The 1980s were a golden era for teen idols and sitcom stars, but it wasn't always smooth sailing for these future A-listers. Many of the stars we know and love today had to work their way up from humble beginnings, often starting with smaller roles or even modeling careers. Here's a look at some of the iconic '80s movie stars before they were famous, and how they made their mark on Hollywood.
Demi Moore
Before Demi Moore became a Brat Pack icon, she was just a regular 15-year-old in Los Angeles. Moore even took part in a photo shoot documenting the typical life of an LA teen while studying at Fairfax High School. This early experience likely helped her land her breakthrough role in Ghost in 1990, which earned her an Oscar nomination.
Phoebe Cates
Phoebe Cates was a beloved icon of the '80s, but before that, she was a model. Cates attended performing arts schools like Juilliard and the Professional Children's School, but a knee injury forced her to end her dancing dreams. She began taking modeling more seriously but decided to move into acting, landing her debut role in 1982 with Paradise. Her breakthrough came with roles in '80s hits like Gremlins and Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
Michael J. Fox
Michael J. Fox is now known and beloved as the time-traveling adventurer Marty McFly, but before that, he had a few smaller roles to his name. Four years before the Back to the Future role that would define his career, Fox worked on two seasons of Palmerstown, U.S.A. between 1980 and 1981 as the character Willy-Joe Hall. His rise to fame was steady, but his talent was undeniable.
Kristy McNichol
Kristy McNichol got her start onscreen in the '70s with appearances on rom-com series Love, American Style and family drama Run, Joe, Run, working up to a 16-episode run on Apple's Way. Her most-loved roles came later on in the '70s and into the following decade, including the film Little Darlings and shows like Family and Empty Nest. Her fame was built with smaller appearances, but her talent was clear.
Molly Ringwald
Brat Pack superstar Molly Ringwald defined '80s adolescence with roles in The Breakfast Club, Pretty in Pink, and Sixteen Candles. The actress started on-screen with Diff'rent Strokes and its spinoff, The Facts of Life, in 1979 and 1980. Stardom soon followed in the mid-'80s with the release of Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club in 1984 and 1985, respectively. Her rise to fame was swift, but her talent was evident from the start.
Ralph Macchio
We all learned to wax on, wax off under the guidance of Mr. Miyagi alongside Ralph Macchio in '80s classic The Karate Kid (1984) and witnessed the chaos of graduate life in The Outsiders (1983). Prior to landing those major movie roles, Macchio's career started at the beginning of the decade with a role in the comedy Up the Academy (1980) and on the series Eight is Enough (1980-81). His journey to stardom was a testament to hard work and dedication.
Daryl Hannah
Daryl Hannah reached mainstream fame with her role in the Ridley Scott classic Blade Runner (1982), following it up with features like Splash, Wall Street, and Steel Magnolias. Before her big break in the early '80s, Hannah had a small role in body horror The Fury (1978), her first role on-screen and her only credit of the '70s. Her rise to fame was steady, but her talent was clear.
Rob Lowe
Just a few years before Rob Lowe was stealing teenage hearts in The Outsiders, the actor starred in the short-lived series A New Kind of Family, which aired between 1979 and 1980. Lowe reached '80s fame with The Outsiders in 1983 and in 1985 with other Brat Pack members in St. Elmo's Fire. His journey to stardom was a testament to his talent and hard work.
