Iconic 80s film Weird Science was released in cinemas 40 years ago this year and the film’s cast have gone on to enjoy a variety of different careers, with some more surprising than others
Weird Science played out the ultimate teen fantasy for those who were outcast by their peers.
The intriguing concept behind John Hughes’ classic, followed two nerdy students, Gary and Wyatt, who yearn to be popular. Alone for the weekend with Wyatt’s parents gone, Gary is inspired by the film Frankenstein to create a virtual woman using Wyatt’s computer. They infuse her with everything they can think of to make the perfect dream woman. However, when a bizarre electrical mishap brings Lisa to life, the duo suddenly find their lives will never be the same again.
The beloved movie, which turns 40 this year, quickly gained a cult following, raking in more than £30million from worldwide box offices.
So the Daily Star has decided it’s high time that we checked in on the cast to find out what they have been up to over the years since.
Kelly LeBrock
An 80s icon, Kelly LeBrock made a splash with her first two roles in Gene Wilder’s The Woman in Red and as Lisa in Weird Science. Despite her explosive start, she only appeared in a few more films – including Hard to Kill, Betrayal of the Dove, and Zerophilia.
LeBrock has been married three times, including to Hollywood action star Steven Seagal in 1987. They had a daughter together in 1993 before the pair divorced in 1996.
More than 25 years ago, she relocated to a farm in Santa Ynez Valley, California, where she has lived without a TV and minimal contact with the outside world ever since. She previously told Fox News that she chose to step back from Hollywood as it wasn’t the place she “wanted to raise her children”. However, she keeps cropping up in small films every few years, as well as being a welcome addition to reality TV shows.
Anthony Michael Hall
A John Hughes stalwart in the 80s, Hall was a recognisable figure due to his roles in National Lampoon’s Vacation, Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club during the decade. Moving on from teen roles, he embraced diverse character parts across film and TV, including a notable portrayal of Bill Gates in Pirates of Silicon Valley. He also had a five-year lead role in the TV adaptation of Stephen King’s Dead Zone.
Since then, he’s made appearances as a supporting actor in The Dark Knight, Community and the Oscar-nominated Foxcatcher. In 2016, Hall was arrested and charged with felony assault causing serious bodily injury after a dispute with a neighbour. He pleaded no contest to a lesser charge, was found guilty and sentenced to three years probation and 40 hours of community service. He can currently be seen in the latest season of Reacher, playing Zachary Beck.
Ilan Mitchell-Smith
After his role in the film, Mitchell-Smith took on some unusual parts in a remake of Journey to the Center of the Earth, The Chocolate War, and a recurring role in the Superboy TV show.
However, in 1991 he chose to leave the acting world and return to academia, eventually earning a doctoral degree. He now serves as an associate professor in the English department at California State University, Long Beach.
In addition to his academic career, he has also dabbled in video game publishing, including Dungeons & Dragons, and contributes as a writer for the magazine Forces of Geek. More recently he lent his voice to the animated adaptation of the comic Axe Cop. And in 2017, Mitchell-Smith guest-starred in the fifth-season premiere of The Goldbergs, playing science teacher Mr. Connelly.
Bill Paxton
After portraying the possibly deranged bully Chet in the film, Bill Paxton had a pretty stolid career, cropping up in films like Aliens, Titanic, Apollo 13, True Lies, Twister, and many more. His performance in HBO’s Big Love earned him three Golden Globe nominations, and he received an Emmy nomination for his role in the History Channel’s Hatfields & McCoys.
Tragically, Paxton passed away in February 2017 at the age of 61 following a stroke. He had undergone surgery just days before to correct a damaged aortic heart valve that had been a problem since his teenage years.
His family later sued the surgeon, alleging that Ali Khoynezhad used “high-risk and unconventional” methods which led to complications and ultimately his death. They reached a partial settlement in the case in February 2022, receiving £800,000 ($1 million).
Robert Downey Jr
Downey Jr went on to become a massive name in Hollywood, but it wasn’t a smooth journey.
During the late ’90s, Downey Jr found himself in trouble with the law multiple times on drug-related charges including cocaine, heroin, and marijuana. He later confessed that his addiction to drugs began at the tender age of eight, given to him by his father who was also an addict.
By 2003, after a tumultuous five years of substance abuse, arrests, and stints in rehab, Downey Jr. managed to get clean and made a triumphant return to acting. His subsequent roles included Gothika, Tropic Thunder, Sherlock Holmes, The Judge, Dolittle, and arguably his most iconic role, Iron Man.
He reprised the superhero character in numerous other films, including the Avengers series, as well as Iron Man 2 and Iron Man 3, Spider-Man: Homecoming, and Captain America: Civil War.
Source: Celebrities - dailystar.co.uk
