Maddie James
The 1984 coming-of-age comedy Sixteen Candles featured a cast of young actors, with leads Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall both 15 years old at the time of filming. Michael Schoeffling, who played the hunky high school senior Jake Ryan, was 23, while John Cusack, who played one of Jake's geeky friends, was 18. Veteran character actors Edward Andrews and Billie Bird were cast as Sam's grandparents, and Gedde Watanabe played the exchange student Long Duk Dong, a role that would become his big break.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Age of Molly Ringwald (Samantha Baker) during filming | 15 years old |
| Age of Michael Schoeffling (Jake Ryan) during filming | 23 years old |
| Age of Anthony Michael Hall (Ted "The Geek" Farmer) during filming | 15 years old |
| Age of Gedde Watanabe (Long Duk Dong) during filming | 28 years old |
| Age of John Cusack during filming | 18 years old |
| Age of Justin Henry during filming | 7 years old |
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What You'll Learn
Molly Ringwald was 15 when cast as 16-year-old Sam
Molly Ringwald was just 15 years old when she was cast as 16-year-old Sam in Sixteen Candles. The film was released in 1984, marking Ringwald's third big-screen appearance. She was born in 1968, so she would have been 15 during the summer of 1983 when principal photography for the film began.
Sixteen Candles was written and directed by John Hughes, and it was his directorial debut. He began development on the film in 1982 and chose the cast before filming began in July 1983. Hughes was drawn to Ringwald's headshot and wrote the screenplay with it at his desk. He felt that Ringwald, who was the same age as the character, would be perfect for the role of Sam Baker, his protagonist.
The film follows the story of Samantha Baker, a suburban teen whose family forgets about her 16th birthday amidst the chaos of her older sister's wedding. Ringwald's portrayal of the lovesick Samantha was well-received, with critics praising her performance as relatable and real. She went on to collaborate with Hughes on other iconic films, including The Breakfast Club (1985) and Pretty in Pink (1986).
Ringwald's co-star, Anthony Michael Hall, who played "Farmer" Ted, was also 15 years old during the filming of Sixteen Candles. The film also featured a young John Cusack and his sister, Joan Cusack, in small roles as high school nerds.
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Michael Schoeffling was 23 when he played Jake Ryan
Michael Schoeffling, born on December 10, 1960, was 23 when he played Jake Ryan in the 1984 film Sixteen Candles. Schoeffling, who was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and raised in South Jersey, was handpicked by director John Hughes for the role of the hunky high school senior. In the film, Molly Ringwald's character Samantha has a massive crush on Jake, who is already dating the beautiful Caroline, played by Haviland Morris. But, as fate would have it, in the end, Samantha gets her man.
The film marked Schoeffling's screen debut, and he went on to appear in almost a dozen movies, including Let's Get Harry (1986), Slaves of New York (1989), Longtime Companion (1989), Mermaids (1990), and Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken (1991). However, in 1991, after nearly a decade of back-to-back films, Schoeffling disappeared from the acting world and quit acting to start designing and crafting furniture. He now lives a life outside of show business with his wife, fellow former model and actress Valerie C. Robinson, and their two children, daughter Scarlett and son Zane.
Scarlett Schoeffling is currently a model and has appeared in two projects: an episode of Billions (2020) and Blackjack: The Jackie Ryan Story (2020). She has also shared rare photos of her father on her social media pages, including a throwback photo of Schoeffling holding her as a child. Schoeffling's wife has also given a small glimpse into the former actor's life, telling People in 2014 that he is "happy" and "doing fine."
Although Schoeffling left Hollywood, his legacy in Sixteen Candles remains. The film, which earned $23 million at the box office, is a cult favourite and is known for its depiction of high school life. Schoeffling's performance as the popular yet sensitive high school athlete Jake Ryan earned him heartthrob status, and his status as a Sixteen Candles heartthrob will remain for many birthdays to come.
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Anthony Michael Hall was 15 and played Ted, The Geek
Anthony Michael Hall was 15 when he played Ted, The Geek, in Sixteen Candles. The film was released in 1984, and Hall was born in 1968, making him 15 or 16 when the film was released.
Sixteen Candles was Hall's breakout role, and he is widely considered to have stolen the movie with his one-liners. Hall's character, Ted, is a freshman who pursues the protagonist, Sam Baker, played by Molly Ringwald. Hall tried to avoid the clichés of geekiness, saying:
> I didn't play him with 100 pens sticking out of his pocket, I just went in there and played it straight, like a real kid.
Director John Hughes agreed, saying that when Hall auditioned, he:
> played it straight, like a real kid. The geek is just a typical freshman.
Hughes had initially considered several other actors for the role, including Jim Carrey, Jon Cryer, Keith Coogan, and Ralph Macchio. However, he ultimately chose Hall because he felt that he portrayed the character as a real human being rather than a stereotype.
Hall went on to star in several other teen-oriented films in the 1980s, including The Breakfast Club and Weird Science, both of which were also directed by Hughes. He became associated with a group of young actors known as the Brat Pack due to his roles in these films. To avoid being typecast as a geek, Hall diversified his roles, joining the cast of Saturday Night Live and starring in films such as Out of Bounds (1986) and Johnny Be Good (1988).
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John Cusack was 18 and played Bryce
John Cusack, who played Bryce in the 1984 film Sixteen Candles, was 18 years old. This was Cusack's second role as an actor, and he played a high school nerd alongside his sister Joan, who played a geek girl.
Sixteen Candles was John Hughes's directorial debut, and the film is considered one of the best romantic teen comedies in history. It stars Molly Ringwald as the lovesick Samantha Baker and Anthony Michael Hall as "The Geek". The film follows 16-year-old Samantha Baker, who deals with a seemingly unrequited crush on high school senior Jake Ryan, played by Michael Schoeffling, while also being pursued by freshman Ted "The Geek" Farmer, played by Hall.
John Cusack went on to star in several other Hollywood films, including "The Sure Thing", "Stand By Me", "Say Anything", "The Grifters", "Bullets Over Broadway", and "Grosse Pointe Blank", which he also wrote. Cusack also lent his voice to the animated movie "Anastasia" and starred in "Pushing Tin", "Being John Malkovich", and "High Fidelity", which he also wrote.
Sixteen Candles is considered a classic by those who grew up in the 1970s, and it is known for its funny and relatable portrayal of high school life in the 1980s. The film is also notable for its use of props that reflect the era, such as floppy disks, headgears, and leotards.
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Gedde Watanabe was 28 and played Long Duk Dong
Gedde Watanabe, born Gary Watanabe, was 28 when he played the role of Long Duk Dong in the 1984 film Sixteen Candles. Watanabe was born on 26 June 1955 in Ogden, Utah, and is of Japanese-American descent. He is an actor and director, and has had a long career in film, television, and theatre.
Watanabe's character in Sixteen Candles was a Chinese exchange student, and the role has been criticised as a stereotypical and offensive portrayal of Asian Americans. The New York Times criticised the film for its "notably unfunny ethnic jokes", and Roger Ebert described the character as a "potentially offensive stereotype". Despite the controversy, Watanabe did not let the criticism sidetrack him and continued to act. He has since acknowledged his naiveté about the controversial nature of the role, saying that he was "a bit naive" and "just making people laugh".
Watanabe's portrayal of Long Duk Dong included several memorable phrases, such as "What's happenin', hot stuff?" and "Oh, sexy girlfriend". These lines have become part of the American film lexicon. Watanabe's performance in Sixteen Candles led to other similar roles throughout the 1980s. In the 1990s, he appeared in films such as Gremlins 2: The New Batch, Boys on the Side, That Thing You Do!, and Armageddon. He also voiced the character of Ling in Disney's Mulan and its sequel, Mulan II.
In addition to his film work, Watanabe has had a successful career in television. He has made guest appearances on shows such as Murphy Brown, Mad About You, and Seinfeld. He also had a recurring role as Nurse Yosh Takata on the television drama ER from 1997 to 2003. Watanabe has also worked in theatre, originating roles in the Stephen Sondheim musical Pacific Overtures in the 1970s. He has also appeared on Sesame Street from 1988 to 1991, playing the character of Hiroshi.
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Frequently asked questions
Ringwald was 15 years old when she was cast to play the role of Samantha Baker in Sixteen Candles.
Hall was 15 years old when he played the role of Ted "The Geek" Farmer in Sixteen Candles.
Schoeffling was 23 years old when he played the role of Jake Ryan in Sixteen Candles.
