Where Are The Stars Of Sixteen Candles Now?

The 1984 film Sixteen Candles helped launch the careers of several actors, including Molly Ringwald, Michael Schoeffling, and Anthony Michael Hall. Schoeffling quit acting in the early '90s and now lives a quiet life in Pennsylvania with his family, while Ringwald and Hall continued to act and appear in upcoming films. Other cast members, like John Cusack, Edward Andrews, Billie Bird, and Gedde Watanabe, have also had varied careers, with some passing away years after the film's release.

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Michael Schoeffling quit acting in the '90s and now lives a quiet life in Pennsylvania

Michael Schoeffling quit acting in the early 1990s, with his last acting job in 1991. He has since lived a quiet life with his family in his hometown of Newfoundland, Pennsylvania, where he runs a woodworking business.

Schoeffling's quiet life today is a far cry from his days as a Hollywood heartthrob in the 1980s. His role as Jake Ryan in the 1984 film Sixteen Candles catapulted him to fame, and he became the centre of one of the '80s most iconic movie love triangles. Schoeffling followed up Sixteen Candles by playing against type as a high school wrestler in Vision Quest. He also appeared in "Sylvester", "Let's Get Harry", "Belizaire the Cajun", "Longtime Companion", "Slaves of New York", "Mermaids", and "Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken".

However, Schoeffling walked away from Hollywood completely in the '90s. He told the Los Angeles Times in 1990, "Actors spend most of their time out of work, so I actually spend more time making furniture. The thing about furniture that's much better than acting is that it's just me. There's no director, no script – the concept is me unless a client wants something."

He has since opened a woodworking shop in Pennsylvania, where he offers handcrafted furniture. Schoeffling has never given interviews since retiring from acting, with his wife telling People in 2014 that he simply values his privacy. His Sixteen Candles costar Anthony Michael Hall told Entertainment Tonight in May 2025 that he respected Schoeffling's decision to live a quiet life with his family.

Schoeffling married model and actress Valerie Robinson in 1987, and the couple has two children: a son, Zane, and a daughter, model and actress Scarlett Schoeffling.

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Molly Ringwald hand-picked her Sixteen Candles wardrobe, inspired by ska music

Molly Ringwald is considered the "heart and soul" of Sixteen Candles, and her performance in the film helped launch her career. In the film, Ringwald played a girl navigating the ups and downs of high school as she approaches her 16th birthday, which her family forgets. The film was only her third big-screen appearance, and it made her a household name.

Ringwald's Sixteen Candles wardrobe has been described as "iconic". In an interview with The Denver Post, Ringwald revealed that her wardrobe was inspired by her interest in ska music. She hand-picked her outfits, including the hat, layered tops, and dresses, by going to stores on Melrose with the costume designer and trying on outfits that she liked. Ringwald's fashion choices in the film have been praised, and she has been described as an '80s style icon.

Ringwald's approach to her wardrobe in Sixteen Candles was consistent with her views on style more generally. In a 2009 interview with WWD, she said, "Style is very individual... You can't just look in a magazine and say, 'Oh, wow, that looks great on that person, therefore it will look great on me.' I think no matter what, you have to feel comfortable. That's how I always judge something."

Ringwald's involvement in selecting her wardrobe for Sixteen Candles was not an isolated incident in her career. In an interview with Who What Wear, she noted that she and the costume designer for Pretty in Pink went shopping together so that she could get a feel for what she would gravitate towards. She also shared that she picked out everything she wore in The Breakfast Club.

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Anthony Michael Hall was a Sixteen Candles actor who played The Geek

Anthony Michael Hall is an American actor, producer, and comedian. Born Michael Anthony Thomas Charles Hall on April 14, 1968, he made his film debut in the 1982 film Six Pack. Hall had a supporting role in National Lampoon's Vacation in 1983. However, it was his starring role in Sixteen Candles that made him an overnight star.

In Sixteen Candles, Hall played Ted Farmer, also known as "The Geek." The film was directed by John Hughes and marked his directorial debut. It was released in 1984 and is considered one of Hughes's best films. Hall's portrayal of "The Geek" was well-received, with a review in People claiming that his performance "pilfered the film" from his co-star Molly Ringwald. Hall and Ringwald won Young Artist Awards for their roles in the film, with Hall receiving the Best Young Actor in a Motion Picture award.

Following his success in Sixteen Candles, Hall diversified his roles to avoid being typecast as the geek persona. He joined the cast of Saturday Night Live in 1985 and starred in films such as Out of Bounds (1986) and Johnny Be Good (1988). In 1990, he appeared in the film Edward Scissorhands. By the 1990s, Hall had transitioned to more mature roles, appearing in low-budget films such as A Gnome Named Gnorm (1990) and Into the Sun (1992). He also took on minor roles in various films during this decade.

In 1997, Hall starred as "Shorty" Lattimore in the USA Network sitcom Claude's Crib. He also played Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates in the television film Pirates of Silicon Valley in 1999. Hall began his first regular series role in 2002, starring as Johnny Smith in the USA Network's supernatural drama The Dead Zone, adapted from Stephen King's best-selling novel. The show received strong reviews, and Hall's performance was highly praised.

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Gedde Watanabe's character Long Duk Dong is now considered a racist stereotype

Gedde Watanabe's character Long Duk Dong in the 1984 film Sixteen Candles is now considered a racist stereotype. The character, a Chinese foreign exchange student, has been called an offensive caricature of Asian people. Long makes his first entrance in the film hanging upside down from a top bunk, waggling his eyebrows at the female protagonist and trying out his conversational English with the infamous line, "What's happenin', hot stuff?". He is mystified by American food and confronted with a fork and spoon, uses them like chopsticks. Long Duk Dong's hair is parted down the middle, an "uncool" style from the '80s, and he calls himself "The Donger".

Even at the time of the film's release, the character was considered controversial, with The New York Times critic Janet Maslin criticizing the film for indulging in "notably unfunny ethnic jokes" and Roger Ebert describing the character as a "potentially offensive stereotype". However, Ebert also stated that Watanabe "elevates his role from a potentially offensive stereotype to high comedy". In a 2008 NPR segment, Alison MacAdam examined the character, noting that while he drew laughs, he also drew criticism for being a racist caricature.

The character has been condemned by Asian-American groups and is considered by some to be one of Hollywood's most offensive Asian stereotypes. Martin Wong and Eric Nakamura, co-founders of Giant Robot magazine, highlighted how "The Donger" became a common source of ridicule for Asian-American students in the 1980s. Actress Molly Ringwald, who starred in Sixteen Candles, wrote in 2018 that the film "features one of the most offensive Asian stereotypes ever".

Watanabe himself has reflected on the portrayal, acknowledging some problematic elements of the character but also emphasizing the role's impact in sparking conversations about Asian representation in media. He has recognized the popularity of his character and created voice mail messages in the voice of Long Duk Dong to auction off for charity.

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Paul Dooley played Sam's dad, and turned down the role initially due to limited screen time

Paul Dooley, born Paul Brown, is an American character actor known for his roles in Breaking Away, Popeye, and Strange Brew, among others. He played Sam's dad in Sixteen Candles, a 1984 coming-of-age comedy film. The film revolves around Samantha "Sam" Baker, a high school sophomore in suburban Chicago, who is hopeful that her 16th birthday will mark the start of a great new year but is shocked when her family forgets her birthday.

Dooley's role in Sixteen Candles is one of the many memorable parts he has played. He is known for his versatility and has appeared in various films and television shows, showcasing his range as a prolific journeyman character actor. Dooley initially turned down the role of Sam's dad in Sixteen Candles due to limited screen time. However, he eventually accepted the part, and his performance added depth to the film.

Sixteen Candles was written and directed by John Hughes, who was inspired by Molly Ringwald's appearance and wrote the film over a weekend with her in mind for the lead role. The film was shot primarily in the Chicago North Shore suburbs of Evanston, Skokie, and Highland Park during the summer of 1983. It was released theatrically in the United States on May 4, 1984, and received positive reviews, with critics particularly praising Ringwald's performance.

Dooley's career has spanned various genres, including comedy, drama, and voice acting. He has worked with renowned directors such as Robert Altman and Christopher Guest, contributing not only as an actor but also as a co-writer in the film "Health." Dooley has also lent his voice to animated films, playing the character of Sarge in the Disney/Pixar Cars franchise. In addition to his acting career, Dooley is a talented writer and has created and written for television shows, including "The Electric Company."

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