The 80s were a golden era for pop culture, and the decade's iconic movie stars were once just regular kids. From the Brat Pack to teen idols, these actors and actresses had to start somewhere, and their early careers often involved modeling, smaller roles, or even high school photos. Here's a look at some of the biggest names of the 80s before they were famous, and how they made their way to the top.
Demi Moore
Before Demi Moore became a household name, she was just a 15-year-old girl growing up in Los Angeles. Moore even took part in a photo shoot documenting the typical life of an LA teen while studying at Fairfax High School. This early experience likely helped her land her first major role in the 1980s, and she quickly became a teen idol.
Phoebe Cates
Phoebe Cates was a beloved icon of the 80s, but before that, she was busy working as a model. Cates attended performing arts schools like Juilliard and the Professional Children's School, but a knee injury forced her to end her dancing dreams. She began taking modeling more seriously, but decided to move into acting, landing her debut role in 1982 with Paradise. Cates' early career in modeling likely gave her the confidence and experience to take on her iconic roles in the 80s.
Michael J. Fox
Michael J. Fox is now known and beloved as the time-traveling adventurer Marty McFly, but before that, he had a few smaller roles to his name. Four years before the Back to the Future role that would define his career, Fox worked on two seasons of Palmerstown, U.S.A. between 1980 and 1981 as the character Willy-Joe Hall. His early roles likely helped him land the iconic part of Marty McFly, and his talent was soon recognized by the industry.
Kristy McNichol
Kristy McNichol got her start onscreen in the 70s with appearances on rom-com series Love, American Style and family drama Run, Joe, Run, working up to a 16-episode run on Apple's Way. Her most-loved roles came later on in the 70s and into the following decade, including the film Little Darlings and shows like Family and Empty Nest. McNichol's early career in the 70s likely helped her build a strong foundation for her success in the 80s.
Molly Ringwald
Brat Pack superstar Molly Ringwald defined '80s adolescence with roles in The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, and Sixteen Candles. The actress started on-screen with Diff'rent Strokes and its spinoff, The Facts of Life, in 1979 and 1980. Stardom soon followed in the mid-80s with the release of Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club in 1984 and 1985, respectively. Ringwald's early roles in the 70s and early 80s likely helped her build a strong reputation and secure her iconic roles in the decade.
Ralph Macchio
Ralph Macchio's iconic run as the karate kid himself earned him a place in the history books of '80s cinema. Prior to landing those major movie roles, Macchio's career started at the beginning of the decade with a role in the comedy Up the Academy (1980) and on the series Eight is Enough (1980-81). His early roles likely helped him build a strong foundation for his success in the 80s.
Daryl Hannah
Daryl Hannah reached mainstream fame with her role in the Ridley Scott classic Blade Runner (1982), following it up with features like Splash, Wall Street, and Steel Magnolias. Before her big break in the early 80s, Hannah had a small role in body horror The Fury (1978), her first role on-screen and her only credit of the 70s. Her early career in the 70s likely helped her build a strong reputation and secure her iconic roles in the 80s.
Rob Lowe
Just a few years before Rob Lowe was stealing teenage hearts in The Outsiders, the actor starred in the short-lived series A New Kind of Family, which aired between 1979 and 1980. Lowe's early career in the 70s likely helped him build a strong foundation for his success in the 80s.
In conclusion, these 80s movie stars had to start somewhere, and their early careers often involved modeling, smaller roles, or even high school photos. Their early experiences likely helped them build a strong foundation for their success in the 80s and beyond.
