The Sixteen Candles cast is probably the biggest reason why this film has become a cult classic. Even though it aired in 1984, people all over the world are still in love with this coming-of-age comedy. It became molly nearly overnight, and it remains in the hearts of many nostalgic fans to this day.
What many people don’t know is that this film was John Hughes’ first time directing any film. It was such a huge success that he immediately went on to direct many other movies, including The Breakfast Club, Weird Science, and Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.
Of course, you have to owe a large portion of the movie’s success to the amazing cast members. From Molly Ringwald to Michael Schoeffling, each actor gave the movie their all. However, as you can probably guess, they’ve grown up quite a bit since the film first aired. Where are they now? In today’s video, we’re going to look at the lives of the Sixteen Candles cast today. Some went on to pursue acting, while others settled down for a quiet life with their family. Make sure you stick around until the very end of this video, where we’ll reveal which cast member went on to become the youngest actor to receive an Oscar nomination.
Facts Verse Presents: The Sixteen Candles Cast Looks Way Different Today!
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Molly Ringwald
Molly Ringwald was the amazing young actress who played the lead character, Sam Baker. She was only fifteen when she landed the role, but the director of the film, John Hughes, knew she had potential. What many fans don’t know is that the entire script was written with Molly Ringwald in mind, even though she hadn’t been officially cast yet!
John Hughes not only directed the film, but he also wrote the script for it. As he was about to sit down and write the script, he asked his agent for photos of actresses who were auditioning. The stack of photos was enormous, but the moment he saw Ringwald’s face, he knew she would be perfect for the role. Her image gave him enough inspiration to write the entire first draft of the film in just one weekend!
After starring in Sixteen Candles, Molly Ringwald met plenty more success. Just a year later, she casts as Claire Standish in The Breakfast Club, which is another film by John Hughes. She acted in many other films, including Pretty in Pink and Malicious. In 2013, Molly decided to try something new, and she released a Jazz album entitled Except Sometimes. Today, she continues to act in the TV series Riverdale as Mary Andrews.
Michael Schoeffling
While Molly Ringwald is only 15 when she casts to play Sam Baker, the actor who played her love interest, Jake Ryan, was 23 years old! While Michael Schoeffling was ultimately cast to play the senior crush of Sam Baker’s dreams, Viggo Mortenson (most famous for his role as Aragorn in The Lord of the Rings) was almost cast in his place. And it would have been interesting to see Viggo take on the role, most fans agree that Michael Schoeffling’s performance was perfect- even if he was eight years older than the lead actress.
Before his success in Sixteen Candles, Michael Schoeffling was more interested in modeling and wrestling. After being cast in the film, however, he found a passion for acting, and he went on to act in a few more films. He is best known for his roles in Mermaids, Let’s Get Harry, and Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken. After Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken, which premiered in 1991, Michael Schoeffling decided to end his career in acting. He had recently married the love of his life, Valerie Robinson, and he wanted to spend more time with his family. Michael also admitted that he had been discouraged by the dwindling amount of roles he was offered.
Instead, Michael decided to become a carpenter, and he now has two beautiful children named Scarlet and Zane.
Anthony Michael Hall
When working with such young characters, many directors and crew members have difficulty choosing the right actors. However, in the case of Sixteen Candles, it was quite a different story. Not only did John Hughes find it easy to cast Molly Ringwald as the lead character, but he felt similarly about casting Anthony Michael Hall as Ted.
His casting process isn’t the only thing Anthony Michael Hall has in common with Molly Ringwald, however. Both actors also went on to co-star in the 1985 film The Breakfast Club, which became another cult classic.
After The Breakfast Club, Anthony also acted in films such as Edward Scissorhands and Weird Science. Much later on, in 2002, he starred in the TV show The Dead Zone. For a time, he also dabbled in a few other careers, including directing, singing, and producing. However, it seems that acting is his true passion, and even though he is much older now, Anthony Michael Hall continues to appear in films and television shows today.
Gedde Watanabe
Gedde Watanabe played the foreign exchange student Long Duk Dong. However, the role was viewed as extremely offensive by many Asian Americans, who have been forced to watch racist caricatures of themselves appear onscreen for decades. In a later interview, Molly Ringwald agreed that the role was offensive. However, for Gedde Watanabe, the film at least helped him to kick off his acting career. He had appeared in a few movies and one Broadway production before Sixteen Candles, but the movie was immensely popular, and he gained a lot of attention for his appearance in it.
One of his more well-known roles was as the voice of Ling in the 1998 Disney film Mulan. He also appeared in the hit television series ER between 1997 and 2003, where he played a nurse named Yoshi Takata. His career as an actor has been extremely successful, and he has acted in 33 different films. Furthermore, he has appeared in a total of 24 television shows. Gedde Watanabe doesn’t appear to be slowing down, either, as he continues to act today.
Blanche Baker
Blanche Baker played Sam Baker’s vain older sister, Ginny Baker in Sixteen Candles. In the movie, much of the conflict revolves around Ginny causing such a fuss about her wedding that Sam’s entire family forgets about her birthday. In real life, however, Blanche Baker is much more humble. She also went on to become an even more accomplished actress. She has appeared in many different films, including The Girl Next Door, Hypothermia, and Raw Deal.
Perhaps some of her passion for film can be attributed to her parents, Carroll Baker and Jack Garfein, who were an actress and a director, respectively. However, Blanche Baker’s talent is all her own. She won an Emmy for the 1979 miniseries Holocaust, where she played the supporting character, Anna Weiss. She now has four lovely children, but that certainly doesn’t stop her from pursuing her passion. Today, Blanche continues to appear in films, although most of her attention is focused on Broadway musicals.
Paul Dooley
Paul Dooley played Sam Baker’s father, Jim Baker. Before his appearance in Sixteen Candles, Paul Dooley was already an accomplished actor who had appeared in many different films, including Popeye, Breaking Away, and Strange Brew. After Sixteen Candles, he continued to act in films like A Dangerous Woman, Angels in the Endzone, and Turbo.
Paul Dooley hasn’t just confined himself to acting, however. He first started his career as a clown who appeared at children’s birthday parties, but he’s come a long way since then. He has since worked as a comedian, and he has also co-written a few popular films. Today, Paul has four children, including Savannah Dooley, who went on to become a screenwriter and producer for television.
Carlin Glynn
Carlin Glynn played the role of Sam Baker’s mother, Brenda Baker. Before her appearance in Sixteen Candles, Carlin won a Tony Award for playing the character Mona Stangley in the Broadway production The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas. Her first appearance in film was as Mae Barber in the 1975 film Three Days of the Condor.
After Sixteen Candles, Carlin continued to act in several films, including Continental Divide, The Escape Artist, and Whiskey School. While she eventually retired from acting in 2006, one of her three children, Mary Stuart Masterson, took up the acting tradition in place of her talented mother. Mary Stuart Masterson has an impressive talent of her own, and she has starred in films such as Fried Green Tomatoes, Benny & Joon, and Some Kind of Wonderful.
Carole Cook
In the film Sixteen Candles, all four of Sam Baker’s grandparents stay the night at her house the night before her sister’s wedding. However, out of the four actors who played her grandparents, only Carole Cook survives today. Carole Cook played Grandma Helen in the film, and while she was already 60 at the time the film was made, it didn’t stop her from continuing to act.
Carole Cook has since appeared in the films Lost & Found and Home on the Range, and she has also acted in many different television series and plays. Today, she is happily married to fellow actor Tom Troupe.
Justin Henry
Justin Henry played Sam Baker’s brother, Mike Baker. While all of the people on this list were very accomplished actors, Justin Henry takes the cake when it comes to talent. He is the youngest actor in the history of the Oscars to receive a nomination, which he earned after his incredible performance in the 1979 film Kramer vs. Kramer. After Sixteen Candles, he acted in films and television series such as ER, Lost, and The Junior Defenders. He still appears in film today, although he’s slowed down a bit since he was younger.
The cult classic Sixteen Candles is still popular today for its amazingly talented cast. Were you more surprised by the cast members who continue to act today, or by the cast members who retired from acting? Let us know in the comments below! Before you go, don’t forget to subscribe to Facts Verse for more videos!
