It's been over 40 years since Samantha Baker’s family forgot her birthday, and honestly, the internet still hasn't moved on. We’re still obsessed. Why? Because the cast of 16 candles now represents a weird, beautiful time capsule of 1984 that refuses to stay in the past.
Some of these actors basically became the faces of a generation. Others? They just vanished. People always ask, "Where did Jake Ryan go?" or "Is Long Duk Dong still acting?" The answers are actually way more interesting than just a list of IMDB credits. In 2026, the legacy of this movie is hitting a weird peak because the "kids" are now in their late 50s and 60s, and they’ve taken some wild paths.
Molly Ringwald: The Eternal Muse Moves On
Molly Ringwald was only 15 when she played Sam. She’s 57 now. She isn't just "the girl from the 80s" anymore.
Lately, she’s been leaning hard into her "cool mom" and "prestige actress" era. You probably saw her in Riverdale or The Bear, but the big news for 2026 is her role in the upcoming comedy One Night Only. She’s starring alongside LeVar Burton and Maya Hawke. It’s a high-concept movie about a night where pre-marital sex is legal—basically the polar opposite of her John Hughes innocence.
She also lives in New York, writes books, and translates French literature. Seriously. She’s a legit intellectual. Ringwald famously wrote an essay for The New Yorker a few years back re-examining the "problematic" parts of her old movies. She’s clearly at peace with her past, but she isn't stuck in it.
The Mystery of Michael Schoeffling (aka Jake Ryan)
This is the one everyone cares about. Michael Schoeffling. The man who launched a million crushes.
📖 Related: How Old Is Breanna Nix? What the American Idol Star Is Doing Now
He’s 65 this year. Think about that for a second. Jake Ryan is a senior citizen. Schoeffling did the most "un-Hollywood" thing possible: he quit. Right after his career peaked in the early 90s, he just walked away. He told people there weren't enough roles and he had a family to feed. He moved to Pennsylvania and opened a woodworking shop called M.S.C., Inc.
He doesn't do interviews. He doesn't have Instagram. He builds handcrafted furniture and lives a quiet life with his wife, Valerie Robinson. His daughter, Scarlett, is actually a model and actress now (she was in Billions), but Michael himself is totally off the grid. Honestly, it’s kinda legendary. He stayed the dream guy by never letting us see him get "Hollywood old."
Anthony Michael Hall: From Geek to Tough Guy
If you haven't seen Anthony Michael Hall lately, you might not even recognize him. The scrawny "Farmer Ted" is gone.
He’s 57 and, frankly, he’s jacked. He’s spent the last few years playing tough guys, like Tommy Doyle in Halloween Kills. In 2025 and 2026, he’s been everywhere—from Reacher Season 3 to the action flick Air Force One Down.
He’s also a dad now! He and his wife, Lucia Oskerova, had a son in 2023. He’s one of the few cast members who has stayed consistently working in the industry for five decades. He even runs a literacy club for at-risk youth. He's basically the elder statesman of the Brat Pack.
👉 See also: Whitney Houston Wedding Dress: Why This 1992 Look Still Matters
What Really Happened to the Rest of the Crew?
The supporting cast is where things get really diverse. Some stayed in the spotlight, while others found totally different callings.
Gedde Watanabe (Long Duk Dong)
Gedde is 70 now. He’s had a massive career since the "Dong" days, despite the controversy surrounding that character’s stereotypes. He was a staple on ER for years as Nurse Yosh Takata. Recently, he’s been doing a lot of voice work, including Ultraman: Rising in 2024. He also finally felt comfortable coming out as a gay man publicly a few years ago, which was a huge moment for his longtime fans.
Haviland Morris (Caroline Mulford)
The prom queen with the stuck hair! Haviland is still acting, but she’s also a successful real estate agent in New York. She splits her time between the two. In early 2026, she’s been performing on stage at the Hartford Stage in productions like The Cottage. She’s aged incredibly gracefully and remains one of the most underrated talents from the film.
Justin Henry (Mike Baker)
The annoying little brother actually holds a world record—he's still the youngest person ever nominated for an Oscar (for Kramer vs. Kramer). These days, he isn't acting much. He’s a tech executive. He spent years working in marketing and advertising and helped found the Slamdunk Film Festival. He’s basically a business mogul now.
The Grandparents and Parents
Sadly, many of the older cast members have passed away.
✨ Don't miss: Finding the Perfect Donny Osmond Birthday Card: What Fans Often Get Wrong
- Carlin Glynn (Sam's mom) passed in 2023.
- Edward Andrews and Billie Bird (the "hot tamale" grandparents) are also gone.
- Paul Dooley (Sam’s dad) is still with us at 97! He’s an absolute legend.
Why We Still Care in 2026
The cast of 16 candles now reminds us that life doesn't end when high school does. We look at Michael Schoeffling and see that it’s okay to choose a quiet life. We look at Molly Ringwald and see that you can reinvent yourself as many times as you want.
The movie is dated. Some of the jokes are cringey now. But the feeling of being forgotten on your big day? That’s universal.
What you can do next: If you’re feeling nostalgic, check out Molly Ringwald’s 2026 film One Night Only when it hits theaters this August. It’s a great way to see how the "Brat Pack" queen has evolved into a modern comedic force. Also, if you’re ever in rural Pennsylvania and see a guy who looks suspiciously like a 65-year-old Jake Ryan selling a bookshelf... buy the bookshelf. It’s probably a masterpiece.
Actionable Insight:
Nostalgia is great, but the real takeaway from the Sixteen Candles cast is the "pivot." Whether it's real estate, woodworking, or prestige TV, these actors proved that your first "big thing" doesn't have to be your only thing. If you're feeling stuck in your own career or life, take a page from Justin Henry or Haviland Morris—sometimes the best move is the one nobody expects.