30+ Childhood Girl Crushes, Then and Now
From ten-year-olds to our teenage years, childhood crushes are sure to brin a sense of nostalgia to anyone. We grow along with them and to see them grow also inspires us. This article reveals how our goddesses are now and the number of wrinkles you can count off their skin. See for yourself how they were then and are now!
Tiffani Thiessen
Tiffani would take part in multiple beauty pageants before landing her first big role as Kelly in Saved By The Bell and its many spinoffs. This gave her reputation a boost which led to her film debut in Son In Law.
After the sequel to Saved By The Bell was announced, Tiffani would reprise her role as Kelly, guest-starring in three episodes. She has also been announced to be the host for MTV's spinoff comedy show Ridiculousness, Deliciousness.
Keira Knightley
This legend has had many cult classic roles including playing the handmaiden of Padme in Star Wars Episode 1. Her roles in Pirates of the Caribbean and Love Actually have helped her to cement her role as a professional actor.
She is set to appear in two projects with one being a Christmas-based comedy and the other a book adaptation. Keira Knightley is a known philanthropist as she has hosted a live stream to help those dealing with the consequences of the pandemic.
Jennifer Connelly
Jennifer made way as a child model and had many commercial appearances before landing her big role in Once Upon A Time In America. She also played Betty Ross, the love interest of Bruce Banner in earlier MCU movies.
Conelly has been regarded as the face of a few fashion brands including Balenciaga and Louis Vuitton and has done a few adverts for Revlon. Right now, she is the wife of Paul Bettany and they have three children together.
Jennifer Grey
Her role in Ferris Bueller's Day Off is what launched her career into the spotlight. This led to her being able to show off more of her talents in Dirty Dancing, for which she rightly earned a Golden Globe award.
She starred as Judy Meyers in Red Oaks and has also voiced characters in animated projects such as Phineas and Ferb and Duck Duck Goose. She had done a medical checkup for her neck problems but the culprit was cancer. Thankfully, it was treated before it became dangerous.
Britney Spears
The princess of pop needs no introduction as she was the one to influence a new generation of the ‘90s to 2000s kids with her music. She has made a few film appearances and her issues have put her under a peculiar spotlight.
Britney has come out and has spoken up about how her father and management abused her and is now in a legal battle over her conservatorship. This has led to many celebrities rising in support of the #FreeBritney movement.
Sarah Michelle Geller
This heartthrob of the 2000s won all of our hearts with her appearance as the titular character Buffy from Buffy The Vampire Slayer. Her appearances as Daphne in the live-action Scooby-Doo movies made her even more of a fan favorite.
She is now a proud married mother of two but has still found time to maintain her acting career. On the Netflix series, Masters Of The Universe, she voices Teela. She has an upcoming role in the comedy series, Hot Pink and has also released a cookbook.
Marley Shelton
This American actress starred as Wendy Peffercorn in The Sandlot, which brought her into the limelight. Pleasantville, Sugar & Spice, Never Been Kissed are the other teen films that make her career more remarkable.
She is still working on the big screen and maintaining her appearance for her fans. Shelton is said to be working in the fifth sequel of Scream and boy, are we screaming! On the more personal side, Shelton is finally married to Beau Flynn, a film producer whom she has been with for 22 years!
Drew Barrymore
It's old news that this American sweetheart has gathered all the attention and love with her smile. Despite being a Hollywood royal family member, Drew Barrymore got her fame as a child actress in E.T.
She has been always in the spotlight since she was a little girl. Drew is a person who can literally do anything now that she's being back in action after ages. Currently, with her new talk show, she is trying to bring inspiration, information, and entertainment to this generation.
Danica McKellar
Danica McKellar is an American actress, an education advocate, and a mathematics writer. She played the most adorable Winnie Cooper role in The Wonder Years from 1988 to 1993 and was and still is a crush of every teen and tween watching the show.
Mckellar is indeed a mathematician and inspires young girls with fun math books. This stunning lady has been the voice of Judy Jetson since 2017. She has published a paper and starred in the Netflix original series Project Mc2.
Christine Lakin
This American actress is popularly known for the role Al on the series Step by Step. Moreover, in Showtime’s Reefer Madness, she performed as Joan of Arc. Speaking of history, guess who was the sidekick in Craig Kilborn’s talk show The Kilborn File.
Christine Helen Lakin mentions that she is happy with her husband Bradon Breault and two kids. Other than acting and offering voice-overs in series such as sitcom Family Guy, she may be found doing blogs being a mom.
Michelle Trachtenberg
A teen favourite, Trachtenberg is known for her role in EuroTrip and Buffy the Vampire Slayer among others. In a nutshell, she did some pretty good films and a score of commercials, a fun actress indeed.
Not being able to go further as an actress, Miss Georgina Sparks decided to focus on writing. She was inspired to be a writer when she performed in Harriet The Spy. After closing the Hollywood door, she is focusing on her new hobby and has quite a fan following.
Kirsten Dunst
In the early ‘80s, beauty queen Kirsten Caroline Dunst gained recognition for her role as Claudia the child Vampire, thus winning a Golden Globe nomination. This little victory led to successes such as hit movies Little Women, Jumanji, and Spiderman.
Kirsten was supposed to appear in the Showtime series On Becoming a God in Central Florida although canceled due to the pandemic. The 39-year old diva has welcomed her second child to the world and is now hopeful about a small wedding.
Alyssa Milano
This American actress started her career at the age of seven. Over the years, Alyssa has been a heartthrob for many and a multitasker. Alyssa got her fame in Who’s the Boss by playing the Samantha Micelli character.
Being a political activist for organizations such as UNICEF and PETA, she took part in the Me Too movement in 2017 to support suppressed women. She is now a happily married woman with two children. Although she tested positive for the virus that is causing the ongoing pandemic, she is healthy now.
Tami Stronach
An inspiring actress, Tami Stronach is half-Israeli and half-Scottish. It was when she was studying that she got the proposal as a child actress in The Never Ending Story.
Aside from working in films and dancing, she is an esteemed professor. Recently she has returned to her acting career. Stronach was involved in the Neta Dance Troop. Now, the 49-year-old professor is a proud mother of a 3-year-old.
Anna Chlumsky
Anna Chlumsky is a popular American actress; who started her career when she was a child. She is popularly known for the lead role named Vada Sultenfuss in the movie My Girl and the 1994 sequel; which brought her fame in Hollywood.
Later she entered the show business at an early age and modeled with her mother in many advertising campaigns. Chlumsky is currently working in different drama series and maintaining her legacy on the big screen. On a personal note, she married an Army officer and this couple has two beautiful daughters.
Madeline Zima
Madeline Zima, the graceful American actress performed as Grace Sheffield on the CBS sitcom The Nanny, and later as Mia Lewis in the Showtime Comedy-drama series named Californication.
Already a star, Zima premiered as Gretchen Berg on the NBC series Heroes. Madeline has continued to make her appearances in movies and TV series. Her recent crime-fighting move Insight didn't receive the ratings she was hoping for. Yet she pulls off an estimated net worth of a whopping $1.5 million.
Diane Franklin
Initially, she would appear in commercials for Coca-Cola and Trident before moving to the big screen. Her first major role was in The Last American Virgin and she would later appear in Amityville 2.
Afterward, she would play roles in a few comedy films including Better Off Dead. She reprised her role in the 2018 Amityville drama playing the role of Louise Defeo. Franklin is married to Rey De Laurentis and they have two children, one daughter, and one son.
Christine Taylor
Taylor's most prominent roles include Marcia Brady in The Brady Bunch and its sequel but her first screen appearance was as a lifeguard on the Nickelodeons children's show, Hey Dude. In 2001, she would go on to star in Zoolander along with her husband.
She reprised her role on Arrested Development after its revival and has also guest-starred in the Cult Classic Disney series, Hannah Montana. She has a recurring role as Gail on Search Party and has so far appeared in 10 episodes.
Christina Applegate
Her chance to shine in the spotlight came after she played the role of Kelly Bundy on Married With Children. People may also remember her guest-starring in Friends as the sister of Rachel.
This earned her a primetime Emmy award for her appearance. She had a role on the critically acclaimed Netflix show, Dead To Me, which she also produced. This earned her another Emmy along with a nomination for a Golden Globe. She has founded Right Action For Women, which assists women with breast cancer.
Gillian Anderson
We have known this charming one previously as a fox and now, well, a cougar. Back in 1993 after her time as a computer analyst, she was a star in every home that owned a TV due to her role as Dana Scully in The X Files.
It's delightful to see this woman still playing her role in movies and series with the same charisma. She is a fan favorite as Jean the therapist in the funny series Sex Education.
Elisabeth Shue
This star started her career in The Karate Kid as the love interest of Ralph Macchio. Before that, she made appearances in a few Burger King commercials. She also had a few roles in Back To The Future but she had only been chosen to do smaller roles.
She is currently married to David Guggenheim and they have three kids together. One of her newest leading roles features her on the highly-rated superhero show, The Boys. She has also reprised her role in The Karate Kid spin-off series, Cobra Kai.
Kelly Lebrock
This beauty from the ‘80s started her career as a model at the age of 16 and her talents paved the way for a contract with Christian Dior. She later transitioned to film roles where she was cast as the perfect woman in many movies.
Kelly currently resides on a ranch in California and has given birth to three children. She is a loyal spokesperson of a club that aids children who have cancer. After the passing of her brother in 2008, she spent her time helping the sick.
The Spice Girls
The Spice Girls were a cultural icon for many ‘90s kids and females, who were their main target audience. By the 2000s, they seemed on the verge of disbanding after a disappointing number of album sales. This was later disproved by them.
After a long hiatus, they have gotten together for a few tours and their talents have earned them the 2019 Billboard Live Music Award. They have also had the highest-grossing concert tours out of every female group in the last 20 years.
Jennie Garth
If you are a fan of Beverly Hills, the series, then you probably remember her as Kelly Taylor, the role which began her career. She has had many lead roles in many ‘90s movies including and at that time she had been married to Daniel B.Clark.
The actress has opened up about her troubles with a medical condition that requires constant care for life, known as Leaky Heart Valve. She has made an appearance as a contestant on Masterchef.
Jami Gertz
Gertz was a child actor who later went on to study drama at NYU. Her first important role was in the movie, Endless Love which brought her to new heights of fame. This led to her appearing in a few sitcoms in a leading or supporting role.
Her leading role in the ABC sitcom, The Neighbors is one of her recent on-screen appearances and she is also currently filming a new movie. She along with her husband are each part owners of the Atlanta Hawks.
Claire Danes
Claire Danes started showing off her talents when she turned six and became interested in acting by nine. She started as Angela Chase in My Sweet life and despite being canceled, it still managed to gain some ground as a cult classic.
Danes also played a CIA agent on Homeland which has grown to be her biggest role yet. She is currently one of the most influential people alive and sits proudly at the top with two Golden Globes and Emmys.
Kristy Swanson
Swanson has been known for many ‘90s movies, which have grown to gather a large cult following. She had roles in the comedic Hot Shot! Starring alongside Charlie Sheen, Swanson is also known for playing Buffy in the Buffy The Vampire Slayer movie.
The 58-year-old now co-stars with her friend Dean Cain in the new 2021 project, Just Another Dream. She had a cameo in an episode of One Tree Hill. In 2009, she got married to Lloyd Eisler with whom she shares a child.
Melissa Joan Hart
Before she was a big star, Hart had been in multiple commercials. She starred in Clarissa Explains It All, a Nickelodeon comedy that had a successful run. Hart also played the original Sabrina The Teenage Witch in the movie and its series.
She is currently most known for starring in Melissa and Joey alongside Joey Lawrence and has transitioned to the role of director after the second season. She alongside her husband has their fashion line called, King Of Harts.
Soleil Moon Frye
Frye originally began her career as a child actor on Punky Brewster. The show wasn't greeted very well but the character was a hit. She later joined the Sabrina The Teenage Witch cast as Sabrina's close friend, Roxie.
Frye is the owner of a children's boutique, which is known to be environmentally friendly. She has released books focused on raising a child and the issues a woman may face. She is also the co-founder of P.S.XO, which sells party kits.
Lea Thompson
Back To The Future fans will recognize this actress as Lorraine Baines. She also had a role in Howard The Duck for which she also sang for the soundtracks but her first impactful role was in Jaws-3D.
She later went on a break to play some roles on Broadway. In 2014, she was a contestant on Dancing With The Stars. She was also cast in the seventh adaptation of Little Women. Thompson is still married to Howard Deutch with whom she had two daughters.
Alicia Silverstone
In 1995, the classic film Clueless introduced us to Alicia Silverstone. It seemed that she was everybody's girl crush at that time, and from there, she moved on to so much more. From her success with this movie, she earned many other amazing film opportunities.
In 2001, though, she would strike pay dirt when she landed the role of Sharon Spitz on the television series, Braceface. Over the past few years, she returned to television on series like The Baby-Sitters Club.
Danielle Fishel
It seemed like everybody was in love with Topanga Lawrence from Boy Meets World. Danielle Fishel was the actress who played the role, and when the show ended, she took this fame and continued to work off and on for the next decade.
Though nothing was quite as big or as long-running as her previous show, she took the challenge and ventured into voice work as well. Even though she hasn't worked in the past couple of years, she did reprise Topanga on the Disney Channel television series, Girl Meets World.
Amy Jo Johnson
In the late 1990s, almost every kid and tween were all about the Mighty Morphin Power Rangers. That may well have been because several of those youngsters had crazy crushes on the pink ranger, Kimberly, who was played by Amy Jo Johnson.
Though the series would allow her to have a major Hollywood film credit to her name, she continued to work primarily in television afterward. Recently, though, she hasn't worked very much in television, but rather more in independent films.
Anna Paquin
A New Zealand-Canadian actress, Anna Paquin stole hearts all over the globe when she made her acting debut in romantic-drama The Piano. For this performance, she won an Academy Award at the age of 11, making her the second-youngest winner in Oscar history.
So, it goes without saying that her career really took off from there, as Paquin continued to perform prominent roles into adulthood. Throughout the 2000s, she starred in several films including the X-Men franchise. She's also featured in American Underdog, which is set to be released this coming month in December 2021.
Natalie Portman
From the first time that Natalie Portman graced the screen in 1994's Léon: The Professional, people were crushing on her left and right. Not only was she talented, but also beautiful to boot.
She has been working since the moment she set foot in front of the camera. Most recently, she starred in several big-time movies, including a few in the MCU. She has several movies in post and pre-production, including a new addition to the MCU with Thor: Love and Thunder.
Lacey Chabert
Lacey, like many young stars, started her career out in the daytime world of soap operas. However, it wasn’t until she landed the role of Claudia on Party of Five that she began to capture hearts across the globe.
Over the following few decades, she has continued to work in film and television — and even did a little voice work. Most recently, she can be seen in the series, The Crossword Mysteries. Plus, she gave birth to her first child in December 2020.
Katie Holmes
Katie Holmes was another star that found her fame on the hit television series, Dawson’s Creek. In the role of Joey Potter, she became the feature of many people’s dreams. She would take the fame earned from the show and find roles in several big-time Hollywood films as well.
Over the past few years, she not only starred as Jackie Kennedy in mini-series The Kennedys After Camelot — but she has continued landing film work left and right. She's currently working on a film entitled Rare Objects.
Mila Kunis
Mila Kunis got her start in the entertainment industry as Jackie Burkhart on Fox's That '70s Show — and it's no secret that she lied about her age in order to land the role. There, she would play alongside Ashton Kutcher's Michael Kelso (little did these two know that they'd end up together in real life!).
Mila's breakout film role came in 2008 when she portrayed Rachel in Forgetting Sarah Marshall. From then on, her career has only continued to thrive. She's starring in an upcoming mystery film called Luckiest Girl Alive, currently in post-production.
Liv Tyler
Hollywood royalty Liv Tyler is an actress, producer, singer, and formal model. The daughter of Aerosmith's Steven Tyler and former Playboy Playmate Bebe Buell, Liv began a career in modeling at just 14 years old. From there, she tried her hand at acting and made her film debut in Silent Fall.
It wasn't long after that she achieved critical recognition and became best known for her portrayal of Arwen Undómiel in the Lord of the Rings film trilogy. In 2020, Tyler starred in Fox's 9-1-1: Lone Star but has since left the show due to the pandemic.
Amanda Bynes
Nickelodeon bred several crush-worthy stars throughout the '90s and 2000s, and one of those has to be Amanda Bynes. Starring in The Amanda Show and All That, Bynes was quite the comedic talent.
From there, she found her way onto another hit television show — as well as tons of hit movies. Although we haven’t seen much of her since 2010 due to personal issues, she's still one of the biggest girl crushes we've ever had.
Larisa Oleynik
Larisa found her fame on the television series, The Secret World of Mack. There, she played the main character that captivated our hearts for four seasons. But, our crush would live on as she matured and found fame on both the small and big screen.
Continuously working since the '90s, Larisa has recently been busy with two different series. You can see her both on The Healing Powers of Dude as well as Trinkets.
Alexis Bledel
Now a household name, Alexis Bledel got her start in the entertainment industry during the mid-'90s. It wasn't until 2000, though, that she'd land her breakthrough role as Rory on Gilmore Girls — a portrayal that earned her numerous nominations.
During her time on the show, Bledel also kept busy with film work, starring in several movies including Tuck Everlasting, Sin City, and The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants. Today, you can find her as Emily Malek in The Handmaid's Tale — a portrayal that has actually earned her one Emmy win and numerous nominations.
Blake Lively
A California native, Blake Lively made her professional debut in her father's 1998 directorial project, Sandman. Still, it wasn't until The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants that Blake rose to prominence — to the point that she even landed the part of Serena van der Woodsen in CW's Gossip Girl.
During her time on the show, as well as after, Lively starred in several films including Green Lantern and The Age of Adaline among plenty others. As of 2021, Lively is set to star in Netflix's movie adaptation of Reddit's NoSleep novella, We Used to Live Here.
Gabrielle Union
In all honesty, we really can't get enough of bombshell Gabrielle Union. Although she began her career in the early '90s, appearing on different TV sitcoms, Union landed her first big supporting role in 1999 with She's All That and 10 Things I Hate About You.
Her breakthrough role, though, was in 2000's Bring it On. Throughout the 2000s, the Nebraska native kept busy, starring on both the big screen and small. Listed as one of the 100 most influential people in the world, Union has also written four books — two of which were released in 2021.
Anne Hathaway
Anne Hathaway is an award-winning actress that took the entertainment industry by storm when she first began acting in the late-'90s. Although her parents weren't initially keen about their daughter pursuing an acting career, she did eventually land the starring roles in The Princess Diaries as well as The Other Side of Heaven — and, as you guessed it, the rest is history.
From The Devil Wears Prada to Les Misérables, the beloved star has been acting ever since. As of 2022, Anne is set to star in upcoming drama miniseries WeCrashed.
Christina Ricci
She made her acting debut at the age of nine and was known for playing characters who had dark personalities such as Wednesday Adams. She was known for children's movies such as Casper until she started to target a more adult audience.
Ricci has provided the voice of many video game characters and is also the spokesperson for RAINN. Her role in the thriller, Distorted where she plays a bipolar woman was praised as its biggest asset amongst all the critic reviews.
Robyn Lively
The sister to Blake Lively, she like many began a career as a child actor before taking on bigger roles. She had a prominent role in the third installment of The Karate Kid where her character developed a friendship with Ralph.
Later at the age of 19, she would earn an Emmy. Lively is now married with three children but still makes appearances in many TV shows. Her last role on the screen was in two episodes of All Rise where she played Nancy Frost.
Emma Watson
This British actress is easily one of the most recognizable faces due to her portrayal of Hermione Granger in the Harry Potter series of movies. After her success in the previous movie, she would go on to play another successful role in Perks Of Being A Wallflower.
Currently, the stunning sensation is a force to be reckoned with as she is one of the highest-paid actresses around along with being one of the most influential people in the world. She is a supporting figure in the fight for women's rights.
Hayden Panettiere
Hayden was only eleven months old when she appeared in her first commercial. Her first big role was in One Life To Live and later she would go on to appear in the fourth iteration of the cult classic horror, Scream.
Panettiere has provided the voice of Samantha in the highly-rated game, Until Dawn along with Kairi and Xion in Kingdom Hearts. She also plays an active role in helping others to speak up about domestic abuse after experiencing it herself.
Alexa Vega
The ultimate crush of many children and preteens, she made herself known to the world as Carmen Cortez in Spy Kids where she has been said to do her stunts by herself. She would later appear as the grown-up version of Carmen in All The Time In The World.
She currently shares a YouTube channel with her husband which they named LexLovesUs. Recently they have welcomed their third child into the family whom they named Rio Rey PenaVega.
The Greatest '80s Teen Stars and Where They Are Now
Rob Lowe
We kick things off with '80s heartthrob Rob Lowe. The star started acting at just 15 years old, putting him at the ideal age to become a teen idol in the ‘80s.
In fact, Rob was a member of the Brat Pack — a group of young actors who appeared together often in coming-of-age movies. Like many others on this list, Rob Lowe was a huge star in the ‘80s and then made a comeback later in his career. Not only has he appeared on several TV shows but he even hosts his own podcast!
Elisabeth Shue
Next up is American actress Elisabeth Shue, who starred in all sorts of huge ‘80s hits. At the beginning of the decade, she starred in The Karate Kid, and then later in Adventures in Babysitting and Back to the Future. Those are some serious '80s credentials!
In the '90s, Elisabeth Shue was nominated for an Oscar for her work. Nowadays, she stars in various streaming hits, including The Boys on Amazon, and the Karate Kid-inspired Cobra Kai on Netflix.
Judd Nelson
Without a doubt, one of the most iconic and memorable movies from the ‘80s is The Breakfast Club. The John Hughes directed flick starred various teen actors as high schoolers spending the afternoon in detention. Judd Nelson played John Bender, otherwise known as “the criminal.”
As well as starring in some other hits from the '80s, Jude Nelson went on to work in both TV and film. He played Billy in Empire and voice acts for the Transformers franchise.
John Cusack
Interestingly, before Judd Nelson was cast as “the criminal,” actor John Cusack was up for the role. In fact, Cusack won the role but was replaced with Nelson when he didn’t look threatening enough. However, he did star in John Hughes’ first hit movie, Sixteen Candles.
John Cusack is a pretty prolific actor, and has starred in over '80 movies. Most recently, he played Dr. Kevin Christie in sci-fi drama Utopia. The star has never married or had kids.
Christina Applegate
Christina Applegate is still a pretty big star, so it may be surprising that she was also a teen idol in the ‘80s. The star started with smaller roles but didn’t become more well known until she played Kelly on Fox’s first-ever sitcom, Married… with Children.
We all know that Christina Applegate is in hit after hit. She won two Emmys for sitcom Samantha Who? and has been delighting audiences as Jen in Netflix’s dark comedy Dead to Me.
Jennifer Grey
Actress Jennifer Grey is an ‘80s teen idol that seemed to disappear after she became a huge star. In fact, Grey was in '80s megahits Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and Dirty Dancing, and several other movies during the decade. However, in the early '90s, the actress had two nose surgeries, making her unrecognizable.
She said, “I went in the operating room a celebrity — and came out anonymous.” More recently, Jennifer Grey starred in American-British drama Bittersweet Symphony and had a guest spot on Grey’s Anatomy.
Lea Thompson
We’ve already mentioned Back to the Future, and here’s another of its stars. American actress Lea Thompson played Marty’s mom in the movie. During the decade, she also appeared in sports drama All the Right Moves and action movie Red Dawn.
Lea Thompson is actually the mom of another teen idol. Her daughter Zoey Deutch stars in Netflix’s The Politician. Lea has continued to act, starring in various big-screen comedies and TV shows like The Goldbergs and Scorpion.
Emilio Estevez
Who loves The Mighty Ducks? Well, in the decade before it was released, star Emilio Estevez was making his name. The actor was another member of the so-called Brat Pack, starring in The Breakfast Club and St. Elmo’s Fire. Emilio is the only of his famous family to keep his original surname.
In 2022, Emilio Estevez will be directing Young Guns III: Alias: Billy the Kid, which he also wrote. He will also be reprising his role in the Disney reboot of The Mighty Ducks.
Charlie Sheen
And here’s his brother! Charlie Sheen — or Carlos Estevez — was also a teen idol in the ‘80s. Charlie starred in Platoon, Wall Street, and Young Guns within just a couple of years. As we know, he’s continued to act, and has made lots of headlines along the way.
During his time on Two and a Half Men, Sheen became the highest-paid actor on TV. He hasn’t acted in a TV series or movie since 2018 and 2017 respectively.
Michael J. Fox
Canadian-American actor Michael J. Fox kicked off his career in the ‘70s but became well known for his role on ‘80s series Family Ties. Of course, he cemented himself in pop culture history when he skated his way through the Back to the Future franchise alongside the legendary Christopher Lloyd.
In the ‘90s, Michael J. Fox revealed that he had been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. Since then, he’s been working towards a cure for the illness with his self-named foundation.
Tom Cruise
You didn’t think Tom Cruise just appeared in the ‘90s, right? The leading man made his mark when he landed the starring role in comedy Risky Business. Several years later, he was doing what would be become his signature — starring in a hit-action movie, this time, Top Gun.
Tom has become a pretty controversial celebrity figure due to his relationship with the Church of Scientology. However, he’s still doing his own stunts. A new Top Gun movie is upcoming in 2022.
Sean Astin
He may be lots of people’s favorite hobbit, but Sean Astin was actually a teen idol long before he appeared in the Shire. Perhaps most famously, the actor played asthmatic leader Mikey in adventure comedy hit The Goonies.
Sean Astin has continued to steadily work since his award-winning turn as hobbit Samwise Gamgee. Recently, he has appeared in The Big Bang Theory, Brooklyn Nine-Nine, and Supergirl. He has also done voice work for several animated movies.
Kiefer Sutherland
He’s been on TV so long that it’s hard to imagine actor Kiefer Sutherland as a young man. But, indeed he was. The British-born Canadian star had his first leading movie role in the '80s, and went on to star in hits Stand by Me and The Lost Boys.
Those are some impressive ‘80s credentials! Most famously, Kiefer went on to become Jack Bauer in Fox series 24. For his work, he took home a bundle of major awards.
Matt Dillon
Here’s a lesser-known face that was super famous in the ‘80s. Matt Dillon secured his teen idol status with movies My Bodyguard, Little Darlings, and The Outsiders.
Towards the end of the decade, he continued to appear in big-screen hits and was celebrated as a star actor. Later, Matt Dillon was nominated for both an Oscar and a Grammy. He has continued to act, and will star in Wes Anderson’s upcoming movie.
Kevin Bacon
Once you’ve seen Kevin Bacon’s famous dance scene in Footloose, it’s hard to forget. The actor played the lead role in the 1984 musical and even enrolled in a high school for research. The actor struggled with being typecast after the role, but has enjoyed a long and successful career.
Amusingly, the star has since become the center of the game “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon.” The actor will star in the upcoming superhero comedy, The Toxic Avenger.
Winona Ryder
For a while there, we thought iconic ‘80s and ‘90s actress Winona Ryder was gone for good. Thankfully, she reemerged on Netflix’s hit sci-fi series Stranger Things as Joyce Byers. Back in the '80s, Winona made it big in Tim Burton’s fantasy comedy Beetlejuice, and then in Edward Scissorhands in 1990.
Though she was in a highly publicized relationship with Johnny Depp in the ‘90s, Winona Ryder is now married to Scott Mackinlay Hahn. Thankfully, she’s still acting.
Corey Haim
Next, we turn to one half of the two Coreys – Corey Haim. In the '80s, the Canadian actor starred in a raft of movies, but he made it big in The Lost Boys. Haim often starred alongside Corey Feldman, hence their collective name. Sadly, Corey Haim struggled with his early wealth and fame.
Over the years, Corey developed substance issues and ultimately ended up destitute and homeless. The child star passed away at just 38 years old from pneumonia, among other things.
Ralph Macchio
Starting in 1984, American actor Ralph Maccio appeared in the Karate Kid movies. Playing the lead role of a high schooler learning karate to defend himself, Macchio ended up being incredibly famous. He continued acting for the next few decades, both on the big screen and in TV shows.
Most recently, Ralph Maccio has joined Cobra Kai, Netflix’s sequel to the original movies. He also played Officer Haddix on The Deuce between 2017 and 2019. Macchio has two children.
River Phoenix
We have another tragic child star story next with actor and musician River Phoenix. The '80s heartthrob had no formal schooling, and was the older brother of actor Joaquin Phoenix.
He started acting at age 10, and eventually got a main role in ‘80s classic Stand by Me. Tragically, the young actor passed away at only 23 years old. He collapsed at The Viper Room — a club owned by fellow '80s icon Johnny Depp.
Phoebe Cates
Unlike some of the other ‘80s stars on this list, actress Phoebe Cates gave up the limelight. Because of this, there aren’t many up-to-date pictures of her online. Back in her acting days, Cates appeared in Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Gremlins. That’s an impressive resume!
Phoebe Cates hasn’t acted since 2001, though she did lend her voice to a Lego video game. She's married to actor Kevin Kline, and they have two children together.
Keanu Reeves
As we know, Keanu Reeves hasn’t gone anywhere since his heyday in the ‘80s. the Canadian actor made his film debut in 1986, appearing in drama sports movie Youngblood. After that, he broke through by playing a title character in sci-fi comedy Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure and its sequels.
Keanu Reeves has had many incredible roles over the years, including Neo in The Matrix series. More recently, he has announced he’ll reprise his role in The Matrix Resurrections, released in 2021.
Christian Slater
Another actor with a major 1980s film debut is American Christian Slater. The star had a lead role in The Legend of Billie Jean, and then played a sociopath high schooler in Heathers. The New York City-born star has continued to act, appearing on film and TV every decade.
In particular, Slater was praised for his lead role in Mr. Robot and even took home a Golden Globe for the part. In 2022, he’ll be voice acting in Army of the Dead: Lost Vegas.
Johnny Depp
Well, well, well — who do we have here? While he may have fallen from grace in recent years, Johnny Depp was a major teen idol in the ‘80s. Plus, alongside Winona Ryder, he was the best-dressed heartthrob out there... just saying.
Johnny Depp made his big-screen debut in 1984’s A Nightmare on Elm Street. He also starred in the original 21 Jump Street TV series, cementing his fame. In 2020, the actor starred in and produced drama Minamata.
C. Thomas Howell
There’s no question that one of the biggest hits of the ‘80s was Steven Spielberg’s sci-fi movie E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial. In the 1982 hit, actor C. Thomas Howell had his first big-screen role, playing Elliot’s brother Tyler.
As a result, his next role was the lead in Francis Ford Coppola’s The Outsiders. After his major ‘80s roles, C. Thomas Howell continued to work as an actor. On TV he’s appeared in The Walking Dead, Dynasty, and Stitchers.
Robert Downey Jr.
Much like Johnny Depp, it’s easy to forget that Robert Downey Jr. also had a career back in the ‘80s. In fact, the actor was a major teen idol during the decade. He also made the headlines regularly because of his substance issues and run-ins with the law.
The former Brat Packer reformed his image and went on to become Hollywood royalty. Since 2008, he has played Tony Stark/Iron Man in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, appearing in 10 films.
Ally Sheedy
We’re back to The Breakfast Club with our next ‘80s teen idol — Ally Sheedy. The actress was also part of The Brat Pack, and also starred in St. Elmo’s Fire and WarGames. Since then, she’s shared that she felt the term “brat pack” was undermining.
On top of that, she’s noted some of the more problematic parts of her famous films. In particular, she didn’t like her character’s makeover in The Breakfast Club. In 2018, Ally Sheedy tweeted #MeToo with the names James Franco and Christian Slater.
Anthony Michael Hall
We’re sticking with The Breakfast Club and turning to "The Brain." Anthony Michael Hall played Brian in the classic flick, and had already starred in ‘80s hit Sixteen Candles. The actor joined Saturday Night Live in 1985, hoping to move away from the geek persona he was associated with.
Anthony Michael Hall has continued acting. He starred in slasher movie Halloween Kills in 2021, and appeared in several episodes of The Goldbergs. Interestingly, he’s the godfather of Robert Downey Jr.’s son, Indio.
Jamie Lee Curtis
Before she was the chic star we know today, actress Jamie Lee Curtis was an ‘80s queen. Or a scream queen to be precise. Her most famous role — as Laurie in Halloween — was actually in the ‘70s, but she went on to appear in various ‘80s horror hits.
Over the years, she’s appeared in multiple sequels to Halloween, including the 2018 installment. The award-winning actress is still working. She stole the show in mystery comedy Knives Out, and will be starring in sci-fi comedy Borderlands.
Molly Ringwald
As if we would leave out "The Princess" herself! Molly Ringwald was a major deal in the ‘80s. She starred in John Hughes movies Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, and Pretty in Pink. For the rest of the decade, she steadily appeared in a string of other movies.
According to a VH1 list, Molly Ringwald is the greatest teen star of all. Interestingly, Molly Ringwald critiqued her former movies following the #Me Too movement in 2018. She acknowledged her love for Hughes but pointed out some important issues.
Julia Roberts
The striking Julia Roberts is considered one of the most bankable actresses in Hollywood. And hey, she’s been doing it for years! The star made her film debut in 1988’s Satisfaction, then starred in Mystic Pizza, and finally was nominated for an Oscar for Steel Magnolias. You can’t deny the power of Julia Roberts!
Now internationally known and critically acclaimed, Julia Roberts is a quintessential movie star. Most recently, she starred in and executive-produced the psychological TV series, Homecoming.
Andrew McCarthy
In his later years, former teen idol Andrew McCarthy commented, “I wouldn’t wish fame on anyone under 30.” Indeed, we can understand why. The American writer was also a member of the Brat Pack, starring in hits like St. Elmo's Fire, Pretty in Pink, and Less Than Zero.
Andrew McCarthy is also a director, and responsible for many of our favorite shows. He has directed Good Girls, Orange Is the New Black, and New Amsterdam. He released his memoir in 2021.
Matthew Broderick
Back in the ‘80s, a fresh-faced Matthew Broderick stole hearts in the leading role in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off. The Manhattan-born actor started off on Broadway and even won a Tony for his work. His first movie role was in 1983, and he landed the part as Bueller in 1986.
Since his first Tony win, Matthew Broderick landed another. He’s also continued acting on stage, starring in comedy Plaza Suite in 2020 on Broadway. The star is married to actress Sarah Jessica Parker.
Corey Feldman
We’ve already discussed actor Corey Haim, and now we’re onto the second half of the two Coreys — Corey Feldman. Like many of the other teen idols on this list, Corey Feldman starred in major ‘80s hits like Gremlins, The Goonies, and Stand by Me.
However, his most famous role might be alongside Corey Haim in The Lost Boys. Since his time as a child star, Corey Feldman has been outspoken about the abuse he experienced in Hollywood. In particular, he has talked about his relationship with Michael Jackson.
Demi Moore
Producer and actor Demi Moore also made her name back in the ’80s. Much like Julia Roberts, she went on to become one of the highest-paid actresses in Hollywood. The star was also a member of the Brat Pack and also starred in St. Elmo’s Fire (did everyone star in that movie?).
Demi’s big breakthrough was in Ghost in 1990. While the actress has made headlines over her marriages to high-profile figures, she has also continued to act.
Alyssa Milano
Finally, we close our list of ‘80s teen idols with actress and activist Alyssa Milano. As with many of our other stars, Alyssa started working when she was a small child. Her film debut was in coming-of-age movie Old Enough but she made her name in the sitcom, Who’s the Boss?
Alyssa Milano hasn’t stopped since, acting in both movies and TV series. She was also a major figure in the #Me Too movement, creating the popular hashtag.
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