Michael Schoeffling
Michael Schoeffling | |
|---|---|
| Born | Michael Earl Schoeffling December 10, 1960 |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1984–1991 |
Michael Earl Schoeffling (born December 10, 1960) is an American former actor and model, known for playing the role of Jake Ryan in Sixteen Candles, Al Carver in Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken, Kuch in Vision Quest, Joe in Mermaids,[1] and Matt in Sylvester.
Early life and education[]
Schoeffling was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and raised in South Jersey. He graduated from Cherokee High School in New Jersey, and majored in Liberal Arts at Temple University in Philadelphia. In the mid-1980s he began modeling for GQ,[1] and photographer Bruce Weber paid for his acting classes[citation needed] at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute in Manhattan.[1]
Acting career[]
Schoeffling came to international prominence at the age of 23 for his role as Jake Ryan, the popular yet sensitive high school athlete on whom Molly Ringwald's character has a crush in the teen film Sixteen Candles. For Valentine's Day in 2004, twenty years after the film's American premiere, the Washington Post ran an article entitled "Real Men Can't Hold a Match to Jake Ryan of Sixteen Candles", which discussed the character's enduring appeal.[2]
He appeared in eight additional films after Sixteen Candles, including roles in Vision Quest and Mermaids, and starring roles in the 1986 action film Let's Get Harry and 1991's Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken.[1]
Post-acting career[]
Since giving up acting, he has produced handcrafted furniture as the owner of a woodworking shop.[3]
In 2005, a poll was conducted by Teen Magazine, which ranked Schoeffling #22 on its list of "Biggest Hunks of the 1980s."
Filmography[]
| Film | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Year | Film | Role | Notes |
| 1984 | Sixteen Candles | Jake Ryan | |
| Racing with the Moon | Amputee Soldier | Uncredited | |
| 1985 | Sylvester | Matt | |
| Vision Quest | Kenny "Kuch" Kuchera | ||
| 1986 | Let's Get Harry | Corey Burck | |
| Belizaire the Cajun | Hypolite Leger | ||
| 1989 | Longtime Companion | Michael | |
| Slaves of New York | Jan | ||
| 1990 | Mermaids | Joe Perretti | |
| 1991 | Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken | Al Carver | |
| Television | |||
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
| 1986 | The Hitchhiker | Lance | Episode: "Dead Man's Curve" |
See also[]
References[]
- ^ Jump up to: a b c d Cammila Collar (2016). "Michael Schoeffling". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2013-12-13.
- ^ Stuever, Hank (February 14, 2004). "Reflections on Jake Ryan of the John Hughes Film 'Sixteen Candles'". The Washington Post.
- ^ "9 Actors Who "Quit" Being Famous Archived 2015-05-18 at the Wayback Machine
External links[]
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|---|---|
| General | |
| National libraries | |
- 1960 births
- Living people
- 20th-century American male actors
- American male film actors
- Cherokee High School (New Jersey) alumni
- Male models from Pennsylvania
- Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute alumni
- Male actors from New Jersey
- Male actors from Pennsylvania
- Actors from Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania
- Temple University alumni