Where Are They Now? 8 Stars Who Shot to Fame in the 1980s (PHOTOS)
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NBCU Photo Bank; RW/MediaPunch
Mr. T
He doesn’t need your pity and he’s certainly no fool. Since The A-Team disbanded in 1987, the mohawked wrestler has had his own 65-episode detective series (T and T) and a short-lived TV Land reality show (I Pity the Fool). He returned to the WCW and WWE as both a ref and a contestant and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2014. He is also the grisly face of Fairfield Inn & Suites.
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Meredith Baxter
In the last decade, Family Ties’ beloved matriarch has appeared on Cold Case, Glee, Brothers & Sisters, Switched at Birth and The Young and the Restless. She voiced an animated version of her Ties character, Elyse Keaton, on Family Guy, and recently costarred on the MTV drama series Finding Carter. Last year she reunited with TV husband Michael Gross in Becoming Santa (above right).
CBS/ Everett Collection; David Giesbrecht/NBC
Paul Reubens
The Pee-wee’s Playhouse headliner—who has guest starred on 30 Rock and The Blacklist (above right)—eased back into his iconic 1980s TV persona for the show’s Broadway reboot in 2010, followed by an HBO special in 2011. And he’ll do it again on March 18 for Netflix’s new movie Pee-wee’s Big Holiday. Later this month, Reubens joins Fox’s Batman prequel, Gotham, as the Penguin’s paler, creepier dad.
Everett Collection; Skip Bolen/CBS/Landov
Annie Potts
Cutesy and sweet as curly-haired Mary Jo Shively on Designing Women (far right), the actress recently showed her wild side as a high-flying, sexy granny in Broadway’s Pippin. (She sang on a trapeze!) In addition to recurring roles on Chicago Med, The Fosters and NCIS: New Orleans, Potts will cameo as a hotel clerk in the reboot of the 1984 film hit Ghostbusters, in which she had a supporting role.
Herb Ball/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank/Getty Images; Carol Kaelson/ABC
John Ratzenberger
The Cheers vet is still one of the most successful voice actors of all time, having lent his droll tones to every Pixar feature film to date (next up: Finding Dory in June). He showed grace on Dancing With the Stars in 2007, then reteamed with fellow TV barfly George Wendt on Last Comic Standing in 2008. The former carpenter also speaks out on behalf of local skilled workers and sells “John Ratzenberger’s Made in America Gift Boxes” online.
CBS/Getty Images; Kevin Kane/WireImage
Tyne Daly
After earning four Emmys as the latter half of detective duo Cagney & Lacey, Daly returned to her stage roots (and added a Tony to her award shelf) as Mama Rose in the 1989 Broadway revival of Gypsy. The actress costarred on Judging Amy from 1999–2005 but has spent most of the last decade on the Great White Way, appearing in Rabbit Hole (2006), Master Class (2011), Mothers and Sons (2014) and It Shoulda Been You (2015). She also recently popped up on Modern Family.
ABC Photo Archives/ABC/Getty Images; Nick Ray/ABC
“Weird Al” Yankovic
Since telling America to “Eat It” in 1984, the King of Pop Parodies has guest starred on several series, including 30 Rock, Galavant (above right) and, most recently, The Goldbergs, playing the twentysomething version of himself. Later this year, he’ll step in for Kid Cudi as band leader on IFC’s chat show Comedy Bang! Bang! and voice the lead in Disney XD’s new animated sitcom about a teen, Milo Murphy’s Law.
CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images; Tommaso Boddi/WireImage
Joan Van Ark
Van Ark followed up her 13-year turn as vixen Valene Ewing on Knots Landing with appearances on Touched by an Angel, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air and more. She played another tough rich lady, Gloria Simmons, on The Young and the Restless in 2004 before guest starring on Nip/Tuck, Archer and My Name Is Earl. In 2013, she resurrected Valene for an episode of TNT’s Dallas reboot. And young gamers may recognize her voice as that of several female characters in the hit video game Fallout 4.
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These eight stars were TV staples during the 1980s and known for memorable roles in shows like The A-Team, Cheers and Family Ties. Get an update on how their careers have evolved.
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