Molly Ringwald
Actress Molly Ringwald got her big break in John Hughes’s 1984 filmSixteen Candlesas the angsty Samantha whose 16th birthday is forgotten by her family. This movie cemented Ringwald as a member of the famous Brat Pack, and she went on to star in two other Hughes films,The Breakfast Club(1985) andPretty in Pink(1986). These films defined the decade and put Ringwald on the map.
After starring in all of these iconic films, Ringwald had some trouble trying to eclipse the work she did early on in her career. She had minor roles up until 2008 when she played the mom inThe Secret Life of the American Teenagerand was put back on the map. The actress has written several books, including an autobiographyGetting the Pretty Back, and is a singer. Recently, Ringwald has become a vocal #MeToo advocate—even criticizing some of her Brat Pack movies.
Rob Lowefirst piqued Hollywood’s interest when he appeared as Sodapop Curtis inThe Outsidersin 1983 and won the hearts of millions for his dashing good looks. The actor even became Brat Pack adjacent when he starred in John Hughes’s movieSt. Elmo’s Fireas bad boy Billy Hicks.
The actor didn’t really take any break from the 1980s until now, but he fell from the zeitgeist. He reemerged briefly after playing Benjamin Oliver inWayne’s Worldin 1992. Lowe reminded America why they missed him so much when starred as Sam Seaborn in theWest Wingin 1999. His most beloved role is the hyperactive and optimistic Chris Traeger in theAmy Poehler-starringseriesParks and Recreation.
Drew Barrymore
Sometimes people forget thatDrew Barrymorewas a child star. She got her start at the very young age of seven as Gertie in Steven Spielberg’sE.T.in 1983. Although Barrymore got noticed for her performance, she struggled through her teens with a string of bad movies and drug abuse. She became legally emancipated from her parents at age 14.
Barrymore came back and hit her stride in the late ’90s with roles inThe Wedding Singer,Ever AfterandNever Been Kissed. After she became the rom-com queen, she began producing her own films, giving her more creative control. Her most recent project was executive producing and starring in the zombie comedyThe Santa Clarita Dieton Netflix.
Kevin Bacon
When you think about 80s movies,Footloose(1984) comes to mind immediately. Even thoughKevin Baconwas in other films in the late ’70s and early 80s likeAnimal HouseandFriday the 13th, he’s most remembered for his role as rebel dancer Ren—for better or worse. The actor and his fast feet were now in film history.
Despite his career taking off more than three decades ago, Bacon has survived. He’s been in movies and on TV ever since. There was even a game called “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon” which challenged players to connect every Hollywood actor with him because he’s worked so much. Most recently, the actor was in the sci-fi showThe Followingand Amazon seriesI Love Dick.
Neil Patrick Harris
Neil Patrick Harriscan do just about everything. He can sing, dance, act and perform epic magic tricks. In the late 80s era, he was just a kid trying to escape from a Flying Purple People Eater and a genius teenage physician named Doogie Howser. He certainly has come a long way.
The actor survived the transition from child star to popular adult actor. Neil Patrick Harris became a Hollywood favorite again as the arrogant, annoying playboy Barney Stinson onHow I Met Your Motherin 2009. When the series ended, he voiced many an animated character and shined on Netflix’sA Series of Unfortunate Eventsas Count Olaf.
Demi Moore
Demi Moorecame onto the scene in 1982 for playing Jackie Templeton inGeneral Hospitaland won the hearts of Americans everywhere for her role on this soap opera. She shared the screen with Rob Lowe in John Hughes’sSt. Elmo’s Fireas Jules and her career took off from there.
Demi Moore managed to transcend her Brat Pack status with her role in the highest-grossing movie of 1990,Ghost. She had a string of box office successes withA Few Good Men,An Indecent ProposalandDisclosure. Everything was going well with Moore until 1997 whenG.I. Janegot terrible reviews in 1997. She took a nearly 10-year-long break from Hollywood to raise her children. She came back in the late ’00s and recently had a recurring role on the TV showEmpireand in the filmRough Night.
Jason Bateman
Jason Batemangot his big break onLittle House on the Prairie, playing orphan Cooper who was adopted by the Ingalls family. He spent the 80s era a heartthrob on various TV shows, includingSilver Spoons,It’s Your MoveandThe Hogan Family.He even became the youngest director to join the Director’s Guild of America for directing a few episodes ofThe Hogan Familyat the age of 18.
But like many young stars, Bateman hit a rough patch. He had a slew of TV shows that got killed after one season or even less. The actor reemerged on a quirky little show calledArrested Developmentas Michael Bluth, which would catapult him back to stardom. Most recently, Bateman was in the movieGame Nightand stars in the Netflix showOzark.
John Cusack
John Cusack’s second minor movie role was inSixteen Candles, so he got his start in one of the most ’80s films. The actor’s breakout came inRob Reiner’sThe Sure Thingin 1985, but his most iconic scene was yet to come. In 1989, he famously held a boom box up outside of a certain girl’s window inSay Anythingand became a star.
The actor could have faded into obscurity, but he’s kept working. He provided Dimitri’s voice in the animatedAnastasia(1997) and starred in the cult classicHigh Fidelity, Oscar-nominated filmBeing John Malkovich(1999). Cusack isn’t always the top-billed actor, but he’s been steadily appearing in films likeChi-Raq(2015) andMaps to the Stars(2014).
Patrick Dempsey
Patrick Dempseysure has come a long way since he starred on the TV sequel toFast Times at Ridgemont Highas Mike Damone in 1986. He went from awkward—yet over-eager—high-school boy to total hunk. Although the actor got his start based off a popular ’80s movie, he toiled on some pretty unremarkable TV shows and movies for decades.
He caught America’s attention when he played Will’s boyfriend onWill & Gracein 2001. Hollywood realize that Dempsey was rom-com material and cast him asReese Witherspoon’s love interest inSweet Home Alabama(2002) and the romantic leads didn’t stop after that. Dempsey’s most famous for his role Dr. Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd onGrey’s Anatomy, which he was on for 13 years.
Anthony Michael Hall
After he nearly stole the spotlight from Chevy Chase inVacation(1983), John Hughes decided 13-year-oldAnthony Michael Hallwould be perfect at pestering Samantha as Farmer Ted inSixteen Candles(1984). The actor became known for playing a geek and was a core part of the Brat Pack, starring inTheBreakfast Club(1985) andWeird Science(1985). He even reportedly dated Molly Ringwald for a bit. He also played against type as the bully to Winona Ryder inEdward Scissorhands(1990).
But he could only play the geeky kid for so long. Hall transitioned seamlessly from that scrawny kid to an adult. He had supporting roles inDark Knight(2008),Foxcatcher(2014) andWar Machine(2016). He has no problem playing authority figures like detectives and even principals. He reunited with Molly Ringwald on-screen inRiverdaleas Principal Featherhead—a name no doubt Farmer Ted would approve of.
