90 Actors And Actresses In The ‘80s And ‘70s And Where They Are Now
The ’70s and ’80s were a time of dance music and funky fashion for Hollywood, thanks to its popular actors and actresses who have starred in iconic films and television shows.
These stars gathered a major fan base, have become household names for decades, and whose memory is still etched in every viewer’s mind, especially those who are in the same generation. Let us go down memory lane and meet these actors and actresses in the ’70s and ’80s and see what they are up to now.
Elisabeth Shue
One of the entertainers in the ’80s is Elisabeth Shue. Her popularity rose when she landed a role in The Karate Kid and was also included in the second and third installments of the Back to the Future franchise. In 2019, Shue took a leading role in the American superhero drama television series, The Boys, as a charismatic, scheming vice-president of Hero Management. Despite her stardom and the challenges that come with it, Elizabeth did not need to consult her lawyers for divorce, unlike other celebrities, as she is still with her husband, Davis Guggenheim.
On the personal front, Elisabeth Shue gets to pick and choose her roles while remaining devoted to her happy family. Elisabeth Shue and husband Davis Guggenheim sold their 1924 Hollywood Hills home in 2004 and moved back to Chicago to live a less hectic life away from the spotlight and to give their children the best start in life.
Goldie Hawn
At such a young age of 24, Goldie Hawn already proved that she is one of the best actresses of her generation when she won an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress, following her role in the 1969 movie Cactus. This made her one of the highly paid stars for the next three decades. Goldie’s latest movie was with Amy Schumer in Snatched in 2017. But this film won her the Worst Supporting Actress in 2017.
Her mother was a dance teacher and, pre-fame, Hawn performed as a ballerina and go-go dancer before being spotted on a can-can line in Los Angeles and drafted into TV comedy. She go-go danced on TV, too, barefoot in a bikini, with graffiti all over her body. Even now, at 74, she posts compelling videos of herself dancing around her home with an almost childlike lack of self-consciousness.
Barbi Benton
Barbi Benton, or real name Barbara Lynn Klein, was born in New York City, to a Jewish family. She started her career in modeling at the young age of 16. She initially started as an extra on the show, but after host Hugh Hefner fell in love with Benton, her role was quickly elevated to co-host. The two began a relationship that lasted several years, and placed Benton in the center of the Playboy enterprise.
Aside from modeling, Barbi also got her hands into acting and bagged sexy roles for Fantasy Island and The Love Boat. Barbi then shifted to singing and launched a country album entitled Brass Buckles in 1975. Despite huge success in her career, Barbi’s personal life was faced with a few challenges including her husband George Gradow’s imprisonment. In 2006, Barbi and Gradow had to consult their attorney as the latter was slapped with tax fraud cases.
Jeanne Tripplehorn
Jeanne Tripplehorn first went into Broadway before she hit the silver screen. She was seen in local shows such as Creature Feature and Night Shift back in 1982 and 1983. Her gig in these shows made her bag more roles in films such as Basic Instinct, The Firm Waterworld, and Sliding Doors—all of which aired in the ’90s. Even when she started back in the ’80s, Jeanne still has that degree of energy when it comes to acting. She has been seen in hit television series Criminal Minds and the HBO movie Grey Gardens as Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis.
Jeanne Tripplehorn portrayed “Dr. Alex Blake” during seasons 8 and 9 in Criminal Minds; her last appearance on the show was in 2014 but since then she has worked on different projects alongside other celebrities. In 2017 the actress joined the cast of We Only Know So Much, a story about a married woman who has an affair with a suicidal lover.
Erika Eleniak
Erika Eleniak (born September 29, 1969) is an American actress, Playboy Playmate, and former model best known for her sexy role in Baywatch as Shauni McClain. With the degree of sex appeal and charm she has, Erika has also appeared in the 1982 film E.T.: Extra-Terrestrial, although she only got a small part and later on landed roles in The Blob, The Beverly Hillbillies, and Under Siege.
In 2005, the actress had to take a break from her acting projects as she faced the challenge of having an ectopic pregnancy. She probably had medical insurance that covered the treatment and helped manage her health problem. Eleniak became pregnant in 2005, but six and a half weeks into her term, the pregnancy was discovered to be ectopic, which required emergency surgery, and ended in miscarriage. Eleniak later became pregnant again and gave birth to a daughter.
Rebecca de Mornay
Rebecca De Mornay was born 1959 as Rebecca Jane Pearch in Santa Rosa. Rebecca graduated “summa cum laude” from a German-speaking high school in the Austrian alps, and still speaks fluent German and French. She began her acting training in Los Angeles at Lee Strasberg’s Institute and soon thereafter made her film debut in One from the Heart (1981). Rebecca de Mornay was known for her role as Lana from the movie Risky Business, shown in 1983, in which she gave a seductive and critically acclaimed performance as a streetwise woman opposite Tom Cruise.
But as Rebecca savored the success of her acting career, her personal life had to suffer. She had to consult her lawyer to divorce her writer husband Bruce Wagner in the early ’90s. She was also in a relationship with singer Leonard Cohen and Patrick O’Neal, a sports anchor, after. Currently, Rebecca is back on track in show business and has appeared as Dorothy Walker in the hit TV series Jessica Jones.
Justine Bateman
Justine Bateman was known for her Family Ties character as Mallory Keaton. The sitcom, which ran from 1982 to 1989, became her steppingstone for her acting career and finished projects Men Behaving Badly and Satisfaction. From her work on Family Ties she was nominated for two Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award. But Justine does not just excel in acting. She attended Taft High School in Woodland Hills, California. Bateman later earned her Computer Science and Digital Media Management degree from UCLA where she learned how to be a producer and director.
Moreover, Justine is into fashion, too. She put up her own fashion design business, making dresses and designer clothes, Justine Bateman Designs was known for one-of-a-kind hand knits. She also served on the National Board of Directors of the Screen Actors Guild until July 2009, when she resigned just before the end of her initial three-year term. In 2001, Bateman married Mark Fluent, with whom she has two children.
Brooke Shields
Brooke Shields need not take loans as she was growing up for, she has been earning a lot since she was a child. Shields began her career as a model when she was 11 months old in 1966. She has been a constant figure in the modeling industry and eventually in acting. When she was 12, she was critically acclaimed for her stunning performance as Louis Malle in the film Pretty Baby. By the age of 16, Shields had become one of the most recognizable faces in the United States, because of her dual career as a provocative fashion model and child actress.
In the 1990s, Shields returned to acting and appeared in minor roles in films. She also starred in the NBC sitcoms Suddenly Susan (1996–2000), for which she received two Golden Globe nominations, and Lipstick Jungle (2008–2009). Up to now, the actress is active on TV with her appearance in Jane the Virgin and Murphy Brown.
Mia Sara
Mia Sara, real name Mia Sarapochiello, is a known actress in the ’80s. She rose to fame for her role as Princess Lili in Ridley Scott’s 1985 fairy-tale film Legend. Playing the role of Ferris Bueller’s girlfriend, Sloane Peterson, in the 1986 blockbuster film Ferris Bueller’s Day Off made her even more popular. In March 1996, she married A-list actor Jason Connery, son of Sean Connery, with whom she performed in Bullet to Beijing. In June 1997, they had a son, Dashiell Quinn Connery.
The couple divorced in 2002. She had a son with him named Dashiell Connery, a fine young man who got the looks of his parents and is already following his mother and father’s Hollywood footsteps. She is currently married to Brian Henson, oldest son of Muppets creator Jim Henson. Sara had acted in Jack and the Beanstalk: The Real Story, directed by Henson. They have one daughter, Amelia Jane Henson, born in 2005.
Alyssa Milano
Alyssa Milano started her career doing musical shows when she was young. She, later on, shifted to doing TV series and eventually gained a degree of stardom with some roles. Alyssa Milano landed significant roles for hit television series Charmed and Melrose Place. Alyssa also got a role in the series My Name is Earl. Today, while Alyssa is still active in show business, she is also doing charity works for some organizations which have causes that she believes in. She is doing humanitarian works for PETA and has been an animal advocate since.
Alyssa recently made a buzz in the news when she showed support for PETA while wearing a stunning ensemble that is made purely of vegetables. On October 15, 2017, Milano posted the message which re-launched what is known as the #MeToo movement, which was started in 2006 by Tarana Burke. According to Milano, a friend suggested that she post a message on her Twitter account encouraging survivors of sexual harassment and assault to post #metoo as a status update.
Jane Fonda
Jane Fonda has been acting since 1960 but it was ten years after when her skills were given credits. She was given 2 Oscars for Best Actress for her magnificent role in 1971’s movie Klute as well as in 1978’s Coming Home. Before her acting career, she was a model and appeared twice on the cover of Vogue. Fonda became interested in acting as a teenager while appearing with her father in a charity performance.
Aside from acting, Jane Fonda was also known for her trademark workout regimen, which was considered one of the highest-selling videos. She then continued making more Jane Fonda workout videos which were all welcomed positively by fans. After a 15-year hiatus, Jane went back to acting again in 2015. She made a comeback film with Jennifer Lopez entitled Monster in Law. Recently, Jane was seen in Grace and Frankie, Netflix’s original series with Lily Tomlin and Martin Sheen.
Jane Seymour
Jane Seymour, real name Joyce Penelope Wilhelmina Frankenberg, was known in the ’70s for her role as a Bond girl. She played Solitaire in Live and Let Die alongside Roger Moore as James Bond. This is where she has gained popularity and became a ’70s icon. Since then, Jane catapulted her career and made more movies such as East of Eden and Dr. Quinn and Medicine Woman where she received a Golden Globe award. The British actress actually rose to fame in the early ’70s, and fans lauded her talent as well as her striking beauty.
Despite her stardom since the ’70s, which probably helped her earn investment money for business and other endeavors, Jane continued working in the entertainment industry. Her latest project was The Vortex, which was produced by the British Theatre Playhouse. Jane was consistently recognized for her stunning, long red locks. At 69, Jane still looks ravishing, whether she is on set and in character or hitting the red carpet!
Diane Lane
Diane Colleen Lane is an American actress and producer. Born and raised in New York City, Lane started acting in 1971. Besides winning the Best Actress National Society of Film Critics Award and the New York Film Critics Circle Award, she also received Best Actress Academy Award and Golden Globe nominations. Entertainment Weekly critic Owen Gleiberman stated that “Lane, in the most urgent performance of her career, is a revelation. The play of lust, romance, degradation, and guilt on her face is the movie’s real story.” Diane also had roles for a couple of superhero movies such as Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice and Man of Steel.
Now nearing her retirement age, Diane is still active in doing movies while tending to her family. She has a daughter named Eleanor Lambert from her previous husband. Although Diane had to consult her attorney when their marriage was called off, Diane did not let the challenging phase take over her and still continue to accept roles and do charity works.
Demi Moore
Demi Moore, real name Demi Gene Guynes, is considered as an A-lister in Hollywood. Since she started at the age of 16, her beautiful and charismatic face has been the face of many fashion and lifestyle brands. Since then, she’s managed to earn tons of money and has also received a number of honors. Moore is viewed as a pioneer for equal salary for women in Hollywood. The role in The Hunchback of Notre Dame made her the first Hollywood actress to reach a $10 million salary.
Moore was named the highest-paid actress in film history back in 1996 for her credit role in Striptease. She received a stunning paycheck of $12.5 million for the film. On June 24, 2020, Moore joined as Piper Griffin, the matriarch of a powerful family “who will stop at nothing to protect her family and her way of life” in the pandemic-themed thriller produced by Michael Bay, Songbird, alongside Craig Robinson, Paul Walter Hauser and Peter Stormare.
Ali Macgraw
Ali MacGraw is a popular actress in the ’70s. She started her career by doing commercial and modeling gigs until she got the role of Jenny in the movie Love Story. Since then, Ali has appeared in three movies namely Convoy, The Gateway, and Players—all of them become a huge success. From 1969 to 1972, Ali MacGraw starred in three of the four Top 10 highest-grossing movies of the year.
Two decades later she left California for New Mexico, where she still lives, largely eschewing acting for other endeavors. Ali has somehow veered away from the spotlight as an actress and focused on her married life. However, there came a time when she had to deal with talks with her divorce attorney for her two previous marriages. Today, Ali is focused on her duty as an animal rights advocate.
Dolly Parton
Dolly Parton is one of the best and well-loved country singers and songwriters in the 20th century. Starting in 1964, Dolly made some iconic songs, 25 of which even made it to No. 1 on Billboard Country charts, including Jolene and Islands in the Stream. Aside from singing, Dolly also ventured into acting with her show Dolly!. She also starred in 9 to 5 where she gained two Golden Globe nominations. Even if she already had a taste of the highest degree of success in her career, Dolly is not one to back down. Now on her retirement age, Dolly is still active in singing.
Dolly and her husband, Carl Dean, never had children of their own, which Dolly said she used to regret—but now, she’s happy to have become close to her younger siblings and her nieces and nephews. The couple is still committed to helping support many children through her charity. When Dolly’s not busy doing good or making music, she enjoys downtime with her husband.
Cher
Cher is an epitome of a popular star in the ’70s which never ceased to shine even after decades of being in Hollywood. Commonly referred to by the media as the “Goddess of Pop”, she has been described as embodying female autonomy in a male-dominated industry. Cher is known for her distinctive contralto singing voice and for having worked in numerous areas of entertainment, as well as adopting a variety of styles and appearances throughout her six-decade-long career. Her achievements include a Grammy Award, an Emmy Award, an Academy Award, three Golden Globe Awards, the Billboard Icon Award, and awards from the Kennedy Center Honors and the Council of Fashion Designers of America.
She is the only artist to date to have a number-one single on a Billboard chart in six consecutive decades, from the 1960s to the 2010s. Outside of her music and acting, she is noted for her political views, social media presence, philanthropic endeavors, and social activism, including LGBT rights and HIV/AIDS prevention.
Melissa Gilbert
Melissa Gilbert is a child star from the ’60s where she started with commercial modeling gigs and a few television shows. Gilbert began her career as a child actress in the late 1960s, appearing in numerous commercials and guest starring roles on television. Gilbert served as the President of the Screen Actors Guild from 2001 to 2005. In 2009, her autobiography Prairie Tale: A Memoir, was released. In 2014, she wrote a short story for children, called Daisy and Josephine as well as My Prairie Cookbook: Memories and Frontier Food from My Little House to Yours.
For years, Melissa had agreed with many projects, but she had to halt her career when she got into an accident in 2012. Her insurance probably covered all the expenses she incurred for the treatment. She decided to slow down her career in the industry, and she also tried her luck in politics but had to withdraw her candidacy due to medical reasons. She is now happily married for the third time and lives in Michigan.
Michelle Pfeiffer
Michelle Pfeiffer is known for her versatility in whatever genre she is put in to—be it musical, suspense, action, or romantic comedy—she’s got what it takes to be a star in her own right. She played a lead role in Scarface as well as in Tim Burton’s Batman Returns as Catwoman in 1992. The young generation recognizes Michelle Pfeiffer as Velma Von Tussle in the 2007 musical movie Hairspray and in Maleficent: Mistress of Evil. Her acting was given credit when she received a Golden Globe Award and three Academy Award nominations.
During this time, she also produced a series of films under her production company Via Rosa Productions. After a hiatus from acting in 2002, she returned with the musical Hairspray. She received her first Emmy Award nomination for portraying Ruth Madoff in the HBO television film The Wizard of Lies, she went on to feature in the ensemble film Murder on the Orient Express and debuted to the Marvel Cinematic Universe as the original Wasp in Ant-Man and the Wasp.
Pam Dawber
Pam Dawber has been into modeling for various brands before hitting the television screen as an actress. During the ’70s to ’80s, Pam Dawber was known by many fans as Mindy McConnell in the hit series Mork & Mindy. Pam Dawber married Mark Harmon in 1987 and they had two sons. Unlike other celebrity couples who married and got a divorce in the process, Pam and Mark did not have to consult a divorce attorney. They are still happily married until now.
The actress decided to leave fame and focus on her family at a time when her career was at its peak. Before quitting Hollywood, she starred in several productions, including “My Sister Sam.” The actress loved her job, but it pales in comparison to the one she has for her family. Pam Dawber, today, is a happy and satisfied woman, who wouldn’t change the life she has for anything. She renewed her vows with Harmon in 2017, and for the two, life is a fairytale, and happily ever after, is for always.
Candice Bergen
Candice Bergen has made a lot of TV appearances in the 70s before she was known for her role in the 90s hit TV show, Murphy Brown. She started her career way back in 1966 as was even dubbed as an “ice princess.” She has made an appearance in The Sand Pebbles and Carnal Knowledge during her early acting years. Throughout her career in acting was given credit when Candice clinched several awards and continued working as a celebrity. Her latest acting gig was in ABC drama Boston Legal as Shirley Schmidt.
A few years ago, the septuagenarian unexpectedly became an Instagram sensation: her daughter, the writer—and T&C contributor—Chloe Malle, asked mom to decorate her Louis Vuitton duffle, which she then posted on Instagram. The requests started pouring in, and a new business, called BergenBags, was born. Stylish women everywhere sent in their Goyard totes and Hermès Kellys for Bergen to personalize with her quirky painted illustrations for a fee that went to charity.
Victoria Principal
Victoria Principal started her career with the role of Pamela Barnes Ewing in the hit primetime series Dallas in the 1970s. From then on, she has inked roles for movies such as The Life And Times of Judge Roy Bean and Earthquake. But Victoria has other things in mind aside from acting. After retiring from Hollywood, Victoria spent most of her time curating her other passion such as being a producer, author, and entrepreneur. Victoria also put some investment money in her own venture and established the production company Victoria Principal Productions.
However, after 28 years with Principal Secret in the market, Victoria decided to step down from her position in the company to embark on a new chapter of her life, now focused on giving back and raising awareness to many causes close to her heart. The now 70-year-old former actress went on to focus on her production company, with which she produced and starred some TV films like “Naked Lie,” “Blind Witness,” and “Sparks: The Price of Passion.”
Loretta Swit
Many know Loretta Swit as Major Margaret “Hot Lips” Houlihan in CBS’s award-winning comedy-drama show, M*A*S*H, which aired in the late ’70s. During this, Loretta gained nominates for her role and bagged two Emmy Awards. Despite gaining success in her career, Loretta had to face some challenges in her personal life, including consulting her lawyers for divorce with Dennis Holahan. Today, Loretta is into animal activism and charity works for the causes she believes in.
Loretta Swit’s 2019 pictures show that not only is she alive and well, but she also remains as gorgeous as ever. During an interview with FoxNews, the 83-year-old actress expressed her appreciation to fans of the show and how, they as the cast, became somewhat of a family to the viewers. She’s far from being lonely despite being single and without kids. She can rely on her good friends and vice versa. It’s nice to know she’s doing so well at her age.
Julia Roberts
Many would certainly agree that Julia Roberts’s beautiful face and spectacular acting prowess are what make her one of the most popular and influential stars of her generation. She established herself as a leading lady in Hollywood after headlining the romantic comedy film Pretty Woman (1990), which grossed $464 million worldwide. Her acting was given credits as she received numerous awards including an Academy Award and Golden Globes. Her films have collectively brought box office receipts of over $2.8 billion, making her one of the most bankable actresses in Hollywood.
As of 2017, Roberts’s net worth was estimated to be $170 million. People magazine has named her the most beautiful woman in the world a record five times. Roberts and her husband wed on July 4, 2002, at her ranch in Taos, New Mexico. Together, they have three children: twins, a daughter, and a son, born in November 2004, and another son born in June 2007. Roberts has also given her time and resources to UNICEF as well as to other charitable organizations.
Jaclyn Smith
Smith began her career in 1969 in television commercials. In 1976, Jaclyn Smith’s classic beauty and talent in acting have led her to land a role in the hit TV series Charlie’s Angels. Jaclyn Smith was also able to have the lead role for the movie Jacqueline Bouvier Kennedy which earned her a Golden Globe nomination. She also played in The District and Law and Order: SVU and CSII.
In 1985, Smith entered the business world with the introduction of her collection of women’s apparel for Kmart. She pioneered the concept of celebrities developing their own brands rather than merely endorsing others. In September 2008, Smith launched the STYLE by Jaclyn Smith wig collection for Paula Young Wigs. Today, Jaclyn Smith is known for putting some investment money in a multi-million dollar fashion company and many other business ventures.
Raquel Welch
Who would have thought that landing a role with just three lines can lead you to ultimate stardom? Raquel Welch clinched the iconic role of wearing a bathing suit in the British film One Million Years BC in 1966. This led her to have more roles in the ’70s, with her beauty and sex appeal being dubbed by Playboy magazine as one of the Most Desired Woman in the 1970s. In the 2000s, Raquel still had that degree of stardom and continued doing endorsements for beauty products. She was announced as MAC Cosmetics brand ambassador in 2007.
These days, the actress is remarkably single — and she likes it that way. “I’m too set in my ways,” Welch told Piers Morgan on Life Stories. “I like what I do, I actually enjoy being me and I make a very good living at it and I’m happy,” she said, explaining that she doesn’t need a man to support her.
Tom Cruise
Who would not know A-list and top paid actor Tom Cruise who has been one of the most popular actors that emerged from the ’80s? Tom Cruise reached the degree of popularity when he landed a lead role in the 1983 movie Risky Business. From then one, Tom rose to be one of the highest-paid actors and gathered a number of awards from his different films. Cruise has three children, two of whom were adopted during his marriage to Kidman and the other of whom is a biological daughter he had with Holmes.
Despite his failed relationships with his former wives Katie Holmes, Mimi Rogers, and Nicole Kidman where he had to seek consultation from his lawyer for separation, Tom Cruise did not take it as a financial burden. In fact, Tom Cruise is still active in Hollywood up to this day and continues to increase his net worth of a whopping $570 million.
Lori Singer
Fans of the hit movie Footloose will recognize Lori Singer as Ariel Moore, a well-loved character. Lori also appeared in the 1980s television series Fame. Lori also had roles in The Man with One Red Shoe, Warlock, and Falcon and the Snowman. Before being an actress, Lori is more into music. She started as a soloist and Juilliard-trained cellist. She did work with Oregon Symphony at the age of 13 where she gave credits to her father who was its lead conductor. Later on, she welcomed doors of opportunities in the world of show business, and the rest, as they say, was history.
When not acting, Lori is a producer. One of her works includes Mea Maxima Culpa: Silence in the House of God. Singer married lawyer Richard David Emery in 1980. They had a son together before divorcing in 1996.
Cybill Shepherd
Cybill Shepherd was into modeling for various brands and magazine covers when she clinched a film project. Director Peter Bogdanovich first saw Cybill in a Glamour magazine cover and saw her potential to act in a major role for his 1971 film entitled The Last Picture. The film, later on, became a box office hit and had Cybill bagging a Golden Globe nomination for her role as Jacy. After this, the 70’s star also played Kelly in The Heartbreak Kid directed by Elaine May. Cybill also appeared in Taxi Driver and Alice where she worked with award-winning director Woody Allen.
When the ’90s came, Hollywood saw Cybill’s career continue with Moonlighting, a series from ABC TV, as well as Cybill, her own series where she garnered another recognition. Now at age 70, where she can just put her investments money on business, Cybill chose to still be in the limelight and stays active in the industry. She has taken on roles for The L Word and Psych.
Phoebe Cates
Phoebe Cates has been in the industry since she was at the age of 10. The then young actress has been earning a living with her acting skills that she can actually make investments at such as young age. She did modeling on the side, too. Despite her fame, Phoebe did not forget to make time for her other passion—dancing. In fact, she enrolled at the School of American Ballet where she aced a scholarship. Phoebe made a mark in the industry for her roles in Gremlins and Fast Times at Ridgemont High which were shown in the ’80s.
Phoebe, however, decided to slow down in her acting career and give more time for her family with Kevin Kline whom she married in 1989. She retired in 1991 and is now the owner of a boutique.
Olivia Newton-John
Four-time Grammy award winner Olivia Newton-John started her career in the ’70s performing as a singer. In 1978, she landed a role in the movie Grease which made her even more famous. But being a singer was what Olivia has long been known for. In fact, her songs have reached the highest degree of recognition, including hit single Hopelessly Devoted to You, which have reached top charts numerous times.
Her albums also amassed two No.1 Billboard charts. She has sold an estimated 100 million records worldwide, making her one of the best-selling music artists of all time. Today, the singer is still making waves with her music as she does tours and TV appearances. Olivia has appeared in Dancing with the Stars and RuPaul’s Drag Race as one of the guest judges.
Rob Lowe
Rob Lowe has been earning at a very young age. In fact, he need not borrow loans to support his schooling as he was already earning at such a young age. Rob started acting at the age of 15 and was first seen in A New Kind of Family. He then joined Thursday’ Child as Sam Alden where he got a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Series. After bagging more acting roles, Rob began supporting the causes he believes in. Following a 1988 sex tape scandal, Lowe’s public image and film career declined. By the turn of the millennium, his career saw a resurgence when he ventured back into television.
He, later on, became a philanthropic and joined the 2000 Lee National Denim Day, a fundraiser for breast cancer awareness, research, and education. Lowe was the first male spokesman for this charity. His grandmother and great-grandmother both suffered from breast cancer, and his mother died of the disease in late 2003.
Liv Ullmann
One of the best Norwegian actresses of her time is Liv Ullman, whose popularity rose in the ’70s, with the credit from her spectacular acting performances for some award-winning movies. Dubbed as one of Swedish director Ingmar Bergman’s actress-muses, Liv has appeared in ten of his films, including Persona, Autumn Sonata, The Passion of Anna, and Cries and Whispers. All the movies were released from the late ’60s to the late ’70s.
In 1971, Liv received a Golden Globe award for her performance in The Emigrants. Later on, she also received over 40 awards for that single-acting project. Today, many younger viewers associate her with her appearance in Miss Julie and Remake.me, both released in 2014. She will not be interviewed again, she claimed in a December 2020 interview published on Kk.no.
Joe Pesci
Joe Pesci has undoubtedly saved enough investment money throughout the course of his acting career. Starting in the entertainment industry since 1961, Joe has taken on major roles for Raging Bull, Once Upon a Time in America, Goodfellas, and The Casino. His acting prowess has also earned him a number of recognitions given by prominent award-giving bodies. Despite having enough resources to retire, Joe still considered acting as his source of livelihood. He has worked currently with Robert De Niro’s The Irishman film which was aired via streamable format.
He is also a musician who has recorded three studio albums, Little Joe Sure Can Sing! (1968), Vincent LaGuardia Gambini Sings Just for You (1998) and Pesci… Still Singing (2019). Pesci has been married and divorced three times. His first marriage was in 1964, from which he has a daughter. His third marriage was from 1988 to 1992, to Claudia Haro, a model and actress. In 2007, Pesci was engaged to Angie Everhart, but the couple broke up in 2008.
Kim Basinger
Kim Basinger was a successful model in New York City in the early ’70s but fate led her to move to Los Angeles to pursue a career in acting. She was first seen in the 1981 film Hard Country. Hailed as a sex symbol of the 1980s and 1990s, Basinger came to prominence for her performance of Bond girl Domino Petachi in Never Say Never Again (1983). Kim played Vicki Vale in Tim Burton’s Batman (1989), which remains the highest-grossing film of her career.
After 16 years of being in the industry, Kim clinched the credit she deserved when she was given the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress award for her role in L.A. Confidential. Kim Basinger proved that acting is what she can do best. She got acting projects for I Dreamed of Africa, 8 Mile, The Door in the Floor, and Fifty Shades Darker.
Susan Sarandon
One of the most recognizable faces in the ’70s is none other than the ever-beautiful Susan Sarandon. She was best known for her role in the movie Joe, which was released in 1970. Her great acting paved the way for her to be included in the cast of The Rocky Horror Picture Show and Thelma and Louise as one of the main characters. Later on, Susan received her first recognition from the Academy Award and SAG Award for her spectacular acting in Dead Man Walking in 1995.
The younger generation may recall Susan with her roles in TV series such as Friends and Malcolm in the Middle. In movies, she has appeared in Enchanted, Tammy, and the tearjerker film The Lovely Bones. Despite not having the same certain degree of stardom she had back then, Susan is still doing some acting gigs on the side. But aside from this, Susan is more into activism and has been vocal for her varied opinions on social and political issues.
Catherine Bach
Catherine Bach started her career in acting when she was included in the cast for Sound of Music as one of the children. She then bagged the role of Daisy Duke for the hit television series The Dukes of Hazzard even when casting directors were looking for a Dolly Parton-look alike. Even when she is not a Dolly Parton look-alike, she was still able to get the role thanks to her charm, beauty, and sheer talent. At the suggestion of the show’s producers, Bach posed as Daisy Duke for a poster, which sold 5 million copies.
Later on, Catherine appeared in African Skies, a Canadian show, as Margo Dutton and currently in The Young and the Restless. In 1990, Catherine married Peter Lopez, an entertainment lawyer, and later on, had two daughters with him. Unfortunately, Lopez died in 2010.
Faye Dunaway
Faye Dunaway started acting in the early 1960s with minor roles in Broadway. But when she bagged the role of Warren Beatty’s partner-in-crime and iconic role, Bonnie in Bonnie in Clyde in 1967, Faye rose to prominent fame and has been one of the well-loved actresses. Since then she starred in other films later in the ‘70s including The Towering Inferno, Chinatown, and Three Days of the Condor. She also won her first Oscar award as Best Actress for her role in Network.
Currently, Faye is still at the same degree of stardom since the ’70s. She keeps her schedule busy with acting projects from the Amazon TV series Hand of God. She also appeared in The Bye Bye Man. She is the recipient of many accolades, including an Academy Award, an Emmy Award (Primetime), three Golden Globe Awards, and a BAFTA Award. In 2011, the government of France made her an Officer of the Order of Arts and Letters.
Nancy Mckeon
Nancy McKeon can be recognized by the younger generation as one of the contestants for Dancing with the Stars. But many 80’s kids will remember her as an award-winning actress during her time. She began her entertainment career by modeling baby clothing for the Sears & Roebuck catalog when she was two. Along with her brother, Philip McKeon, she performed in many commercials. In 1976, her brother was chosen to play a major role on the television show, Alice. It was then that the family moved from New York to Los Angeles. Nancy was critically-acclaimed for her role in The Facts of Life, a long-running sitcom in the ’80s where she played Jo Polniaczek. Many will remember her witty entrance in the show with a motorcycle on her first day at Eastland Academy.
As a rising star in the ’80s, Nancy received the Best Young Actress in a Comedy Series Award. Now 54 years old, Nancy’s young-looking aura should be given credit for her role as a doting mother to her two children.
Lauren Tewes
Lauren Tewes has been appearing on TV since she was a child, starting from her elementary days. But her stardom only peaked in the late ’70s where she played in the comedy series The Love Boat as Julie McCoy. The series ran from 1977 to 1986 where she also bagged some roles for other acting projects. While doing this, Lauren never let her popularity get into her and still decided to pursue a degree in Rio Hondo College. Later on, after earning The Chancellor’s Award for Excellence in Theatre for her exemplary performances, she transferred to the University of California, Riverside.
Tewes attended culinary school to become a cheese specialist and works as a sous-chef for a catering company in Seattle when not acting. Lauren, later on, shifted from being in front of the television to being a sous-chef. She is now working as a chef in one of the best catering companies in Seattle.
Pam Grier
Pam Grier has been an award-winning actress ever since she started acting in the ’70s. She starred in The Big Bird Cage, Coffy, and Foxy Brown, two of the most known films at that time which were Blaxploitation. In fact, she has received recognition for American International Pictures and New World Pictures for these performances. She was also included in Jackie Brown, a film by Quentin Tarantino, and received an award from Golden Globe and SAG for her performance.
Pam has also reached a degree where many considered her as one of the best. According to Rotten Tomatoes’ 25 lists, Pam was also lauded as the 2nd greatest female heroine in the film history next to Michelle Yeoh. Today, the younger generation recognizes Pam Grier in Showtime TV’s The L Word as Kit Porter. She has also appeared in Law and Order: SVU.
Debbie Gibson
Debbie Gibson is the voice behind the hit singles Lost in Your Eyes, No More Rhyme, and Foolish Beat that many karaoke singers would love to belt out. She launched her career in Hollywood in the ’80s thanks to her superb acting and singing skills.Her debut album Out of the Blue has earned her a triple-platinum certification from RIAA. She then released her Lost in Your Eyes album where her songs became chart-topping. One of the credits that were given to her was when she was recognized as Songwriter of the Year in 1989, proving that she has more to offer than singing and acting.
She was recently seen on the big screen with the film Wedding of Dreams. On June 7, 2019, Gibson released a new pop anthem “Girls Night Out”. The music video for “Girls Night Out” was shot in Las Vegas, Nevada. The song peaked at number four on the Billboard Dance Club chart. Currently, Debbie is hosting a radio station.
Jessica Lange
Jessica Lange has reached a certain degree of stardom when she bagged her iconic role in King Kong. The 1976 movie where she played the leading lady has made her a bankable actress and earned her the Golden Globe for New Star of the Year award. But King Kong is not just what Jessica Lange can be associated with. She was also hailed in soap opera Tootsie where she received an Oscar award as well as an Academy Award for Blue Sky, released in 1984.
Jessica Lange is still active in the entertainment industry and has taken on roles for the American Horror Story series. Lange is also a photographer with four published books of photography. She has been a foster parent and holds a Goodwill Ambassador position for UNICEF, specializing in HIV/AIDS in the Democratic Republic of the Congo and Russia.
Cyndi Lauper
Probably one of the best and biggest stars in the ’80s is none other than Cindy Lauper. Lauper is known for her distinctive image, featuring a variety of hair colors and eccentric clothing, and for her powerful and distinctive four-octave singing range. Real name Cynthia Ann Stephanie Lauper, she became popular in the music industry with her hit singles Girls Just Want to Have Fun and Time After Time which gathered many fans worldwide. In fact, her songs were a constant chart-topper in the Billboard Hot 100.
Cindy Lauper also sold 50 million albums in her career, proving that she has already earned so much money for investments and businesses. Cindy Lauper is still active in singing but is now juggling it with her advocacy on LGBT rights. She is also credited with bringing punk music into the forefront of America’s pop landscape.
Carol Kane
Carol Kane is one of the well-loved actresses in the ’70s and ’80s. Carolyn Laurie “Carol” Kane is an American stage, screen and television actress and comedian. Known for her blonde, curly locks, and the distinct degree of sunny attitude, Carol clinched roles in Hest Street and Annie Hall, where she received various accolades. Carol also appeared in Taxi where she played Latka’s wife for three seasons.
Aside from acting on TV and the big screen, Carol also showcased her acting talent in theaters and has played the role of Madame Morrible in Wicked from 2005 to 2014. For young viewers of today, she is known as Lillian Kaushtupper in the Netflix hit series Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. Like most celebrities, Carol Kane has been trying to keep her personal and love life private.
Jodie Foster
Even when Jodie Foster has been earning since she was a child, it was not until in 1976 when she was recognized for her acting talent. She is known for her role in the Taxi Driver as a teenage prostitute where she got various recognitions. Later on, Jodie Foster played roles in Freaky Friday and Candleshoe. In the ’90s, Jodie was critically-acclaimed for her award-winning performance in Silence of the Lambs. Her role earned her Oscars. Aside from acting, Jodie Foster wanted to take her career a degree higher and ventured into directing where she founded her own production company Egg Pictures. She directed Little Man Tate and Money Monster.
Foster experienced career setbacks in the early 2000s, including the cancellation of a film project and the closing down of her production company, but she then starred in some commercially successful thrillers. She has focused on directing in the 2010s.
Tony Danza
Tony Danza, real name Antonio Salvatore Iadanza, is an award-winning actor, dancer, and sportsman. He rose to fame in the ’80s for his roles in Taxi and Who’s the Boss?. On the other hand, Tony has recorded nine knockouts and three losses as a professional boxer. Even when he now has tons of money suited for investments, Tony is still more into acting. He was recently seen in The Good Cop on Netflix.
Over the decades, Tony Danza has lived multiple lives. Once a professional boxer, he went on to become a Golden Globe and Emmy-nominated sitcom star. Then for the past quarter-century, along with his acting career, he’s been a song-and-dance man. In a phone interview with the Herald-Tribune, Danza said he turned to song and dance after nearly dying in a 1993 skiing accident that left him with a broken back, several broken ribs and a punctured lung.
Lynda Carter
Lynda Carter is best known for her Wonder Woman picture. She came to fame in the ‘70s as Miss World USA, representing Arizona. Despite not having a degree in acting, she gained national attention when she started bagging roles for TV and movies. One of her iconic roles is Diana Prince for Wonder Woman. She eventually shifted her career to music and recorded a number of original songs.
When life as an empty-nester loomed in 2005, Carter returned to singing, making her London West End debut in Chicago. Four studio albums followed from 2009 to 2018, with Carter regularly touring and performing to sold-out crowds. Further television success arrived with guest appearances in Law & Order (2005), Smallville (2007), Two and Half Men (2013) and an ongoing role as President of the United States in Supergirl (2016). In 2018, Carter received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Meryl Streep
Known to be one of the best actresses of her generation and an A-lister in her own right, Meryl Streep undoubtedly had more than enough money good for investments and other ventures. But despite this, Meryl Streep still chooses to be in an industry she loves the most. She started her career in the ’70s when she played an award-winning role for A Memory of Two Mondays and 27 Wagons Full of Cotton. Meryl won a Tony award for her exemplary performance. As more and more movies and shows piled in her credentials, Meryl Streep also gathered over 157 awards and 409 nominations in her entire career.
Her recent acting projects include the British film Florence Foster Jenkins and Suffragette. In 2020, Streep had leading roles in two films, both released by streaming services. She reunited with Nicole Kidman for Netflix, in Ryan Murphy’s The Prom, a film adaptation of the Broadway musical of the same name; and with director Steven Soderbergh for his HBO Max comedy film Let Them All Talk.
Kirk Cameron
Kirk Cameron became popular in the ’80s thanks to his role as Mike Seaver in the sitcom Growing Pains. His role in this hit show, which ran from 1985 to 1991, has led him to bag two Golden Globe nominations. Amidst his career in acting, Kirk was able to develop another passion. Alongside Ray Comfort, the actor started preaching in The Way of the Master. Aside from this, he was also able to land projects in Christian drama such as Fireproof and American apocalyptic thriller Left Behind.
With a net worth of over $22 million, Kirk undoubtedly made great investments not only in business but also in other ventures. During his career, he was able to publish a couple of books on Christianity including The Way Of The Master and The School of Biblical Evangelism. Cameron and his wife, fellow Growing Pains star Chelsea Noble, were married on July 21, 1991. They now have six children, four of whom were adopted.
Kelly Lebrock
Just like many rising stars in the ’70s and ’80s, Kelly Lebrock started with modeling before reaching the degree of stardom as an actress. She was 16 years old when Kelly shifted from modeling to acting, thanks to the 1984 movie The Woman in Red which gave her the debut she needed. After this, Kelly landed a role in Weird Science, a film by John Hughes, and many other movie projects.
But amidst her career in acting, Kelly’s career in modeling skyrocketed, too. Her beauty and supermodel fit were something many brands sought during her time. She continued doing modeling projects for various brands of clothing and cemented her status as a supermodel. The model-turned-actor had an illustrious career before she voluntary retreated from the limelight to shield her children from the negative impacts of fame. However, she made a comeback in 2013. Her children are all adults now, with successful careers of their own. LeBrock currently lives in a ranch in Santa Ynez Valley, California.
Kelly Mcgillis
Kelly McGillis’ first project which catapulted her fame was when she landed a movie project with none other than A-list actor Harrison Ford. It was in 1985 when the two worked together for the crime and thriller film Witness. The movie then gained a number of recognitions which made Kelly one of the new actresses to watch out for. She then landed more projects including The Accused, where she played Kathryn Murphy and Top Gun as Charlie. Kelly eventually had to slow down with her Hollywood career and focused on having a family.
However, Kelly had to consult her lawyer for divorce papers with her previous husbands. Kelly came back to the industry with a role for the thriller film Mother of All Secrets which was shot in Bermuda. McGillis currently lives in Hendersonville, North Carolina. She teaches acting at The New York Studio for Stage and Screen NYS3 in Asheville, North Carolina.
Lisa Whelchel
Lisa Whelchel is a well-loved child actress. She reached the degree of stardom when she clinched multiple awards for her portrayal of Blair Warner, a perennially perky and spoiled rich girl, in the sitcom Facts of Life. She proved further that she is an award-winning child actress when she was given the Young Awards for Best Young Artist in a Television Special for her role in Twirl.
Later in her career, Lisa joined the reality show Survivor. During this time, Lisa revealed that she is suffering from West Nile virus. However, she did not specify whether she had contracted the arbovirus while in the Philippines shooting Survivor. Her medication and treatment, which lasted for over a year, were probably covered by her insurance. Aside from acting, Lisa also showcased her talent in singing, songwriting, and public speaking.
Claudia Wells
Many would recognize the young Claudia Wells as the beautiful Jennifer Parker in the ’80s movie Back to the Future. Her work back then has led her to reach a certain degree of stardom during that era. However, her career did not last long and she was not able to reprise her role after she slowed down in show business to focus on family matters. Despite this, Jennifer Parker shines in another industry, as a businesswoman. She put her investment money in Armani Wells, a high-end resale clothing line where she has dressed stylish men in Los Angeles.
After a lengthy absence, Wells returned to acting in 2011 with a small role in the independent science-fiction film, Alien Armageddon. The same year, Wells had the opportunity to reprise her role from Back to the Future 26 years after her last appearance in the series. She provided the voice of Jennifer Parker for Back to the Future: The Game.
Jason Patric
Jason Patric is considered as one of the most popular actors during the late ’80s. Jason Patric is the son of Academy Award-nominated actor and Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright Jason Miller. You probably know Miller as Father Damien Karras from The Exorcist. Patric’s full name is Jason Patric Miller. His mother is Linda Mae Gleason, daughter of the legendary comedian Jackie Gleason.
Being a stage and television actor with so much charisma and talent to boot, Jason was able to land in big projects such as Narc, The Losers, Speed 2, and Geronimo: An American Legend. Amidst his popularity, Jason’s love life has also been in the limelight. He had a relationship with Danielle Schreiber and conceived a son through in-vitro fertilization. However, Jason had to consult with her attorney for the petition to be legally the father of his son after the two ended their relationship. Jason was able to gain court victory.
Barbara Streisand
If there is one person who earned the title as the Queen of the Divas, it would be Barbara Streisand. There aren’t many out there in the entertainment world who have won more plaudits and achieved more success than Barbra Streisand. Dubbed as the most successful female singer in the United States in the late ’70s due to her best-selling albums. Her songs Love, The Way We Were, Somewhere and many others, were consistent in top charts, with credit going to her spectacular voice.
After a successful music career in the 1960s, Streisand moved into film by the end of the decade. In fact, Barbara was given credits for her work and has received 10 Grammy, 5 Emmys, Oscars, 9 Golden Globes, and many others in the span of her career. Barbra has also appeared in movies such as A Star is Born, Funny Girl, and The Prince of Tides.
Rene Russo
Rene Russo was a supermodel in the ’70s. Her beautiful face and sexy curves are seen prominently in the pages of fashion magazines such as Vogue and Cosmopolitan and in print advertisements of posh brands. Come the ’80s, Rene started to venture out in her other passion and gave more credit for her acting skills. She landed a role in Major League in 1989 as well as in The Thomas Crown Affair, Outbreak, and Lethal Weapon 3 and 4. Rene Russo continued her acting career until now, after taking a six-year hiatus.
In 2005, she took on a role in Yours, Mine & Ours. She also played Frigga, superhero Thor’s mother in the Marvel series, as well as in the Nightcrawler, for which she won the Saturn Award for Best Supporting Actress and was nominated for the BAFTA Award for Best Actress in a Supporting Role. She has also appeared in The Intern (2015), Just Getting Started (2017), and Velvet Buzzsaw (2019).
Stefania Sandrelli
Stefania Sandrelli’s first film was Divorce, Italian Style which was shown in 1960. She was only 14 years old back then but already showed a knack for acting. She had roles in the 1970 film The Conformist and 1900, a 1976 movie. Stefania was also lauded for the erotic film The Key. Despite not being able to reach a certain degree of stardom for American moviegoers, Stefania was popular among Italian and Italian-American viewers.
In fact, her acting has won her a number of awards including the Italian Nastro d’Argento Best Actress awards and the David di Donatello Best Actress award. Sandrelli, famous for her many roles in the commedia all’Italiana, starting from the 1960s, had a long relationship with Italian singer-songwriter Gino Paoli. Their daughter Amanda Sandrelli, born in 1964, is also an actress.
Sigourney Weaver
Sigourney Weaver grew up in show business with her father Pat Weaver, who was a broadcasting executive. She is considered a pioneer in science fiction films. During the ‘70s, the actress is famous for her role in Annie Hall and Madman while earning her degree in drama at Yale University’s School of Drama. She then clinched a role in the Alien series in 1979 as space crusader Ellen Ripley.
Later on, she has earned the nickname The Sci-Fi Queen for her supporting roles in Ghostbusters and GhostBusters II. She has also landed roles in Avatar and The Cabin in the Woods. In 2016, she had a cameo role in the Ghostbusters movie. Weaver has worked consistently over the past 40 years while raising a daughter alongside her husband of over 30 years, stage director Jim Simpson. If she has one defining characteristic, it is her endless curiosity about the world around her.
Anjelica Huston
Anjelica Huston has inherited her acting genes from her father John Huston, who was a known actor and director. Her mother, Enrica Soma, on the other hand, is also popular in her own industry in ballet and modeling. At first, Anjelica was included in her father’s movies and was given small roles until in the ’80s when she already carved a name of her own.
Her acting talent was given credits when she won an Academy Award as Best Supporting Actress for her performance in 1985’s Prizzi’s Honor. She was also known for her role as Morticia Addams in 1991’s The Addams Family. Come the 2000s, Anjelica is still keen on doing movies and has worked with a vast pool of directors. She appeared in The Life Aquatic with Steve Zissou and later in 2019 in the John Wick movie.
Barbara Hershey
It was in the ’60s when Barbara Hershey started her career in acting. The rising star was only 17 years old when she was at the onset of her career. Later on, in the early ’70s, Barbara gained national fame with Martin Scorcese’s Boxcar Bertha film. She began acting at age 17 in 1965 but did not achieve much critical acclaim until the latter half of the 1980s. By that time, the Chicago Tribune referred to her as “one of America’s finest actresses”.
Her acting skills were given credit in the mid-’80s for her Mary Magdalene portrayal in The Last Temptation of Christ and for her role in The Portrait of a Lady. She has also worked alongside award-winning director Woody Allen for a number of movies. Barbara is still an active Hollywood actress up to this day and has recently earned a BAFTA nomination for her Erica Sayers / The Queen portrayal in Black Swan.
Diahann Carroll
Diahann Carroll is recognized as the first black woman who starred in a non-stereotypical role. She has transcended racial barriers when she landed the role of Julia in the TV series of the same title in the late ’60s. Her fame would, later on, be carried to the ’70s, with her hosting The Diahann Carroll Show. The actress was also included in The Star Wars Holiday Special in 1978. She has also appeared in White Collar and Grey’s Anatomy for her recurring roles. Her acting skills were given credits when she won a number of Golden Globe awards.
Carroll was a founding member of the Celebrity Action Council, a volunteer group of celebrity women who served the women’s outreach of the Los Angeles Mission, working with women in rehabilitation from problems with alcohol, drugs, or prostitution. She helped to form the group along with other female television personalities including Mary Frann, Linda Gray, Donna Mills, and Joan Van Ark. Diahann had over $20 million of net worth before she died in 2019 of breast cancer.
Alison Arngrim
Who wouldn’t recognize Alison Arngrim for her superb role on the Little House on the Prairie as the well-loved character Nellie Oleson? Her iconic role for this movie made her one of the known household names on TV in the ’80s. Alison’s career as a young child actress may be given credit to her parents who were both in the world of Hollywood. Her parents are a manager and an actress, and she has inherited their skills to thrive in the industry.
Alison proved that she can create her own fate in the industry amidst having her parents as her safety. She has landed many acting projects since her role in Little House on the Prairie and has earned a number of recognitions since. Aside from acting, Alison is also an author of books and a comedian.
Maureen McCormick
Every fan of The Brady Bunch will know Maureen McCormick as Marcia Brady in the hit ABC sitcom from 1969 to 1974. She received a certain degree of fame when she became a household name for her role until she started to give way for her career in singing, writing, and having TV appearances. Fans were also happy to see her reprise her role as Marcia in The Brady Bunch spin-off such as The Brady Kids, The Brady Bunch Hour, The Brady Brides, and A Very Brady Christmas.
Despite professional success on The Brady Bunch and its spin-offs, McCormick struggled in her personal life in the years following the original series’ end. Addictions to cocaine and quaaludes, as well as bouts of depression and bulimia, all contributed to McCormick losing her reputation for reliability as an actress. Maureen was recently seen in Dancing with the Stars with her on-screen mom Florence Henderson, who played Carol Brady.
Diane Keaton
Diane Keaton may have done spectacular movies in the past but it was just in 1972 when she had a role for Woody Allen’s movie Play It Again, Sam, that her acting prowess was given the proper credit. Before this, she played Kay Adams-Corleone in The Godfather series but her popularity was not able to gain momentum. After Play It Again, Sam, she gained her second Woody Allen film with Annie Hall in 1977 where she was given an Oscar award.
While still continuing her career as an actress today, where she played Dory’s mom in Finding Dory!, Diane is also venturing in other industries. She did projects related to photography, real estate, singing, writing books, and many others. Known for her idiosyncratic personality and dressing style, Keaton has received an Academy Award, a BAFTA Award, two Golden Globe Awards, and the AFI Life Achievement Award.
Talia Shire
Talia Shire is known for two roles—she is Connie Corleone in The Godfather trilogy and she is Adrian Balboa in the famous Rocky movies. Adding to these, Talia’s performance received credit when she earned two nominations for the Oscars for these two films which are considered as popular classic series.
But her stardom did not end there. In fact, she was included in the cast for the 2002 movie Kiss the Bride and Huckabee’s which was shown in 2004, and Homo Erectus in 2007. Talia is still active in the industry until now and has even made a movie with her son Robert Schwartzman in the movie Dreamland. In her latest film, “Working Man,” she portrays the loving wife of a Rust Belt factory worker who defiantly reports to work even after his plant is closed.
Jacklyn Zeman
Jacklyn Zeman had a degree in dance at New York University while she was doing show business. In 1972, she was hailed as one of Playboy Bunny at the Playboy Club. She also welcomed modeling projects on the side. Jacklyn was known for her role as Barbara “Bobbie” Spencer in the hit television series General Hospital, which ran for nearly three decades. Because of being on television for such a long time, many will recall her as the character who turned into a nurse who was a series regular from 1977 to 2010. In 2013, Jacklyn returned to the show for a few episodes.
Maintaining a stable and ecstatic married relationship is not everyone’s cup of tea. Likewise, actress Jacklyn Zeman who married three times could not maintain stability in her all relationship for a long time and failed in all of her relationships. Notwithstanding her personal life, Jacklyn Zeman succeeds in establishing herself as one of the top women of the entertainment industry. Throughout her career, she gained marvelous prosperity and great fame.
Nicole Eggert
Nicole Eggert’s biggest break was when she got the role of an eight-year-old named Debbie in the movie Rich and Famous in 1981. Being a child actress that she was, her great portrayal of the role has led her to land more projects after. She portrayed Summer Quinn in the hit television series Baywatch and was able to be included in the cast for Charles in Charge. As her career plummeted, Nicole had to also make investments to maintain her young-looking glow and had to undergo surgery.
However, she appeared in season 2 of Botched where she revealed a procedure that had gone wrong. Good thing she was able to seek medical attention and had to undergo multiple procedures to be back in shape again.
Kylie Minogue
Kylie Minogue is one of the well-loved and ever-talented rising stars of the ’80s. The Australian-British actress and singer started when she was 11 years old and has appeared in soap operas where her acting skills were honed. She bagged roles in The Sullivans and Skyways in 1985 and landed her big break in The Henderson Kids.
Kylie Minogue also played the role of Charlene Robinson in Neighbors, where her acting prowess was given credit when she received awards from an Australian award-giving body. From acting on TV and movies, Kylie, later on, spread her wings and ventured into singing where she proved that she can also belt out. Today, Kylie is considered as one of the best music icons in the world.
Lola Falana
Lola Falana is an all-around TV performer who has proven that she got what it takes to make her star keep shining. She is not only good at acting but she got pure talent in dancing and singing as well, which she has shown off for over three and a half decades. Lola started her career doing Broadway music Golden Boy as a stage performer. She, later on, went to singing and has recorded a few hit songs that have gone to top charts.
In 1987, Lola faced a challenging phase in her life when she was diagnosed with multiple sclerosis. With her medical insurance that probably shouldered her hospital and treatment expenses, Lola got back to her feet again and has regained a new belief in life. Lola Falana’s last known musical performance was in 1997, at Wayne Newton’s theater in Branson, Missouri. She later converted to Roman Catholicism.
Lea Thompson
Many diehard fans of the all-time favorite classic and adventure movie Back to the Future will always recognize Lea Thompson for her iconic role as Lorraine Baines. Come 1990s, Lea bagged a role for the NBC sitcom Caroline in the City where she gained numerous fans. Since then, Lea continued to land roles for television shows and movies, including Switched at Birth, which ran from 2011 to 2017.
She studied ballet as a girl and danced professionally by the age of 14, winning scholarships to the American Ballet Theatre, the San Francisco Ballet, and the Pennsylvania Ballet. Told she did not have the right body to become a prima ballerina by Mikhail Baryshnikov himself, she changed her focus to acting. Aside from acting, Lea Thompson also made investments as a television producer and has also ventured into doing films as a director while being a doting mother to her two daughters Zoey Deutch and Madelyn Deutch.
Tiffani-Amber Thiessen
Tiffani-Amber Thiessen is a model and actress who gained national popularity for her portrayal of Kelly Kapowski in NBC’s 80’s show Saved by the Bell. After her stint, she then landed the role of Valerie Malone in Fox’s Beverly Hills, 90210 in the early ’90s. While having a successful career in acting, Tiffani’s modeling career is also skyrocketing. Tiffani was even named by magazine Cover Girl as their Model of the Year.
In her personal life, Tiffani married Brady Smith in 2005 where they had two children. Thankfully, her marriage with her actor-husband did not have to end up talking to lawyers for separation as they are completely in love until now. In 2013, she participated in the One Bag party for April for Earth Month, in which the Glad company promoted “clean, green living”. She is currently appearing in Alexa and Katie show.
Erika Eleniak
Erika Eleniak was known for her acting stint in Baywatch where she played the sexy Shauni McClain. With the degree of sex appeal and charm she has, Erika has also appeared in the 1982 film E.T.: Extra-Terrestrial, although she only got a small part and later on landed roles in The Blob, The Beverly Hillbillies, and Under Siege.
Aside from acting, the blonde bombshell is known as a Playboy Playmate and has done a few modeling gigs on the side. In 2005, the actress had to take a break from her acting projects as she faced the challenge of having an ectopic pregnancy. She probably had medical insurance that covered the treatment and helped manage her health problem. Despite having a miscarriage, Erika did not lose hope and was able to conceive her beautiful daughter Indyanna.
Jeff Cohen
Although the younger generation would not recognize Jeff Cohen now, he was quite popular back in the ’80s. As a child actor oozing with charm and wit, Jeff grabbed the role of Lawrence Cohen in The Goonies, directed by award-winning director Steven Spielberg. He, later on, had roles in Family Ties, Ask Max, and Perfect Harmony.
However, Jeff realized that the show business is not for him. The child actor decided to go back to the University of California in Berkeley to finish schooling. He chose to pursue a legal career upon finding out that many of the most important figures on the business side of Hollywood had law degrees. Thereafter, Jeff took law and finished a degree at the University of California, Los Angeles, School of Law. Currently, Jeff is a partner and attorney at Cohen & Gardner, LLP, far from his childhood career.
Emilio Estevez
Emilio Estevez came from a well-respected family of actors. His father is the award-winning and veteran actor Martin Sheen, and his brother is Charlie Sheen. Despite having both his father and brother in the show business, Emilio still put an effort to carve a name of his own in the industry. In fact, he proved how equally great he was in acting. He was lauded for his performances in St. Elmo’s Fire, The Outsiders, and The Breakfast Club. He was also included in the cast of The Mighty Ducks and Young Guns.
What’s more, Emilio, later on, realized that aside from being in the limelight, he can also do projects behind it. He also ventured into being behind-the-scenes. He shifted his career from acting to being a director and screenwriter and made some investments in his film producing career.
Mark Richard
Mark Richard Hamill is a known actor and writer of his generation. He was first known in the movie Star Wars franchise as Luke Skywalker. Later on, Mark proved that he got what it takes in the acting world as he clinched the Best Actor from Saturn Award three times. He then accepted roles for Corvette Summer and The Big Red One.
Aside from appearing on screen, Hamill is known for his voice acting. He showed that he has a certain degree of talent when it comes to giving distinct sounds to characters. He gave sounds to The Hobgoblin in the Spiderman animated series in the 1990s. He was also the voice actor of Gargoyle of The Incredible Hulk, Klaw in Avengers: Earth’s Mightiest Heroes, Maximus in Fantastic Four, and other Marvel characters. In December 2017, Hamill became an affiliate member of the Royal Society of Chemistry, having had an interest in the science since childhood.
Lindsay Wagner
She started her career in the ‘70s before being known for her role as Jaime Sommers in The Bionic Woman. Despite Lindsay Wagner dropping out from the University of Oregon and Mt. Hood Community College and not earning a degree, Lindsay still made it big in Hollywood for her versatility.
Aside from her acting, she is also known as an acting coach and has expertise in publication, media, and dancing. She is also into writing and already because of a successful author of three books. Lindsay is still active in the industry and has maintained a lengthy acting career in a variety of film and television productions to the present day, with Grey’s Anatomy as her latest acting project. On December 13, 1984, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce presented Wagner with a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, category ‘Film’, located at the north side of the 6700 block of Hollywood Boulevard.
Jennifer Beals
Jennifer Beals has appeared to more than fifty films, making her notably a bankable and sought-after actress of her generation. But the movie that led her to reach a high degree of stardom was My Bodyguard. She was known as well in the drama film Flashdance where she got accolades.
In this movie, she portrayed the role of Alex Owens where she was given a nomination as Best Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical from Golden Globe Award. Despite gaining stardom in the ’80s, Jennifer still got what it takes to be in the limelight. She was recently seen in Swamp Thing.
Ally Sheedy
Another famous Brat Pack member who gained popularity in the ’80s is the ever beautiful and talented Ally Sheedy. As an alumna of the sought-after teenage group, she was able to land a role in the 1983 film Bad Boys. After this, she was able to join movies like The Breakfast Club as well as St. Elmo’s Fire. Ally also appeared in War Games and Short Circuit. For her performance in Lisa Cholodenko’s High Art (1998), Sheedy won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead.
Since she was young, Ally has been an active advocate of LGBTQ rights, pushing for equal treatment in society. Ally is also into writing books and has slowed down from doing acting gigs. Despite this, Ally doesn’t need to be stressed about loans or other financial woes because she has a net worth of over $6 million.
Mia Farrow
It was the role of Rosemary in Rosemary’s Baby in 1968 that gave Mia Farrow her big break. After this role, Mia was able to clinch more acting roles in the ‘70s such as in The Great Gatsby, Peter Pan as well as Avalanche. Mia was also included in over 13 films of Woody Allen from 1979 to 1992 and was reportedly dating him. Today, Mia Farrow is still active in the industry, but not to the same degree as before. She is also into doing philanthropic work as a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador where she did some humanitarian efforts in the Central African Republic.
Since the 2000s, Farrow has made occasional appearances on television, including a recurring role on Third Watch. Farrow has dedicated significant periods to raising her adopted and biological children, and she has taken part in humanitarian efforts abroad, particularly human rights in African countries. Mia was also named as one of the most influential people in the world in 2008.
Anthony Michael Hall
Anthony Michael Hall is one of the cast members of the Brat Pack, a group of teenage celebrities in the 1980s where he gained fame. He also starred in other teen-oriented films and was the face of different brands for various commercials. Being a teenage star that he is, he had roles for The Breakfast Club, Sixteen Candles, Weird Science, and many others. After a series of minor roles in the 1990s, he starred as Microsoft’s Bill Gates in the 1999 television film Pirates of Silicon Valley. He had the leading role in the USA Network series The Dead Zone from 2002 to 2007. In 2020, he appeared in ABC’s The Goldbergs.
In November 2016, Anthony was involved in the controversy when he was charged with felony assault by a neighbor at Playa del Rey condominium. Having a net worth of $8 million throughout his career, his lawyer did not have difficulty in settling the issue despite his client causing bodily harm to his neighbor.
Melanie Griffith
One of the popular actresses in the ’80s is Melanie Griffith. Although she started her career back in the ’70s, it was only when she appeared in Body Double, a 1984 film that was able to gain a degree of popularity. Her performance was also given recognition from the National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actress. After this, Melanie’s career continued to rise and she was able to land a lot of major roles including the film Roar.
However, her role in Roar became controversial after she was mauled by a lion while filming the movie. She had to undergo some surgeries for the injuries she obtained from the movie which were probably covered by her medical insurance. Roar is dubbed as one of the most dangerous productions. In the 2010s, Griffith returned to film, starring opposite then-husband Antonio Banderas in the science-fiction film Autómata (2014) and as an acting coach in James Franco’s The Disaster Artist (2017).
Sara Gilbert
Sara Gilbert is one of the most known actresses in the late ’80s thanks to her stunning portrayal of Darlene Conner in the hit show Roseanne. The sitcom, which lasted for over a decade and ran from 1988 to 1997, bagged numerous awards from different award-giving bodies such as the Emmys. For Sara, her role as Darlene was given the credit when she earned two Emmy Award nominations. After the show folded, Sara then created The Talk, where she was also a co-host.
The star also went on to play various recurring roles in television series, such as the hit comedy show The Big Bang Theory with Kaley Cuoco. Gilbert graduated from Yale University in 1997, with honors, majoring in art with an emphasis on photography. Sara was recently seen back on the silver screen with her role as Darlene for the eight-episode revival of the ‘80s sitcom Roseanne.
Ellen Burstyn
Unlike other stars who started their career from the ’70s and ’80s, Ellen Burstyn has been in the industry since the ’50s. However, it was in the early ’70s when she was given the highest degree of stardom status for her role in The Last Picture Show. In this movie, she has earned an Oscar award for being the Best Supporting Actress. She also won another for her Alice Doesn’t Live Here Anymore, directed by Martin Scorsese where she bagged the Best Actress recognition.
Ellen has also been seen in The Exorcist, shown in 1973 as well as in Requiem for a Dream in 2000. She received recognition in the American Theater Hall of Fame in 2013. In the 2010s, she made appearances in television series including the political dramas Political Animals and House of Cards, both of which earned her Emmy Award nominations. Since 2000, she has been co-president of the Actors Studio, a drama school in New York City.
Jennifer Grey
If there is a star in the ‘80s who is known for teen comedies, Jennifer Grey is one of them. She played an iconic role for Dirty Dancing where she earned a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical. She also played a significant role in Ferris Bueller’s low-budget film Day Off which garnered positive reviews. From 2014 to 2017, Grey portrayed Judy Meyers on Red Oaks. In 2018, Grey co-starred in the film Untogether; the film was released on February 8, 2019.
Despite having a really booming career in the past three decades, Jennifer Grey is not active in the industry anymore. Recently, Jennifer Grey is in talks with her lawyer as she is set to divorce husband Clark Gregg after 19 years of marriage.
Kate Jackson
Many will remember Kate Jackson as one of three detectives in Charlie’s Angels. She played Sabrina Duncan in the television series in the late ’70s. She was the one who suggested to name the series Charlie’s Angels which was originally supposed to be named Alley Cats.
Kate then went from Charlie’s Angels to Scarecrow and Mrs. King. In the latter, she also co-produced some of the episodes which lead her to find love in being a producer. Today, Kate has slowed down in making films and is focused on making her health a top priority. Kate was diagnosed with breast cancer and probably had to use her health insurance for operations. Since then, Kate has been involved in advocacy for awareness about breast cancer and women’s health. She has not appeared in film or television since 2009.
Madonna
When it comes to popular celebrities in the ’80s, Madonna will certainly be part of that list. Dubbed as the Queen of Pop, Madonna has been known as a music icon, with credits going to her popular songs Material Girl, Like a Prayer, and La Isla Bonita. During her performances, Madonna is known to don trademark lace tops, fishnet stocking, and capri pants, showing off her sexy curves while belting high notes. Aside from being a successful singer, Madonna has also been into acting and business and has garnered a whopping $590 million of net worth throughout her career.
Madonna has been going almost nonstop since her career took off in the 1980s, playing stadiums all over the world and touring all over the place. But now Madonna has started to slow things down a little bit, giving her a chance to focus on her family life. This hiatus from her music career gave her time to refocus on what she wanted out her the rest of her career and allowed her to plan her next moves.
Barbara Eden
America’s greatest pop icon Barbara Eden, or real name Barbara Jean Morehead, received national popularity for her role as Jeannie in the I Dream of Jeannie. She played Jeannie who wore an iconic red and pink attire and appeared from a puff of smoke. Even after the success of the hit show in the ‘70s, Barbara carried her popularity until the ‘80s, working alongside Kathy McCormick as co-producer for The Secret Life. Her acting was given credit when she landed a spot in the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Yet Barbara Eden, the perpetually smiling actress who first emerged in a puff of smoke from her genie’s bottle an astonishing 51 years ago, confesses that she is haunted by an unending sadness. “You never lose that hurt,” she says of her son’s death from a heroin overdose in 2001. The actress most recently starred in “My Adventures With Santa”.
Jennifer Beals
Jennifer Beals has appeared to more than fifty films, making her notably a bankable and sought-after actress of her generation. But the movie that led her to reach a high degree of stardom was My Bodyguard. She was known as well in the drama film Flashdance where she got accolades. In this movie, she portrayed the role of Alex Owens where she was given a nomination as Best Actress in a Motion Picture Comedy or Musical from Golden Globe Award. Beals has many interests, she is a practitioner of kung-fu, sanshou, and kickboxing, and is a triathlete.
She is also a photographer and has had shows featuring her work under her married name, Dixon. In 2010, Beals served as the Grand Marshal of the McDonald’s Thanksgiving Parade in Chicago, during which she spoke of the two charities important to her, the Matthew Shepard Foundation and The Pablove Foundation. Despite gaining stardom in the ’80s, Jennifer still got what it takes to be in the limelight. She was recently seen in Swamp Thing.
Lee Majors
Film and voice actor Lee Majors was known for his portrayal of Health Barkley in The Big Valley back in the ’60s. In the ’70s, Lee Majors slowed down in having a big role but jumped back with the hit science fiction and action television series, The Six Million Dollar Man where he played Colonel Steve Austin. The series became an international success, being screened in over 70 countries, turning Majors into a pop icon. In 1977, with The Six Million Dollar Man still a hit series, Majors tried to renegotiate his contract with Universal Television. It was rumored that Majors was holding out for more money, but his manager denied this.
He also played Colt Seavers in The Fall Guy. Despite his popularity, Lee had to deal with challenges in his personal life, including talking with his lawyers for his divorce papers from his previous marriages. His recent major project was when he voice-acted a Six Million Dollar Man action figure for a car manufacturing company.