Stars from iconic teen movies: where are they now?

Teen movies are what made growing up somewhat bearable, let’s be real. And whether you loved the Disney Channel, Nickelodeon, or spent your entire life watching Friends (I was that person), there were still always a few classic, iconic movies you turned to in your time of need. I can pretty much guarantee those films were from the 80s/90s/early 2000s, because that’s when all the greats were made. But what about the teen icons that featured in these films? Where are they now? Are they still acting? Are they still fit? Lucky for you, we found out.

The Breakfast Club

Emilio Estevez (played Andrew Clark)

Emilio was at the forefront of the Brat Pack (the group of actors who frequently appeared together in teen films during the 80s, for those of you totally out of the loop), and he starred in St Elmo’s Fire the same year as The Breakfast Club. He also had success with Young Guns and the Mighty Ducks movies, but nowadays you’re more likely to find him behind the camera rather than in front of it. He wrote and directed Bobby in 2006, directed his father Martin Sheen in The Way, and is directing and starring in his new movie Johnny Longshot. So, I guess he’s been pretty busy.

Anthony Michael Hall (played Brian Johnson)

Hall may have started as a child star in the 70s when he was 7, but that doesn’t mean he’s followed the typical trajectory of a child star. He’s starred in Edward Scissorhands, and in Six Degrees of Separation where there was nearly a gay kiss scene between Will Smith and Hall (so jel). He’s starred and directed Hail Caesar alongside Samuel L. Jackson, Robert Downey Jr., and Judd Nelson, he played Bill Gates in Pirates of Silicon Valley, he featured in The Dark Knight, and is in a film with Channing Tatum, Mark Ruffalo, Steve Carrell and Vanessa Redgrave. Sounds exhausting.

Judd Nelson (played John Bender)

Judd almost didn’t get his iconic role that Nicolas Cage also read for, apparently (they made the right call for def), and then he was almost fired when he became too much like Bender and he had to be told to be nicer. He’s since starred in Airheads, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, The Transformers: The Movie, and TV show Suddenly Susan. He’s currently set to star in 6 films over the next couple of years.

Molly Ringwald (played Claire Standish)

Molly famously turned down lead roles in Pretty Woman and Ghost in the nineties, before moving to Paris and starring in a few French movies. She has since returned to the US and is starring in ABC Family Network’s The Secret Life of the American Teenager. She’s also produced a debut album, and written a book of short stories.

Ally Sheedy (played Allison Reynolds)

Sheedy capitalised on the success of The Breakfast Club with Short Circuit and High Art. She dated Bon Jovi guitarist in teh 80s, and in the 90s was treated for a sleeping pill addiction. In 1999 she was the first female to play the part of the German transsexual “Hedwig” in the off Broadway production of Hedwig and the Angry Inch. She has also appeared in C.S.I, Kyle XY, and Psych.

10 Things I Hate About You

Heath Ledger (played Patrick Verona)

RIP you beautiful man.

Julia Stiles (played Katarina Stratford)

Stiles went on to appear in Down to You, Save the Last Dance, and O, as well as the Bourne Identity trilogy and The Omen. She took a break from films for a while, starring in Dexter, before coming back to screen in Silver Linings Playbook. 

Joseph Gordon-Levitt (played Cameron James)

Everyone knows Gordon-Levitt from Inception (duh), 500 Days of Summer and The Dark Right Rises, but he was also in Looper and Premium Rush. He made his directorial debut with Don Jon, and turned down the role of Star-Lord in Guardians of the Galaxy to star in Sin City: A Dame to Kill For. Gutted.

Larisa Oleynik (played Bianca Stratford)

Oleynik played Gordon-Levitt’s love interest in 3rd Rock from the Sun, and appeared in another teen movie 100 Girls. She’s guest starred on Malcolm in the Middle and Mad Men, and currently has a recurring role on Pretty Little Liars.

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Clueless

Alicia Silverstone (played Cher)

Silverstone has starred in a range of things, from Batman and Robin, to Vamps, Suburgatory, and the off Broadway production Of Good Stock. She’s become a passionate animal and environmental rights activist and runs “The King Life”, a lifestyle website dedicated to vegan eating and environmental awareness. She’s also married with a son. Nothing you wouldn’t expect from Cher, let’s be real.

Stacey Dash (played Dionne)

Dash reprised her role as Dionne for Clueless‘ spin off TV show, which ran from 1996 to 1999. She’s also starred in View from the Top, The Game, Kanye’s “All Falls Down” music video, and she’s launched a web series Stacey Dash Is Normal, as well as guest commentating on Fox News.

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Brittany Murphy (played Tai)

Murphy had a great career following Clueless, starring in 8 Mile, Uptown Girls, Just Married, and Sin City. She also had a dance single with Paul Oakenfold, “Faster Kill Pussycat”, before she died tragically in 2009. RIP.

Paul Rudd (played Josh)

Rudd is probably most famous for his role in Anchorman, and as Mike Hannigan in Friends, possible the least fuckboy-ish character in the whole show. But that’s not all he’s been in. He’s also starred in The 40-Year-Old Virgin, Knocked Up, This is 40, and he was in Parks and Recreation. Oh, and he’s also a super hero, Ant-Man. So there’s that. Nowadays though you can just find him shouting at football matches.

Donald Faison (played Murray)

Fasion followed Dash to the Clueless TV show, before his truly iconic role of Dr. Chris Turn in Scrubs. He’s currently starring in The Exes, and hosts the TBS comedy-sketch show Who Gets the Last Laugh. He married CaCee Cobb in 2012, and they have two children.

Ferris Bueller’s Day Off

Matthew Broderick (played Ferris Bueller)

Having won two Tony Awards, Broderick is a veteran of the stage, and he is currently playing the lead in the Broadway musical Nice Work If You Can Get It. He’s also guested on 30 Rock and Modern Family, and he’s been married to Sarah Jessica Parker since 1997.

Alan Ruck (played Cameron Frye)

Ruck is also very accomplished on the stage, as well as being a regular star on TV, in stuff like Spin City, Bunheads and FOX’s reboot of The Exorcist.

Mia Sara (played Sloane Peterson)

Sara hasn’t been in anything since playing Princess Langwirde in Dorothy and the Witches of Oz in 2012, but she did play Harley Quinn in Birds of Prey, and she guest starred in CSI:NY. She married Brian Henson in 2010, the son of Muppets creator Jim Henson.

Jennifer Grey (played Jeanie Bueller)

Once Grey got her famous nose job, her career took a nose dive (sorry, I couldn’t resist). She guest starred in Friends, and voices carious characters on Phineas and Ferb. Her dancing skills are still amazing though: in 2010 she took the top prize on Dancing With The Stars.