Can you name these ‘80s stars from their yearbook photos?
While musicians and actors from the 1980s had their shining moment during that decade, their influence continues to spread for decades to come. However, many of these celebrities were once unknown in the spotlight before their careers. Test your celebrity knowledge by guessing these stars before they became famous.
Before she became an Oscar-winning actress, this celebrity competed in beauty pageants, including Miss USA
Born and raised in Cleveland, Ohio, this celebrity was initially studying broadcast journalism before making a switch into pageantry. In 1986, this celebrity competed in Miss USA as Miss Ohio. That same year, she represented the U.S. in Miss World, placing sixth in the competition. Her pageant success led to modeling work, where she learned how to act. Her first movie role was in a Spike Lee film from the 90s.
Halle Berry
Though she came in sixth, Halle Berry made history in 1986 when she became the first African American contestant to represent the U.S. in Miss World. Berry continued to make history again when she became the first and, to this day, the only African American woman to win Best Actress in a Leading Role for her performance in “Monster’s Ball” in 2002. Berry’s acceptance speech went viral from her sheer surprise and emotion of the win. However, before making Oscars history, Berry’s career wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for Spike Lee’s movie, “Jungle Fever.”
This celebrity won back-to-back Oscars, making him one of two actors to achieve this feat
This celebrity discovered acting when he discovered that the art form was a good way to channel his high energy. He studied theater at California State University in Sacramento and interned at a theater festival for three years before getting cast in a short-lived ABC television show. Even though the show flopped, he was still able to find success in his career. Now, he is a two-time Academy Award winner.
Tom Hanks
Tom Hanks starred in the ABC television show “Bosom Buddies” from 1980-1982 before its cancellation. The show’s short run worried Hanks as he feared his career was over before he could star in any breakout roles. However, two years after the show ended, Hanks starred alongside Daryl Hannah in the fantasy-comedy “Splash,” signaling the start of his long Hollywood career. Hanks has earned Oscars for his roles in “Philadelphia” and “Forrest Gump” in 1993 and 1994. Since then, Hanks has become a Hollywood figure, starring in roles like “Apollo 13,” “Saving Private Ryan” and the “Toy Story” franchise.
This celebrity holds the record for the most GRAMMY nominations by any female country artist
This celebrity got her start in music when she became Porter Wagoner’s duet partner in “The Porter Wagoner Show.” This celebrity stuck with Porter for seven years before leaving the show to chart her own solo career. Since then, this celebrity is known not only as an acclaimed singer and songwriter, but owns her own theme park, founded a childhood literacy nonprofit and was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.
Dolly Parton
Before her hits “Jolene” and “9 to 5,” Dolly Parton had carved out early success in her career when she became Wagoner’s duet partner from 1967 to 1974. However, it wasn’t smooth sailing for Parton, as she was initially contracted to stay on for five years rather than seven because Wagoner didn’t want to lose Parton as his singing partner. The two faced creative tensions together, especially when it came to Parton leaving the show to start her own solo career. Parton famously wrote the song “I Will Always Love You” as a way for Wagoner to understand her departure. Since then, Parton is one of the most decorated female country singers of all time, winning multiple GRAMMYs and starring in several movies.
This celebrity was part of a supporting act for the Jackson 5 before carving out his own success
Throughout his early life, this celebrity lived across the street from Tuskegee University, where he eventually went to college. There, he joined a student band, which had combined with another band to create one collective group. The celebrity and his band signed a one-record deal with Atlantic Records before moving to Motown and becoming the label’s best-selling act of the 1970s. His success with the band allowed him to pivot into his own solo career.
Lionel Richie
Lionel Richie has become one of the leading pop figures of the 80s with high-selling albums like “Lionel Richie” and “Can’t Slow Down.” “Can’t Slow Down” sold more than 20 million albums worldwide and paved the way for Richie’s first GRAMMY win for Album of the Year. Richie is also a well-established songwriter, having written his hits “Hello,” “All Night Long” and “Say You, Say Me,” which won him his first Oscar for Best Original Song. Richie also co-wrote the legendary charity single “We Are the World” with Michael Jackson and has been an American Idol judge since 2018. Richie’s popularity in the 80s was so global that soccer legend Lionel Messi was named after the singer.
This celebrity was the youngest model ever to appear on the cover of Vogue at the age of 14
Though this celebrity has been in the spotlight for as long as she can remember, it wasn’t all that pleasant. She got her first gig as an infant when she appeared in an Ivory Soap ad at 11 months old. Managed by her mother, this celebrity starred in controversial movies like “Pretty Baby” and “Blue Lagoon,” where she was often sexualized as a minor. Despite her childhood riddled with controversy, this celebrity was still able to maintain her success in her adult life when she appeared in Broadway shows like “Chicago” and “Grease.”
Brooke Shields
Brooke Shields became the center of Hollywood drama when her childhood was exploited for modeling contracts and movie roles. In 1980, Shields was in a controversial Calvin Klein ad where she was depicted in a provocative manner at the age of 15. However, Shields was able to step away from the spotlight for a short time when she graduated from Princeton University with a degree in French literature. Today, Shields is the president of the Actors’ Equity Association.
This celebrity made his acting debut with a children’s show from the 70s before becoming one of Hollywood’s most beloved actors
Born in Tennessee but raised in Mississippi, this celebrity found his calling to acting when he won a statewide acting competition at the age of 12. However, rather than taking up a partial drama scholarship, this celebrity enlisted in the U.S. Air Force, where he served as an automatic tracking radar repairman. Though it took him several years to find his footing, this celebrity landed his breakout role in a children’s TV show, “The Electric Company,” allowing him to land iconic movie roles later in his career.
Morgan Freeman
Though “The Electric Company” allowed Morgan Freeman to put his foot in the door of Hollywood, his breakout movie role didn’t come until 1987 with “Street Smart.” Shortly after his breakout role, Freeman earned his first Oscar nomination with “Driving Miss Daisy.” Since then, Freeman has starred in widely successful movies like “The Shawshank Redemption,” which is widely regarded as one of the greatest movies of all time, “Invictus” and Christopher Nolan’s “The Dark Knight” trilogy. In 2005, Freeman won his first Oscar at the age of 67. Freeman is a frequent collaborator with director Clint Eastwood, and with his distinct, deep voice, Freeman became a frequent narrator for documentaries like “March of the Penguins” and “The Story of God.”
This celebrity co-wrote one of the best-selling albums of all time after getting inspired by her band’s romantic issues.
This celebrity started her music career when her best friend, whom she met in high school during the mid-60s, asked her to be the lead vocalist of his band. The band then opened for musicians like Jimi Hendrix and Janis Joplin, but after failing to land a record deal, the band dissolved. Despite the challenges, this celebrity and her friend continued to make music together, starting out as a duo before starting their own band in 1967. The new band went on to produce widely successful albums before disbanding in 2022.
Stevie Nicks
Known for her powerful songwriting and unforgettable raspy voice, Stevie Nicks became a rock legend during her time with Fleetwood Mac and her solo career. Though Fleetwood Mac’s popularity soared during the 80s, their influence still holds high regard for young rock listeners today. Nicks and bandmate Lindsey Buckingham had been an item before Fleetwood Mac was formed — Buckingham asked Nicks to join his band, Fritz, and later, Fleetwood Mac. Though the pair formed a relationship, Nicks eventually broke up with Buckingham and has written songs like “Silver Springs” about the breakup. Nicks is a two-time Rock & Roll Hall of Fame inductee as well as a member of the Songwriters Hall of Fame.
Wrap Up
While stars like Tom Hanks and Stevie Nicks have continued to play a big role in Hollywood, they were once still finding their way into the industry. All of these celebrities weren’t just thriving in the 80s, but continue to leave a lasting impact today.
Related:
- Can you name these ‘60s stars before they became famous?
- 10 classic rock bands that overstayed their welcome by a decade: Do you agree?
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