John Hughes’ teens: Where are they now?
Hughes filmography: “Some Kind of Wonderful”
Update: Two years after appearing in “Some Kind of Wonderful,” Lea Thompson married the film’s director, Hughes protege
Hughes filmography: “Some Kind of Wonderful”
Update: Mary Stuart Masterson’s taste for unconventional romantic stories continued with 1989’s “Chances Are” in which her character fell in love with her reincarnated father, played by
As for work behind the camera, Masterson started a production company, Barn Door Films, and directed her first feature film, "The Cake Eaters.” She gave birth to her first son with husband Jeremy Davidson in 2009 and had twins in 2011. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times)
Hughes filmography: “Sixteen Candles,” “The Breakfast Club,” “Pretty in Pink”
Update: Her era as Hughes’ young protegee ended acrimoniously in the late ‘80s when Molly Ringwald turned down the lead role in Hughes’ production of “Some Kind of Wonderful.” In the ‘90s, she lived and worked in France for several years and made the transition to stage work. She appeared in “When Harry Met Sally” in London, the Broadway revival of “Cabaret” and the nationally touring production of “Sweet Charity.” She currently stars on the ABC Family series “The Secret Life of the American Teenager” and gave birth to twins in July 2009.
In 2010, she became an author with the publication of her first book, “Getting the Pretty Back.” Her second book, “When It Happens to You: A Novel in Stories,” will be out in August 2012. (Glenn Koenig / Los Angeles Times)
Hughes filmography: “The Breakfast Club”
Update: After a successful run in high-profile studio movies throughout the 1980s, which included “Short Circuit” and “Maid to Order,” Ally Sheedy took the indie film route for the well-received “High Art” (1998). She has appeared onstage, including being the first female to play Hedwig in the off-Broadway production of “Hedwig and the Angry Inch” (a move that didn’t go over well with critics), and most recently has been seen on three season finales of the USA series “Psych.” (Peter Kramer / Associated Press)
Hughes filmography: “Sixteen Candles,” “Weird Science,” “The Breakfast Club”
Update: The onetime skinny geek quickly grew tired of being typecast, so Anthony Michael Hall spent the latter part of the ‘80s working out and re-emerged buffed up and ready to bully in Tim Burton’s 1990 fantasy “Edward Scissorhands.” He’s gone on to appear in several TV movies and recently completed six seasons on USA’s series “The Dead Zone.” He most recently appeared as a villain in the third season of Syfy’s “Warehouse 13.” (George Frey / EPA)
Hughes filmography: "Ferris Bueller's Day Off"
Update: Post-Bueller, Alan Ruck had a recurring role on Mad About You and was one of the stars of Spin City. He also had a supporting role in the 1994 action hit “Speed” and appeared in director David Koepp’s fantasy comedy “Ghost Town” with Greg Kinnear, Ricky Gervais and Tea Leoni. He most joined the cast of the ABC Family series “Bunheads.” He’s married to Mireille Enos, star of “The Killing” and they have one daughter. He also has two children from a previous marriage. (Alberto E. Rodriguez / Getty Images)
Hughes filmography: "Sixteen Candles"
Update: The guy who played Long Duk Dong has had a full career in showbiz since he fell out of a tree rip-roaring drunk in "Sixteen Candles." Gedde Watanabe played a gay nurse on "ER" in 1997-2003, did some work on "Sesame Street" and has voiced several Japanese characters on "The Simpsons" even though he doesn't speak Japanese himself. He also appears onstage, including the Los Angeles theatrical production of “A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum” in 2001. (Wally Skalij / Los Angeles Times)