Back in Time Today
Hollywood is a dream factory that sometimes creates nightmares for promising talents. Back in the 1980s, dozens of fresh-faced actors seemed destined for long-lasting stardom, gracing magazine covers and starring in blockbuster films. But showbiz can be cruelly unpredictable, with many once-bright stars fading from the spotlight despite their initial promise.
1. Andrew McCarthy: From Brat Pack to Behind the Camera
With his boyish charm and sensitive demeanor, Andrew McCarthy captured teenage hearts in “Pretty in Pink” and “St. Elmo’s Fire.” His Brat Pack membership seemed like a guaranteed ticket to Hollywood royalty.
Yet McCarthy struggled to evolve beyond coming-of-age roles as he matured. The acting opportunities gradually diminished in quality and quantity. Instead of fading away completely, he reinvented himself as a respected television director and travel writer, finding creative fulfillment away from the spotlight.
2. C. Thomas Howell: The Outsider Who Stayed Outside
Golden-haired and earnest, C. Thomas Howell seemed destined for greatness after his heartfelt portrayal of Ponyboy Curtis in Francis Ford Coppola’s “The Outsiders.” Working alongside future superstars like Tom Cruise and Rob Lowe, his trajectory appeared limitless.
Career momentum crashed after his controversial blackface role in “Soul Man” (1986). The backlash was swift and devastating. Though he never stopped working, appearing in countless B-movies and occasional TV roles, the A-list status that once seemed inevitable remained permanently out of reach.
3. Jan-Michael Vincent: Airwolf Pilot Grounded by Demons
Ruggedly handsome with piercing blue eyes, Jan-Michael Vincent commanded $200,000 per episode on “Airwolf” – making him TV’s highest-paid actor in the mid-80s. His surfer-cool charisma in “Big Wednesday” had already established him as leading man material.
Behind the scenes, Vincent battled severe alcoholism and substance abuse. These demons led to car accidents, on-set difficulties, and increasingly erratic behavior. By the 1990s, his once-promising career had effectively ended, with the former heartthrob appearing in low-budget productions before retreating from public view entirely.
4. Michael Paré: The Reluctant Heartthrob
With chiseled features and smoldering intensity, Michael Paré seemed manufactured for stardom. His breakout in cult classic “Streets of Fire” (1984) showcased a brooding presence that promised a career filled with leading roles.
Hollywood executives positioned him as the next big thing, but something didn’t click with audiences. A string of commercial disappointments like “Eddie and the Cruisers” followed. Despite possessing the looks and talent, Paré never found the right vehicles to launch him into the stratosphere.
He continues working steadily in direct-to-video action films, a familiar face without the household name status once predicted.
5. Phoebe Cates: The Swimming Pool Sensation Who Walked Away
Few movie moments are as iconic as Phoebe Cates emerging from the pool in “Fast Times at Ridgemont High.” With her exotic beauty and natural screen presence, Cates became an instant sensation, following up with the blockbuster “Gremlins” franchise.
Unlike many on this list, Cates’ career stalled by choice rather than circumstance. She deliberately stepped away from Hollywood in the early 1990s to raise her children with actor Kevin Kline. The industry’s loss was her family’s gain as she prioritized motherhood over fame, occasionally appearing in independent films.
6. Anthony Michael Hall: The Geek Who Couldn’t Grow Up
Anthony Michael Hall revolutionized the teen nerd archetype in John Hughes classics like “Sixteen Candles” and “The Breakfast Club.” His awkward charm and comedic timing made him an unlikely 80s icon and the youngest-ever Saturday Night Live cast member at 17.
Desperate to shed his geeky image, Hall bulked up and pursued dramatic roles, but audiences couldn’t reconcile this new persona with the lovable nerd they knew. A reputation for difficult behavior didn’t help matters. He eventually found redemption on television in “The Dead Zone,” but the A-list film career once predicted never materialized.
7. Martin Hewitt: The Leading Man Who Vanished
Martin Hewitt landed what seemed like the golden ticket—starring opposite Brooke Shields in Franco Zeffirelli’s “Endless Love” (1981). As a virtually unknown actor thrust into a major romantic lead, Hollywood insiders predicted instant stardom.
The film received mixed reviews, but Hewitt’s gentle handsomeness suggested staying power. Mysteriously, substantial roles never followed. After a handful of forgettable film appearances and TV guest spots, Hewitt disappeared from Hollywood entirely.
In one of showbiz’s stranger second acts, he eventually became a home inspector in Southern California—about as far from movie stardom as one could get.
8. Corey Haim: The Lost Boy Who Couldn’t Be Found
Corey Haim possessed an infectious energy and vulnerability that made him the ultimate teen idol following “Lucas” and “The Lost Boys.” His poster adorned countless bedroom walls, and his partnership with Corey Feldman created the iconic “Two Coreys” phenomenon.
Behind the boyish smile lurked terrible secrets. Substance abuse began alarmingly early, allegedly fueled by childhood trauma and industry predators. Despite multiple comeback attempts, Haim cycled through addiction, bankruptcy, and increasingly desperate straight-to-video projects.
His 2010 death at age 38 represented one of Hollywood’s most tragic falls from grace.
9. Michael Biehn: The Action Hero Who Rejected Fame
Michael Biehn created iconic characters in James Cameron’s groundbreaking sci-fi films—Kyle Reese in “The Terminator” and Corporal Hicks in “Aliens.” With his intense gaze and physical prowess, he seemed poised to join the pantheon of 80s action superstars.
Unlike many actors, Biehn actively resisted the Hollywood publicity machine. He refused to play industry games or capitalize on his heartthrob potential. Personal struggles with alcohol further complicated matters.
Though respected for his craft, Biehn gradually drifted into supporting roles and direct-to-video features while contemporaries like Bruce Willis soared to greater heights.
10. Mia Sara: Ferris Bueller’s Girlfriend Who Drove Away
Sophisticated beyond her years, Mia Sara embodied teenage dream girl perfection as Sloane Peterson in “Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.” Her follow-up as the princess in Ridley Scott’s fantasy epic “Legend” showcased her range and ethereal beauty.
The expected string of high-profile roles never materialized despite her obvious talent. Sara’s filmography dwindled to forgettable action films and TV movies through the 1990s. Rather than chase diminishing returns, she gracefully pivoted away from acting.
Now a poet and mother, Sara represents someone who tasted fame but chose a different path when superstardom proved elusive.
11. Judd Nelson: The Rebel Without Lasting Cause
No one embodied 80s teenage rebellion better than Judd Nelson’s John Bender in “The Breakfast Club.” His sneering intensity and unexpected vulnerability created an archetype that influenced a generation. With “St. Elmo’s Fire” cementing his Brat Pack credentials, Nelson seemed destined for longevity.
The transition to adult roles proved challenging. His intense persona that worked perfectly for troubled teens felt one-dimensional in mature characters. A series of box office disappointments and typecasting issues derailed momentum.
Though he works consistently in television and voice acting, the leading man status once predicted remains an unfulfilled promise.
12. Ally Sheedy: The Basket Case Who Found New Purpose
With her quirky charm and expressive eyes, Ally Sheedy captured hearts as the computer whiz in “WarGames” and the misunderstood “basket case” in “The Breakfast Club.” Her natural talent and distinctive presence suggested a career filled with complex, interesting roles.
Hollywood had different ideas. Sheedy found herself pigeonholed in lightweight romantic comedies that failed to utilize her depth. A brief comeback in 1998’s indie darling “High Art” reminded audiences of her considerable abilities.
Rather than chase fading opportunities, Sheedy reinvented herself as an author and acting teacher, finding fulfillment mentoring young performers.
13. Jennifer Grey: The Star Who Lost Her Face
Jennifer Grey danced into cinema history with her portrayal of Baby in “Dirty Dancing,” creating one of the most beloved characters of the 1980s. Her distinctive features, especially her nose, contributed to a unique appeal that separated her from conventional Hollywood beauties.
In perhaps Hollywood’s most infamous plastic surgery cautionary tale, Grey underwent rhinoplasty that dramatically altered her appearance. She became virtually unrecognizable to casting directors and audiences alike.
“I went into the operating room a celebrity and came out a nobody,” Grey later reflected, encapsulating how a single decision derailed a promising career.
14. Emilio Estevez: The Mighty Duck Who Flew Behind the Camera
Hollywood royalty by birth as Martin Sheen’s son, Emilio Estevez carved his own identity through powerful performances in “The Breakfast Club” and “The Outsiders.” His directorial ambitions emerged early with 1986’s “Wisdom,” making him the youngest person to write, direct, and star in a major film.
Unlike some Brat Packers, Estevez maintained steady work through the 90s with the “Mighty Ducks” franchise. Yet the leading man status predicted in the 80s gradually shifted as his passion for directing grew stronger.
He deliberately stepped away from acting to focus on personal projects and winemaking, prioritizing creative control over celebrity.
15. Eric Roberts: The Oscar Nominee Who Became a B-Movie King
Few actors began with more raw talent than Eric Roberts. His intense performances in “Star 80” and “Runaway Train” earned critical raves and an Oscar nomination. With his dangerous charisma and dramatic range, Roberts seemed positioned for a career filled with prestigious roles.
A perfect storm of problems intervened. Substance abuse issues, a serious car accident, and a reputation for difficult on-set behavior made studios wary. His younger sister Julia’s meteoric rise to become Hollywood’s highest-paid actress created an awkward shadow.
Roberts now holds the distinction of being one of cinema’s most prolific actors, appearing in hundreds of often low-budget productions.