Where Did They All Go? The Stars of the Eighties

ALF

ALF (Alien Life Force) was going to join his friends Skip and Rhonda in their newly established colony, New Melmac, but at the last minute, the government's Alien Task Force swooped in and captured ALF. The fourth season of “ALF” was always going to end on a cliffhanger, but NBC didn't renew it for a fifth season.

It left a lot of viewers confused and scared for the character they had come to love. Thankfully, “Project: ALF,” a 1996 TV movie, let us see ALF escaping from the Alien Task Force. Unfortunately, fans didn't really like the movie, and it's been more or less forgotten. This puppet star is still in the eighties.

Tiffany

Thanks to her hit “I Think We're Alone Now,” Tiffany – real name Tiffany Darwish – found immediate fame. The song was a cover of an original by Tommy James and the Shondells. However, Tiffany proved to be a one-hit-wonder, and she disappeared from the charts before too long.

She switched to reality television, appearing in shows based in both the United States and Australia, such as “Celebrity Fit Club” and “I'm a Celebrity...Get Me Out of Here!” She also had a small role in a Syfy TV movie, “Mega Python vs. Gatoroid.” It didn't exactly make a strong showing at the Academy Awards.

Rebecca De Mornay

Rebecca De Mornay had her first taste of fame as the character Lana in “Risky Business,” While she's never reached A-list status, she's been keeping busy since then. In the early nineties, she was engaged to Leonard Cohen, though the relationship didn't move much farther. She helped produce his album “The Future.”

She got into a relationship with sportscaster Patrick O'Neal which brought about two children. Since then, De Mornay has also appeared on many television shows, including “Lucifer” and “Jessica Jones.” From “ER” to television movies to “Wedding Crashers,” this working actress has been showing up all over the place.

Emilio Estevez

As one of the founding members of the Brat Pack, Emilio was ready for stardom. While he hasn't become the big name he was hoping for, he still does plenty of acting, and at least his career didn't turn into anything like the rest of the pack. Thanks for that are due mostly to his most famous movie, “The Mighty Ducks,” as well as their sequels.

He's shifted into being a writer and a director and has recently made a film about the Bobby Kennedy assassination, “Bobby.” As a brother of Charlie Sheen, we can just be thankful that he didn't end up on such a dark path like other family members.

Shelley Long

Thanks to her part on “Cheers,” Shelley Long became a household name, thanks to her vivacious looks and energetic acting. She made the jump to movies in classic films such as “Night Shift” and “The Money Pit.”

What was likely her biggest non-” Cheers” role came in 1995 when she had an appearance in “The Brady Bunch Movie,” which brought the famous sitcom back for a new generation. She still makes plenty of appearances, though mainly on television, such as “Modern Family” and “Switched at Birth.” She added her voice to “Milo Murphy's Law.”

Lisa Bonet

Lisa Bonet has had a wild life. She gained her fame thanks to playing Denise Huxtable on “The Cosby Show.” Before the show and its spin-off, “A Different World,” finished, this young, famous actress had eloped with famous rocker Lenny Kravitz.

The pair had a daughter, Zoë, who has become an actress in her own right, appearing on “Mad Max: Fury Road,” “X-Men: First Class,” and several other high-profile films. While Lisa Bonet disappeared from the spotlight for a few decades, she's had a career resurgence and has appeared in TV shows and movies, including “New Girl,” “Ray Donovan,” and numerous other places.

Jeremy Miller

Child stars don't have a great track record keeping their careers going into adulthood, but Jeremy Miller has done better than most. Miller played Ben from “Growing Pains,” and while he's faded somewhat, he still gets acting jobs every once in a while. After the cast of “Growing Pains” got together for a reunion, he's had a few more opportunities to show off his skills, including numerous appearances as himself.

However, he also has several roles in the works, both in pre-and post-production. These include “Alive and Kicking,” “Awakening,” and “Aaah! Roach!” He's had a role in “The Quarantine Bunch” and was also on the nineties show “Ghostwriter.”

Jami Gertz

Jami Gertz was every teen boy's crush thanks to her appearances in “Sixteen Candles,” “The Lost Boys,” “Dreams,” and “The Facts of Life.” Even after the eighties came to a close, she enjoyed steady work, making appearances and having roles in “Seinfeld,” “ER,” “Ally McBeal,” and even “Modern Family.” She even starred in a pair of sitcoms: “Still Standing” and “The Neighbors.”

Her husband, Tony Ressler, is the owner of the Atlanta basketball team, the Hawks. Her most recent appearance is in the TV show “Difficult People,” in 2017. Her range is apparent in everything from “Entourage” to “Twister,” and while she's never topped the list of famous actresses, she gets plenty of work.

Scott Baio

During the eighties, it was impossible to turn on the TV and not see Scott Baio grinning at the camera. He was a fixture in sitcoms, including Chachi in “Happy Days” and the same character in “Joanie Loves Chachi.”

He then moved on to appear as the title character in “Charles in Charge,” and he reunited with “Happy Days” co-star Henry Winkler (The Fonz) thanks to his small role in “Arrested Development.” He's turned to reality TV, appearing in numerous shows such as “Scott Baio is 45...and Single,” “Scott Baio is 46...and Pregnant,” and “Confessions of a Teen Idol.”

Phoebe Cates

Men and boys around the world are familiar with Phoebe Cates, even if they aren't really sure what movies she's been in other than “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.” Cates was also one of the leads in the movie “Gremlins.” She was a teen beauty in the eighties, but by now, she's mostly retired and prefers to be a mom and a wife.

She's married to actor Kevin Kline and has three children: Owen, Greta, and Autumn. You may actually be familiar with Greta if you're a fan of the indie music scene since she performs under the stage name Frankie Cosmos.

Nicole Eggert

Nicole Eggert was Scott Baio's co-star on “Charles in Charge” and went on to be known around the world for her body and beauty thanks to her starring role in the beach series “Baywatch.” She's shown up in plenty of TV movies and television shows, including “Blown Away” and “The Haunting of Morella.”

In the last few years, she added her voice talents to “Robot Chicken” and has appeared in several short films and TV mini-series. While, for the most part, her fame is behind her, you still might be able to catch this eighties actress on a reality TV show or in one of Lifetime's original films. She still has that bright smile!

Mr. T

Anybody who doesn't know who Mr. T is...well, let's just say Mr. T pities him or her. Best known for his role as B.A. Bacarus on the smash eighties action show “The A-Team,” and violent boxer Clubber Lang on “Rocky III.” Since then, he's made plenty of appearances on TV shows, movies, and ads, almost always as himself, bandana, gold chains, and all.

When Hurricane Katrina hit the southern United States in 2005, he decided to give away his many gold chains, believing it was disrespectful to flaunt so much wealth after so many people had lost homes and even loved ones. However, he still likes his bling. Mr. T might not be a hard-working actor, but he at least appeared on “Dancing with the Stars” in 2017.

Kelly LeBrock

LeBrock turned into a fantasy woman nearly overnight thanks to her appearance in “Weird Science.” She also appeared in “The Woman in Red” as Charlotte and “Hard to Kill” as Andy Stewart, but she's taken a step back from acting for the most part.

With a few bit parts here and there, she also benefited greatly from the explosion of reality TV in the two-thousands, appearing on everything from “Celebrity Fit Club” to the British version of “Hell's Kitchen.” She had an appearance in the movie “Charlie Boy” in 2019 but now mostly acts as a spokesperson for Club Carson, an organization that aids children who have cancer.

Elisabeth Shue

If there was a girl in the eighties who had the title of “girl next door,” it was Elizabeth Shue. Whether it was as Marty McFly’s girlfriend in “Back to the Future” (Parts II and III, at least) or the main love interest in “The Karate Kid,” you’ve seen her win hearts and minds.

She began to earn more serious roles after the eighties. She starred opposite Nicolas Cage in the movie “Leaving Las Vegas.” She’s made appearances in “Cobra Kai,” “The Boys,” and is also starring in a television show called “The Verge,” which is still in production.

Tempestt Bledsoe

You first saw Tempestt Bledsoe on “The Cosby Show,” as Vanessa Huxtable. Being part of the Huxtable family was her very first role, but even while the show was running, she started to branch out, getting spots on TV shows and small TV movies. When “The Cosby Show” went off the air, Bledsoe took a break for a few years to go to college.

After that, however, she jumped back on-stage, appearing in movies big and small, as well as TV shows. She had constant roles on shows like “The Replacements” and “Guys with Kids” and has also served as the host of “Clean House” on the Style Network.

Catherine Bach

Catherine Bach stole our hearts and popularized a new legwear style when she appeared as Daisy Duke on “The Dukes of Hazzard.” But Bach was already an established actress by the time she wiggled into her outfit, having appeared in Clint Eastwood movies, as well as multiple small roles on television shows and roles in TV movies.

When “Dukes” ended, Bach immediately jumped to movies and then landed a starring role in the show “African Skies.” She’s recently had a small but important role on “The Young and the Restless,” as Anita Lawson. Other big roles of hers include Daisy in “You Again” and Melody in “Thunderbolt and Lightfoot,” which is the Eastwood film we mentioned earlier.

Ally Sheedy

Since she made her first appearance in movies in “The Breakfast Club,” where she partnered with another member of what would later be called the Brat Pack, Emilio Estevez, Sheedy has been a Hollywood hit. Even before “The Breakfast Club,” she starred in “WarGames,” and she would quickly move on to other hits like “Short Circuit” and “High Art.”

She’s also appeared in movies such as “The Rileys,” “Ten Stories Tall,” “Fugly!” and “Sins of Our Youth.” She’s even appeared in “X-Men: Apocalypse,” as Scott’s teacher, and has had recurring roles in shows such as “Psych,” “Full Circle,” and “Kyle XY.”

Willie Aames

If you’re looking for an eighties star that has done it all, then look no further; you’ve found him. Willie Aames was a big part of “Charles in Charge,” a hit eighties sitcom starring Scott Baio. Once that show ended, Aames switched career paths to create “Bibleman,” a direct-to-video series about a Christian crime fighter.

However, Aames fell prey to substance abuse and fell off the radar for a while. Thankfully, he turned his life around and became a cruise director before returning to acting and filmmaking. Recently, he’s been in a TV movie titled “Love on the Menu” and has starred in the film “Bottle Monster."

Mia Sara

You know Mia Sara as Ferris’s carefree girlfriend in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” She still appears on television regularly and has become a fixture of fantasy TV, including productions such as “Lost in Oz,” “The Witches of Oz,” and “Dorothy and the Witches of Oz.”

As far as other movies, she’s also been in “Timecop” with Jean Claude van Damme, “Legend,” and “Black Day Blue Night.” Her most recent role was Narciss in the short “Pretty Pretty” back in 2013. Nowadays she’s also a wife and a mother, with two children. She’s married to the eldest son of Muppets creator Jim Henson. Interestingly enough, she also has a pilot’s license and enjoys flying.

Justine Bateman

After she got her start on “Family Ties,” Justine made the jump to films and television. She acted as Mallory for seven years on that initial show, and it was her first foray into acting. After a hundred and seventy-two episodes, the nineties began, and she appeared in movies like “The Closer,” “Primary Motive,” and “The Night We Never Met,” and that's just in the first few years.

She's been in shows like “Men Behaving Badly” and “Out of Order,” and you likely remember her turn as “Nellie” in “Arrested Development.” Her brother, Justin Bateman, stars on that show and is currently winning the family fame contest.

Alyssa Milano

One of Alyssa Milano's very first roles was as Schwarz's daughter “Jenny Matrix” in “Commando." She made the jump to star with the sitcom “Who's the Boss?” from 1984 to 1992 as Samantha Micelli and kept her fame growing with “Melrose Place” and “Charmed.”

She's still getting plenty of acting work, but nowadays, she's more well-known for her social media presence. She was one of the first celebrities to use the hashtag #MeToo, which got the ball rolling on the discussion of the movement.

Jennifer Beals

She wowed the world as Alex Owens in “Flashdance,” which was just the beginning of Jennifer Beals's fame. Whether it was Claudia in “The Book of Eli” or Eva in “The Bride,” Beals demonstrated an ability to mold herself into any role, be it comedic, dramatic, romantic, or anything in between. In recent years she's appeared in series such as “Taken,” “The Night Shift,” and “Swamp Thing.”

She's well-known for being in the main cast of “The L Word” and its sequel series “The L Word: Generation Q.” She spends her off-time as a photographer – you can find her photos under her married name, Jennifer Dixon.

Michael Schoeffling

Known as leading man Jake from “Sixteen Candles,” Michael Schoeffling also appeared in “Mermaids,” “Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken,” and “Vision Quest,” but not long after those movies came out, he dropped out of acting, stating that he was unhappy with the kind, and number, of roles he was getting.

He made the leap to small business ownership and now produces handcrafted, custom furniture as the owner of a woodworking business. We've taken a look at some of the items he has to offer, and we've gotta say, he does some good work. There's nothing like getting your hands dirty and making something physical to keep yourself sane.

Kim Basinger

Kim Basinger Once a name to watch during the eighties and nineties, Kim Basinger has taken a step back from her A-list days, though she's still getting plenty of acting gigs. She got her start in modeling before moving to Los Angeles to try her hand at acting. You likely know her from her successful films such as “Batman,” where she played intrepid reporter Vicki Vale, and “Blind Date.”

She was already known when we reached the eighties, having started acting in 1976, but she became a big name thanks to “Hard Country” and “Mother Lode” early on. She's also been in “L.A. Confidential,” “Cellular,” and “Wayne's World 2.” What a resume!

Daryl Hannah

Daryl Hannah stepped up to fame early in the eighties thanks to her role as Pris in the science-fiction classic “Blade Runner.” It's easier to ask what she wasn't in for that decade – she appeared in “Wallstreet,” “Roxanne,” “Steel Magnolias,” “Splash,” and lots of other films, as well as stopping by the small screen with TV movies such as “Paper Dolls,” and video shorts (“Clarence Clemons & Jackson Browne: You're a Friend of Mine”).

Perhaps her biggest recent role was as Elle Driver in Quentin Tarantino's two-part action film, “Kill Bill.” She has plenty of roles in the works and has also appeared in the show “Sense8.”

Robyn Lively

Right now, you're probably more familiar with Robyn's half-sister Blake Lively, but Robyn Lively was the first member of the family to make it big thanks to roles in the film “Teen Witch,” as well as popular TV shows like “Twin Peaks,” “Doogie Howser, M.D.,” and “Saving Grace.”

She has a long list of roles on both the big screen and the small, including the love interest in “The Karate Kid Part III.” Robyn still appears, mostly in smaller roles or guest appearances, though she had eight episodes as Deb Brady in “Light as a Feather” in 2019 and was the lead star in the 2020 movie “Through the Glass Darkly.”

Rob Lowe

After “St. Elmo's Fire” and “The Outsiders,” Rob Lowe's star was on the rise. It took an unfortunate scandal in the late eighties to stop his climb up the A-list, at which point the number, and quality, of his roles, decreased. However, he wasn't to be denied, and he's rebounded in a big way.

He can thank Aaron Sorkin for this, putting Lowe in the first four seasons of “The West Wing.” He went on to appear in the cult comedy “Parks and Recreation” on NBC. He gave his voice as Simba to “The Lion Guard,” and his new show, “9-1-1: Lone Star,” is currently making waves.

Robin Givens

After being out of the public eye for a few years, Robin Givens has come back after starring in the Tyler Perry movie “The Family That Preys.” She found her first claim to fame thanks to her starring role in the hit show “Head of the Class,” which ran for over a hundred episodes. During the interim, she spent a lot of time on stage, both on Broadway and off.

Her most notable stage role was that of Roxie Hart in “Chicago.” She's made TV appearances on “Once Upon a Time” and “Riverdale.” She's also starring as Stephanie Carlisle Lancaster in “Robin Givens.”

Jennifer Jason Leigh

She had plenty of fun with the rest of the cast on “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” and there was no stopping her from then on. Jennifer Jason Leigh went on to have tons of roles, including Selena St. George in “Dolores Claiborne,” Hedra Carlson in “Single White Female,” and Lisa Hesselman in “Anomalisa.”

She appears in the forthcoming adaptation of the Stephen King book “Lisey's Story” and has appeared in thirty episodes of “Atypical.” Her biggest role in recent history was as Daisy Domergue in the Tarantino film “The Hateful Eight.” She's also in the revival of “Twin Peaks” and was even a celebrity caller on “Frasier,” the highest honor for anybody.

Tawny Kitaen

The thing that most people remember Tawny Kitaen for is that she was the girl in the music video for Whitesnake's “Here I Go Again.” She's actually been in a few different Whitesnake videos, but she had other claims to fame as well, including “Bachelor Party,” “Gwendoline,” and even “Hercules: The Legendary Journey.” She acted alongside Richard Greico in “After Midnight” in 2014 and played the character, Rachel, in “Moms Anonymous” from 2017 to 2018.

Unfortunately, someone who climbed to stardom thanks to appearing in a music video for a hair metal band isn't going to have a very stable platform to continue her fame. She hasn't appeared on any screens, big or small (or music videos), since “Moms Anonymous” ended. Sadly in May of 2021, she died.

Emmanuel Lewis

Most stars from the eighties peter out after a while or manage to keep themselves afloat through one venture or another. Emmanuel Lewis, on the other hand, was the hit of the sitcom “Webster” and then pretty much disappeared. He's done little else, and most of his television appearances have been as himself.

He's popped up here and there, but as of 2007, he hasn't been in anything – his last performance was as himself in “Kickin' It Old Skool.” However, he's made a few reality TV and talk show appearances, including “Between Two Ferns with Zach Galifianakis.” Fans of “Webster” will have to go back to the show to see Lewis showing off his acting chops.

Soleil Moon Frye

For five years, Soleil Moon Frye was the title character of “Punky Brewster,” and her other claims to the movie and TV fame include “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” “Wild Horses,” and “Pumpkinhead II: Blood Wings.” Not the most sparkling items. Yet Frye has been doing well for herself even up to this day – apparently, there is a “Punky Brewster” revival in the works, and Frye is again showing up as the main character.

She's done a good amount of voice work for shows like “Robot Chicken,” “Planet Sheen,” and “Bratz,” and she also hosted the show “Home Made Simple” in 2013 and 2014. Finally, she even founded her own company, which sells party decoration kits.

Lea Thompson

Lea Thompson gave us all kinds of confused feelings thanks to playing Marty McFly's mother in “Back to the Future,” and she still acts in movies and TV. Even before the eighties ended, she appeared in the other films in the “Back to the Future” series, “Howard the Duck,” and “Some Kind of Wonderful.”

She was the lead in “Caroline in the City,” which ran for five seasons, and has been busy during the new teens acting in “Switched at Birth” as Katheryn Kennish. She was in the “Little Women” movie that came out in 2018 and has plenty of roles that are still forthcoming. She might not be the kind of name everybody knows, but nothing beats getting steady work for thirty years.

Matt Dillon

Among a string of less-successful movies in the eighties, Matt Dillon struck it big with “The Outsiders” and “Drugstore Cowboy.” from then on, he's been a constant face to find at the movies, even if he's never been a name that everybody can remember off the top of their head. He appeared as the villain in the classic comedy “There's Something About Mary.”

He also appeared as part of the award-winning ensemble cast of “Crash.” In 2015 he was part of the FOX TV show “Wayward Pines” and has had numerous roles in smaller movies since. Then, including the relatively well-regarded crime and horror film “The House That Jack Built.”

Molly Ringwald

She was the queen of the teen movie scene in the eighties, appearing in famous flicks like “Sixteen Candles,” “The Breakfast Club,” “Pretty in Pink,” and “For Keeps?” But she's more than just acting chops and a pretty face – Molly Ringwald is also a singer. Her debut jazz album, “Except Sometimes,” came out in 2013. She's still getting regular work as an actress, too.

She spent six seasons on “The Secret Life of the American Teenager,” and she's currently part of the cast of “Riverdale.” That makes sense – she was legendary in the eighties, and now she's back there.

Delta Burke

For six years, Delta Burke appeared as Suzanne Sugarbaker on “Designing Women,” and while that show was her big boost, she had been a face on the TV for years, including on “The Love Boat,” “1st & Ten,” and “Filthy Rich.” Her first show was “The Chisholms,” back in 1980, and she's been a journeyman actress ever since. Her most recent big role was on “Boston Legal” as Bella Horowitz.

Once the new teens began, she hasn't been around as much, but she still makes rare appearances on a series or TV movie here or there, such as “Dolly Parton's Heartstrings.” Other famous roles of hers appear in “Thoroughly Modern Millie” and “Steel Magnolias.”

Kadeem Hardison

In “A Different World,” Kadeem Hardison appeared as Dwayne Wayne, just one of the numerous students making their way through college. His signature was a pair of wild sunglasses, and we're happy to report it's still possible to see the man, if not the glasses, in numerous places.

He appeared in a few famous movies like “White Men Can't Jump” and “Drive,” helped K.C. Cooper gets her missions done in “K.C. Undercover,” and hated Chris in “Everybody Hates Chris.” If you're a gamer, you might have heard his voice in “Beyond: Two Souls” or heard him as Rubberband Man in “Static Shock.”

Tracey Gold

Growing up wasn't painful while Tracey Gold was appearing on “Growing Pains,” but she had plenty of roles before and during the long run of that famous sitcom, which bled into the nineties. Other famous roles of hers include “The Willies,” as her “Growing Pains” character Carol Seaver, “Dance 'Til Dawn,” in 1988, and “She's No Angel” as Liddy Carlyle.

For a while, she hosted the TV Guide Channel show “Trapped in TV Guide,” but since about 2016, her roles have evaporated. In 2004 she was arrested after rolling her SUV down a California freeway embankment. While most of the passengers weren't hurt, Gold's oldest daughter suffered a broken clavicle.

Milla Jovovich

After coming to the United States from the USSR, Milla Jovovich leaped into acting, quickly appearing on shows and TV movies such as “The Night Train to Kathmandu.” She had a few small roles during the eighties and then struck it big as the odd alien Leeloo in “The Fifth Element” alongside fellow eighties star Bruce Willis.

Since then, she's been hovering around the edges of the A-list, appearing in “Ultraviolet,” “Zoolander,” and “Dazed and Confused” before becoming a famous zombie-killer in the “Resident Evil” series of movies. The series finally ended in 2016 (insert your own zombie joke here), but no one can say Jovovich didn't deliver. She's still getting plenty of roles to this day.

Brooke Shields

Brooke Shields was all about controversy, and her roles in films such as “Wanda Nevada,” “Pretty Baby,” and “The Blue Lagoon” certainly got people talking due to their risque nature and heart-pounding drama. She also worked as a model during the eighties, showing off Calvin Klein jeans that made everyone envious of her.

She took a break from acting to go to school and then returned in the late nineties to make a triumphant re-appearance on TV and in the movies. She starred in the sitcom “Suddenly Susan,” and her career doesn't seem to be slowing down.

Judd Nelson

As a core member of the Brat Pack, Judd Nelson was a teenage heartthrob for years, showing off his bad-boy side in “The Breakfast Club” before appearing as a yuppie character in “St. Elmo's Fire,” and then becoming a dangerous serial killer in “Relentless." He won a Golden Globe as Hunt in “Billionaire Boys Club.”

Since the eighties, he's been in plenty, including appearing with fellow eighties star Brooke Shields in “Suddenly Susan.” He's been a hard worker in TV and films and hasn't even had a single year where he took a break. He's also a writer, putting (very) short books and screenplays on Amazon for three dollars each.

Matthew Broderick

We all know and love him as the unstoppable lead character from “Ferris Bueller's Day Off,” but he was also the lead of “WarGames” and “Ladyhawke.” His role as Ferris made him a huge name in Hollywood, and he would continue to impress with a movie that showed off his dramatic range, “Glory,” set during the Civil War.

Broderick has worked in dozens of movies and television shows – notable roles include starring as one of the lead roles in the standout Broadway show “The Producers” and the 2005 film adaptation of the same play. He has been married to “Sex and the City” actress Sarah Jessica Parker since 1997, and they have three children.

Alan Ruck

While Matthew Broderick gained the most fame thanks to “Ferris Bueller's Day Off,” his co-star Alan Ruck also got plenty of accolades as the sarcastic and uptight best friend from the movie. He had several other roles in the eighties, such as the 1989 comedy film “Bloodhounds of Broadway,” and was a co-star for the 1987 road trip comedy “Three for the Road.”

Since his jump to fame, he's appeared on dozens of TV shows and movies, though mostly in supporting roles or bit parts. He was on “Spin City” for six seasons, as well as on “Scrubs,” “Stargate: Atlantis,” “NCIS,” and numerous other shows. His current project is turning out to be quite successful, playing Connor Roy in “Succession,” a critically-acclaimed 2018 HBO series.

Geena Davis

Thanks to back-to-back hits “Beetlejuice” and “The Accidental Tourist,” Geena Davis shot to stardom. The former was a worldwide sensation, while the latter was nominated for four Academy Awards. Davis herself won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress. She also appeared in “The Fly” and married her co-star Jeff Goldblum, though the two divorced a few years later.

Thanks to “Thelma and Louise” in 1991, she became one of Hollywood's leading ladies. Only a few years later, however, she starred in “Cutthroat Island,” which is still remembered as one of the biggest flops of all time. She's launched numerous organizations that focus on promoting underrepresented people in the entertainment industry.

Anthony Michael Hall

Anthony Michael Hall was one of the leading teens in the eighties, showing up in “National Lampoon's Vacation,” “Sixteen Candles” (lots of people on this list are in there, wild), “Weird Science,” “The Breakfast Club,” and even “Saturday Night Live.” He was the youngest cast member in the long-running show's history (Eddie Murphy is the second youngest, at 19).

After taking time off to deal with personal issues, he returned for “Edward Scissorhands” in 1990. His most successful project to date is “The Dead Zone,” which he both starred in and produced.

Corey Feldman

Corey Feldman is one of the sadder stories to come out of the stars of the eighties. He appeared in “The Lost Boys,” “The Goonies,” “Stand By Me,” “Gremlins,” “Friday the 13th: The Final Chapter,” and plenty more. However, he and Corey Haim, who were friends, both ended up battling substance difficulties following childhood trauma.

Sadly, Haim died at the age of thirty-eight in 2010, but Feldman has moved on, appearing in TV shows and movies. He's also tried his hand as a musician and singer, though none of his five studio albums have been received very well.

Judge Reinhold

Judge Reinhold's career really got started when he appeared in the Eddie Murphy movie “Beverly Hills Cop” in 1984. Still, he wasn't able to maintain his stardom and even ended up growing a bit of an ego, shouting at cast and crew members on films he worked on, which include “Fast Times at Ridgemont High,” “Gremlins,” and more.

His 1988 comedy film “Vice Versa” bombed hard and had Reinhold leaving Los Angeles at the age of thirty-five. While Reinhold hasn't gotten back to his original level of fame, he took the roles he could get, mostly in supporting roles and bit parts. However, he did win an Emmy for his role of a close talker in “Seinfeld.”

Christopher Lloyd

Great Scott! This wild scientist won our hearts in the trio of “Back to the Future” movies, but he also had famous appearances in “Who Framed Roger Rabbit” and “Star Trek III: The Search for Spock.” He became one of the most recognizable faces in the world thanks to his role as Reverend Jim Ignatowski in “Taxi” from 1978 to 1983.

Lloyd continues to be a famous face and name, thanks to his scene-stealing role as Uncle Fester in “The Addams Family.” He's also been in plenty of Disney movies. Lloyd has been married five times, most recently in 2016 to Lisa Loiacono. So far, the marriage is still on.

Chevy Chase

If not the very top comedic actor, Chevy Chase was at least one of the leading laughers during the eighties. He appeared in “Caddyshack,” “Spies Like Us,” National Lampoon series, and almost too many more to count. His show in the nineties, “The Chevy Chase Show,” bombed. He gained a reputation of being difficult to work with, as well as having a substance abuse problem.

He appeared on Dan Harmon's show “Community,” though he was hard to work with there, as well, not getting along with Harmon. He doesn't do much anymore.

Jennifer Grey

If you want to put Baby in a corner, make sure she isn't played by Jennifer Grey. She starred in two of the eighty's biggest movies, starting with “Ferris Bueller's Day Off” and then going on to “Dirty Dancing.” The two made her a star and earned her a Golden Globe nomination. However, a car crash with then-boyfriend Matthew Broderick changed her life – from then on, she says, it felt weird being in the spotlight.

Since that fateful day, she's been in mostly TV and made-for-TV movies. She also underwent two rhinoplasty surgeries that she says hurt her career. She was married to Clark Gregg, who plays Phil Coulson in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. They have since separated.

Dan Aykroyd

“The Blues Brothers,” “Trading Places,” “Spies Like Us,” not to mention “Ghostbusters.” If it is a famous comedy movie from the eighties, there's a pretty good chance Aykroyd had a hand in it. After rising to fame thanks to “Saturday Night Live,” he found huge success because of all of the films he was in during the eighties.

The two “Ghostbusters” movies made over five hundred million dollars worldwide. He's been making television and movie appearances since he struck it big and he runs the Crystal Head Vodka company. He's set to appear in “Ghostbusters: Afterlife,” which is set to come out in 2021.

Chuck Norris

Pick a random action movie from the eighties, and you might just see this famous martial artist. He was one of the most recognizable stars of the eighties, performing flying kicks, brandishing weapons, and even losing in a fight against Bruce Lee.

After the eighties, Norris found even more fame by starring in “Walker, Texas Ranger,” a show that combined cheesy martial arts action and strong morals. It ran for more than 200 episodes, and made plenty of appearances on “Late Night With Conan O'Brien.” Conan had a “Walker, Texas Ranger,” lever he would pull to show off scenes. Norris has also written plenty of books.

Bill Murray

It's amazing to think that one of the most famous movies from the eighties, “Caddyshack,” included Murray before he had any fame. He started on “Saturday Night Live,” and then he was ready to join the greats in “Stripes,” “Tootsie,” and the “Ghostbuster” movies.

His career has continued, appearing in tons of different movies, and his eccentric nature is memorable to all. If he wants a role, he'll take it no matter what – apparently producers call a 1-800 number Murray set up for roles, but also have a second choice on-set. If Murray shows up to act, he shows up. If not, the second choice is there to step in.

Karen Allen

As a classically-trained actress, Allen mostly worked on Broadway or on other stages, but her career was altered when she acted next to Harrison Ford in “Raiders of the Lost Ark.” During the decade she also appeared in “Starman,” “Scrooged,” “Cruising,” and “The Glass Menagerie.”

She had a son in 1990, and at that point, she only took roles when she had the time. A few favorite titles include “Malcolm X,” “The Perfect Storm,” and “Ghost in the Machine.” She reappeared in a small role as Indy's baby momma in “Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull.” She currently runs a clothing shop in Massachusetts.

Ralph Macchio

It's not the only movie series he's been in, but if you know Ralph Macchio, you know him from “The Karate Kid” series. The three movies, all released during the eighties, made over $250 million dollars combined. The budget was pennies compared to how much the movie made.

It's a little surprising, then, to know that he never became the A-lister everyone expected. And yet he still had plenty of success, including being a supporting character in “My Cousin Vinny” and playing a recurring character in “Ugly Betty.” Today he is reprising his most famous role in the Netflix-exclusive “Cobra Kai.”

Fred Savage

As one of the most notable child stars of the eighties, Fred Savage knew how to win an audience. His first taste of fame was as Kevin Arnold in the classic show “The Wonder Years,” but he really became famous when he appeared as the grandson in “The Princess Bride,” and as Brian Stevenson in “Little Monsters.”

Since the eighties, he's had a fair share of roles, but for the most part, he's moved into producing and directing. On his resume are eighteen episodes of “It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia,” fourteen episodes of “Modern Family,” and four recent episodes of “The Conners.”

Michelle Pfeiffer

Despite first appearing in the otherwise terrible “Grease 2,” Pfeiffer went on to be a big star. The biggest thanks go to acting alongside Al Pacino in the legendary mobster movie “Scarface.” The eighties were a good time for her, winning her numerous accolades, including a BAFTA for Best Supporting Actress in “Dangerous Liaisons.”

She's been a bona fide movie star ever since, appearing in thirty-five different movies since 1980. She joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Ant-Man's mom, and is appeared in the upcoming “Maleficent: Mistress of Evil.” She's been married to David E. Kelly, a television writer, and producer, since 1993.

Jennifer Connelly

If you've heard of the movie “Labyrinth,” you heard people talk about it in positive terms. After all, it has David Bowie as a magical madman. It was also Jennifer Connelly's first film and it became a beloved children's film upon its home video release.

However, it wasn't until the 2000's when Connelly would really find success. Thanks to roles in movies like “House of Sand and Fog,” “A Beautiful Mind,” and “Requiem for a Dream,” she received a good bit of recognition. Since 2000 she's been in at least one movie a year, and currently stars in the TNT television show “Snowpiercer."

Jeff Cohen

No, Jeff Cohen didn't have the longest or most illustrious career when it came to movies in the eighties, but he did give us something both magical and unforgettable. Yes, Cohen played Chunk in “The Goonies,” a classic piece of eighties adventure fun. He only acted for a little while – his last appearance was in “Perfect Harmony,” a made-for-TV movie released in 1991.

After that, Cohen attended the University of California, Berkeley, graduating with a B.S. in business administration. After that it was off to UCLA School of Law, graduating in 2000. He now works as an entertainment lawyer. Get lucky, and Chunk will be your lawyer!

Candice Bergen

Born in 1946, Candice Bergen was acting long before the eighties, but she didn't reach notable acclaim until she starred as the titular character in “Murphy Brown.” Running for ten years and with just a hair under two-hundred and fifty episodes, the show made her a global icon.

When the show ended in 1998, she moved on to “Boston Legal” with William Shatner, as well as a few different movies such as “Miss Congeniality.” In 2018 CBS brought “Murphy Brown” back with much of the cast, but the series floundered and was canceled quickly.

Val Kilmer

Did you know that “Top Gun” wasn't the first movie Kilmer was in that started with Top? “Top Secret!” was a spoof spy movie that helped this lantern-jawed dude become a star – he sang all of the movie's songs.

“Top Gun” then shot him to the top of the star lists, and his role as the lead character in “Willow,” a fantasy film from 1988, encouraged his rise. After the eighties, he was Batman, Wyatt Earp, and other notable names, but his star fell after “Red Planet” flopped.

Josh Brolin

Brolin's career was, at least in the eighties, remarkably short. He had a few small roles, but the only one worth mentioning was his part in “The Goonies,” his first film. He played the older brother, Brand Walsh. But, even into the nineties, he didn't really do much else.

He got a few good turns in “Milk,” “Inherent Vice,” and “W.” Then Josh went on to take part in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. He provided the voice of big bad guy Thanos the Mad Titan (since the character's body was all CGI). He brought a surprising amount of humanity to a character that was both mad, and inhuman.

Ricky Schroder

At only twelve years old, Schroder landed the lead role on the sitcom “Silver Spoons” in 1982, going until 1986. He had plenty of other credits in the eighties, though mostly on television – including in the “Lonesome Dove” miniseries as Newt Dobbs. While most child stars slowed down, Schroder did no such thing.

From “NYPD Blue” to “Robot Chicken,” he's had a long career in TV. He's also dabbled in directing, for “Black Cloud,” “Locker 13” (in which he also had a role), “Hellhounds,” and “Our Wild Hearts.”

Andrew McCarthy

Andrew McCarthy and a few other members of the famous eighties Brat Pack worked together in “St. Elmo's Fire” in 1985 and “Pretty in Pink” in 1986. McCarthy then went on to show up away from the pack in classics like “Mannequin” and “Weekend at Bernie's.”

McCarthy also appeared on “Lipstick Jungle,” “White Collar,” and “Royal Pains,” and then jumped into directing – if you're familiar with shows like “The Blacklist” or “Orange Is the New Black” you might have seen his work. He's also done a bit of writing, both in non-fiction and fiction. His YA novel “Just Fly Away” became a New York Times bestseller.

Madonna

The Grammy-winning “Queen of Pop” released her first album in 1983 and never gave up on pushing boundaries. Music videos were becoming a hot, new thing, and Madonna jumped at the opportunity, becoming the biggest pop star of the eighties. While she's continued to make music and appear in shows, her star has dwindled somewhat.

Some people point to her 2003 album “American Life” as the beginning of the end. Her public antics have also made it hard for some people to appreciate her. Regardless, even her most recent album, 2019's “Madame X” topped the charts.

George Michael 

This English singer-songwriter leaped to the top of the pop charts thanks to his unique brand of disco dance-pop music. He was one-half of the duo Wham!, which he formed with Andrew Ridgeley in 1981. Michael went solo in 1987, getting the ball rolling with the Aretha Franklin duet “I Knew You Were Waiting (For Me).”

George picked up a few problems in the next fifteen years, including being arrested for lewd behavior. Michael sadly passed on Christmas day of 2016. He was an active LGBT rights campaigner and is still loved by everyone.

Demi Moore

Demi Moore might have dropped out of high school at the age of sixteen, but she's never had a problem. She starred alongside her fellow list members Emilio Estevez (who she was briefly engaged to) and Rob Lowe in “St. Elmo's Fire” and “About Last Night.”

When the nineties began, her star was still on the rise – she had critically-acclaimed roles in “A Few Good Men” and “Indecent Proposal.” She was once the highest-paid woman in Hollywood even before she went on to appear in “Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle,” “Margin Call,” and “Empire.” If you want to know more, she released her memoir called “Inside Out,” in 2019.

John Cusack 

As yet another teen idol from the eighties, John Cusack got his start in movies such as “Better Off Dead,” “The Sure Thing,” and “One Crazy Summer.” He moved on to broader roles like “True Colors” and “The Grifters” before the decade was up.

Since then, he's been getting consistent work, including movies like “Must Love Dogs” (2005), “Hot Tub Time Machine” (2010), and “The Butler” (2013). Recently, he's come under fire for posting controversial messages on his social media.

Tom Cruise

Remember this guy? He was in a few movies in the eighties, starting with a small role in “The Outsiders.” After that, he got the lead role in “Risky Business” and “Top Gun.” And then he went on to star in every movie ever.

He's still one of Hollywood's most famous and highest-paid actors ever, with some of the big movies under his name. Amazingly he's only been in about fifty movies, but he shows no signs of stopping. His “Mission: Impossible” films are inching ever closer to the double-digits, and they only seem to be getting better as time goes on.

Cyndi Lauper

Thank goodness for Ms. Lauper – if she hadn't spoken up, we might not have figured out that girls just want to have fun. This star released her first solo album in 1983, titled “She's So Unusual,” before going on to win a Grammy for Best New Artist in 1985. With colored, feathered hair and a synth-based sound, she's one of the classic eighties artists.

She started writing music for soundtracks, which culminated in her composing music for the Broadway musical “Kinky Boots,” earning her a Tony Award in 2013. It's currently the 25th longest-running Broadway musical in history and has grossed almost three hundred million dollars.

Kevin Bacon

Since his first iconic role of Ren McCormack in 1984's “Footloose,” Kevin Bacon has been a household name, but his first eighties movie was the famous slasher flick “Friday the 13th.” However, he wanted to shake the image he had developed during the eighties so he took on more diverse roles.

It turned into something of a career slump, though he still appeared in good movies after the eighties such as “Tremors,” “Flatliners,” and the blockbuster hit “Apollo 13.” He's been in so many movies that we have the “Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon” game. He also formed a band with his brother Michael called The Bacon Brothers, releasing nine albums since 1997.

Patrick Dempsey 

Long before he became the doctor known as McDreamy on “Grey's Anatomy,” Patrick Dempsey was winning hearts in 1987's “Can't Buy Me Love,” playing a nerdy outcast who pays a popular girl to date him. He moved on to box office hits like “Valentine's Day,” “Made of Honor,” and “Transformers.”

He's also a huge racer, so much so that he's gone on record saying if he could retire from acting and dedicate himself to motorsports, he would. He maintains an extensive sports and vintage car collection and has competed in numerous prestigious pro-am events.

Michael J. Fox

This Canadian actor first found success on the sitcom “Family Ties,” which ran from 1982 to 1989, but his big claim to fame in the eighties was the almighty trilogy of time travel, the “Back to the Future” series.

In 1998 he publicly announced that he was diagnosed with Parkinson's. The disease forced Fox to slow down, but he's still had a few fun roles such as “Spin City,” “The Good Wife,” “Scrubs,” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”

Drew Barrymore 

Most child stars get their start when they can at least walk and talk, but not Drew Barrymore. Her television debut came at the age of eleven months in commercials, and from there she went on to make a name for herself in “E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial” in 1982. She had a wildly successful nineties career, appearing in “Poison Ivy,” “Scream,” and “Ever After,” among many others.

Today she is still a big name in Hollywood. Barrymore is now the mother of two, has starred in the “Charlie's Angels” reboot, and often acts alongside Adam Sandler. She launched a talk show, “The Drew Barrymore Show,” in 2020.

Debbie Gibson 

Debbie Gibson isn't the first name people jump to when they think of eighties pop stars, but there's no denying her brilliance. She was the youngest person ever to write, produce, and perform a number-one single on the “Billboard” Hot 100. That was in 1988 with her track when her track “Foolish Beat.” She was eighteen.

She's also become a Broadway actor, with starring roles in shows such as “Les Misérables” and “Grease.” In addition, she's been in several Hallmark Channel movies – but her first role was uncredited, it was in 1984's “Ghostbusters."

Jerry Hall

Six feet tall, with long blonde hair and a blazing smile, Jerry Hall became one of the most famous models of the eighties. She only became more famous thanks to her relationship with rocker Mick Jagger. She appeared in “Urban Cowboy” in 1980 as well as Tim Burton's “Batman” in 1989.

While her relationship with Jagger ended in 1999, she was still acting in stage shows, movies, and television shows. She dabbles in a number of things now, including writing music, reality shows, and art collecting. She married media mogul Rupert Murdoch in 2016.

Joan Collins

As the star of the mid-80s show “Dynasty,” British actress Joan Collins found her way into the public eye. The show brought her both popular and critical acclaim. She has won a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Television Series (Drama) in 1982. Once her show was done, she worked sporadically in acting, taking fewer film roles.

Collins made her comeback in the 2010s on “Happily Divorced,” “The Royals,” and in a recurring role in “American Horror Story: Apocalypse.” Her first starring film role since the 1980s was on “The Time of Their Lives” in 2017. She's also appeared in various independent films, including the critically-acclaimed “Gerry.”

Winona Ryder

Thanks to starring in “Heathers,” “Edward Scissorhands,” and “Beetlejuice,” Winona Ryder was a big star in the eighties. She credits her early success to Tim Burton. She dated Johnny Depp for four years, though the two never got any farther than that stage. She's had a number of other high-profile relationships but has never been married.

Winona took a long break from acting between 2002 and 2009. Today, you can find her starring in a show that's heavily inspired by the 80's "Stranger Things.”

Christina Applegate

She started acting in 1972, but it wasn't until ten years later when Christina Applegate really became a star. She was in “Charles in Charge” and “Heart of the City,” and her best year came in 1986 with numerous guest spots. The very next year she got a starting spot in “Married... with Children,” which ran for ten years, late into the nineties.

Since then she's done plenty on TV and in movies. Most recently she's been starring in “Dead to Me,” while also working as the show's executive producer. She's garnered a huge number of awards ever since she started acting.

Jason Bateman

Jason Bateman has been on quite the journey over the last 40 years. Like his sister, Jason had his fair share of success back in the ‘80s, being one of the leads in the hit sitcom “The Hogan Family.” He also appeared in hit shows such as “Little House on the Prairie,” “St. Elsewhere,” and even an episode of “Knight Rider.”

But Bateman has arguably become even more successful since then. While he had a relatively quiet time during the ‘90s, Bateman’s career hit new heights on the absurdist comedy series “Arrested Development.” He even ventured into the world of thrillers and drama when he landed the role of Marty Byrde on the Netflix series “Ozark.”

Ted Danson

There might not be an ‘80s TV star on this list quite as iconic as Ted Danson. Having graced the bar of “Cheers” for a staggering 275 episodes from 1982 all the way into the ‘90s, it’s safe to say that Danson is ‘80s royalty. Danson also appeared on ‘80s shows such as “Magnum, P.I.,” and “Taxi,” to name a few.

And Danson even made the smooth transition to the big screen, starring alongside Tom Selleck in the hit movie “Three Men and a Baby.” In more recent times, Danson has ventured into other kinds of TV, starring in shows such as “CSI: Crime Scene Investigation,” and “The Good Place.”

James Spader

James Spader might not have been everyone’s favorite ‘80s star – but the guy certainly left his mark on that decade. The talented actor was a crucial part of classics of the time, including “Pretty in Pink” and “Wall Street.” As the years went on, Spader gained more success in the world of TV, having lead roles on shows such as “Boston Legal” and “The Blacklist.”

Arguably the biggest compliment paid to Spader was when Kevin Feige cast him as the titular CGI villain in the 2013 MCU sequel, “Avengers: Age of Ultron.” The film might not be as beloved as the original, but Spader certainly stood out.

Rick Astley

Has an ‘80s star ever been more remembered for just one thing? Rick Astley surely has to take the crown for that. While there is no denying he has a great voice, the British performer will always be best remembered for his song “Never Gonna Give You Up.”

While his song “Together Forever” also performed decently in the charts, it was basically a copy-and-paste of his original hit. Sure enough, Astley has continued to record music up until the present day. But “Never Gonna Give You Up” took on a life of its own, spawning an infinite number of memes during the era of social media.

Kim Wilde

Without a shadow of a doubt, Kim Wilde is best known for her hit song “Kids in America,” which peaked at number 2 in the UK charts. She also performed a pretty impressive cover of The Supremes’ classic song “You Keep Me Hangin’ On,” which also reached number 2 in the charts.

The British singer has had a steady career throughout the years, even appearing in musicals such as “Tommy.” During her time on the West End, Wilde married her co-star Hal Fowler, whom she had two kids with. In 2022 though, Wilde announced her separation from Fowler on social media.

William Zabka

No one on this list has quite a comeback story quite like Billy Zabka. Of course, this talented actor is best known for his role as the opponent of Daniel LaRusso, Johnny Lawrence, in the classic ‘80s coming-of-age movie, “The Karate Kid.” It’s safe to say though that Zabka’s career fell off the face of the earth after that, and he was a forgotten man, for the most part.

However, he stepped back into the limelight after playing a sensationalized version of himself in “How I Met Your Mother.” And his resurgence led to the creation of “Cobra Kai,” a sequel series to “The Karate Kid” franchise, where Daniel-San and Johnny teach Karate to kids all over the valley.

Diana Ross

Truth be told, it is a bit of a stretch to call Diana Ross an ‘80s star. After all, she was the lead singer of one of the most successful groups in the history of soul – The Supremes. And they were at the height of their powers back in the ‘60s!

Eventually, though, Ross had a successful solo career, and her album “Diana” (which included classic singles such as “I’m Coming Out” and “Upside Down”) ended up going Platinum. Amazingly, Ross released her 25 th studio album, “Thank You,” in 2021, proving that she has no interest in ending her illustrious career.

Meg Ryan

In many ways, it’s impossible to think of romantic comedies without thinking of Meg Ryan. The talented actress took this genre to dizzy new heights when she starred alongside Billy Crystal in the 1989 flick “When Harry Met Sally.”

She continued her romantic reputation into the ‘90s, starring in movies such as “Sleepless in Seattle,” “City of Angels,” and “You’ve Got Mail.” But after a highly publicized entanglement with Russell Crowe, Ryan’s career took a bit of a hit and her work has since dried up over the last few decades. Her son, Jack Quaid, has since emerged as one of the finest young actors of his generation.

Wil Wheaton

It would be the understatement of the century if we said that Wil Wheaton has had a rollercoaster career. Until this very day, most people will still recognize him for his breakout role in the classic ‘80s coming-of-age film “Stand By Me.” Over the years though, Wheaton has also made memorable appearances in shows such as “Star Trek: The Next Generation” and “The Big Bang Theory.”

In recent times, Wheaton shocked the nation with his trivia knowledge when he went on to reach the final of “Celebrity Jeopardy!” Despite a grand effort in the final, he ultimately lost the grand prize to Ike Barinholtz. It’s amazing to think that he is now in his 50s.

Melanie Griffith

While she certainly comes from an iconic family, being the daughter of Tippi Hedren, Melanie Griffith made a name for herself back in the ‘80s. During this time, the young actress had roles in movies such as “Body Double,” “Something Wild,” and “Working Girl,” among others.

But Griffith was probably best known for her high-profile relationships with ‘80s stars such as Don Johnson and Steven Bauer. With the former, she gave birth to an iconic actress in her own right, Dakota Johnson. In recent times, Griffith has appeared in movies such as James Franco’s “The Disaster Artist” and “The High Note.”

Rosanna Arquette

There aren’t many families in Hollywood as prolific as the Arquettes. And while she might not be as well known as her brother David, Rosanna Arquette has had some pretty memorable moments in her career, especially during the ‘80s. During this pivotal decade in her life, Arquette had key roles in movies such as “Desperately Seeking Susan,” “Silverado,” and “After Hours.”

But casual moviegoers probably recognize her the most for her minor role in Quentin Tarantino’s “Pulp Fiction.” While she’s never quite managed to reclaim the magic of her earlier roles, Arquette has consistently been working as an actress, right up until today.

Dolph Lundgren

It’s impossible not to look at Dolph Lundgren without thinking of Ivan Drago. This Swedish martial artist-turned-actor became a villain seemingly overnight when he (spoiler alert) punched Apollo Creed’s lights out in the incredibly fun “Rocky IV.”

Lundgren had a pretty interesting time during the second half of the ‘80s, also starring as the iconic He-Man in “Masters of the Universe.” He even had a cameo in the James Bond classic “A View to a Kill.” And while most of his career has been dedicated to B-movies, Lundgren did have something of a resurgence when he appeared in “The Expendables.” In 2023, Lundgren revealed that he had been battling cancer since 2015.

Steve Martin

When it comes to the legendary Steve Martin, there were three key components as to why he had a truly remarkable decade. Firstly, his stand-up was pretty immense because of how surreal and absurd it was. Secondly, his films during this time were absolutely off the chart, having started in comedic classics such as “Dirty Rotten Scoundrels,” “Three Amigos!,” and “Roxanne.”

And thirdly, his time on “SNL” saw him host the show on numerous occasions. In recent times, Martin has reunited with his long-time buddy Martin Short to work alongside Selena Gomez in the popular series “Only Murders in the Building.”

Catherine O'Hara

There is no denying that Catherine O’Hara is a legend. Not only that, but the ‘80s were a truly defining time in her career. With key roles in movies such as “After Hours” and “Beetlejuice,” the sky was truly the limit for Catherine. And the ‘90s were pretty good too, as she starred in classics such as “Home Alone” and “The Nightmare Before Christmas.”

But it seems like O’Hara had some sort of second wind in her career over the last decade, having received numerous plaudits for her role on the popular Canadian sitcom “Schitt’s Creek.” Since then, she has also reprised her role in the long-awaited sequel to “Beetlejuice.”

Tracey Ullman

Arguably one of the most versatile comedians of her generation, Tracey Ullman seems to have done it all. The talented British performer was a huge hit in her home country, being a regular cast member of the sketch comedy show “Three of a Kind. Eventually, though, she moved across the pond and starred in her very own show – “The Tracey Ullman Show.”

As the decades passed, Ullman has ebbed and flowed in terms of her relevance in the world of entertainment. She memorably showed up in the closing episodes of “How I Met Your Mother” as the mother of Robin Scherbatsky. She also worked with Larry David on “Curb Your Enthusiasm.”

Denzel Washington

Let’s face it – Denzel Washington didn’t exactly set the world alight during the ‘80s. But with that said, it was during this decade that he started to show signs that he could become one of the biggest stars Hollywood has ever seen. This was most evident after he played Steve Biko in the critically acclaimed “Cry Freedom.”

Truth be told, Washington’s rise to superstardom was a slow burn. By the turn of the millennium though, he was getting universal praise for his performances in movies such as “Training Day,” “Inside Man,” and “American Gangster,” to name a few. Despite nearing his 70s, Washington is still as busy as ever.

Phylicia Rashad

The ‘80s was a pretty sweet time for Phylicia Rashad. Most notably, she landed the role of Clair Huxtable on “The Cosby Show,” being an integral part of the show’s success for all eight seasons. While she never quite managed to eclipse the impact she had on that show, Rashad has consistently been busy as an entertainer as the decades have passed.

In the last decade alone, she has appeared in popular shows such as “Empire,” “This Is Us,” “13 Reasons Why,” “Grey’s Anatomy,” and many more. She’s even had a key role in the “Creed” trilogy, the spin-off to the “Rocky” franchise.

Raven-Symoné

It might be a bit of a stretch to call Raven-Symoné Christina Pearman-Maday an ‘80s star (yes, that’s her full name, in case you were wondering). But seeing that she first appeared as Olivia Kendall in “The Cosby Show” back in 1989, we’re going to say that she has to count. She continued that role for the next three years of her life.

And eventually, Raven got her own show on the Disney channel called “That’s So Raven.” Pretty original, right? Since then, Raven has lent her voice to a number of animated roles, such as the character of Iridessa in the “Disney Fairies” franchise. In 2015, Raven came out of retirement to co-host “The View.”

Goldie Hawn

Truth be told, Goldie Hawn’s success started long before the ‘80s, and continued way after it too. But during that time, her impact on pop culture was unmistakable. During this time, she received an Academy Award nomination for her performance in the 1980 movie “Private Benjamin.” She also starred in flicks such as “Protocol,” “Seems Like Old Times,” and “Overboard.”

Since then, Hawn has had a little bit of success in a string of comedies, such as “Snatched” and “The Christmas Chronicles.” But it’s her children Kate, Oliver, and Wyatt who are her real success story, having all gone on to become successful actors in their own rights. Of course, she’s also still deeply in love with Kurt Russell.

Neil Patrick Harris

Neil Patrick Harris has certainly had an interesting career, to put it lightly. He kind of fell off the edge of the world after bursting onto the scene so early with his role in “Doogie Howser, M.D.” Eventually, though, Harris would have something of a renaissance, playing the breakout character of Barney Stinson on CBS’s “How I Met Your Mother.”

Since then, the talented performer has ventured into Hollywood, having roles of varying sizes in hit movies such as “Gone Girl” and “The Matrix Resurrections.” Harris is also a prolific stage actor, performing in musicals such as “Rent” and “Hedwig and the Angry Inch.”

Grace Jones

Grace Jones is not a mere model, not that we are slamming that at all, but the woman did become an absolute icon that inspired a look for generations to come. In 1966 she signed with Wilhelmina Models before she moved out to Paris in 1970, where she took off hugely with her bold and camp appearance.

Jones appeared on international runways, modeling for brands such as Yves Saint Laurent and Kenzo Takada, as well as appearing on countless covers. Later on, she took up acting and singing rather successfully, landing a spot at the Billboard top in December 2016.

Jaleel White

Steve Urkel is a classic nerd. In fact, we would go as far as to say that when you think of TV nerds, it's impossible not to think of Urkel. With a nasally high-pitched voice, super high-waisted pants, and coke-bottle glasses, he is a grotesque caricature.

He shows his cool side in "Family Matters" when he transforms into Stefan Urquelle by drinking a magic potion. Interestingly, Stefan's character is the actor’s normal self. Just think of all the coolness he had to reign in to become Urkel! But Jaleel White is a real handsome, cool dude in real life, as you can see in this picture alone. In 2022, White had a role in the Adam Sandler-led movie "Hustle."

Eddie Murphy

There might not be a comedian more iconic than the one and only, Eddie Murphy. Having taken “Saturday Night Live” by storm during the early ‘80s and performing some iconic standups such as “Delirious” and “Raw,” the world of comedy was clearly Murphy’s oyster.

And he also owned Hollywood for a long time, starring in classics such as “48 Hrs.,” “Trading Places,” “Beverly Hills Cop,” “Coming to America,” and the list goes on and on. And while Murphy hasn’t been as prolific as he was during the first few decades of his career, he continues to work until this very day and has obviously left his mark on comedy and beyond.

Arsenio Hall

There is no denying that Arsenio Hall’s most memorable role was in the classic “Comedy to America.” In this 1988 comedy, Hall did what his co-star Eddie Murphy has become iconic for, playing multiple roles in one movie.

In one flick, he managed to convincingly play the servant of a prince, a customer at a barbershop, a nasty reverend, and a woman at a nightclub. Of course, Hall also had a successful run as the host of his own show “The Arsenio Hall Show,” which had a short resurgence from 2013 to 2014. Hall also reprised the role of Semmi in “Coming 2 America.”

Oprah Winfrey

Many would agree that the face of pop culture would look very different had Oprah Winfrey never graced our TV screens all those years ago. During the ‘80s, the prolific talk show host moved to Chicago to host the morning show “AM Chicago.” Soon enough though, the ratings started to skyrocket and in 1986, the show was renamed “The Oprah Winfrey Show,” which ran until 2011.

Oprah was also nominated for the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her performance in “The Color Purple.” Fast forward many years, films, TV shows, endorsements deals, and charitable endeavors later, and Oprah has a staggering $2.5 billion net worth and an eternal legacy to her name.

Julia Louis-Dreyfus

It’s safe to say that without Julia Louis-Dreyfus, we would be without so many talented female comedians to grace our favorite sitcoms over the years. She originally burst onto the scene through her multiple roles on “Saturday Night Live” during the ‘80s. Eventually, though, Louis-Dreyfus would be best remembered for her role as Elaine Benes on the classic sitcom “Seinfeld.”

But Julia wasn’t going to let the “Seinfeld curse” get to her. And since then, she has been the lead of other shows, most notably, the Emmy Award-winning political satire “Veep.” In more recent times, Louis-Dreyfus has overcome a battle with breast cancer. She has also starred in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Morgan Fairchild

The ‘80s was a generous time for Morgan Fairchild. Known for her appearances on TV shows such as “Flamingo Road,” “Falcon Crest,” “Paper Dolls,” and “Murphy Brown,” to name a few, Fairchild was as prolific as they come. Moreover, she generated a reputation as something of a poster girl. And even though the ’80s eventually came to an end, the job offers just kept on coming.

Fairchild showed up in pretty much every show imaginable – including “Friends,” “Home Improvement,” “That ‘70s Show,” “Nip/Tuck,” “The Simpsons” – the list goes on, and on, and on. In 2022, Fairchild guest appeared in a couple of episodes of ABC’s “General Hospital.” She really just doesn’t know when to quit.

Tina Turner

Has there anyone who has ever done it quite like Tina Turner? Even before the ‘80s, this legendary singer had already seemingly done it all. With her husband at the time, Ike Turner, the duo took the music world by storm with many classic singles. But their professional and personal relationship came to a bitter end in the late ‘70s.

But it was a new decade, new Tina – and her solo career took her to a completely new stratosphere. Turner had hit after hit, and even sang the theme song for the James Bond movie “Goldeneye.” Although she sadly passed away in 2023, we can safely say that she was, is, and always will be – simply the best.

Alfonso Ribeiro

Standing next to Will Smith, anyone is going to look like a dork. The Fresh Prince’s cousin Carlton Banks is signed, sealed, and delivered as far as dorkiness goes. And not to mention the fact that Carlton is responsible for one of the nerdiest dances in the history of TV.

He is also annoying, arrogant, awkward, and known to flaunt a superiority complex to a comical effect. The television star is still on TV. Alfonso Ribeiro hosts "America’s Funniest Home Videos." This means his job is to talk about funny internet videos. That may very well be the coolest job on the planet.

Kim Fields

Most people will remember Kim Fields for playing the adorable Dorothy “Tootie” Ramsey in the NBC sitcom “The Facts of Life.” Throughout the show’s run, Fields evolved from a tiny little girl into a talented, young woman with her whole life still ahead of her by the time the show was over.

Fields’ success carried on long after the ‘80s, having another successful role as Regine Hunter in the ‘90s sitcom “Living Single.” And the sitcom success has once again gone Fields’ way. Over the last few years, she has starred alongside Mike Epps in the popular Netflix series “The Upshaws.”

Reginald VelJohnson

While some actors are unfortunately typecast, some performers don’t seem to be too bothered by it. This seemed to be the case, as far as Reginald VelJohnson was concerned. Throughout his career, he has starred as many police officer characters. But his most iconic one came in the late ‘80s when he played Carl Winslow on the sitcom “Family Matters.”

Many forget though that VelJohnson also had a minor role alongside Bruce Willis in both “Die Hard” and the sequel “Die Hard 2.” In the last few years, VelJohnson has shown up on shows such as “Brooklyn Nine-Nine,” “Ray Donovan,” and the animated series “Invincible.”

Jo Marie Payton

There is no denying that Jo Marie Payton’s role as Harriette Baines Winslow on the ABC/CBS sitcom “Family Matters” is what she will always be best remembered for. But that’s all she did during the ‘80s. Payton also showed up on shows such as “Perfect Strangers” and “Silver Spoons” during this formatting part of her life.

In more recent times, Payton has had minor success on short-lived shows such as “Mann & Wife.” She also reprised her popular voice role of Suga Mama Proud on the animated series “The Proud Family: Louder and Prouder,” which premiered on Disney+ in 2022.

Tom Selleck

For the majority of the ‘80s, Tom Selleck was the man that everyone either wanted to be or be with. The star of “Magnum P.I.” made both Hawaiian shirts and mustaches incredibly fashionable, and it’s safe to say that no one has managed to rock as well as him ever since.

During the same decade, Selleck also starred alongside Ted Danson and Steve Guttenberg in the classic flick “Three Men and a Baby.” Since then, Selleck has had memorable appearances in shows such as “Friends,” “Blue Bloods,” and “Las Vegas.” In 2021, Selleck released his first-ever music album, “Yessir, That’s My Baby.”

Christy Turlington

While we might be taking a bit of liberty putting her on this list, we think Christy Turlington just about earned the right to be regarded as an ‘80s star. Even though she really rose to prominence during the ‘90s, she did start her modeling jobs during the late ‘80s. She started representing Calvin Klein’s Eternity campaign back in 1989.

Along the way, Turlington has made it onto the annual “Time 100” as one of the most influential people on the planet. While she continues to model until this very day, Turlington has also become a very influential figure in the world of health. She practices Yoga and is a keen runner, having run four marathons in her lifetime.

Sylvester Stallone

You just can’t have the ‘80s without talking about Sylvester Stallone – it’s just a fact. Riding the success of his Academy-Award-winning “Rocky,” Sly continued to reprise the role of Rocky Balboa in the ‘80s, culminating in the quintessentially ‘80s sequel “Rocky IV.” Alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger, Stallone became the ultimate ‘80s action star, also raising hell in the “Rambo” film series.

Over the years, Stallone has continued to leverage his status as Hollywood’s action icon, almost poking fun at his own reputation with the hit film series “The Expendables.” And Stallone has also entered the world of comic book movies, appearing in both “Guardians of the Galaxy” and “The Suicide Squad.”

Andie MacDowell

If anyone on this list can say that they have many, many strings to their bow, then it has to be Andie MacDowell. Back in the ‘80s, this extremely talented woman started modeling for the likes of Calvin Klein and even became a spokeswoman for L’Oréal. During this defining decade, MacDowell starred in many popular movies, including “St. Elmo’s Fire.”

The ‘90s brought more interesting roles in movies such as “Four Weddings and a Funeral” and “Groundhog Day.” And the talent certainly runs in the family, as MacDowell’s daughter, Margaret Qualley, has also made a name for herself in the world of acting in recent times. They even starred in 2021’s “Maid” together.

Sigourney Weaver

Sure, there are plenty of actors who can claim to be action stars from the ‘80s, but not many actresses were given the chance to stake that claim – except for Sigourney Weaver. Best known for her role as Ripley in the “Alien” franchise, Weaver revolutionized what kind of roles women could play in Hollywood, paving the way for other female action stars.

She also starred in ‘80s flicks such as “Ghostbusters” and “Gorillas in the Mist.” In more recent times, Weaver has reunited with one of her favorite collaborators, James Cameron, starring in both the first “Avatar” movie and its long-awaited sequel “Avatar: The Way of Water.”

Michael Douglas

They say the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree – and it certainly didn’t fall far from the Douglas family tree. Stepping into the footsteps of his superstar father Kirk was never going to be an easy task. But Michael was a huge ‘80s star, starring in hits such as “Romancing the Stone,” “Fatal Attraction,” and “Wall Street.

The latter of which he arguably played his most iconic role, Gordon Gekko. In more recent times, Douglas has developed a much younger audience after starring in numerous MCU movies as the original Ant-Man – Hank Pym. In 2023, he reprised the role in “Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania.”

Glenn Close

There is no doubt in our minds that Glenn Close is one of the most talented actresses of her generation. Having been a huge hit both on the stage and the big screen, there seems to be no role that Close hasn’t been able to make her own. Back in the ‘80s, she starred in some truly gripping movies.

These included the likes of “Fatal Attraction,” “The Big Chill,” and “Dangerous Liaisons,” to name a few. Of course, most people will associate her with the role of Cruella de Vil from “101 Dalmatians,” which came out in the ‘90s. Even as she gets closer and closer to her own 80s, Close continues to star in movies, year in, and year out.

Jeff Goldblum

It’s impossible to call Jeff Goldblum an ‘80s star, as he has been a prolific star every decade since then. But the ‘80s was when things really started to take off for the eccentric actor. During this time, Goldblum had roles in films such as “The Big Chill,” “Silverado,” and “The Fly.”

But then his career went to a whole new level in the ‘90s when he starred in huge blockbusters such as “Jurassic Park” and “Independence Day.” In his later years, Goldblum has become something of a silver fox, being beloved by people of all ages. And his reputation as a blockbuster A-lister shows no signs of slowing down.

Anjelica Huston

When you come from a family of actors as talented as the Hustons, then there is a good chance that you are also going to be an incredible performer too. This was certainly the case for Anjelica Huston, who ended up winning the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actress for her role in the 1985 mob movie “Prizzi’s Honor.”

And that was just the beginning for Huston. Most people will associate her with the role of Morticia Addams in “The Addams Family” films from the ‘90s. And even though the decades have passed since then, Huston continues to show up in movies, both big and small. She even had a minor role in “John Wick 3: Chapter 3 - Parabellum.”

Tony Danza

If there was ever a man whom you call “the king of sitcoms” – especially when talking about the ‘80s, then Tony Danza is your man. During most of this defining decade in his career, Danza worked on two popular sitcoms. He first worked on the hit show “Taxi.” And as soon as that ended, he landed a lead role on the sitcom “Who’s the Boss?”

Even though his most prolific years are behind him, Danza has continued to work both on the big and small screen. In the last decade, he has worked alongside Joseph Gordon-Levitt in the critically acclaimed movie “Don Jon.” And he recently played himself in the sequel series to “Sex and the City” – “And Just Like That…”

Jerry O'Connell

Jerry O’Connell’s career was another that started when he was young. As a kid, he did a lot of ad work for Duncan Hines, and a Frosted Flakes commercial. But he is probably best known for his role as one of the kids in the classic '80s movie "Stand By Me."

But the adorable actor shed his baby weight and grew into a handsome leading man. He has since appeared in movies such as "Scream 2" and "Scary Movie 5." He even played George Cooper Jr., the brother of Sheldon, in the hit sitcom "The Big Bang Theory." O’Connell is married to former model/actress, Rebecca Romijn.

Alyssa Milano and Corey Haim

Like many child stars (and adult ones), Corey Haim had substance dependency issues during the 1980s'. He was a teen idol and dated some young ladies during those days, with Alyssa Milano being the most famous of them all.

She was a huge star at the time, with "Who's the Boss?" and would go on to be an even bigger star with roles in hit shows like "Charmed" and "Mistresses". They dated for a few years and broke up at the beginning of the 1990s'. He must have left his mark on Alyssa's life, as she was devastated when she learned about Corey's passing in 2010.

Dennis Quaid and Lea Thompson

The movie "Jaws- 3" brought us a bit more than scary sharks. In 1996, Lea Thompson and Dennis Quaid (who starred in the movie) were seriously dating, and Dennis even proposed. The two were engaged for almost a year but never took the next step.

A few years later, Thompson started to date Howard Deutch, who she met on the set of "Some Kind of Wonderful" and ended up marrying. It seems that Lea Thompson has a thing for men she meets on sets. Then again, these things are bound to happen when people are literally paid to play each other's love interest.

Gwyneth Paltrow and Brad Pitt

In the 1980s and 1990s, you couldn't get better looking than Brad Pitt and Gwyneth Paltrow. They were the most glamorous couple of that era and were adored by all. They dated for two years, which at the time seemed like a lifetime.

A few years later, Gwyneth Paltrow admitted that their relationship ended because she was in a very unstable time in her life and that she practically messed it up. You never know; Paltrow could have saved us the whole Anniston-Jolie story if she would have stuck around. Though it seems like they both landed on their feet eventually.

January Jones and Ashton Kutcher

January Jones and Ashton Kutcher were pretty much leveled out when they first met in 1998. They were both in the spring of their careers, still taking any role proposed, and were working their way up the success ladder. They dated for three years and decided to go on their separate ways in 2001.

Jones has remarked on several occasions that Kutcher was not the ideal partner and was not supportive of her career at all. Since then, the couple kept climbing, though separately. Jones went on to star as Betty Draper in "Mad Men" and Ashton went on to marry Mila Kunis.

Drew Barrymore and Luke Wilson

Many couples start their love story on the sets of a movie, and so did Luke Wilson and Drew Barrymore. "Home Fries" and "Best Man" were where it all began for these two. It must make things so easy when your on-screen partner is your real-life partner.

They started to date in 1997 but only lasted until 1999. Barrymore has said in a number of interviews that Luke Wilson is one of the most important people in her life and that she has been privileged to have known him. We feel he's not the only guy Drew said this about...

Madonna and Sean Penn

Sean Penn and Madonna met in the winter of 1985 and married soon after, in August of the same year. That's a good way to make one year the best in less than six months. "True Blue", one of Madonna's greatest albums, was, in fact, dedicated to Penn.

In January 1989, just before celebrating their fourth anniversary, they decided to call it quits and got divorced. None of them seems to have wallowed in it for too long. They have since moved on, with Sean Penn remarrying twice (one to actress Robin Write and once to actress Leila George) and Madonna remarrying once (to filmmaker Guy Ritchie).

Melanie Griffith and Don Johnson

Don Johnson and Melanie Griffith starred in the last three decades of the 20th century. The mid-1970s is when it all began. Less than a year after they married, they already got divorced, only to retie the knot in 1989.

That second round only lasted for five years during which the two became parents to actress Dakota Johnson who you probably know from the 50 Shades franchise. The mid-1990s were the days when Jonson and Melanie eventually realized that they weren't meant to be, and 1996 was the year they ended the love story for good. What a rollercoaster of a relationship!

George Clooney and Kelly Preston

We bet you never knew that Mr. Nespresso, George Clooney, had a guest appearance on the 1980s show "The Facts of Life." Well, he did, and at the same time (and we didn't know this until researching for this article), he dated Kelly Preston before she went off and married John Travolta.

They dated in 1988, which lasted for only a year, but during that year, they moved in together and even raised a pet pig named Max! After the breakup, Clooney kept the pig and raised it until died at the old age of 18. Who knew he had it in him?

Julia Roberts and Matthew Perry

A pretty woman and one of the funniest guys in the house kicked it off, apparently in 1995. Julia Roberts, known for her remarkable performance in many widescreen movies, was a guest star on "Friends," Mattew Perry's home set. Ironically, Roberts played the role of someone who gets payback on Perry's Chandler for bullying her in school.

The two enjoyed each other's company for almost a year before deciding to end the romance. It is thought that this was the turning point for Mattew Perry, as his drinking problem is said to have begun slightly after the breakup, but this is all hearsay.

Sandra Bullock and Matthew McConaughey

These two did a very good job of hiding their relationship. So much so, that by the time the tabloids realized they were an item, they had already broken up. Apparently, Bullock and McConaughey were together for almost two years and even got engaged secretly!

They met in 1996 and immediately felt the sparks while filming on the same set. For their own reasoning (they kept this a secret, too), they decided to go on their separate ways; however, they have remained close until today. They are very close friends and make it a point to share it with the world.

Arsenio Hall and Paula Abdul

"American Idol" judge Paula Abdul dated Arsenio Hall, who had his very own show. The two met on the set of a movie and lived hectic lives in the entertainment industry. They met while filming "Coming to America," which was a classic Eddie Murphy comedy, and became inseparable.

Even though they broke up, Arsenio mentions that he has only good memories of Paula. They stayed friends, and she even appeared on his show after they broke up. Abdul has since married twice (actor Emilio Estevez and fashion designer Brad Beckerman) but Hall has never married, though he does have one son.

Janice Dickinson and Rob Lowe

Like everyone in the 1980s', all men wanted to be Rob Lowe, and all women wanted to date Rob Lowe. And Janice Dickinson is one woman who actually did that. 1988 was the year it all happened, though it only lasted a few months.

She was a stunning supermodel who escalated her career and later became one of the judges on "America's Next Top Models," in addition to being a successful businesswoman and author. Rob Lowe, on the other hand, is a loved actor, producer, and director, but the 1980s will always be remembered as his peak and pride decade.

Cher and Val Kilmer

Movie stars and musicians of the 1980s and 1990s', practically lived in the same bubble. They mixed with the same people, mingled at the same parties, and dated the same loved ones. Cher, who was at the peak of her career in those days, set her eyes on Val Kilmer, who later co-starred in "Top Gun" with Tom Cruise.

They were a hot item between 1982 and 1984 and then called it quits. Cher said that Kilmer was much younger than her, which was a big issue back in the day, and that older guys (or guys the same age as she was) just weren't interesting enough for her.

Michal Jackson and Brooke Shields

Unlike today, at the beginning of the 1980s, things were different, and the number of stars was limited. Not every artist that came up with a new song instantly became famous, whereas today, you don't need much to be recognized worldwide. Michal Jackson, at the time, was known and loved globally. As was Brooke Shields

He dated Brooke Shields for a while, but apparently, they weren't both aligned with how they wanted things to go. Jackson proposed a number of times; however, Shields tells a different story and has always claimed that they were no more than two good friends.

Christina Applegate and Brad Pitt 

In the '80s, Brad Pitt and Christina Applegate were (like many well-known stars at the time) in the spring of their careers. Pitt just started to walk through the path of fame, and Applegate was breaking through with her role in "Married With Children." These two were friends as teenagers.

Pitt (together with other future stars such as Jason Priestly) would come to her parent's house for Sunday lunches. Pitt was even her date to the 1989 MTV Movie Awards, though she left with someone else… awkward! They both went on to other partners eventually, though. Applegate is now married to musician Martyn LeNoble, and Pitt, well... we all know what happened with him.

Christine Taylor and Neil Patrick Harris

Dr. Doogie Howser is not all a goody two shoes. Way before he came out and revealed to the world his orientation, he dated actress Christine Taylor. She is best known and loved for her role in "The Brady Bunch" and in "The Wedding Singer." They dated from 1997 until 1998. A relationship that lasted just over a year.

They were a relatively private and quiet couple, with not too many horror stories to make the paparazzi's day. These days, Doogie is happily married to David Burtka, and Christine is married to Ben Stiller, also in a very happy way.

Robert Downey Jr. and Sarah Jessica Parker

Way back in the 1980s, Robert Downay Jr. was still unknown for his roles as Iron Man in the MCU. In fact, he was so out of it with his substance dependency that it seems that Sara Jessica Parker came just in time to put him back on his feet.

The two were filming a movie together, ending in a seven-year relationship. Downey found it hard to let go of his former lifestyle, which was difficult for Parker to handle. Since then, he has left his mark in "Chaplin" and "Sherlock Holmes," and Parker has left us wondering whatever happened to Mr. Big and the City.

Lisa Marie Presley and Michael Jackson

This is about as good as it gets. The King of Pop dated the King of Rock n Roll's daughter. AKA the Rock n Roll princess. The early 1990s were the days when everything was about Michael Jackson's legal accusations, and Lisa Marie managed to make the wind blow in a different way.

Lisa Marie even famously starred in Jackson's music video for his ballad "You Are Not Alone". They were married for under two years and had no children together, yet they managed to preserve their titles, which they both left as their legacy following each of their deaths.

Winona Ryder and Matt Damon

Sometimes in life, all you need is a best friend to introduce you to their partner's best friend, and there you go. You get yourself a boyfriend. In the late 1990s', Gwyneth Paltrow was Winona Ryder's best friend. Paltrow was also dating Ben Affleck. Matt Damon was Affleck's best friend and you can see where this is going.

The two hit it off and a match was made. Damon and Ryder dated for over three years and were known as Hollywood's hottest couple back then. Matt Damon quickly moved on to his next story in life, and Winona Ryder wasn't left far behind.

Elle Macpherson and Billy Joel

Apparently, you don't have to be the best-looking guy in the class to date the most beautiful girl around. Well, that's how it was back in the 1980s'. Back then, the known and loved "Piano Man" was (and still is) a successful musician and one of the best-selling artists of all time.

During those days, Joel started to date Elle Macpherson, who back then was (and still is) a beautiful model making her way through law school (though that law part was only true for about a year). The two dated for a short time and then decided to go their own way.

Courtney Love and Edward Norton

Courtney Love's most famous relationship was and will always be the one she had with the late Kurt Cobain but this entry is about a different relationship. The movie "The People vs. Larry Flynt" is where it all began. Norton and Love co-starred and started to date shortly after.

They dated for over four years, which turned them into a well-known couple in the Hollywood scene. Like all couples, they had their ups and downs. However, their downs seemed to make the headlines way too often. In 1999, Courtney Love practically ditched Edward in the middle of a fight and never returned.

Alyssa Milano and David Arquette

When you get into show business at a very young age you are bound to have at least one VIP relationship. Alyssa Milano was under the age of 20 when she began her romantic affair with David Arquette. Those were the shining days of "Who's The Boss?" for Milano and the days of "The Outsiders" and "Parenthood" for Arquette.

There was such a buzz covering these two back in the day that you might have thought there was a huge love affair going on between them. The truth is, their story lasted for just over 60 days, turning this romantic episode into a 60 minutes show.

Jon Bon Jovi and Diane Lane

Diane Lane is best known for her role in the 1979 movie, "A Little Romance." Only years later, she returned to the public eye with the 1989 TV series, "Lonesome Dove." Since then, she has captured our hearts in numerous roles and has left her mark in Hollywood.

During her 20s, she dated Jon Bon Jovi, who, in those days, did no more than sweep floors and write songs. It was only at the end of the 1 Nowadays, the man is happily married to the same woman (Dorothea Hurley) since 1989.980s that Bon Jovi became the Bon Jovi we know and love today.

Jennifer Grey and Matthew Broderick

Before Jennifer Grey put on her dirty dancing shoes, she starred in the 1986 huge teen hit "Ferris Bueller's Day Off," where Bueller was played by no other than Matthew Broderick. Funnily enough, in the movie, they played siblings who were always at each other's throats, but the sparks between the two were still there and undeniably so. However, they were kept secret for quite a while.

Their romance was revealed shortly before "Dirty Dancing" was released, and not long after, they decided to call it quits. The two have since had their fair share of much-publicized relationships: Broaderick with actress Sarah Jessica Parker and Grey with actor Clark Gregg.

Tatum O'Neal and John McEnroe

In the 1980s', John McEnroe was a professional superstar tennis player. He is known for throwing his temper on the tennis court, eventually leading to conflicts with the tennis association. Tatum O'Neal is a well-known actress who snagged an Academy Award when she was just ten years old.

When these two met back in 1986, he was at the peak of his career, and she was dealing with an illegal substance issue, which didn't stop them from getting married. They ended their marriage in 1994, which was followed by an ugly court case, accusations on both sides, and a 1980's story to be told.

Drew Barrymore and Edward Norton

Everyone says I love you, and everyone loves Drew Barrymore. How could you not? She has "adorable" written all over her face. Drew Barrymore and Edward Norton starred together in "Everyone Says I Love You" but only started to date a few years later. In 1999, Barrymore escorted Norton to the Acadamy Awards, and the stars were glowing for the two.

Their relationship didn't survive the welcoming of the new millennium, and before 2000 burst into the world, the two went their separate ways. Norton's way has led him to marry his current wife, Shauna Robertson, and Barrymore's way led her to two marriages and two divorces.

Kristen Johnson and Ryan Reynolds

Between 1999 and 2000, the sun shone for Kristen Johnson and Ryan Reynolds. Back then, Reynolds was making it big on "Two Guys and a Girl," and Johnson was doing the same while starring on "3rd Rock From the Sun". For a while, these two had it going.

People are always looking for spicy or interesting relationship stories but they won't be getting them from these two, who seem to have ended things on good terms. In recent interviews, both couldn't come up with any juicy stories about their past, but Kristen did say that Reynolds was a one-of-a-kind kind of guy, just not suited for her.

Sylvester Stallone and Brigitte Nielsen

During the 1980s, Sylvester Stallone and Brigitte Nielsen were one relationship that was always starring at the top of the headlines. Most of the gossip around them was based on rumors, but plenty of it was based on real-life issues the couple went through.

Nielsen, a Danish actress who appeared on the UK "Big Brother Show," and Stallone managed to preserve their marriage for less than two years, and in 1987 the two went their separate ways. Today they are both happily married — Stallone to Jennifer Flavin (third and current wife) and Nielsen to Mattia Dessì (fifth and current husband).

Winona Ryder and Johnny Depp

The indie couple of the early 90s, Johnny Depp and Winona Ryder were the black sheep of Hollywood. Both dark-haired beauties that took on some quirky films, their love seemed like a match made in heaven. The two met in 1989 at the premiere of Ryder's film "Great Balls of Fire!" — the classic biopic of the late Jerry Lee Lewis.

By the time they co-starred in "Edward Scissorhands" in 1990, the world was enamored by them. Constantly overwhelmed by the press, the public pressures weighed on their relationship. Eventually, they gave in and, by 1993, decided to end it.

Heather Locklear and Tommy Lee

If you're from the 1980s', you probably remember Heather Locklear from "Dynasty". If you're from the 1990s', you are obviously a "Melrose Place" lover. Either way, Locklear was on top of the list, making her an icon of those decades. Tommy Lee was the Mötley Crüe drummer, and in 1996 they both tied the knot.

After him being unfaithful to her, they divorced in 1993, which allowed her to marry Richie Sambora, and allowed him to marry Pamela Anderson (and later Britney Furlan). It looks like Locklear has a thing for musicians, and Tommy Lee, for sure, has a thing for blondes.

Cameron Diaz and Matt Dillon

"A Kiss Before Dying," "Singles," and "There's Something About Mary" are only some of the movies Matt Dillon is recognized for. He might have been happily (or not so happily) married in the movies he starred in, but in real life, the facts are slightly different.

1995 was the year for Matt Dillon and Cameron Diaz, who was at the highlight of her career at the time. The relationship lasted for three years, and the two decided to break up in 1998. Rumors say Cameron wanted to take the next step in life together with Dillon. He, however, was nowhere near.

Jerry Hall and Mick Jagger

Models and rockstars go hand in hand like burgers and fries. Just ask these two. In 1991, lead singer and one of the founder members of The Rolling Stones, Mick Jagger, and actress-model Jerry Hall married in exotic Bali, Indonesia.

However, eight years later, their fairy tale marriage ended after Hall discovered that Mick had been unfaithful to her, which ended up with the third party bearing a child. It seems that as one of the most influential figures in rock and roll, you have one too many temptations. Jagger has fathered eight children with five women. Jagger, stick to music!

Lenny Kravitz and Lisa Bonet

Last century (ugh, we know it's technically true but we still get the creeps when we see those words in that context), Lisa Bonet was making it big as Denise Huxtable on "The Cosby Show," while Lenny Kravitz was making it big as a musician.

To us, they always seemed like the perfect match; however, things were not all stable for the two. They married not long after they met and divorced not long after they married. They had a daughter together, which will keep them in some ways together for as long as they live, whether they like it or not.

Sheryl Crow and Owen Wilson

The country, jazz, pop, and rock star Sheryl Crow has dated a few big names; the famous Eric Clapton is one of them. She never really settled down with anyone and never bore children of her own. She has, though, adopted two boys who she brings up alone.

Back in the 199os', Crow had an on-and-off relationship with Owen Wilson that ended not much longer after it started. Wilson is known for his unsteady ways when it comes to relationships, so the ending of this little romance story didn't come as a surprise to us. He later went on to have three children with three other partners.

Tom Cruise and Rebecca De Mornay

1983 was the year for Rebecca De Mornay and Tom Cruise. They were both working on the set of "Risky Business" at the time, which turned into a real-life romance. Apparently, while they were shooting the movie, Rebecca was already involved with Harry Dean, but this didn't stop her from starting a new relationship with Cruise.

By 1985, the story between the two was over. Tom Cruise had an amazing career in front of him, with "Top Gun" being the biggest success of those days, and Rebecca De Mornay went on to star in numerous movies, such as "The Three Musketeers," and "The Hand That Rocks The Cradle."

Gwyneth Paltrow and Ben Affleck

This story has somewhat of a circular structure: Ben Affleck and Gwyneth Paltrow met on the set of one movie and then had to meet again, after they had already broken up, to promote another movie. That, in itself, already sounds like a movie.

They first fell in love in 1998's "Shakespeare in Love," and by the time their 2000 flick "Bounce" came out in the year 2000, they were already apart. Gwyneth was quoted saying that Ben isn't the type of boyfriend you marry, but the one you date to heal childhood trauma. We don't know if that's a compliment or not.

Melissa Gilbert and Rob Lowe

Mellisa Gilbert spent most of her childhood years on the little prairie, so no wonder she fell madly in love with mega babe Rob Lowe when she first met him. We doubt it if there were charmers like Lowe on the prairie. Gilbert and Lowe went out for over six years, with a few breakups along the way.

At one stage, they got engaged, but that never led to a wedding. Rob carried on with his life, spreading his charms on other women, and Melissa nourished her career, became a producer and politician, and is happily married to Timothy Busfield.

Emilio Estevez and Demi Moore

Before starring as Andrew Clark, the athlete in "The Breakfast Club," Emilio Estevez was introduced to the stunning Demi Moore (who was still before her "Indecent Proposal" and "Ghost" days). They dated for a while and got engaged but never tied the knot.

They were both madly in love with one another, but apparently, that was not enough for Estevez to not play the game with another woman simultaneously. When Demi's therapist advised her not to take it any further with Emilio, she knew they had to go separately. But other relationships were not too far ahead for either of them.

Tyra Banks and Seal

In the 1990s, Seal was one of the biggest stars around, with his greatest hit, "Kiss From a Rose," winning several awards at the time. Seal is better known for his relationship with Heidi Klum (which was highly publicized but famously ended in a divorce), but before then, another supermodel was on the scene.

Seal and Tyra Banks dated for three months. Their relationship was kept relatively low-key, and besides one event that they appeared together, no one made a fuss of them. In fact, other than Seal's marriage to Klum, both stars' love life didn't make too many headlines.

Corey Feldman and Drew Barrymore

The child stars of the 1980s were very different than the ones of today. Back then, if you appeared in one movie, you probably appeared in them all. During his teens, Corey Feldman starred in "Friday the 13th", "Gremlins," "The Goonies," and the all-time classic, "Stand by Me."

In 1989, Feldman dated Drew Barrymore, also known as a child star of those days. It's actually kind of sweet when you think about it — they were probably the only people who could fully understand each other. The two came together as an item to the Oscars that very same year.

Kate Moss and Johnny Depp

Johnny Depp and Kate Moss were quite an item for a hot minute. And by hit minute we mean about four years, between 1994 to 1998. In 2007, Johnny Depp was interviewed speaking fondly about Kate Moss, which would have made you think Moss and Depp had it going really well at the time.

Well, the truth is that it wasn't all that good. Their relationship came after Depp's love story with Winona Ryder, which became a huge story within the Hollywood tales and lasted for just over three years. All parties involved went on to have other high-profile relationships.

Cher and Tom Cruise

The iconic Cher can get away with almost anything. When she was a 38-year-old lady, she got away with dating a 22-year-old young man by the name of Tom Cruise. Now, we aren't really sure what they mean when they say "get away with" in this context. It's not like people (let alone people in Hollywood) get punished for a relationship with an age gap.

He was just taking his first footsteps in the Hollywood world, while she had already built her reputation as a successful singer. The two dated for a while, not turning their story into something great. They were busier smiling to the cameras than actually trying to make something work.

Gary Oldman and Uma Thurman

Uma Thurman is one you just gotta love. And Gary Oldman thought that, too, back in the 1990s. Oldman was Thurman's first true love, as she once said in an interview. She said she was a young and inexperienced woman involved with a man twelve years her senior.

She also said that it isn't a surprise that their relationship ended when it did — less than two years after they tied the knot. Uma even took it a step further by adding that this was the mistake of her life. He was 12 years older than her, and what was done has been done.

Madonna and Vanilla Ice

The queen of pop dating the king of ice cream. What a strange couple they were. There was a slight age gap between the two, and according to Vanilla's story, she taught him many things he didn't know about relationships.

They dated for just under a year and broke up because Vanilla Ice didn't approve of the book she released at the time, which exposed him in a disrespectful way. Now, we ask you, Mr. Vanilla, it is known that the queen says whatever is on her mind, anywhere, anytime, and about anyone. What exactly did you expect when you started to date her?

Tom Cruise and Nicole Kidman

You might have thought this golden oldie wouldn't get a mention on this list. But how could we forget the Nicole Kidman-Tom Cruise love story? Kidman met Cruise in 1989, during the filming of "Days of Thunder," and from her dating history, it seems she may have a thing for guys who are shorter than her.

On Christmas Eve of 1990, Kidman and Cruise got married. It was Cruise's second marriage at the time. They even adopted two children, Isabella Jane and Connor Anthony, while they were married. In 2001, the couple split. Cruise filed the divorce. In 2006, Kidman admitted that she still loved Cruise dearly, and it wasn't easy to totally erase him from her life.

Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall

Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall are the perfect examples of "when a beauty dates a geek." They both starred in the 1980's movies, "Sixteen Candles" and "The Breakfast Club," and dated for a short while after making these hits. These were 80s idols that were adored by teenagers all over the world who loved to see them together.

The fans grew up, and so did the stars, each going their separate way but remaining good friends until this day. Nowadays, Ringwald is married to American writer Panio Gianopoulos and shares a daughter with him. Hall is married to actress Lucia Oskerova.

Richard Gere and Cindy Crawford

In 1987, Richard Gere already had a resume of women he had dated, which listed, amongst others, Kim Basinger, Priscilla Presley, and a few other big names. He was the stud to end all studs. Stunning Cindy Crawford was only in her early twenties when she met Mr. Gere, which led to the two marrying in 1991.

Crawford didn't want to waste her precious twenties with the silver fox and decided to untie the knot. She was one of the hottest women alive during the 1990s, and he was, and still remains, a true charmer any woman would love to have.

Kim Basinger and Prince

The movie "Batman," which was screened in 1989, was where it all began for Kim Basinger and musician Prince. Basinger starred in the movie, while Prince was responsible for the amazing soundtrack. Kim Basinger was interviewed once, and she said very freely that the time with Prince was very meaningful for her, as all moments were back then.

She was a free spirit who did whatever was on her mind, and judging by Prince's public image, he was very similar to her in that respect. Apparently, dating Prince was right up her alley. The two even worked together on music projects!

Winona Ryder and Christian Slater

It is no surprise that this romantic story took its first steps on set. It happened to many stars, and it happened to Christian Slater and Winona Ryder too. Slater and Ryder starred together in the 1988 movie "Heathers" and had a massive crush on one another, so it's a good thing they played a couple.

They announced publicly that they were an item, even though their relationship didn't last too long. Winona Ryder said that Slater was just another story to add to her relationship book. Slater, however, admits that Winona was the love of his life and the woman he always wanted.

Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillippe

Where would we be without the ultimate '90s rollercoaster romance between Reese Witherspoon and Ryan Phillipe? The pair met when Ryan crashed Reese's birthday party. He turned out to be a very welcomed uninvited guest!

In 1999 they went on to star as doomed lovers in the cult classic "Cruel Intentions" and got hitched a few months later. After rumors and suspicions of Ryan allegedly playing around with other women, Phillipe and Witherspoon called it quits. They have two children together — a daughter named Ava and a son named Deacon, who they continue to happily co-parent to this day.

Brooke Sheilds and Liam Neeson

Despite their 13-year age gap, Brooke Sheilds and Liam Neeson hit it off in late 1991. Their love connection was so intense that Neeson popped the question after only 3 months of dating! However, shortly after the proposal, Liam flew home to deal with his home flooding.

Brooke apparently patiently waited to hear from her fiance but never did. Yep, he ghosted her! Even Brooke Shields can get ghosted, apparently. No one is safe anymore. A few months later, when he got his senses back, he came crawling back to her  and re-proposed, to which Sheilds answered, "NO." Go, Brooke!

Lance Bass and Danielle Fishel

"Boy Meets World" star Danielle Fishel and NSYNC member Lance Bass were high school sweethearts back in the 90s and even went to prom together. The young lovers weren't meant to be but remained good friends. After Lance came out as gay in 2006, Danielle was incredibly supportive of her former flame.

Lance recently told Danielle, "I always knew you would completely accept me," on his podcast "The Daily Popcast with Lance Bass." Now that's love! The two eventually found romance in other partners — Bass is married to actor Michael Turchin and Fishel is married to film producer Jensen Karp.

Ellen DeGeneres and Anne Heche

Just mere days before Ellen DeGeneres's iconic "InStyle" magazine cover where she announced to the world that she was gay hit the stands, she met the late actress Anne Heche at the 1997 Vanity Fair Oscars Afterparty. It was an instant connection and very soon the two skyrocketed into being the most famous queer couple in Hollywood at the time.

Unfortunately, their relationship ended a few years later when Heche apparently left Ellen with no explanation. In a 2001 interview with the "Los Angeles Times," Ellen admitted, "I'm left with everybody else wondering what happened...I feel betrayed." Talk about being blindsided!

Matt Damon and Minnie Driver

1997 was a great year for Matt Damon. Not only was his critically acclaimed film "Good Will Hunting" released (for which he would later win an Academy Award for best screenplay) but he also found love. Matt and Minnie met on the set of the film and started dating.

However, any good will (pun absolutely intended) between the two fizzled out when Damon broke up with Minnie by announcing to the world that he was single on "Oprah." Millions of viewers, including Minnie herself, were shocked by the announcement! Not a cool move, Matt. We wonder what Luciana, his current wife, has to say about it.

Notorious B.I.G and Faith Evans

In a whirlwind romance, the iconic rapper, the late Notorious B.I.G. (also known as Biggie Smalls) met musician Faith Evans on the set of a photoshoot in 1994. A mere eight days later — yes eight days — the two were married! These two knew how to move quickly!

Reportedly, while the romantic relationship between the two began to fizzle out, they remained friends. They even welcomed a baby boy into the world in 1996. Unfortunately, the rapper never got to enjoy being a father for too long as he was killed a mere six months after his son's birth.

David Spade and Kristy Swanson

It is no secret that Spade is more celebrated for his humor and comedic work than he is for his physical appearance, but that has not stopped him from dating some of the most attractive women in the industry. In fact, the "Saturday Night Live" alum and comedian has a rather lengthy list of former flames.

One of the first on the list is actress Kirsty Swanson.  Spade and Swanson met on the set of the 1996 film, "Heads in a Duffel Bag." With a title like that, it's no wonder the film bombed. However, love blossomed between the stars which lasted for almost a year.

Joaquin Phoenix and Liv Tyler

It seems that Live Tyler really believes in love at first sight! In an interview with "The Morning Call," Liv revealed that, "I fell in love with Joaquin the second I saw him" on set for the 1997 film "Inventing the Abbots." Sadly, their romance only lasted for three years until the pair split.

It's alleged that Liv was more dedicated to the relationship than he was. Whatever the case may be, they remain friends. According to Tyler she doesn't fall in love very often. She has, however, had two more serious relationships after Phoenix. Phoenix is currently in a relationship with actress Rooney Mara.

Ted Danson and Whoopi Goldberg

While on the set of the 1993 film, "Made in America," Ted Danson and Whoopi Goldberg started a romance that has since been dubbed "the affair that cost Danson $30 million." Quite the title. Ted Danson had been married to his wife Casey Coates for almost two decades when he and Whoopi ignited their surprising romance.

Once the secret was out, Coates filed for divorce which ultimately cost Danson a cool $30 million as well as a butchered reputation. After a year and a half, Whoopi and Ted called it quits in an anything-but-amicable breakup. Was it all worth it?

Michael Keaton and Courteney Cox

The year was 1989. Before Michael Keaton donned the Batman suit and before Courteney Cox was having coffee with her friends at Central Perk, the pair met and fell in love. After six years together, and rumored potential engagement, Keaton and Cox called it quits.

The two went their separate ways and got married — Cox married David Arquette and Keaton married Caroline McWilliams. While it's never been revealed what caused the breakup, Courteney admitted to "People" magazine in 1995 that "We still love each other." Considering they are both divorced now, could there ever be a comeback? We sure hope so.

Salma Hayek and Ed Norton

There are so many Hollywood couples who met while working together on one set or another. But apparently, there are more ways for celebrities to be introduced to each other. Who needs Cupid when you have a chiropractor? Yup, Hollywood royalty Selma Hayek and Edward Norton met through their mutual chiropractor in 1999!

Turns out he or she really had the couple's backs...Ha Ha Ha. The private pair dated for a few years until parting ways in 2003. While the cause of the split has never come to light, Hayek and Norton still seem amicable, even attending each other's weddings.

Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon

Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon were the ultimate romantic Rock and Roll royalty. The two musicians met, fell in love, and formed the iconic band Sonic Youth back in 1981. Moore and Gordon even tied the knot in 1984 making them the coolest married couple in the music industry at the time.

Unlike a love song, the rockers' relationship untimely turned very sour. It turned out that Thurston was secretly seeing his book editor Eva Pinz. Kim discovered the truth when she noticed suspicious texts on Thurston's phone. Sonic Youth imploded and the couple's relationship ended in a messy divorce.

Spike Jonze and Sofia Coppola

It seems that the band Sonic Youth was a hotspot for romance. Not only did former flames Thurston Moore and Kim Gordon form the band but directors Spike Jonze and Sofia Coppola met on the set of Sonic Youth's music video "100%."

What was first a formidable friendship soon blossomed into a romance that led the two to say their vows at Sofia's famous father's (Francis Ford Coppola's) vineyard in 1999. Sadly, Coppola and Jonze sadly split up a few years later. Some have even speculated that Sofia's film "Lost in Translation" drew inspiration from her strained relationship with Jonze.

Carson Daly and Jennifer Love Hewitt

If you were a TRL-loving teen, then you know all about the iconic relationship between MTV star Carson Daly and 90's actress Jennifer Love Hewitt, star of "I Know What You Did Last Summer." The two got together in 1998 and were so loved up that Daly went and got a tattoo of Jenniffer on his leg! Talk about a commitment.

As we all know, relationship tattoos often jinx a relationship. Carson and Jennifer called it quits. While the two remain good friends, Carson was shocked to discover the news of his break-up from "E! News" and not from Jennifer directly.

Fiona Apple and Paul Thomas Anderson

In 1997, songstress and indie music princess Fiona Apple and Director Paul Thomas Anderson were regarded as the ultimate 90s power couple. Not only was the pair a love match, but they collaborated on various projects together. Fiona lent her musical talent to Paul's film "Magnolia," while Paul directed four of Fiona's music videos.

What an idyllic portrait of the life of a couple of artists! Unfortunately, after four years, the relationship fizzled out. Fiona has since spoken out about the high pedestal the media put the relationship on and has revealed that the relationship had many negative and toxic elements.

Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston

Possibly THE It Couple of the 90s (and yes, the early 2000s) and America's sweethearts were, of course, Brad Pitt and Jennifer Aniston. One of the most famous celeb couples in Hollywood history began in a rather ordinary way. The pair was set up on a date by mutual friends. The rest was pop-culture history.

The end of Brad and Jennifer's marriage marked the beginning of a tabloid tsunami that would last years of rumors and gossip surrounding the failed romance. The two re-ignited rekindled romance rumors when spotted being very supportive of one another during the 2021 awards season.

Bruce Willis and Demi Moore

Talk about a whirlwind romance! Demi Moore and Bruce Willis first laid eyes on one another in July 1987 when... ahem... Demi was still involved with another man. She was engaged to Emilio Estevez at the time. It didn't take long for Demi to end her engagement with Estevez and jump head-first into a relationship with Bruce.

A mere five months after the first meeting, the two eloped in Las Vegas (how original). For a long time, they were one of the most high-profile couples in show business. However, After giving birth to three daughters and ten years of marriage, Moore and Willis divorced.

Gwen Stefani and Gavin Rossdale

In a burst of magical music match-making, Gwen Stefani's band, No Doubt, opened for Gavin Rossdale's band, Bush, in 1995. The songbirds quickly became love birds, and after a six-year relationship, the two got married! Sounds like a classic story. We're sure it can be made into a musical in a heartbeat. However, it didn't last.

Things seemed to be peachy for the pair, who then welcomed three children into the world. However, after it became apparent that Gavin was engaging in some...extra-marital activities with the family nanny...yawn... The two soon got divorced, and Gwen has since moved on with country crooner Blake Shelton.

David Bowie and Iman

One of the most successful showbiz couples has got to be David Bowie and Iman. While they had both been married, it seems that their love for each other was bigger than anything they had experienced before. The power pair were together for 26 years before Bowie's untimely passing.

The two first locked eyes on one another in 1990 at a dinner party. In an interview with "Hello Magazine," Bowie said, "My attraction to her was immediate and all-encompassing... That she would be my wife, in my head, was a done deal.” *Sniff* Can someone pass us the tissues, please?

David Copperfield and Claudia Schiffer

Some call it love, and some call it magic. Famous magician and illusionist David Copperfield managed to woo supermodel Claudia Schiffer by asking her for assistance during one of his shows in 1993. Would you look at that, apparently, magic tricks can, in fact, get you a girl! A year later, the two were engaged!

However, the engagement would never bloom into a marriage. The pair split up in 1999. What's particularly peculiar about the pairing is the controversy that surrounded it. Many have speculated that the relationship was a long ruse in order to boost Copperfield's fame. However, both Schiffer and Copperfield strongly deny this. Hmm...

Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell

It's not unusual for co-stars to canoodle; however, what is unusual is for the canoodling to last for over 30 years. That happens to be the case for the loved-up pair Goldie Hawn and Kurt Russell. The two ignited their long-lasting relationship flame while on the set of the 1983 film "Swing Shift."

The two have welcomed a son named Wyatt as a sibling to Goldie's Kate and Oliver from her previous marriage to Bill Hudson. While all three children have the acting bug, it's pretty clear that Kate Hudson has garnered the most fame and success. When asked about the key to the pair's relationship success, Goldie credits the two for never marrying and having time to themselves.

Christie Brinkley and Billy Joel

In a meeting that would only be possible for the rich and famous, music icon Billy Joel and supermodel Christie Brinkley met while on a luxurious vacation in the Caribbean in 1983. How fancy! The piano man himself used his musical talents to woo his future wife.

Joel played the piano on the island where Brinkley and her group were vacationing, and the rest is history! It seems that the couple had a love for the sea as they tied the knot on a super yacht two years later. Sadly, due to busy schedules and failed communication, the pair divorced.

Pamela Anderson and Tommy-Lee

One of the most infamous couples of the 90s was undoubtedly Pamela Anderson and Tommy Lee. The two had a rather off-beat first encounter. After locking eyes at a New Year's Eve Party in 1994, Tommy Lee licked Pamela's face. Apparently, that swept her off her feet!

In what only can be described as a whirlwind romance, Tommy and Pamela were married only days later! Unfortunately, the pair's private love life became tabloid fodder which ultimately lead to their marriage breaking down. The two share two sons — Brandon and Dylan — both of whom are making their way in entertainment.

Hugh Grant and Elizabeth Hurley

As costars do, Hugh Grant and Elizabeth Hurley met and fell in love on the set of the 1987 film "Remando al Viento." The couple was together for an impressive 13 years (which may as well be 50 years in Hollywood time). If England hadn't already had actual royals, these two could definitely fill in that spot.

However, the relationship was far from perfect. Hugh was caught in a rather compromising position with a... let's call her a lady of the night... in 1995. Despite the shock and hurt on Hurley's part, the two stayed together for another five years before finally ending their relationship.

Melanie Griffith and Antonio Banderas

It's not surprising, given all the glamourous stars in attendance, that Hollywood award shows make for a great opportunity to meet your future lover. After all, that red carpet is right there and it's full of attractive people looking their absolute best. This was the case for Antonio Banderas and Melanie Griffith.

Banderas first saw Griffith at the 1989 Academy Awards and fell in love. Griffith was still married to Don Johnson at the time. It was only six years later, while co-starring in the 1995 film "Two Much", that the pair (who were...ahem...both married at the time) got together. Well, the pair lasted together until 2014, when they eventually split.

Jude Law and Sadie Frost

Before the tumultuous tabloid headlines surrounding Jude Law and Sienna Miller, there was Jude Law and Sadie Frost's relationship. Law and Frost met on the set of the film 1992 film "Shopping." While Frost was married to Gary Kemp at the time, she admitted in her biography "Crazy Days," "The force of the love I felt for Jude and his intense ambition made me feel out of control."

The two got together and eventually got hitched in 1997. Jude's career skyrocketed at the time, which added great strain on the already rocky relationship. Frost eventually filed for divorce in 2013.

Busy Phillips and Colin Hanks

Unlike most celebrity couples, Busy Phillips and Colin Hanks did not need the entertainment industry to put them together. There were no movie sets or award shows in their meeting story. The two met and started dating in college in 1997. The love between the two blossomed while they were both attending Marymount University.

Despite breaking up a few years later, the two have only had good things to say about one another over the years. The two remain such good friends that they've made several talk show appearances together over the years and their children (from separate relationships) even go to the same school!

Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger

Ah, yet another loved-up co-star couple! Alec Baldwin and Kim Basinger met on the set of the 1990 film "The Marrying Man" and ignited their fiery relationship. As if the name of their film was a premonition for their future, Basinger and Baldwin were married a mere six weeks after first getting together.

Unfortunately, their love wasn't built to last. Basinger filed for divorce from Baldwin eight years after tying the knot. They famously have one daughter together — Ireland Baldwin, who has been enjoying quite an established career in the industry as a model, actress, and social media personality.

Chloe Sevigny and Harmony Korine

Ah, young love! Before Chloe Sevigny was an acclaimed actress and Harmony Korine a cult-classic director, the pair were just friends in their early teens. When it came time to cast actors for his first film, "Kids", Korine turned to Sevigny. Once the film was completed in 1994, the pair became more than just friends and co-workers.

Sevigny and Korine embarked on an on-again-off-again relationship that lasted several years but finally ended in the early 2000s. Since then, both of them have found true love — Sevigny is now married to an art gallery owner named Siniša Mačković, and Korine is married to former actress Rachel Simon.

Julia Roberts and Lyle Lovett

In a relationship that no one saw coming, Julia Roberts and Lyle Lovett had a whirlwind romance in 1993. The pair got hitched only three weeks after dating! Three weeks is usually enough time to finish a book (depending on the book) or go on a really fancy vacation. They are hardly enough time to decide you want to spend the rest of your life with a person.

The writing was on the wall when Lovett admitted in an interview with "People Magazine" that before tying the knot, "we’d never spent more than seven days together.” After two years of marriage, the relationship fizzled out and ended in divorce.

John Cusack and Jami Gertz

Back in the 1980s and 1990s, John Cusack set the standards for all men in the industry. Apparently, not only was he an inspiration for other men, but he was also very popular amongst women. Take Jami Gertz, for example. Gertz was a member of the famously known "Brat Pack" of the 1980s, and the two had things going around 1983.

They met on the set of "Sixteen Candles," and before it even began, the romance was already over. Cusack has since moved on to other relationships, though he has been extremely private about all of them, and Gertz went on to marry philanthropist Tony Ressler.

Jay Leno and Sharon Osbourne

Wait, what? Hasn't Sharon Osbourne been married to Ozzy since the dawn of time? Well, apparently she hasn't. Just like anyone else, she has her own history, though hers is arguably cooler than most. Before Sharon Osbourne was titled the First Lady of Rock&Roll, she had a short affair with Jay Leno.

Yes, THE Jay Leno. They met by coincidence at a bar and had a little fling. As it turns out, Osbourne didn't take the whole thing too seriously. Two months after they had their fling, Leno introduced his now-wife, the love of his life, to Osbourne, making the whole fling — history.

Chris O'Donnell and Reese Witherspoon

In 1993, Chris O'Donnell was 22 years old, and Reese Witherspoon was barely 16. She accompanied O'Donnell to a tribute party following his appearance in the movie "Scent of a Woman" and if anyone ever looked like the dictionary definition of the term "baby face", it has to be these two.

There was a bit more going on than just accompanying one another. Chris O'Donnell had reportedly admitted at the time that he had a soft spot for Whitherspoon and thought she was very nice. She, on the other hand, never spared a compliment and said that they were just friends.

Emilio Estevez and Paula Abdul

Emilio Estevez, known to most of us as the star of "The Breakfast Club" and "Young Guns," met Paula Abdul in 1991. They married just one year later, in 1992, and by 1994 the couple was already divorced. Well, that's the short version of it, at least. We are sure that each of them has a whole narrative to spill.

In one interview, Abdul said that their relationship ended because she wanted to have children. Emilio, who already had two children from a previous relationship, wasn't interested, leaving the two devastated and heartbroken. While she did get married after that, she has never had children.

Jennifer Garner and Scott Foley

Jennifer Garner met Scott Foley in 1998 when they were shooting "Felicity." Garner played Foley's girlfriend and, as so often happens for actors, ended up falling madly in love with him, for real. In 2000 they were married and, in 2003, divorced.

They both believe that their marriage never made it because they see themselves as "Hollywood victims." Everything is done in seventh gear, everything is instant and done in the heat of emotions, so it is not surprising that so many couples break up. Garner famously met her next husband, Ben Affleck, on a movie set too, and while their marriage lasted longer than her first, they eventually divorced.

John Cusack and Melissa Gilbert

In a turn of events, these two got involved in what looks like a classic game of jealousy, guilt, and emotional tugging. So, the little girl from the little prairie supposedly used Cusack to get back at Rob Lowe, who she dated for almost six years prior to bumping into Cusack.

Just one important detail: Lowe was Cusack's best friend at the time. She admitted this happened and excused it by saying that this was her own personal way of dealing with a broken heart and John just happened to be at the right time but in the wrong place.

Jennifer Love Hewitt and Will Friedle

When Jennifer Love Hewitt and Will Friedle were just 18 years old, they played best friends on the set of the movie "Trojan War", and we have a feeling you know where this is going to go but we will tell you anyway. The two kicked off a true love relationship from there on.

Later on, Hewit would play one of Friedle's love interests in "Boy Meets World." The relationship between the two on set was far more interesting than what was going on in reality, and the couple split up not long after they became publicly known as an item.

Denise Richards and Paul Walker

The late Paul Walker made it big when he starred in the movie "Tammy and the T-Rex" alongside Denise Richards. Now, he didn't succeed because of how great the movie was but because of what followed. He hit it off with one of the biggest names in the industry at that time.

Obviously, you can't just put these two beautiful creatures in the same room and NOT expect something to happen. These were the mid-1990s, and Denise Richards was one of the most beautiful and desirable women around. They were a ridiculously stunning couple who enjoyed the limelight for a good while.

Joey Lawrence and Keri Russell

Way before he became one of our most hated yet loved characters on "Felicity," Joey Lawrence was busy galavanting with Keri Russell down the streets of Hollywood. Their short relationship lasted for just under six months and had its share of drama.

As it turns out, while Russell was involved with Lawrence, she was still in an on-and-off relationship with the ex-boyfriend Tony Lucca of "The Mickey Mouse Club." The two have since tried their hand in marriage (to other people, of course), in divorce, and in parenting. Lawrence is currently married and Russell is in a relationship with another co-star, Matthew Rhys.

Fred Savage and Jennifer Love Hewitt

Fred Savage gained immense popularity in the late '80s and early '90s for his role as the lead in "The Wonder Years." At the same time, Hewitt was 14 and making a name for herself on Disney's "Kids Incorporated." The two young stars eventually crossed paths.

In an Instagram Live interview with TooFab, Hewitt reminisced about crushing on Savage. She revealed that for their first date, Savage took her to the Laugh Factory for a comedy show. Unfortunately, their love story was short-lived because of Hewitt's unusual pet: a pig. She said she never saw him again because he was really creeped out.

John Cusack and Lili Taylor

John Cusack and Lili Taylor starred together on "Say Anything." As it turns out, Taylor wasn't satisfied with only dating Cusack, as it was reported that she had a bit on the side with D.V. DeVincentis, one of Cusack's best friends at the time. Though they probably didn't stay friends after that.

In 2000 Taylor and Cusack starred together again, this time in the movie "High Fidelity." How ironic, considering how their previous relationship ended. The affair between the two never skyrocket, and maybe that's a good thing when you think about the uncomfortable events that made them go their separate ways in the first place.

Liam Neeson and Helen Mirren

This might come as a shock to you, but during the 1980s, the queen of the Oscars dated the king of the screen for almost five long years. Neeson and Mirren met playing the roles of Gawain and Morgana on the set of "Excalibur" when they were still both unknown.

They lived together, loved one another deeply, and admitted that, at the time, they were considered a serious item. Mirren confessed that the two broke up because Liam had difficulty being under Helen's shadow. If only he would have realized that such a great actor could never be under anyone's shadow.

Justin Timberlake and Fergie

Before NSYNC became NSYNC, the pop girl group Wild Orchid was a big thing, and Justin Timberlake and Fergie had it going. They were both in the entertainment industry from a young age, which is probably what drew them to one another. Timberlake was just 16 years old, and Fergie was seven years his senior.

Age was never a barrier until Britney came along. They have since both had high-profile relationships. Fergie married actor Josh Duhamel, had a son with him, and then the two got divorced. Timberlake is currently married to actress Jessica Biel, and they now share two kids.

Charlie Sheen and Robin Wright

Notoriously a bad boy, every single relationship that Charlie Sheen has been involved in reached the tabloids and the headlines. Except for one. Not much is known about his short affair with Robin Wright, and we are here to tell you all about it.

Sheen and Write had a sweet teenage romance that went on from 1981 until 1982. Sheen was 16, Write was 15, and they two were both in high school. This obviously explains why the press wasn't in on it when the two were an item. Since then, the two have dated many other Hollywood stars, enough to fill up another list.

Juliette Lewis and Brad Pitt

Before he became an A-lister, before his Hollywood royalty days, and before "Thelma and Louise," Pitt dated his co-star at the time, Juliette Lewis. She starred alongside him in "Too Young to Die?" and they were together for just over four years, despite a significant age difference between them.

In 1993 the couple decided to go their separate ways. They had an innocent love affair that would probably never survived if they would have met at an older age. Lewis married (and divorced) professional skateboarder Steve Berra, and Brad became Brad Pitt and had a lot of women to date.

Lisa Kudrow and Conan O'Brien

It is Conan O'Brien who we must thank for turning Lisa Kudrow into Lisa Kudrow (and Phoebe). As it turned out, Kudrow met O'Brien at an improv comedy class, and as soon as she set her eyes on him, she fell madly in love. Honestly, these two make such sense together that we're surprised we couldn't guess their history with each other.

The two dated for a while until they realized that a great sense of humor on both sides was not enough to keep the two together. O'Brien was the one who encouraged Kudrow to follow her dream and become an actress. And what a great job he did.

John Cusack and Janice Dickinson

The romance between John Cusack and Janice Dickinson was intensive and wild. Or, at least, that is what the papers said when they discovered the two were getting romantic with each other. The two were seeing each other a little after Cusack ended his story with Claire Forlani and before he had a short fling with Melissa Gilbert. What a busy guy.

It was reported that the two were caught while playing adult games in an airplane restroom. Hey, when they say "get a room" this isn't the kind of room they mean. Dickinson claimed that Cusack had no sense of humor and that she found him pretty dry.

Jessica Simpson and Jensen Ackles

Jenson Ackles was Jessica Simpson's first love and the first guy to give her a broken heart. In 1998, when Simpson was just 18 years old, she dated the "Supernatural" star, Jensen Ackles. Not long after, their romantic love affair in life would turn into a horror movie, for Simpson at least.

It took Simpson a long time to get over Ackles. The poor thing. On one episode of "Newlyweds," Simpson told her ex-husband Nick Lachey, that she was devastated after the breakup with her first love. She never mentioned the name, but it was obvious who she was referring to.

Jon Hamm and Jennifer Westfeldt

The love story between Jon Hamm and Jennifer Westfeldt began in the late 1990s and lasted almost two decades. They first met in 1997, way before Westfeldt starred in "Kissing Jessica Stein" and before Hamm found himself on the set of "Mad Men."

Jon was a party animal who enjoys the big and ravishing Hollywood parties, while Jennifer was the stay-at-home kind of girl, so they were destined to eventually go their separate ways. Really, people? You're together from 1997 to 2015 and THIS is the thing that finally comes between you? Anyway, Hamm is now engaged to actress Anna Osceola.

Robin Thicke and Paula Patton

We know that the love story between Robin Thicke and Paula Patton happened before either of them turned 20. We can only assume that what was going on between them was pure puppy love, but who would have believed these two were together for 21 years?

These were the early 1990s; they fell in love and were by each other's side through thick and thin. Or, shall we say, Thicke and thin? Until 2014 when they realized 21 years was more than enough. While we are unaware of any current partner Paula may have, Robin is currently with model April Love.