising that his son, Jett Cash (born in 1994), would desire to emulate his famous father by becoming a tennis prodigy.
Pat Cash Today
In 2010, Cash’s second-oldest daughter Mia gave birth to a baby girl, making him a grandpa at the age of 44.
Mickey Rourke Before
It’s safe to say that Philip Andre Rourke Jr., better known by his stage name Mickey, is more widely recognized. The American celebrity has worked as a boxer, a screenwriter, and an actor.
Mickey Rourke Before
Rourke is most known now for his work in the 1980s, when he starred in a string of critically acclaimed films including Diner, The Pope of Greenwich Village, Angel Heart, and Rumble Fish. Rourke quit acting in 1991 to devote himself to boxing, a sport he had practiced since he was a child.
Mickey Rourke Today
After boxing for three years, Rourke decided to return to acting. After years of appearing in supporting roles, his career finally rebounded in 2005 when he landed the main role in the neo-noir action movie Sin City.
Mickey Rourke Today
In recognition of his performance in The Wrestler (2008), Rourke received nominations for the Golden Globe, the British Academy Film Award, and the Academy Award. Afterward, he started making appearances in movies like Iron Man 2, The Expendables, and Immortals. He is now dating Anastassija Makarenko, a Russian model, after being married twice.
Alan Ruck Before
Perhaps Alan Ruck’s baby face became instantly recognizable as Ferris’s best buddy in the cult movie Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, but was he seen in any other roles after that? Ruck, who was 29 at the time of the film’s release but looked much younger, played Cameron, an adolescent, in the film.
Alan Ruck Before
After that 1986 film, he landed a few bit parts and then went on to feature in the TV series Spin City from 1996 to 2002. In addition, Ruck took a shot at Broadway by starring in a production of The Producers.
Alan Ruck Today
Ruck has matured since his prominent role in the 1980s smash; he has appeared in movies like The Happening and the John Hughes biopic Don’t You Forget About Me.
Alan Ruck Today
The year 2005 saw his comeback to the stage after his television roles in Stargate Atlantis and Scrubs. There, he first met his future wife and mother of his daughter, Mireille Enos. Ruck won a lead part in the miniseries Persons Unknown in 2010.
James Reyne Before
James Reyne, though a Nigeria-born citizen, is an Australian rock musician who began his career as a solo artist and remained a band member of Australian Crawl until 1986. In the 1980s, the group achieved a remarkable one million record sales in Australia.
James Reyne Before
After his band split up, Reyne moved forward to have a highly roaring solo career, and he was twice awarded Most Popular Male Performer. Both “Hammerhead” and “Fall of Rome,” the first two songs off of his solo album, charted in the top 10 in that country.
James Reyne Today
Reyne is the father of Neighbors’ actor Jamie-Robbie Reyne, has appeared in a number of films, and has released numerous songs throughout the years. The highest civilian honour in Australia, the Medal of the Order of Australia in the General Division, was given to him in recognition of his contributions to the Australian music industry and his philanthropic work.
James Reyne Today
After announcing his “James Reyne Plays Australian Crawl” in 2014, during which he would perform solely Australian Crawl back catalog songs, Reyne embarked on a tour around Australia.
Craig McLachlan Before
Australian musician, singer/composer, and actor Craig McLachlan is best known for his role as Kylie Minogue’s brother in the popular Australian soap opera Neighbours, for which he has won several awards. McLachlan, after playing Henry Ramsey throughout the 800 episodes, was named Australia’s Most Popular Television Personality with the Gold Logie Award in 1990.
Craig McLachlan Before
Later, he played Grant Mitchell, a schoolteacher, on Home and Away. In the 1980s, this hot guy also had a successful pop music career, scoring singles in both the UK and Australia.
Craig McLachlan Today
Craig continued his acting career after playing in the BBC series Bugs for three seasons. In 2012, McLachlan relocated back to Australia in to play the titular character of Dr. Lucien Blake in The Doctor Blake Mysteries TV series.
Craig McLachlan Today
Due to scheduling difficulties with his serial job, he was not able to rejoin Neighbours during the show’s 30th anniversary festivities, but he did agree to appear in Neighbours 30th: The Stars Reunite documentary special, broadcasting in the UK and Australia in 2015.
Sean Connery Before
Connery is widely regarded as the first actor to successfully represent James Bond on film. After seven Bond films, he continued to perform the part until 1983. It was after his last film that he declared, “I have always loathed that damned James Bond,” revealing that he had grown tired of portraying the iconic part.
Sean Connery Before
I wish I could murder him. For his work in The Untouchables, which was released in 1988, he won the Oscars for Best Supporting Actor.
Sean Connery Today
Indeed, Connery’s effect as an actor was so great that he was voted “The Greatest Living Scot” and “Scotland’s Greatest Living National Treasure.” Connery received a knighthood from Queen Elizabeth in the year 2000.
Sean Connery Today
His previous nominations in 1997 and 1998 were reportedly refused owing to his political beliefs, making this the third time he has been considered for a knighthood. He has contributed heavily to The Scottish National Party, which is where his loyalties lie.
Cary Elwes Before
Cary Elwes, a British actor, is best known today for his performance as the handsome and charming Westley in the classic film, The Princess Bride. The actor is well known for his appearances as Dr. Lawrence Gordon in the film Saw and Arnold in Georgia Rule.
Cary Elwes Before
After beginning his training at the London Academy of Music and Dramatic Art, he emigrated to the United States in 1981 to attend Sarah Lawrence College for theater. Elwes first appeared on screen in the 1984 picture Another Country.
Cary Elwes Today
Elwes’s Colonel James Burton role in The Pentagon Wars earned him a Golden Satellite Award nomination for Best Performance by an Actor in a Mini-Series or Motion Picture Made for Television in 1997. Because of his work in the film Uprising, he was once again considered for the award.
Cary Elwes Today
Elwes was cast in the character of Arthur Davenport in Before in May 2015, and the episode first aired in November of same year on the television drama series The Art of Moore. There will be a Season 2 of the show.
Rick Springfield Before
Richard Lewis Springthorpe, better known as Rick Springfield, is born in Australia. He is a singer, musician, songwriter, novelist, and actor who was born in 1949. From 1969 until 1971, he was part of Zoot, a pop rock band, but then he went solo.
Rick Springfield Before
His first single, 1972’s “Speak to the Sky,” was released shortly after he relocated to the U.S. He had four additional top U.S. successes in the years that followed his number one smash, “Jessie’s Girl” in 1981 for which he won the Grammy for Best Male Rock Vocal Performance.
Rick Springfield Today
In 1981 and 1983, Springfield acted on General Hospital as Dr. Noah Drake. After a hiatus of 23 years, Springfield eventually reprised his role on the show. To celebrate its 50th anniversary, Springfield resumed his role in 2005–2008, and for the 3rd time in 2012–2013.
Rick Springfield Today
The singer was cast as Vince Vincente on the CW’s Supernatural for its 12th season in 2016. Springfield and his spouse Barbara Porter have been married since 1984. They have two sons, Joshua and Liam.
Richard Dean Anderson Before
Anderson became a household name because to his starring role named Dr. Jeff Webber on the American serial series General Hospital. Today, he is remembered mostly for his part as Angus MacGyver on the popular 1980s TV series of the same name.
Richard Dean Anderson Before
Anderson starred in Stargate SG-1 for seven seasons before leaving to try his hand at cinema. However, the show’s producers saw potential in him and brought him back to his television roots by casting him as the main character.
Richard Dean Anderson Today
Anderson’s most famous part was in MacGyver from the 1980s, and his subsequent roles all had some connection to the character.
Richard Dean Anderson Today
He reprised his MacGyver role for a commercial during Super Bowl XL in 2006, and he also voiced himself in a Simpsons episode, appearing as a guest star because he is such a huge fan of the show and because Marge’s sisters kidnapped him because he was the longtime crush of both of their mothers. He also has one kid, although she isn’t as much of a priority as his work.
Bryan Adams Before
Bryan Adams, originally from Canada, is a singer-songwriter who has found success all over the world. His debut album, 1983’s “Cuts Like a Knife,” catapulted him to prominence, and 1984’s “Reckless” made him a household name throughout the world.
Bryan Adams Before
Songs like “Summer of ’69” and “Run to You,” two of Adams’ biggest successes, can be found on this album. His song “(Everything I Do) I Do It For You” topped the charts for an impressive 16 weeks in the UK alone.
Bryan Adams Today
Adams has received nominations from Grammy Awards (15) and Juno Awards (20) over his career. In 1992, he took home the trophy for Best Song Written Specifically for a Motion Picture or Television. Aside from three Academy Award and five Golden Globe nominations, he is well-respected in the film music industry for his work on a wide range of films.
Bryan Adams Today
In 2008, Bryan was voted number 38 in the best performers of all time list on the Billboard Hot 100 50th Anniversary Charts, and in 2011, he was inducted into the Hollywood Walk of Fame. He’s settled down with a wife and two young ladies.
Mark-Paul Gosselaar Before
When thinking about iconic adolescent heartthrobs, Mark-Paul Gosselaar is always at the top of the list. Mark is most well-known now for his role being Zack Morris on Saved by the Bell, in which he played the attractive high school star.
Mark Paul Gosselaar Before
Later, he and his former co-stars recreated the said role in the TV movie called Saved by the Bell: The College Years and a spin-off series called Saved by the Bell: The New Class. Mark’s involvement in the show ensures that he will be known as kTodayn for the rest of his life.
Mark-Paul Gosselaar Today
In a 2009 appearance on The Late Night Show with Jimmy Fallon, Gosselaar promoted his series Raising the Bar by appearing as Zack Morris, his character. In 2015, he and his Saved by the Bell co-stars made a return appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon for a reunion sketch.
Mark Paul Gosselaar Today
Gosselaar has been married twice, the first time for 14 years to Lisa Ann Russel, sharing with her two daughters; the second time, to Catriona McGinn, who he has also been wedded to since 2011.
Kirk Cameron Before
Kirk Cameron was an absolute heartthrob and hottie of the ’80s. In addition to his role on Growing Pains, the actor had starring roles on other series at the time and in films including Like Father, Like Son (1987) and then Listen to Me (1989).
Kirk Cameron Before
It was during the final season of Growing Pains that Cameron began to distance himself from it in favor of his faith as well as his family. The former actor is now an Evangelical Minister and member of the “Way Of The Master” religious organization.
Kirk Cameron Today
Kirk hasn’t done any acting following his stint on Growing Pains since he has focused on his religious beliefs. His religious group has its own cable television show and website, and in 2013 he released a faith-based film titled Unstoppable.
Kirk Cameron Today
Facebook and YouTube removed the film’s trailer, prompting speculation that the decision was made due to the film’s religious themes. The automatic mechanism at Facebook eventually recognized its error. In 1991, Cameron wed his co-star Chelsea Noble and the couple now has six kids.
Fabio Lanzoni Before
Famous for his lengthy blonde locks and muscular build, Fabio Lanzoni is instantly recognizable. The Italian-American star, model, and publicist became widely known in the 1980s due to his numerous appearances on the romance book covers.
Fabio Lanzoni Before
Fabio’s “I Can’t Believe It’s Not Butter!” advertisement was one of the most successful of his career. He portrayed himself in movies like Eddie: Spy Hard and Dude, Where’s My Car?, and he guest-starred on programs like ” and “The Bold and the Beautiful.
Fabio Lanzoni Today
Fabio hasn’t changed a thing about his appearance since the 1980s, even down to keeping the same long locks and speaking out on issues he cares deeply about. Fabio once served as a representative for the American Cancer Society before a burglary at his home with lost possessions amountng to more than $200,000. Since then, he has become an ardent critic of gun control laws in California.
Fabio Lanzoni Today
Fabio is still dedicated to his health and wellness, as seen by the fact that in 2008 he released Healthy Planet Vitamins and an exercise DVD titled Fabio Fitness in the same year. In 2016, Fabio completed the process to become a naturalized citizen of the United States.
Tom Selleck Before
Selleck has been gracing our screens as private detective Thomas Magnum on the hit television series Magnum, P.I. since the 1980s. Selleck is a well-known actor in Hollywood, having been in more than 50 films and TV shows.
Tom Selleck Before
He has received praise for both his acting skills and his good looks. Because of his commitment to Magnum, P.I., Tom Selleck was unavailable for Raiders of the Lost Ark because he could not afford to take time away from the show.
Tom Selleck Today
Tom Selleck has been married to Jillie Mack since 1987; the pair has a kid together and now makes their home on an avocado farm in California, despite Tom’s stated disdain for the fruit. Since the 1980s, Selleck’s career has included not just television and film appearances, but also advertisements and performances on Broadway.
Tom Selleck Today
Although he has been in shows including Las Vegas and Blue Bloods, he is most well-known for his role as Monica’s older lover on the popular television series Friends.
Dennis Quaid Before
There was no disputing that he was a bona fide hunk of the 1980s when he first arrived on our screens. Quaid established himself as a movie star with pivotal roles in blockbusters like Jaws 3-D, The Big Easy, Great Balls of Fire, and Innerspace during that time frame.
Dennis Quaid Before
However, things went worse in the 1990s, when he battled drug addiction and an eating issue brought on by his dramatic weight loss for the part of Doc Holliday in Wyatt Earp.
Dennis Quaid Today
Fortunately, Quaid was able to return to show business after he resolved some personal concerns in the late ’90s. Famous for his roles in films including “The Day After Tomorrow” and “The Parent Trap,” he was most recently seen on CBS’s “Vegas” as Sheriff Ralph Lamb.
Dennis Quaid Today
He has three kids from his three different marriages. After meeting and falling in love on the set of D.O.A., Quaid wed fellow actress Meg Ryan for a second time.