Chloe Adams
In the 1984 coming-of-age comedy Sixteen Candles, Anthony Michael Hall played Ted Farmer, a geek with a crush on the film's protagonist, Samantha Baker, played by Molly Ringwald. Hall's character is a freshman at Baker's high school, and his friends include John Cusack's character, who is also a nerdy high school student. Hall's performance in Sixteen Candles was well-received, and the film is considered to be one of his breakout roles.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name | Anthony Michael Hall |
| Date of Birth | 14 April 1968 |
| Occupation | Actor, producer, comedian |
| Sixteen Candles Character | Ted "The Geek" Farmer |
| Age When Playing the Character | 15 |
| Other Notable Works | The Breakfast Club, Weird Science, Edward Scissorhands, The Dark Knight, The Dead Zone, Reacher, Halloween Kills |
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What You'll Learn
Anthony Michael Hall played Ted, a geek with a crush on Sam
In the 1984 coming-of-age comedy film Sixteen Candles, Anthony Michael Hall played Ted Farmer, a geek with a crush on the main character, Sam Baker, played by Molly Ringwald. Hall's character is a freshman who pursues Ringwald's character, a high school sophomore. The film was written and directed by John Hughes and was the first in a string of films by Hughes that centred on teenage life.
Sixteen Candles was Hall's breakout role, and he became known for playing "geek" characters in the 1980s. He was only 15 when he played Ted, and his performance was well-received by critics. Film critic Janet Maslin praised Hall, stating that the 16-year-old actor and Ringwald were "the movie's standout performers". A review in People claimed that Hall's performance "pilfered the film" from Ringwald.
In an interview, Hall mentioned that he tried to avoid the clichés of geekiness in his portrayal of Ted. He said, "I didn't play him with 100 pens sticking out of his pocket. I just went in there and played it like a real kid. The geek is just a typical freshman." Director Hughes also commented on Hall's audition, saying, "Every single kid who came in to read for the part... did the whole, stereotyped high school nerd thing. But when Michael came in, he played it straight, like a real human being. I knew right at that moment that I'd found my geek."
In addition to Hall and Ringwald, the film also starred Michael Schoeffling as Jake Ryan, the object of Sam's affection, and Haviland Morris as Caroline Mulford, Jake's girlfriend. The film has become a classic for those who grew up in the 1970s and 1980s, and it is known for its hilarious performances and relatable characters.
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John and Joan Cusack played geeky friends of Ted
John Cusack played Bryce, a nerdy high school student and one of Ted's friends. Joan Cusack also had a brief appearance in the film, playing a girl with a neck brace, referred to as "Geek Girl #1" in the credits.
The film marked the first in a series of films by Hughes that focused on teenage life and is considered one of his best works. It helped launch the careers of Ringwald, Schoeffling, and Hall, who played some of the lead characters. Hall, in particular, received praise for his portrayal of "The Geek," with Hughes noting that he played the role "like a real human being" rather than a stereotypical nerd.
Sixteen Candles also starred other notable actors such as Michael Schoeffling as Jake Ryan, Haviland Morris as Caroline, and Paul Dooley as Samantha's father. It has since become a classic 80s teen comedy, with a dedicated fan base who appreciate its original storyline, humour, and relatable characters.
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Hall was 15 when he played Ted
In the 1984 comedy film Sixteen Candles, Anthony Michael Hall played Ted, a geek with a crush on the main character, Samantha Baker. Hall was only 15 when he played the role of Ted, making him the same age as his co-star Molly Ringwald, who played Samantha.
Sixteen Candles was Hall's breakout role, and it made him an overnight star. He portrayed a typical freshman who pursued Ringwald's character, avoiding the clichés of geekiness. In an interview, Hall said, "I didn't play him with 100 pens sticking out of his pocket. I just went in there and played it like a real kid." This approach was well-received by critics, with film critic Janet Maslin praising Hall and Ringwald as "the movie's standout performers."
Director John Hughes also noticed Hall's unique take on the character during his audition. Hughes said, "Every single kid who came in to read for the part... did the whole, stereotyped high school nerd thing. But when Michael came in, he played it straight, like a real human being. I knew right at that moment that I'd found my geek."
Following his success in Sixteen Candles, Hall went on to star in several other teen-oriented films in the mid-1980s, including The Breakfast Club and Weird Science, both written and directed by Hughes. He diversified his roles to avoid being typecast as the geek persona and joined the cast of Saturday Night Live from 1985 to 1986, becoming the youngest cast member in the show's history.
In the years since his breakout role, Hall has continued to act, taking on a variety of roles in films such as Edward Scissorhands, Six Degrees of Separation, The Dark Knight, and more. He has also appeared in television shows, including guest roles on Entourage, Community, and Reacher.
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Hall tried to avoid the clichés of geekiness
In 1984, Anthony Michael Hall landed his breakout role in John Hughes' directorial debut Sixteen Candles. Hall played Farmer Ted, a scrawny, braces-wearing geek who pursues Molly Ringwald's character. Despite achieving only moderate success at the box office, the film made overnight stars of Ringwald and Hall.
Hall's performance received positive reviews, with People Weekly claiming that he "pilfered the film" from Ringwald. His role in Sixteen Candles established him as a lovable geek, and he went on to play similar roles in two other teen classics written and directed by Hughes: The Breakfast Club and Weird Science, both released in 1985.
To avoid being typecast, Hall diversified his roles. He joined the cast of Saturday Night Live from 1985 to 1986, becoming the youngest cast member in the show's history. He also starred in films such as Out of Bounds (1986), Johnny Be Good (1988), and Edward Scissorhands (1990). In these roles, Hall explored different genres and characters, demonstrating his range as an actor and avoiding the clichés often associated with geekiness.
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Hall was charged with felony assault in 2016
In the 1984 comedy film Sixteen Candles, Anthony Michael Hall played Ted "The Geek" Farmer, a freshman with a crush on the protagonist, Samantha Baker, played by Molly Ringwald. Hall's character is friends with Bryce, played by John Cusack.
On November 17, 2016, Hall was charged with felony assault with serious bodily injury following an altercation with his neighbour on September 13, 2016. The incident took place at his condominium complex in Playa del Rey, Los Angeles, where he lived at the time. According to court records, Hall shoved his neighbour to the ground during an argument, causing a broken wrist and a back injury. The incident was reportedly captured on videotape.
In September 2017, Hall pleaded no contest to a lesser charge of misdemeanor assault with force likely to produce great bodily harm. He was found guilty and sentenced to three years of probation and 40 hours of community service. Hall faced up to seven years in prison if convicted of the original felony charge.
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Frequently asked questions
Anthony Michael Hall played Ted, also known as "The Geek" or "Farmer Ted".
Anthony Michael Hall's character, Ted, was friends with Bryce, played by John Cusack.
Yes, Ted had a crush on Samantha Baker, played by Molly Ringwald.
Yes, Anthony Michael Hall and Molly Ringwald dated for a short period after filming The Breakfast Club in 1985.
Anthony Michael Hall went on to star in several films after Sixteen Candles, including Weird Science (1985), Edward Scissorhands (1990), and Six Degrees of Separation (1993).
