1980s Teen Heartthrobs and What They Look Like Today

What exactly does it mean to be a heartthrob? It means someone is so attractive that tons of people from around the globe develop crushes. Usually, the only people who can truly classify as heartthrobs are those who become decently famous enough with high levels of exposure. Back in the 1980s, heartthrobs who starred in major movies and TV shows attracted diehard fans who were utterly obsessed with them. In this modern era, some heartthrobs people are obsessed with include Jacob Elordi from “Euphoria,” Timothée Chalamet from “Dune,” and Liam Hemsworth from “The Hunger Games.”

These actors showed up for their roles one day and became heartthrobs almost overnight. When enough people catch wind of how good-looking a celebrity is, it gets the whole world talking! These days, heartthrobs gain even more popularity and notoriety with the help of social media. They share pics and videos on Instagram, TikTok, Facebook, and more. From there, their fans and followers can subscribe to their pages to keep up with all their interesting updates.

When you rewind to the 1980s, heartthrobs from that era didn’t have the luxury of social media backing them up. Instead, they relied on paparazzi moments, press releases, and pre-planned interviews to build their momentum. The heartthrobs of the 1980s were beloved in their heyday, and many devoted fans would argue that they are still beloved now. While we’re on the topic of celebrities of the past, click here for the most legendary music artists in history.

To gather this list of heartthrobs from the 1980s (and what they look like today), 24/7 Tempo consulted several entertainment sources. These include IMDb, MovieWeb, Business Insider, Good to Know, and TV Guide.

Andrew McCarthy Then

The ’80s was an awesome era for Andrew McCarthy, who starred in unforgettable movies like “Pretty in Pink,” “Saint Elmo’s Fire,” “Mannequin,” and “Weekend at Bernie’s.” Some of the other ’80s flicks he landed were “Less Than Zero,” “Class,” and “Fresh Horses.” McCarthy’s career continued moving in the right direction in the ’90s and early 2000s, leading to his current level of success.

Andrew McCarthy Now

Andrew McCarthy never put down the gauntlet when it came to his career as an actor. In 2024, he handled the leading role in a movie called “Brats.” The Hulu film tells the story of the legendary Brat Pack on their way to the top. McCarthy has been married to his wife, Dolores Rice, since 2011. He also has two kids named Sam and Willow McCarthy.

Tom Cruise Then

Movies like “Young Guns,” “Cocktail,” and “Legend” were pivotal for Tom Cruise’s career as an actor. Two of his biggest movies from the ’80s arguably happen to be “Risky Business” and “Rain Man.” Cruise also made waves in the first “Top Gun” movie in 1986. The film cemented him in stone as a top-notch action actor who tons of moviegoers automatically had respect for.

Tom Cruise Now

As of 2024, Tom Cruise is still living his best life as an A-list actor. The latest flicks you can catch him in include “Mission: Impossible – Dead Reckoning Part Two,” “The Mummy,” and “Luna Park.” Cruise had a reputation for doing a lot of his own stunts back in the day, and that still happens to be the case for him now — including most recently as he skydived into the Olympics hand-off ceremony in Los Angeles.

His marriage to Katie Holmes lasted from 2006 until 2012, and he’s been legally single since then. His three kids are named Suri, Connor, and Isabella Jane Cruise. He shares Suri with Holmes and he shares Connor and Isabella Jane with his other ex-wife, Nicole Kidman. Since his heartthrob days in the ’80s, Cruise won the Golden Globe Award for Best Actor in a Motion Picture Drama and the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Movie Actor.

Michael J. Fox Then

While Michael J. Fox became a household name on the wildly popular TV show “Family Ties,” it was his role as Marty McFly in one of the most beloved movies of all time: “Back to the Future,” which premiered in 1985. Other ’80s movies Fox starred in include “Teen Wolf,” “Back to the Future Part 2,” and “The Secret of My Success.”

Michael J. Fox Now

Michael J. Fox was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease more than 30 years ago, and he’s been a tireless advocate for Parkinson’s disease research and fundraising ever since. He also recently created a couple of documentaries. “Still: A Michael J. Fox Movie” and “Mr. Dressup: The Magic of Make-Believe” are available for streaming on Apple TV and Prime Video, respectively. Fox has been married to his wife, Tracy Pollan, since 1988, and they have four kids: Sam Michael, Aquinnah Kathleen, Schuyler Frances, and Esmé Annabelle Fox.

Ralph Macchio Then

In the 80s, Ralph Macchio made a name for himself in the entertainment industry by starring in one of the biggest blockbuster movies ever. In 1984, he starred in “The Karate Kid,” which is still highly respected and revered today. During that decade, Macchio also starred in “The Three Wishes of Billy Grier,” “Distant Thunder,” and “The Outsiders.” Just to name a few.

Ralph Macchio Now

Ralph Macchio reprised his role as Daniel from “The Karate Kid” in a spinoff show called “Cobra Kai,” which premiered in 2018. It’s gone on for six successful seasons with fans of the original movie franchise tuning in. New fans who weren’t even born when the original movie premiered have also caught wind of Macchio’s talent. He has been married to his wife, Phyllis Fierro, since 1987, and they have two children: Julia and Daniel Macchio.

Kirk Cameron Then

As far as heartthrobs go, Kirk Cameron had many people head over heels in love with him in the ’80s. He starred in the popular sitcom called “Growing Pains” from 1985 until 1992. He also starred in movies “Like Father Like Son, “Listen to Me,” and “The Best of Times.” Cameron was a teenager on “Growing Pains,” and growing up in the spotlight is the reason he was able to establish his heartthrob reputation.

Kirk Cameron Now

Fans were definitely crushing on Cameron back in the ’80s, which is why he has more than 600,000 followers on Instagram as it stands today. His most recent acting credits have been in movies like “LifeMark,” “Extraordinary,” and “Saving Christmas.” He also filmed a reality TV show in 2021 called “Takeaways With Kirk Cameron.” It only lasted for one season, though. Cameron has been married to Chelsea Noble since 1991, and his kids are Olivia Rose, Isabella, Thomas, Luke, and Jack Cameron.

Chad Allen Then

Shows like “Our House” and “My Two Dads” were part of the reason Chad Allen gained such an awesome reputation as a heartthrob in the 80s. “Our House” ran from 1986 until 1988, and “My Two Dads” ran from 1987 until 1990. Allen’s career as an actor pressed on in the right direction well into the 90s and early 2000s. Fans had every reason to think of him as a total heartthrob since it was easy for so many young people to develop crushes on him at the time.

Chad Allen Now

Chad Allen hasn’t exactly kept up with his career as an actor in recent years. In the early 2000s, he was still picking up roles in movies, but that has definitely slowed down. Some of his early 2000s movies include “Third Man Out,” “Save Me,” and “Ice Blues.” If you’re curious to know whether or not Allen ever tied the knot with anyone, IMDb reports that he’s been dating a man named Jeremy Glazer since 2005. As of this publication, Allen doesn’t have any children.

Christian Slater Then

Movie lovers of the ’80s will never be able to forget the creepy charm of “Heathers.” It premiered in 1988 starring Christian Slater in one of the leading roles. Many people are convinced that “Heathers” walked so that “Mean Girls” could run years later in 2004. “Heathers” is often considered Slater’s biggest role ever, but he also starred in other interesting movies during that decade. We’re referring to “The Name of the Rose,” “Gleaming the Cube,” and “The Legend of Billie Jean.”

Christian Slater Now

So, what is Christian Slater up to now? His most recent movies have been “Unfrosted,” “Freelance,” and “Blink Twice.” He has also been doing voice acting for an adult animated sitcom called “Archer.” The show, which has been compared to “Family Guy” and “The Simpsons,” premiered in 2009 and has gone on for 14 successful seasons so far. Slater has been married to Brittany Lopez since 2013. He has two children named Eliana Sophia and Jaden Christopher Haddon-Slater.

Johnny Depp Then

Some of the biggest movies of Johnny Depp’s entire career were filmed and produced in the 80s. People of the world wouldn’t know and love Depp the way they do today if it weren’t for projects like “Platoon,” “Slow Burn,” and “Private Resort.” Depp’s career continued lighting up into the 90s, which is when he starred in movies like “Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas,” “What’s Eating Gilbert Grape,” and “Edward Scissorhands.”

Johnny Depp Now

The biggest movie franchise Johnny Depp recently starred in is “Pirates of the Caribbean.” The first movie hit theaters in 2003, followed by its sequel in 2006. The third movie made waves in 2007 with the fourth movie following in 2011. In 2017, the fifth movie from the franchise premiered. Now, fans are gearing up with excitement for the sixth movie, which is set to come out sometime in 2026.

Depp went through a very messy divorce from Amber Heard, to whom he was married from 2015 to 2017. His kids are Lily-Rose and Jack Depp, from his previous relationship with Vanessa Paradis. He’s taken home the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Male Actor in a Leading Role, the People’s Choice Award for Favorite Movie Actor, and the MTV Movie & TV Award for Best Villain.

Corey Feldman Then

Corey Feldman was the definition of a heartthrob in the 1980s. Fans were enthralled by him after seeing him in movies like “The Lost Boys,” “The Goonies,” and “Stand by Me.” The 80s continued to be epic for Feldman, who also landed roles in movies such as “License to Drive,” “Gremlins,” and “Dream a Little Dream.” At the time, it didn’t seem like anything could get in the way of his fame and stardom.

Corey Feldman now

As of now, Corey Feldman has become a huge advocate for the fight against child abuse. He opened up about the abuse he endured when he was a child in a 2020 documentary called “My Truth.” It couldn’t have been easy for him to open up about such a heartbreaking and touchy topic, but he felt like it was the right thing to do. He pushed forward with his message. Feldman was married to Courtney Anne Mitchell from 2016 until 2023, and he has one child named Zen Scott Feldman.

Robert Downey Jr. Then

Most people recognize Robert Downey Jr. for his time starring in superhero movies in this modern era, but he was also a total heartthrob back in the ’80s. He starred in movies like “The Pick-up Artist,” “Weird Science,” and “Rented Lips.” Back then, he likely had no idea how intense and insane his career was going to become when he would eventually blow up as a Marvel frontman.

Robert Downey Jr. Now

As of now, fans totally love Robert Downey Jr. for his work as Iron Man in Marvel movies that first started in 2008. He’s reprised his role as Iron Man in several different films including “The Avengers,” “Spider-Man: Homecoming,” and more. Downey Jr. has been able to work alongside big-name stars like Gwyneth Paltrow, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, and Brie Larson.

It’s obvious he’s doing well because he has a massive net worth of more than $300 million as it stands today. He’s been married to Susan Downey since 2005, and he has one child named Indio Falconer Downey. Downey Jr. won the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor, the Screen Actors Guild Award for Outstanding Performance by a Cast in a Motion Picture, and the BAFTA Award for Best Actor in a Leading Role.

Jason Bateman Then

The reason Jason Bateman classifies as a 1980s heartthrob is because he landed roles in movies and TV shows that allowed fans to develop major crushes on him. We’re referring to projects like “Teen Wolf Too,” “The Hogan Family,” “Silver Spoons,” “It’s Your Move,” and “Little House on the Prairie.” These old-school projects set Bateman up for his future career in major blockbuster films and TV shows.

Jason Bateman Now

Jason Bateman’s more recent projects include “Arrested Development,” which aired from 2003 until 2019, and “Ozark,” which aired from 2017 until 2022 on Netflix. He also has created a multi-million dollar podcasting empire with his podcast, “Smartless,” which he shares with fellow celebs Will Arnett and Sean Hayes. Bateman has been married to Amanda Anka since 2001, and they share two kids together. It’s clear that he’s seen success in his life with a whopping net worth of $50 million as it stands today.

John Cusack Then

Movie lovers were crushing on John Cusack back in the 80s thanks to his decision to star in big-name movies like “The Sure Thing,” “Hot Pursuit,” and “The Journey of Natty Gann.” He also landed a role in “Sixteen Candles” in 1984, which is considered one of the best romantic comedies to ever hit theaters. Decades later, “Sixteen Candles” is still highly respected today because the subject matter is beyond relatable.

John Cusack Now

John Cusack’s career might’ve started with fans thinking of him as an 80s heartthrob, but it has certainly expanded since then. Some of his most recent projects include 2024’s “Decoded,” 2022’s “Pursuit,” and 2020’s “Utopia.” Cusack’s net worth of $50 million serves as proof that he knows exactly what he’s doing in the entertainment industry.

Some of the awards he now holds include the Canadian Screen Award for Best Performance by an Actor in a Supporting Role and the Blockbuster Entertainment Award for Favorite Supporting Actor in an Action Movie. Now that we know what all the most attractive 1980s heartthrob look like today, click here to find out about actors who went to the extreme for roles they were hired for.

The post 1980s Teen Heartthrobs and What They Look Like Today appeared first on 24/7 Tempo .