Michael Earl Schoeffling (born December 10, 1960) is an American former actor and model. He is known for playing the role of Jake Ryan in Sixteen Candles, Al Carver in Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken, Kuch in Vision Quest, and Joe in Mermaids.[1]
Michael Schoeffling | |
|---|---|
| Born | Michael Earl Schoeffling December 10, 1960 |
| Occupation | Actor |
| Years active | 1984–1991 |
Early life and education
editSchoeffling was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and raised in South Jersey. He graduated from Cherokee High School in Evesham Township, New Jersey. He attended Temple University in Philadelphia, where he majored in liberal arts. In the mid-1980s he began modelling 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
editSchoeffling 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 published 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
editAfter his acting career, Schoeffling opened a woodworking shop, producing handcrafted furniture.[3] His withdrawal from Hollywood was complete, and he has not done any interviews, convention appearances or the like since then.
Filmography
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1984 | Sixteen Candles | Jake Ryan | |
| 1984 | Racing with the Moon | Amputee Soldier | Uncredited |
| 1985 | Sylvester | Matt | |
| 1985 | Vision Quest | Kenny "Kuch" Kuchera | |
| 1986 | Let's Get Harry | Corey Burck | |
| 1986 | The Hitchhiker | Lance | TV series (episode: "Dead Man's Curve") |
| 1986 | Belizaire the Cajun | Hypolite Leger | |
| 1989 | Longtime Companion | Michael | |
| 1989 | Slaves of New York | Jan | |
| 1990 | Mermaids | Joe Perretti | |
| 1991 | Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken | Al Carver |
See also
edit
References
edit- ^ a b c d Cammila Collar (2016). "Michael Schoeffling". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2016-03-20.
- ^ 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