James Dean first emerged in a Pepsi commercial. However, Dean wasn’t just a pretty face, and he later proved himself to be a serious actor who was committed to bringing characters alive on-screen. After struggling to obtain serious parts, Dean finally found a stepping stone in director Elia Kazan’s, “East of Eden.” Shortly after, he found his breakout role as Jim Stark in “Rebel Without A Cause.”
With his bad-boy looks and maverick attitude, James Dean glamorized the character of the misunderstood, angst-ridden youth. In one of the most tragic events in Hollywood history, Dean was killed instantly in a high-speed car crash in 1955, just as his career was starting to flourish. To this day, James Dean remains a timeless icon whose talent influenced a generation.
Annette Funicello
Annette Funicello was considered a triple threat in the entertainment industry as she could sing, dance, and act! Funicello started out as a child star and was a Mouseketeer on the “Mickey Mouse Club.” The New York native then focused further on her acting career and appeared in shows like Disney’s “Zorro” and “Make Room for Daddy." She first appeared on the big screen in “The Shaggy Dog” and in the musical “Babes in Toyland.”
Later, she became the face of the “Beach Party” movie genre that was a part of the 60s pop culture, alongside Frankie Avalon. Funicello took a step back in the 1970s to focus on her family and by 1992, the actress had publicly announced that she was suffering from multiple sclerosis. Sadly, Annette passed away from complications related to the condition in 2013 at age 70.
Debbie Gibson
After a few years of producing and writing her own material, Debbie Gibson caught public attention in 1987 when she released her debut album, “Out of the Blue,” under the Atlantic Records label. She also created a set of hit singles like “Foolish Beat,” “Shake Your Love,” and “Lost in Your Eyes.” Like many musicians, Gibson also crossed over into acting and appeared on Broadway as well as in tv shows like “Beverly Hills 90210” and in smaller films.
The songstress has continued to write and perform over the decades, including a duet in 2006 with Jordan Knight called “Say Goodbye.” Debbie’s album “Electric Youth” celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2019, which was commemorated by a special show on SiriusXM Radio’s ‘80s on 8 Channel. Her latest hit was the single “Girls Night Out” which landed at spot number four on the Billboard Dance Club Songs chart.
Leif Garrett
Leif Garrett and his sister, Dawn Lyn, pursued acting together, co-starring in the horror flick, “Devil Times Five.” After a couple of smaller roles, Garret found a more sizeable opportunity in the role of Jimmy Henderson in “Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice.” Pivoting from acting, Garrett began pursuing music in the 70s which ultimately landed him the label of "teen idol."
He played piano, drums, keyboard, and guitar and his first album spawned several modest hits including “Come Back When You Grow Up.” Garrett’s career has fluctuated over the years. His stint on Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew in 2010 was not a high point. Unfortunately, the former child star hasn’t released any new music or acted in quite some time and has most recently been in the news, discussing his substance abuse struggles.
New Kids on the Block
Johnathan Knight, Jordan Knight, Joey McIntyre, Danny Wood, Mark Wahlberg, and Donnie Wahlberg made up the 80s sensation, “New Kids on the Block. Their self-titled, debut album was released in 1986 when they were just teenagers. Mark Wahlberg was briefly replaced by Jamie Kelly when he left the group in 1985.
The band’s popularity exploded when they supported pop star, Tiffany on her U.S. tour, but they later split in the mid-90s. After this, Wahlberg turned his attention to acting as he took roles in movies like “Boogie Nights" and "The Departed." The group reunited in 2008 and still perform together.