The Greatest ’80s Teen Stars and Where They Are Now
Just like today, the ’80s boasted its own cast of teen idols. From chiseled cheekbones and leather jackets to puffy shoulder pads and blue eyeshadow, this decade certainly had its own signature style. Some don’t realize that many celebs that we know and love today were actually heartthrobs in their youths. Let’s take a look at the greatest teen stars from the ’80s, and see what they’re up to 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.
Rob Lowe
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!
Elisabeth Shue
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.”
Judd Nelson
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
John Cusack is a pretty prolific actor and has starred in over ’80 movies. Most recently, he played Dr. Kevin Christie in the 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.
Christina Applegate
We all know that Christina Applegate is in hit after hit. She won two Emmys for the 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.
Jennifer Grey
She said, “I went in the operating room a celebrity — and came out anonymous.” More recently, Jennifer Grey starred in the 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 the sports drama All the Right Moves and the action movie Red Dawn.
Lea Thompson
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 one in his famous family to keep his original surname.
Emilio Estevez
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.
Charlie Sheen
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 in the ‘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.
Michael J. Fox
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 the comedy Risky Business. Several years later, he was doing what would become his signature — starring in a hit-action movie, this time, Top Gun.
Tom Cruise
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 the adventure comedy hit The Goonies.
Sean Astin
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.
Kiefer Sutherland
Those are some impressive ‘80s credentials! Most famously, Kiefer went on to become Jack Bauer in the 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 the movies My Bodyguard, Little Darlings, and The Outsiders.
Matt Dillon
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 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.
Kevin Bacon
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.
Winona Ryder
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.
Corey Haim
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.
Ralph Macchio
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.
River Phoenix
He started acting at age 10, and eventually got the main role in the ‘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
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 the drama sports movie Youngblood. After that, he broke through by playing a title character in the sci-fi comedy Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure and its sequels.
Keanu Reeves
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.
Christian Slater
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
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 the 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.
C. Thomas Howell
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.
Robert Downey Jr.
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.
Ally Sheedy
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 the ‘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
Anthony Michael Hall has continued acting. He starred in the 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.
Jamie Lee Curtis
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.
Molly Ringwald
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!
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.
Patrick Dempsey
Playing neurosurgeon Derek “McDreamy” Shepherd might be his most famous role, but this talented actor has been active long before Grey’s Anatomy was even conceived. Though the ‘80s were the start of his career, he still managed to land a few meaningful roles that cemented him as a teen heartthrob.
Patrick Dempsey
He seems to especially shine in romantic comedies, with his big break being Can’t Buy Me Love in 1987. He has continued with the genre, with movies like Made of Honor and Disney’s Enchanted. It seems he’ll also be reprising his princely role in the sequel to that movie, Disenchanted which is in post-production.
Brooke Shields
Brooke Shields started her career as a child model in the ‘70s but decided to expand into acting in the ‘80s with the beloved cult classic The Blue Lagoon. At the time, she was also very close to Michael Jackson.
Brooke Shields
She still acts, adding voice-acting to her resume in recent years. Just a few years ago, she had a major recurring role on the show Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. She’s married for the second time and has two children.
Jason Bateman
Though we might not always remember it, Jason Bateman was absolutely a teen idol in the ‘80s, with his biggest rise to fame coming from playing David Hogan on The Hogan Family. He was also the Directors Guild of America’s youngest director, as he directed three episodes of the show when he was only 18.
Jason Bateman
He’s kept acting, of course, giving wonderful performances as Michael Bluth on Arrested Development and Marty Byrde in Netflix’s critically acclaimed Ozark. He’s been married to Amanda Anka (daughter of Paul Anka) since 2001 and they have two daughters together.
Sarah Jessica Parker
Although Sarah Jessica Parker’s most famous role is probably that of Carrie Bradshaw in SATC, she actually got her serious start in the ‘80s with the beloved classic, Footloose. From there she went on to play quite a few iconic roles.
Sarah Jessica Parker
She also started her own production company in 2005. She has three children with her ‘80s teen icon husband, Matthew Broderick, and she’s recently had a huge comeback with the much-anticipated squeal — And Just Like That…
James Spader
While most people nowadays would probably recognize him as Raymond “Red” Remington from the hit crime drama The Blacklist, or from the MCU as the voice of Ultron, James Spader has had quite a successful career since way back in the early ‘80s.
James Spader
Though he was in quite a few productions at the time, his most famous role in that decade is probably as Steff the arrogant jerk in John Hughes’ Pretty in Pink, alongside Molly Ringwald and Jon Cryer.
Val Kilmer
Val Kilmer had an incredibly successful career from the very beginning. Though his big break came from the comedy spy movie Top Secret, his two biggest roles were as “Iceman” in the beloved Top Gun, and Madmartigan in the cult classic, Willow.
Val Kilmer
He went on to play a ton of iconic roles in his career. In 2015 he was diagnosed with throat cancer. Due to the treatment he received, especially to his trachea, his voice was lost. Thankfully, he is now cancer-free and is even reprised of his role in Top Gun: Maverick.
Jon Cryer
Jon Cryer was probably most famous in the ‘80s for his role in Pretty in Pink as “Duckie,” Andie’s (played by Molly Ringwald) best friend. And who can forget the iconic style Duckie has in that movie?
Jon Cryer
Although his career flatlines slightly for a while, he eventually did get back into the limelight with the much-loved sitcom, Two and a Half Men where he played co-lead Alan Harper alongside Charlie Sheen, and later Ashton Kutcher, from 2003 to 2015.
Wil Wheaton
Wil Wheaton first became prominent thanks to his role in the 1986 film, Stand by Me, alongside River Phoenix, Corey Feldman, Jerry O’Connell, and Ben E. King. He also voiced Martin in The Secret of NIMH and acted in The Buddy System alongside Richard Dreyfuss and Susan Sarandon.
Wil Wheaton
His unofficial title as “King of the Geeks” though, comes mostly thanks to his role on Star Trek: The Next Generation as young Wesley Crusher. He has also played a fictional version of himself on the massively popular show The Big Bang Theory.
Neil Patrick Harris
Not only was Neil Patrick Harris one of the most popular child actors of the ‘80s, but he’s also managed to keep growing his career and is one of the most successful actors today, as well! And it’s all thanks to a little show called Doogie Howser, M.D.!
Neil Patrick Harris
The star of How I Met Your Mother and Netflix’s A Series of Unfortunate Events and his loving husband, David Burtka, are raising their twin children, Harper and Gideon. Neil Patrick Harris is a vocal advocate for LGBTQ+ rights.
Joan Cusack
She might be John Cusack’s sister, but Joan Cusack is a star in her own right. While she acted all throughout the ‘80s, her big break came in 1988 with her role in Working Girl which also got her nominated for an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress.
Joan Cusack
She’s still very much active, with her distinct voice helping her snag the role of cowgirl Jessie in the Toy Story franchise. She’s also appeared in A Series of Unfortunate Events on Netflix, and had a long run on the critically acclaimed show Shameless.
Matt Damon
Alright, so Matt Damon might be a bit of a stretch but he did technically get his start in the ‘80s with a speaking role in the beloved classic, Mystic Pizza (who cares if it was just one line?). His big break though, came ten years later when he starred in Good Will Hunting in 1997.
Matt Damon
He’s had many iconic roles since — the apprentice thief in the reboot of Ocean’s Eleven, the undercover mobster in The Departed, super agent, Jason Bourne, and even scientist Mark Watney in the critically acclaimed The Martian. He lives with his wife and three daughters in Los Angeles.
Jennifer Connelly
Unsurprisingly, the beautifully ethereal Jennifer Connelly began her career as a child model. She moved on to acting in the mid-’80s, with her biggest, and most iconic, role at the time as young Sarah Williams in The Labyrinth opposite the great David Bowie as the Goblin King.
Jennifer Connelly
She’s still acting, mostly in dramatic roles, with her most recent film credit being in the much-awaited sequel, Top Gun: Maverick. She’s been married to fellow actor, Paul Bettany, since 2003 and they have two children together. Connelly has another son from a previous relationship.
Candace Cameron Bure
Although Candace Cameron Bure is an actress, producer, author, and talk show panelist, she’s probably best remembered for her role in the heartwarming sitcom Full House where she played the eldest daughter, T.J. Tanner. She even reprised the role in the spin-off series, Fuller House.
Candace Cameron Bure
Her career kept moving steadily after, but she never had a role as successful as D.J. Tanner. She has, however, appeared in over two dozen Hallmark Channel movies, has had a steady gig as co-host on The View for two seasons, and wrote four books.
Jennifer Jason Leigh
Most of Jennifer Jason Leigh’s early career consisted of acting as the fragile and broken victim in slasher and horror films. However, she did have one serious stand-out role as Stacy Hamilton in the coming-of-age dramedy, Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
Jennifer Jason Leigh
She’s still very much active, and her career includes all sorts of different roles, from comedic to dramatic to devastating. Her most notable role recently has been in Quentin Tarantino’s take on a Western film, The Hateful Eight.
Helen Hunt
Helen Hunt has had quite a diverse and interesting career, starting all the way back in the late ‘70s as a child actor. By the ‘80s she was acting in mostly teen-oriented productions like Girls Just Want to Have Fun with Sarah Jessica Parker, and Project X alongside Matthew Broderick.
Helen Hunt
Her serious break-out role, though, came in the ‘90s with the success of Mad About You where she played co-lead, Jamie Stemple Buchman. She’s since been in many successful productions, such as What Women Want, Cast Away, and Pay It Forward. And she’s definitely not done yet.
Mary Stuart Masterson
Though she had a few minor roles in The Stepford Wives and Heaven Help Us, Mary Stuart Masterson is probably most well known for her role in the John Huges 1987 film, Some Kind of Wonderful, where she plays tomboy-ish best-friend-turned-loved-interest, Watts.
Mary Stuart Masterson
While she hasn’t had the most prolific career on this list, she’s had moderate success, acting in all sorts of productions and having recurring roles on quite a few police procedurals over the years, like NCIS and Blindspot.
Jennifer Beals
Flashdance was a generation-defining movie, and the numbers definitely agree, as it was the third-highest-grossing film of 1983. And all that success definitely has to do with its lead actress, Jennifer Beals who absolutely shone as the passionate wannabe dancer, Alexandra “Alex” Owens.
Jennifer Beals
Her next massively influential role was on The L Word as Bette Porter, who was specifically written as biracial and worked well with Beals’s own lived experience as a biracial woman. Recently, she appeared in the Disney+ series, The Book of Boba Fett.
Ethan Hawke
Ethan Hawke’s first foray into acting didn’t go all that great. Though it had great reviews, Explorers did pretty poorly at the box office, crushing young Hawke. He took a short break from child acting and only returned in 1989 with Dead Poets Society as one of Robin Williams’ students.
Ethan Hawke
He has since had an incredibly successful career, acting in serious, romantic, and comedic roles. He’s recently acted in the critically acclaimed The Northman and has even joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe with a recurring role on Moon Knight.
Josh Brolin
For his most recently famous role, most people probably won’t recognize him, but behind the big, purple CGI of Thanos in The Avengers movies, is Josh Brolin. The beginning of his career wasn’t quite as ominous and villainous.
Josh Brolin
Brolin got his brig break as Brandon Walsh in the beloved Speilberg children’s classic, The Goonies. He has since acted in a ton of other beloved and well-received films, such as No Country for Old Men, and Milk for which he was nominated for an Oscar.
Jami Gertz
This actress/investor was first discovered by a nationwide talent search. Her success took a little time to soar, but it finally came with her role on Less Than Zero alongside Robert Downey Jr.
Jami Gertz
She later acted in quite a few cult sci-fi movies like Solarbabies and the Crossroads. Her career continued with the popular disaster movie, Twister, which became a 1996 blockbuster. She later appeared in quite a few sitcoms and TV shows in recurring roles.
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
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 of Bueller in 1986.
Matthew Broderick
Since his first Tony win, Matthew Broderick landed another. He’s also continued acting on stage, starring in the 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.
Corey Feldman
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 Moore
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 the coming-of-age movie Old Enough but she made her name in the sitcom, Who’s the Boss?
Alyssa Milano
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.