The 1970s and ‘80s were two defining decades for superstardom – fans were both frenzied and fiercely devoted, building cult followings around their favourite celebrities and turning them into cultural phenomena. From the former sitcom star whose musical career rivalled that of The Beatles and Elvis, to members of the notorious Brat Pack who redefined celebrity culture, countless teen heartthrobs captivated audiences and became global sensations during the era.
We’re taking a look at a few of the biggest teen heartthrobs of the two decades, unpacking their hysteria-causing heydays, and taking a look at what they’re getting up to today…
Split image of Barry Williams. Pictured on the left for a portrait during his time on ‘the Brady Buch’. On the riht, seen in 2022 at the Primetime Emmy awards.
Barry Williams starred as crush-worthy eldest son Greg on ‘The Brady Bunch’
Barry Williams
The Brady Bunch was the definitive family sitcom of the Seventies, and it was the eldest son who stole plenty of teen viewers hearts as dependable Greg Brady.
As well as reprising his Brady Bunch role several times, Barry Williams has worked on 2018 fantasy film Flea and Lifetime comedy Blending Christmas. He has been married three times, wedding now-wife
Tina Mahina in 2017, and is a father to two children.
Split image of Jon Cryer. On the left, at the premiere of ‘Top Gun’ in 1986. On the right, at the premiere of ‘In Mememoriam’ in 2026.
Jon Cryer starred as Molly Ringwald’s lovable best friend who harbours an unrequited love
Jon Cryer
Jon Cryer starred as Duckie Dale in Pretty in Pink, playin the best-friend of Molly Ringwald’s Andie who tries to conceal his love for her. Eccentric and full of energy, Duckie Dale is the complete opposite of Brat Pack star Andrew McCarthy’s cool guy Blane.
It’s 40 years since the John Hughes classic had audiences falling for Jon as the quirky best friend, and he’s not been sitting idle. The actor has worked with fellow ’80s star Charlie Sheen on Two and a Half Men and starred in sitcom Extended Family. He married for the second time in 2007, wedding
Lisa Joyner, and is a father to two children.
Split image of John Cusack. On the left, a black and white headshot from 1985. On the right, a colour photograph in 2017.
John Cusack has pivoted towards smaller roles in recent years
John Cusack
If you’ve ever dreamed of your high school crush holding a boombox over his head outside your window, it’s John Cusack you should thank. The Say Anything star also appeared in Sixteen Candles and Better Off Dead, guaranteeing himself a place in the ’80s cinema history books.
Into the ’90s and ’00s, John was still worthy of heartthrob status with star roles in Serendipity and a voice over gig as Dimitri in the 20th Century Fox animated classic Anastasia. The actor has since pivoted away from mainstream cinema and regularly shares updates on his political activism work via his Instagram.
Split image of Eric Stoltz. On the left shown in 1984. On the right, seen in 2018.
Eric Stoltz starred in ‘Some Kind of Wonderful’ as the centre of an iconic ’80s love triangle
Eric Stoltz
Eric Stoltz starred as Keith Nelson in iconic ’80s rom-com Some Kind of Wonderful, working alongside Lea Thompson and Mary Stuart Masterson. Just like Watts, ’80s teen audiences realised there was a lot to love about Eric.
The actor went on to appear in Tarantino favourite Pulp Fiction, thriller TheButterfly Effect and cosy ’90s book adaptation Little Women. More recently, Eric has worked on CBS drama Madam Secretary and 2026 drama Original Sound. He’s been married to Bernadette Moley since 2005 and the couple share one child, daughter Catalina.
David Cassidy
David shared some candid reflections on his unprecedented fame
David Cassidy
With a fan frenzy dubbed “Cassidymania” that rivalled The Beatles, David Cassidy was the definitive teen heartthrob of the ‘70s thanks to his breakout role as the shaggy-haired Keith in The Partridge Family (1970–74). The star later embarked on a solo career, bringing us hits like “Cherish” and “Could It Be Forever”, causing mass hysteria wherever he went.
After continuing to act into the millennium, and releasing his final studio album A Touch of Blue in 2003, the hitmaker passed away in 2017 from liver failure. “They called me everything, they called me an icon…but I was just an actor and a singer and songwriter,” David told The Yorkshire Post in 2012. “I’ve lived an insane life in a lot of ways, but I’ve been lucky to have the opportunity to do what I’ve been able to do.”
Shaun Cassidy
The ’70s idol is currently embarking on an all-new concert tour
Shaun Cassidy
Being a teen heartthrob clearly ran in the family, as David’s younger half-brother Shaun Cassidy also shot to superstardom after his role in The Hardy Boys (1977–1979). While Shaun was also an acclaimed musician, even receiving a Grammy nomination in 1978, he eventually decided the idol life wasn’t for him, becoming a successful TV producer and screenwriter for shows like American Gothic (1995–96).
Shaun is currently still a big name in the TV industry, recently working on the show New Amsterdam (2018–2023), and is currently embarking on his first concert tour in decades – fans can expect the show to resemble a “live memoir”, according to the hitmaker himself.
Leif Garrett
Leif spoke about his idol status in his groundbreaking 2019 memoir
Leif Garrett
Already a child star thanks to shows like Family Affair (1966-1971), Leif Garrett quickly rose to teen heartthrob status with his popular role in Three for the Road (1975), becoming a poster-boy staple in teen magazines. Known for his charming, boy-next-door looks – fans may remember him from the The Outsiders (1983) – Leif also dabbled in music, cracking the charts with his show-stopping hit “I Was Made for Dancin’” (1978).
The former teen idol experienced a series of legal troubles, but has continued to appear sporadically on-screen; he released his memoir Idol Truth in 2019, which he described as “memoir of me at that time”. “I think that I was more out of control than I thought I was,” Leif confessed to Glide Magazine, adding that he’d now “like to be somebody who is able to offer up positiveness to a cynical world.”
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Rob Lowe
Rob is currently hosting the popular game show The Floor
Rob Lowe
A standout member of Hollywood’s Brat Pack, Rob Lowe first captured attention with The Outsiders (1983), appearing alongside the aforementioned Leif Garrett and future acting royalty like Matt Dillon and Ralph Macchio. Rob cemented his teen heartthrob status in Joel Schumacher’s coming-of-age drama St. Elmo’s Fire (1985) alongside Demi Moore – and quickly began dominating Tiger Beat covers.
From hit roles as Chris Traeger in Parks and Recreation (2009–2015) to Captain Owen Strand in the popular 9-1-1 spin-off series 9-1-1: Lone Star (2020–), Rob is still a familiar Hollywood presence today. The star is currently hosting the fan-favourite game show The Floor (2024–), and has also hinted at a Brat Pack reunion and St. Elmo’s Fire sequel – don’t leave us hanging!
Matt Dillon
Matt will play Sylvester Stallone’s father in an upcoming film
Matt Dillon
Certainly not the last Brat Pack star deserving of a place on this list (though we’d had to be selective for space), Matt Dillon had his breakout role as edgy teen Richie in Over the Edge (1979), a brooding persona he continued to hone in The Outsiders (1983). Fans loved his rebellious roles, and Matt continued his acting journey to critical acclaim, particularly in the 1989 film Drugstore Cowboy.
Matt has remained a steadfast Hollywood presence, recently portraying legendary film star Marlon Brando in the Maria Schneider biopic Being Maria (2024). He’s also set to step into the shoes of Frank Stallone Sr., Sylvestor Stallone’s father, in the upcoming flick I Play Rocky, which will explore the turbulent production of 1976’s Rocky.
John Travolta
The beloved actor reflected on his teen idol status at the beginning of his career
John Travolta
While John Travolta first reached teen heartthrob status for his role as the endearing Vinnie Barbarino in Welcome Back, Kotter (1975–1979), it was the big-screen stardom that followed which truly sent fans into a frenzy. From Saturday Night Fever (1977) to Grease (1978), his slick characters – and legendary dance moves – earned him countless places in teen magazines, not to mention pop culture history to this day.
“If I don’t want to be considered a teen idol the rest of my life, then it’s my responsibility to give the serious film audience a product that’s quality,” John told The New York Times in 1977. The Hollywood heavyweight has done just that, and shows no signs of slowing down – he’s set to portray mobster John Roselli in the upcoming film November 1963, which will explore JFK’s assassination.
Brooke Shields
Brooke fronted an explosive documentary about her life and career
Brooke Shields
A renowned beauty who first began her career as a model, Brooke Shields became a household name with Pretty Baby (1978), later starring in the coming-of-age flick The Blue Lagoon (1980). Despite taking a break from acting to attend university in the early ‘80s, Brooke remained firmly in the public eye – notably for her infamous Calvin Klein jeans ad – and maintained her status as one of the biggest teen idols of the decade
While Brooke has discussed not being “personally scathed” by polarising films like The Blue Lagoon, she spoke to The Guardian about her image going through “so many different machinations” – “whatever anybody wanted to label me as, they did”. As well as continuing to shine on screen, most recently in an episode of All’s Fair (2025–), Brooke headlined the explosive documentary Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields (2023), reflecting candidly on her stardom.
Molly Ringwald
Molly appeared alongside Demi Moore in Feud
Molly Ringwald
The flaming-haired queen of the ‘80s, Molly Ringwald shot to superstardom as the definitive queen of the John Hughes universe, stacking her resume with legendary films like Sixteen Candles (1984) and The Breakfast Club (1985). She was the ultimate fashion icon, known in particular for her vintage-inspired red-carpet fashion – though she wasn’t a fan of some of her on-screen looks, in particular the rose-hued prom gown from Pretty in Pink (1986).
Molly has recently become a familiar face in the Netflix universe, starring in both Riverdale (2017–2023) and the The Kissing Booth trilogy (2018–2021), and recently portrayed model Joanne Carson on the second season of Feud (2024) alongside fellow ‘80s heartthrob Demi Moore.
Donny Osmond
Donny has become a familiar face in a certain smash-hit musical
Donny Osmond
After getting his start in the family pop group The Osmonds, singer Donny Osmond went solo in the early ‘70s, bringing crowds of adoring fans smooth pop hits like “Go Away Little Girl”. The teen idol found further fame in the variety show Donny & Marie (1976–1979), which he headlined alongside his sister, and became the definitive wholesome heartthrob for legions of young fans.
Donny recently shared candid musings on his career alongside fellow family members in the documentary The Osmonds: Faith, Family, & Fame (2023); he also delighted fans when he joined the cast of Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (2024) in Edinburgh – a show he played the lead in during several ‘90s productions.
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