'Sixteen Candles' Turns 30: Where the Stars Are Now
What became of the stars who played Sam Baker, Long Duk Dong and Jake Ryan?
May 2, 2014 -- intro: In "Sixteen Candles," Molly Ringwald's character, Samantha Baker, is shocked when drama surrounding her sister's wedding causes her family to forget her sixteenth birthday. Well, happy birthday Sam: You just turned 46. "Sixteen Candles," starring Ringwald, Michael Schoeffling as her love interest, Jake Ryan, and Anthony Michael Hall as a twerp-y freshman with a big crush, premiered nearly 30 years ago, on May 4, 1984. Find out what happened to the film's stars.
quicklist: 1title: Molly Ringwald as Birthday Girl Samantha Bakertext: In 1984, Molly Ringwald appeared in her first John Hughes-directed movie; She'd later appear in "The Breakfast Club" and "Pretty In Pink" too. "John saw something in me that I didn't even see in myself. He had complete confidence in me as an actor, which was an extraordinary and heady sensation for anyone, let alone a 16-year-old girl," she wrote in a New York Times op-ed about the director, who died unexpectedly in 2009. Until last year, Ringwald, the author of two books, starred on the ABC Family drama "The Secret Life of the American Teenager." She is married with 4-year-old twins, Adele and Roman. media: 23479257
quicklist: 2title: Michael Schoeffling as Love Interest Jake Ryantext: In 1984, the name "Michael Schoeffling" (or rather, "Jake Ryan") was synonymous with "heartthrob." (Isn't it still?) After appearing in "Sixteen Candles," one of his first film roles, Schoeffling went on to appear in several other movies before leaving Hollywood for good in the early '90s. Since then, he's stayed out of the public eye, so much so that it's nearly impossible to find recent photos or interviews with the former actor. The Washington Post once reported that his last interview took place in 1991, and at that point, Schoeffling, a carpenter near Wilkes-Barre, Pa., was married with two children.media: 23503461
quicklist: 3title: Anthony Michael Hall as Ted the Geektext: If Ringwald was teen queen of the '80s, Anthony Michael Hall was reigning king geek. After appearances in other Hughes films "The Breakfast Club" and "Weird Science," Hall became beloved (and to some extent, typecast) as the lovable underdog. Steady work followed, including a part in "Edward Scissorhands" and the Emmy-nominated TV movie, "Pirates of Silicon Valley." In 2002, his biggest TV role to date came along: Johnny Smith in "Stephen King's Dead Zone."media: 23478928
quicklist: 4 title: Paul Dooley as Dad Jim Bakertext: A prolific actor, Paul Dooley, who played the patriarch of the Baker family, delivered one of the most crushing lines in the film, telling a heartbroken Sam, "That's why they call them crushes. If they were easy, they'd call 'em something else." (He had experience playing a father: Dooley, who now has four children of his own, also played a dad in the film, "Breaking Away.") After "Sixteen Candles," he went on to act in films (Dooley voiced Sarge in the "Cars" franchise) and TV shows, including "Dream On," "Curb Your Enthusiasm," and most recently, "Parenthood." He also co-wrote a play with his wife, Winnie Holtzman, which premiered last year.media: 23479054
quicklist: 5title: Carlin Glynn as Mom Brenda Bakertext: Carlin Glynn, who won a Tony Award for her turn in "The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas," acted throughout the '90s, but hasn't appeared on TV or in a film since a 2006 episode of "Law & Order: Criminal Intent." Glynn and her husband, actor Peter Masterson (yes, their daughter is actress Mary Stuart Masterson), sold their Manhattan home in 2007 to live upstate and in Mexico, according to one report.media: 23479384
quicklist: 6title: Blanche Baker as Sister Ginny Bakertext: Beloved for playing Samantha's betrothed sister who takes a muscle relaxant on her big day, Blanche Baker, who started her career on Broadway, appeared in several TV shows throughout the '90s, including "Law & Order," "In the Heat of the Night," and "Clarissa Explains It All." Baker, who won an Emmy in 1978, has most recently acted in small films.media: 23479306
quicklist: 7title: Justin Henry as Brother Mike Baker text: Justin Henry, who launched his career with an Oscar-nominated performance in the 1979 film "Kramer vs. Kramer," appeared as a typical preteen/teenager in not just "Sixteen Candles," but also, "Sweet Hearts Dance." After taking a break to attend Skidmore College, he appeared in a few episodes "ER," as well as one episode of "Brothers & Sisters." media: 23479152
quicklist: 8title: Gedde Watanabe as Long Duk Dongtext: One of the film's most memorable stars, Gedde Watanabe's performance as foreign exchange student Long Duk Dong helped launch his career. It also drew a lot of criticism, as Dong spoke with a heavy accent and many people decried it as offensive. "I was accosted a couple of times by a couple of women who were just really irate and angry," he told NPR in 2008. "They asked, 'How could you do a role like that?' But it's funny, too, because at the same time I laugh at the character. It's an odd animal." He went on to play Hiroshi on "Sesame Street" and nurse Yoshi Takata on "ER," before taking on smaller film roles. media: 23478821
quicklist: 9title: Carole Cook as Grandma Helentext: Of the four actors who played grandparents in "Sixteen Candles," only Cook, who famously fondled Sam in one of the film's early scenes, is still living. In the late mid to late '80s, Cook, who was close friends with Lucille Ball, appeared in "Dynasty" and "Cagney & Lacey," and later, "Grey's Anatomy." She is still married to actor Tom Troupe, whom she wed in 1964.media: 23551227
