Ranking Our Favorite Stars From the ‘80s

If you grew up in the ’80s and ’90s, there were tons of great TV shows. But one of the most popular and quintessential shows was Married… With Children. The show was one of the longest-running shows, getting a generous 10 seasons. And one of the main reasons this happened was because of Christina Applegate’s character.

Though she would step back for a little bit, eventually she found her way back in front of the camera. She played roles in films like Anchorman and Bad Moms. Recently she has been starring in her hit television show, Dead To Me.

C. Thomas Howell made his debut early in the ’80s in one of the decade’s biggest films and one of Hollywood’s most classic films of all time… E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial. After that, he would go on to be one of the decade’s most in-demand young actors. The actor would go on to star in other iconic films like The Outsiders, Red Dawn, and The Hitcher.

He also would go on to star in a movie that built up quite a bit of controversy. This film was Soul Man. After that film, his career took a little bit of a downturn. But even still, he has continued acting to this day.

There were a group of young actors in the ’80s that found themselves labeled as the Brat Pack. One of the members was the very talented Ally Sheedy. This group worked in many of the same movies, and they even partied together.

Many of them went on to star in several of the biggest films of the ’80s. Ally starred in movies like The Breakfast Club and Short Circuit. She continues to act in both television and film. She even had a small role in X-Men: Apocalypse.

E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial launched a lot of great careers. Robert MacNaughton was one of them. He was a pivotal part of the movie, but yet when all was said and done, he did very little else in Hollywood.

Instead, he went on to live an everyday life. He moved to Arizona and became a postal carrier. There he has raised a beautiful family and lives quietly.

Though The Cosby Show is a little tarnished now, in the ’80s, it was a show that almost everyone watched. One of the stars on that show was the middle child, Vanessa, played by Tempestt Bledsoe.

After the show ended, though, she struggled to find work no matter how much her star shone. This was something that a lot of young T.V. stars went through in the ’80s and ’90s.

Risky Business, Revenge of the Nerds, and One Crazy Summer! These are all films that this next actor starred in during the ’80s. Curtis Armstrong played the wacky and often crude sidekick in any ’80s teen flicks.

He has continued working both on the big screen and on the small screen through the years. For instance, he had a long-running role on New Girl. He also does a lot of voice work in animation, including American Dad!.

Many of the reputations of actors and actresses on this list were made over many movies. However, for this young ’80s actress, her popularity was raised from one role. Her role in the preeminent werewolf film of the ’80s Teen Wolf was her big one.

After playing Boof, she went on to do a few guest spots on popular T.V. shows, but that one movie was the highlight of her career. In the ’90s, she left acting and got her master’s in design and manufacturing.

One of the most epic films of the ’80s, Weird Science, starred two nerdy guys played by Anthony Michael Hall (we will talk about him later) and Ilan Mitchell-Smith. The movie was about two young guys who used to bring a doll to life by using their computer.

The movie did very well, and the young actor probably thought this was the stepping stone he needed. Unfortunately, unlike his co-star, he only ended up with a few more roles and then left the business.

Sure, almost everybody raved about David Cassidy when he was on The Partridge Family, but there was another star on that show, young Susan Dey. After her time as a teen idol, Susan moved to L.A. to be a lawyer.

Not in real life, she was one of the leads on the classic and ’80s staple L.A. Law. She also did several made-for-television films. She continued acting until the early 2000s and then retired.

Jami Gertz started off on a little television show called Square Pegs. But she really didn’t hit her stride until she starred in one of the most recognized vampire movies of the ’80s… The Lost Boys.

This movie spun her into the spotlight, and from there, she also got big roles in movies like Twister and Less Than Zero. The actress still acts and even starred in a sitcom for four seasons called Still Standing.

Ricky Schroder was one of those young stars that became an instant heartthrob to preteens all over the U.S. in the ’80s. Grabbing the starring role in the hit ’80s sitcom Silver Spoons, Ricky quickly became a star.

He disappeared from the spotlight for a while but reappeared a few years back to star in another hit television show, NYPD Blue. From there, he kept acting and has done several television projects.

Kristy McNichol was a part of two very iconic television shows in the ’80s. Her first big role was in the hit show Family. After winning a few awards for her role, she moved to the big screen. She had a few films but nothing that garnered her the success of television.

So she returned to star in the Golden Girls spin-off Empty Nest. She was on this show for several years before medical issues forced her to move on. Nowadays, she enjoys working with charities and teaching acting.

Many, including Barney Stinson, believe that Johnny from The Karate Kid was the real hero. This iconic villain was played by Billy Zabka who, these days, goes by the name William Zabka.

While he is undoubtedly best known for being the arch-nemesis of Daniel LaRusso, Zabka has managed to stay relevant in the world of TV. Not only did he play himself in How I Met Your Mother, but he also reprised his role of Johnny in the hit series Cobra Kai.

In the ’80s, the Coreys dominated the screen and many a girl’s hearts. The more rebellious of the two, Corey Feldman, started his trade at the tender age of 3. As he grew, he found roles in some pretty epic films. Films like Gremlins, The Goonies, and Stand By Me fill out his IMDB resume.

He has continued to work and has even been in several reality T.V. shows and a few years back even published a memoir.

Though her star seemed to rise and pretty much just set in the horror movie genre, Heather Langenkamp was one of the most well-known young actors of the ’80s. Scoring the lead in the now-classic horror film Nightmare on Elm Street, she became a horror movie icon.

She went on to star in two more of the series and recently has made a comeback to the film having roles in lots of different films, including Star Trek Into Darkness.

Magazines Teen Beat and Tiger Beat in the ’80s were plastered with images of Ralph Macchio. After all, he was the Karate Kid, a role that pushed him to heartthrob status and legitimate ’80s idol. But he also starred in other films like The Outsiders and Crossroads.

After two sequels to his big hit, his career took a little dive. He continued to work, and like many ’80s stars, he has recently found a lot of success in television. Even recently reprising his iconic role of Daniel to be a part of the Netflix series Cobra Kai.

Jason Bateman has been in front of the camera for decades. Starting in the ’80s as a T.V. star with roles on Silver Spoons and Valerie. But he didn’t just act on the small screen, he also stretched his legs in movies like Teen Wolf Too and Moving Target.

He continued working through everything and has had more success in television the last couple of decades with shows like Arrested Development and, most recently, Ozark.

Nicole Eggert was one of the hottest young stars on television during the ’80s. Starting by playing memorable guest roles in shows like Fantasy Island, she went on to be one of the main cast on the hit Charles In Charge.

There she gained in popularity and when she left, found her way to another pretty popular show Baywatch. Unfortunately, after leaving that, her career never really went much further. She has shown up in several reality shows, though.

In the ’80s, it looked like River Phoenix was poised to become one of the decades most promising actors. After all, the young man starred in some pretty epic films, including the now-classic Stand By Me.

Unfortunately, like many of the young stars of Hollywood, he got into things that were not good for him. Eventually, the young star ended up letting his demons win and passed away in 1993.

Scott Baio is one of those quintessential figures from the ’80s. he had several hit shows, starting off with Happy Days, where he played Chachi. This role would give him his next television show with the spin-off Joanie Loves Chachi.

He would also star in Charles in Charge and Out of This World. Through the ’80s and into the 2000s, he continued to work on television and did very well for himself. Most recently, he worked in a series called See Dad Run.

Diane Lane has had a rough life, but she used her pain to become one of the best actresses of the ’80s in some people’s opinion. She got her big break working with one of the most prolific and well-known directors, Francis Ford Coppola, in The Outsiders and Rumble Fish.

But after these two hits, she went on to star in a lot of box office disappointments. For the next few decades, she would have a career that was up and down. But in the last couple of years, she has had several successful films and roles.

John Hughes was a pivotal director in the ’80s, and this actor played roles in several of his films. After making an impression in National Lampoons Vacation in the early ’80s, Anthony Michael Hall went on to take roles in movies like Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club.

Once the ’80s were over, the actor had fewer prospects. Eventually, he did find some of that spotlight again on television with shows like The Dead Zone.

Even if you weren’t raised in the ’80s, you have probably seen Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, or at least have heard of it. That is because there are a handful of movies that define the decade, and this is one of them. The lead actress in that, Mia Sara, took the success of that film and turned it into a small but pretty impressive career.

After this, she starred in films like Time Cop and Legend. Following these films, she continued acting but didn’t have the same success. Nowadays, she concentrates all her creative ability in writing poetry.

Wil Wheaton may be best known for his role as Wesley Crusher in Star Trek: The Next Generation, but he had been in the limelight for years when he donned that uniform. In fact, he made his big debut in several television movies, but his most significant role was in the classic film Stand By Me.

Wil has stayed busy doing tons of voice work in animation and in front of the camera, but his most noteworthy role of late was as himself in The Big Bang Theory.

Jennifer Connelly has a long list of work, but the movie that she is probably best known for is the fantasy classic, Labyrinth. That movie shone a light on the actress and unfortunately overshadowed much of her later work.

Jennifer has continued making films throughout the ’80s and into recent days. In the ’90s, she was part of movies like the Rocketeer and Mulholland Falls. Her latest role is in the show Snowpiercer.

The other half of the Coreys, Corey Haim, was the more All American part of the dynamic duo. Corey was a part of some of the best movies of the ’80s. Movies like The Lost Boys, License to Drive, Lucas, and Silver Bullet.

He continued acting but never really building on the fame of his youth. But he also had some personal problems, and in 2010 these problems caught up to him, and he passed away.

When it comes to crushes in the ’80s, many young men found their eye wandering to the very talented Elisabeth Shue. She found fame in the classic film Karate Kid and went on to star in even more iconic ’80s films. Some of these films were Back to The Future, Cocktail, and Adventures in Babysitting.

She would also take roles opposite big actors like Nicolas Cage in Leaving Las Vegas and Shine. Though the quality of the role changes, she has continued to act through the last three decades pretty steadily.

Jennifer Grey followed in her father’s footsteps when she decided to join the Hollywood machine in the ’80s. She had prime roles in two of the decade’s great films, Red Dawn and Dirty Dancing.

But after those two roles, her career took a hit. With a nose job, her entire look changed, and many people couldn’t pick her out anymore. Even with this, she continued working, getting small roles here and there.

Yet another member of the Brat Pack, Judd Nelson, made his own path choosing different kinds of roles. In fact, he chose roles that were of a more rebellious tone. Using this method, Judd wound up starring in films like The Breakfast Club, St. Elmo’s Fire, New Jack City, and the Transformers: The Movie.

But after the ’80s, Judd Nelson didn’t have a bright light shining on him. Though he does remain working, having roles on the hit Fox series Empire and doing lots of voice overwork.

The malls of America would ever be the same after this pop icon found her way to them. In the late ’80s, there were few female singers as big as Tiffany. Her hit “I Think We’re Alone Now” was perpetually repeating on the radio.

Doing a mall tour, the young woman built her fame up even more. But like many ’80s pop singers, she faded away after just a few hits. She continues with music but not to the same success.

When you are a part of one of the most loved films of all time, you can bet that your star will rise, and that is what happened for Lea Thompson. Starring alongside Michael J. Fox in the Back to the Future films. This role rocketed her into being one of the most beloved actors of the ’80s.

She also starred in the cult classic Howard the Duck as well as All the Right Moves. She has kept busy even having a hit television series, Caroline in the City.

Kirk Cameron was another one of those teen heartthrobs that came out of the ’80s. Known for his role as Mike Seaver in the long-running series Growing Pains, he was able to parlay that into a few big roles.

In the ’80s, his biggest movie role was in the comedy film Like Father, Like Son. He has worked off and on through the years but never really anything as big as he did in the ’80s.

Judge Reinhold may not be the first ’80s actor you think of, but once you see the amount of work he had in the ’80s, you will change your mind. In fact, he was in more amazing films than people think. Most associate him with movies like Beverly Hills Cop, but there were so many more.

He also had roles in Gremlins, Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and many others. In recent years, other than his role in the Santa Clause films, he pretty much does small roles and often ones that make fun of himself.

Christian Slater, with his crooked smile and unique voice, made him one of those ’80s stars that you instantly recognized. Starring in films like Heathers and The Name of the Rose, he cemented his place as a card-carrying member of the ’80s pop culture icons.

He has continued to work, though his career has taken twists and turns. Of late, he has found a little success in television with his roles on shows like Mr. Robot.

Who hasn’t recited the classic Brady Bunch line – “Marcia, Marcia, Marcia” – at least once in their life. That is because the show, and the young actress that played Marcia Brady, are cemented in pop culture. This role, though, was the biggest thing she did, and even created a spin-off that aired in the ’80s.

With a few guest roles on popular television in the ’80s, it looked like the young actress’s career was over. Since then, she has made a few appearances in front of the camera. Along with this, she is a bestselling author and made an appearance on a few reality T.V. shows.

Emilio Estevez comes from a Hollywood family, but many people seem to forget this because he doesn’t use the same last name. In fact, his brother is Charlie Sheen and his father, Martin Sheen. But Emilio found his own spotlight in the ’80s. He was a member of the illustrious Brat Pack.

In the ’80s, he had memorable roles in movies like The Breakfast Club, and St. Elmo’s Fire. He would also star in the Young Guns series and find pretty memorable roles in the ’90s. But recently, he has been stretching his legs behind the camera.

The minute the audience set eyes on Phoebe Cates, there was something that drew them in. From her first film Paradise, she went on to be one of the biggest female stars of the ’80s. She made a name for herself in movies like Fast Times at Ridgemont High and Gremlins.

But the young actress chose to step out of the limelight to raise her two children with fellow actor Kevin Kline. She has made periodic returns to film and also to do work in a video game.

Andrew McCarthy found fame like many of the ’80s stars as part of the Brat Pack. In the ’80s, he starred in movies like Less Than Zero and Pretty in Pink. He was the lead in many ’80s romantic comedies, and for that, he left an impression on ’80s culture.

He has continued to act well after the ’80s. Even finding himself in roles in many popular television shows. Some of these are Gossip Girl and The Family.

Starting modeling and acting at a young age Brooke Shields didn’t really hit it big until her seminal role in the classic Blue Lagoon. Though she went on to have a few other hits, she opted to take time off to go to college.

But when she returned in the ’80s, she found success more on the small screen with a hit T.V. show Suddenly Susan and several other guest roles in major television shows. She has also released a few books and still does some projects here and there.

Not quite a member of the Brat Pack but definitely Brat Pack adjacent, James Spader was one of those actors that everyone knew but flew under the radar. Yet still, he was a part of some of the most iconic ’80s films. He had roles in films like Pretty in Pink, Mannequin, Less Than Zero, and Wall Street, to name a few.

In the last few years, you can take in his talent as Raymond Reddington on the hit show, The Blacklist. He also played the motion-capture-performance role of Ultron in the blockbuster Avengers: Age of Ultron.