Molly Ringwald made her first appearance on screen in the 1979 show, “Different Strokes” and later on the show “The Facts of Life.” She soon became the “it” girl of the 80s and starred in cult classics like “Sixteen Candles,” “Pretty in Pink,” and “The Breakfast Club,” to name a few.
She was beloved by fans for her vulnerable, authentic, and relatable performances. And while Ringwald’s story didn’t simply end in the ’80s, it’s safe to say that she is another child actor success story, having only had brief breaks in her career into adulthood. She also landed a role in the Gen Z teen show “Riverdale.”
Shaun Cassidy
Shaun Cassidy first entered the public eye in 1977 on “The Hardy Boys Mysteries.” Also a talented musician, Cassidy signed a contract with Warner Bros and his first album went multi-platinum, spawning the number one single “Da Doo Ron Ron.” In his early years as an actor, he also worked on Broadway and in London’s West End.
As with many teen idols though, Cassidy found that his young stardom was growing dim but, in a savvy, showbusiness move, he began to focus on doing behind-the-scenes work and went on to write and produce for tv shows such as “American Gothic” and “Roar.” Today, Cassidy is a wonderful example of how to successfully reinvent a career in the entertainment industry.
Donny Osmond
Donny Osmond’s career launch began as a family affair when he appeared, along with his brothers, as a part of the “The Osmonds” music group in 1971. By the 1970s he went solo and quickly rose to fame with his thousand-watt smile and captivating voice.
Donny had several big tracks, including “Go Away Little Girl” and “Soldier of Love” Osmond may have lost the teen idol status as he grew older, but he’s still considered one of the most affable and recognizable faces in the entertainment world. Until today, the icon has remained active and appeared in shows like “Dancing with the Stars” and “The Masked Singer” as well as a handful of film projects.
Justin Bieber
Justin Bieber first came sliding onto the music scene with his hit song “Baby.” Bieber had all the makings of the next teen idol including a strong falsetto and cute baby face. As he went through his teen years into his early twenties, Bieber had many other hits like “What Do You Mean” and “Sorry."
Girls were, and still are, wild about Bieber, creating a fanbase affectionately called “Beliebers." Over the last ten years, Bieber has continued to be one of the most listened to artists and one of the most reported-on public figures. He found true love with model Haily Baldwin. The two tied the knot in September 2018 and they appear to still be going strong.
Backstreet Boys
The ‘90s were peppered with boybands and, along with NSYNC, the Backstreet Boys led the way. They debuted their first album, “The Backstreet Boys,” in 1996 and “Backstreet’s Back” in the following year. The harmonized melodies, the coordinating outfits, the perfectly gelled hair, and the smoldering photo shoots all culminated to create the perfect teen idol ensemble.
Teens sang their songs and bought their records and merchandise, making the group very lucrative. With over 100 million in record sales, the Backstreet Boys are the most commercially successful boy band of all time. They continue to tour together to this day.