Where Are The Biggest Female Stars Of The 80’s and 90’s Now?

When we’re growing up, we look up to the biggest and brightest stars of our day. They may have appeared on posters on our wall, we might have run to the movie theater to catch their latest films, and we tuned into late night talk shows to watch interviews with them. However, as we grew up, these celebrities that took up a lot of our thoughts in our youth became less of a fixture in our minds as responsibilities of adulthood began to pile on. It’s perfectly understandable if you lost track of your favorite star over the years, but do you ever get curious about where they are now? Here’s a roundup of some of the most famous ladies of the 1980’s and 90’s and what they’re up to these days.

Yasmin Bleeth

Yasmin Bleeth is best known for her portrayal of Caroline Holden in Baywatch. She later appeared in films like Coming Soon and Undercover Angel. Bleeth married Paul Cerrito in August 2002 after they met at Promises Rehabilitation Clinic. The two do not have any children. Bleeth most recently appeared in indie comedy film Whack the Don.

Nancy McKeon

Nancy McKeon is best known for playing Jo in hit TV series The Facts of Life. She continued acting in many TV roles, including in The Division. She got married in 2003 and after she had two children, she took some time away from acting. She returned to the small screen in 2018 when she appeared in Dancing with the Stars and also drama show Panic.

Molly Ringwald

Molly Ringwald stole many a heart as a member of the young actors known as The Brat Pack back in the 80’s, appearing in the biggest films of the time including Sixteen Candles, Pretty In Pink, and The Breakfast Club. More recently, Ringwald has starred in The Secret Life of the Ameerican Teengar, as well as the popular Netflix series Riverdale. She has most recently appeared in Creepshow and Dahmer — Monster: The Jefferey Dahmer Story.

Jane Fonda

Jane Fonda is a powerhouse who has been in the entertainment industry for over five decades. As an actress, she appeared in countless films including Barbarella, They Shoot Horses Don’t They?, and Coming Home. She also launched a very successful exercise video series, becoming the best selling videotape of all time. She also is a political activist and has been since the Vietnam War. She most recently appeared in a main role in Netflix series Grace and Frankie.

Kristy McNichol

Kristy McNichole is best known for her roles in Little Darlings, Only When I Laugh, and Family. She also appeared in The Golden Girls spinoff show Empty Nest, playing the role of Barbara Weston. In 2001, she retired completely from acting and opened up an acting school in Los Angeles. In 2012, she came out an announced that she has been living with her partner Martie Allen since the early 90’s.

Cassandra Peterson

Cassandra Peterson is an actress who is known by her horror hostess alter ego Elvira, which she first appeared as while working at TV station KHJ-TV and hosting Elvira’s Movie Macabre. This led to her films Elvira: Mistress of the Dark and Elvira’s Haunted Hills. She most recently made an appearance in Tim Burton’s 2022 film adaptation of The Munsters.

Jane Sibbett

Jane Sibbett is known to a large group of people as Carol Willick, Ross’s ex-wife who left him for a woman, on hit TV series Friends. She is also known for playing Heddy Newman on Herman’s Head. Most recently, she has appeared as Dr. Brenda Boyer in Lifetime TV movie List of a Lifetime.

Candace Cameron

Candace Cameron Bure first became well known when she played D.J. Tanner on Full House and later reprising that role on Fuller House. She also plays the title character of Aurora Teagarden on the Hallmark Channel. She also appeared on Dancing with the Stars and Make It or Break It. She was the co-host of The View from 2015 until 2016. Most recently she became the chief content officer of Great American Media.

Carmen Electra

Carmen Electra is an actress, model, and singer who first broke out onto the scene when she appeared as Lani McKenzie in hit series Baywatch. She appeared in ‘Til Death Do Us Part: Carmen and Dave in 2004 with her former husband Dave Navarro. She also appeared in Scary Movie, Epic Movie, Meet the Spartans, and Disaster Movie. Most recently she appeared on episodes of Hell’s Kitchen, The Celebrity Dating Game, and Domino Masters.

Lynda Carter

Lynda Carter is an actress, pageant queen, and singer. She was crowned Miss World USA 1972 and later ended up in the final 15 contestants at the Miss World 1972 contest. She became a household name when she starred as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman in the Wonder Woman TV series from 1975 until 1979. She most recently made a cameo appearance in the Wonder Woman 1984 and also as Carlene Briggs in The Cleaner.

Faye Dunaway

Faye Dunaway is an accomplished actress who has appeared in countless films, TV shows, and theater performances. Some of her best known roles are in works like Little Big Man, The Three Muskateers, Three Days of the Condor, The Handmaid’s Tale, Gia, The Rules of Attraction, and Master Class. She most recently appeared in films The Bye Bye Man, The Case for Christ, Inconceivable, and The Man Who Drew God.

Barbara Mandrell

Barbara Mandrell is a country singer who was one of the biggest country stars during the 1970s and 1980s. Six of her singles made it to number one in the Billboard country music charts, and 25 of her songs made it to the top ten. She released her last album in 1994, but also dabbled in acting, appearing in Walker, Texas Ranger amongst other films and TV shows.

Rachel Ward

Rachel Ward is an actress, director, and screenwriter whois best known for appearing alongside with Burt Reynolds in Sharky’s Machine. She also appeared in Dead Men Don’t Wear Plaid, The Thorn Birds, Against All Odds, and Fortress. Most recently, Ward voiced Josephine Rabbit in the animated film Peter Rabbit.

Heather Locklear

Heather Locklear first rose to prominence when she appeared on Melrose Place as Amanda Woodward from 1993 until 1999. She was nominated for a Golden Globe for Best Actress in a Television Series drama four times for the role. She later appeared in T.J. Hooker, Spin City, Hot In Cleveland, Franklin & Bash, and most recently in Too Close To Home and Fresh Off The Boat.

Jeanine Pirro

Jeanine Pirro is a TV host and former New York State judge who is best known for being the host of Justice with Judge Jeanine on Fox News Channel. In 2022, she left the show in order to become a co-host of The Five. She also contributes to NBC News and The Today Show.

Dolly Parton

Dolly Parton is a perhaps one of the best known county stars of all time. She released her first album in 1967 called Hello, I’m Dolly, and since then has experienced tremendous success in the industry. She is very prolific and most recently released an album named Rockstar in 2023. She also continuously tours around the country.

Nadia Comăneci

Nadia Comăneci is a retired gymnast from Romania who became the very first gymnast to receive a perfect score of 10.0 while at the 1976 Olympic Games. She won three gold medals that year, and then two more at the 1980 Olympics in Moscow. In 1989, she moved to the United States after defecting from then-Communist Romania. In 1996, she married fellow retired gymnast Bart Conner who went on top open his own school.

Cathy Rigby

Cathy Rigby is a former artistic gymnast, actress, and speaker. She first became known after her performance at the 1968 Summer Olympics, which helped launch the popularity of gymnastics in the U.S. After retiring from the sport, she became an actress, playing the role of Peter Pan for over 30 years on stage.

Madonna

Madonna is an iconic pop star who first became well known in the early 1980’s before gaining prominence and becoming a world renowned star. She has consistently released new albums and given world tours throughout the years, and most recently embarked on The Celebration Tour in January 2023.

Joyce DeWitt

Joyce DeWitt is best known for playing Janet on ABC series Three’s Company from 1997 until 1984. She reprised that role in an episode of the show’s spinoff The Ropers in 1979. In recent years, DeWitt appeared in films like Rock Story, The Savant, and Ask Me To Dance.

Suzanne Somers

Suzanne Somers is known for playing Chrissy Snow on Three’s Company and Carol Foster Lambert on Step by Step. In later years, she became known for authoring self-help books, autobiographies, and diet books. Some of her views and advocacy work has drawn criticism for not following scientifically proven methods.

Vanna White

Vanna White is known for being the co-host of Wheel of Fortune since 1982. She has also had many cameo roles in TV shows like The King of Queens, Full House, RuPaul’s Drag Race All Stars, and Married…With Children.

Winona Ryder

Winona Ryder first appeared in the film Lucas in 1986 but became well known after starring in 1988’s Beetlejuice. She went on to appear in a string of successful films like Edward Scissorhands, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, The Age of Innocence, Little Woman, and Girl, Interrupted. More recently, she appeared in the Netflix series Stranger Things and HBO series The Plot Against America.

Lea Thompson

Lea Thompson first became well known after she appeared as Lorraine Baines-McFly in the Back to the Future film trilogy. She also appeared in films like All the Right Moves, Red Dawn, Some Kind of Wonderful, Dennis the Menace, and The Beverly Hillbillies. She appeared as the main character in Caroline in the City, and more recently appeared as Kathryn Kennish on Switched at Birth.

Michelle Pfeiffer

Michelle Pfieffer is an actress whose career spans over forty years in the industry. She is best known for her roles in Grease 2, Scarface, The Witches of Eastwick, Tequila Sunrise, Dangerous Liasons, The Baker Boys, Batman Returns, The Age of Innocence, and Hairspray. She most recently has played the role of Janet van Dyne in the Marvel Cinematic Universe.

Stefanie Powers

Stefanie Powers is an actress who is best known for her role as Jennifer Hart in TV show Hart to Hart from 1979 until 1984. She earned five Golden Globe Award nominations as well as two Primetime Emmy Awards nominations for the role. She most recently appeared in the 2020 film The Artist’s Wife.

Fergie

Stacy Ann Ferguson, best known by her stage name Fergie, is a singer who first became well known as a member of hip hop group The Black Eyed Peas. She later went on to have a successful solo career. She is also an actress, appearing in films like Poseidon, Grindhouse, and Nine.

Kim Basinger

Kim Basinger is an actress whose extensive work in the industry has earned her many awards throughout the years. She first became known as Bond girl Domino Petachi in Never Say Never Again. She also appeared in The Natural, Bathman, No Mercy, I Dreamed of Africa, 8 Mile, and Fifty Shades Darker. Her daughter is model Ireland Baldwin.

Jennifer Aniston

Jennifer Aniston became a worldwide household name when she starred on hit TV show Friends as Rachel Green from 1994 until 2004. She later appeared in films including Office Space, Bruce Almighty, The Break-Up, Marley & Me, Just Go with It, Horrible Bosses, We’re the Millers, and Cake. More recently she appeared in Apple TV+ series The Morning Show, which she also produces and earned her a Screen Actors Guild Award.

Catherine Bach

Catherine Bach became a household name when she played Daisy Duke in The Dukes of Hazzard from 1979 until 1985. Bach then starred in African Skies from 1992 until 1994. She later went on to have a role on The Love Boat and The Young and the Restless. She reprised the role of Daisy Duke in several spinoff shows.

Susan Dey

Susan Dey played Laurie Partridge in The Partridge Family from 1970 until 1974. From 1986 until 1992 she played Grace Van Owen on L.A. Law, and also played Wallis Porter in Love & War. She has not appeared in any roles since 2004, and has been known to be the only Partridge Family album who refuses to partake in reunions.

Penny Smith

Penny Smith is a TV and radio presenter best known for her work on Sky News, GMTV, Classic FM, BBC Radio London, TalkRadio, and TalkTV. Beginning in March 2021, she has been working on the weekday drivetime show on Scala Radio.

Mandy Moore

Mandy Moore is a singer, actress, and former teen star. She first rose to prominence when her single “Candy” reached the Billboard Hot 100. She also appeared in films like The Princess Diaries, A Walk to Remember, Chasing Liberty, Saved! Because I Said So, and voicing Rapunzel in Tangled. Most recently she played Rebecca Pearson on This Is Us from 2016 until 2022.

Debbe Dunning

Debbe Dunning is an actress, comedian, and spokesperson best known for her role as Heidi on Home Improvement from 1993 until 1999. She later appeared in Dangerous Curves and American Gladiators Celebrity Challenge. Her last credited role was as Hope Lorca is 2006’s Wicked Wicked Games.

Kirsten Dunst

Kirsten Dunst began her acting career early on, with her debut being in Woody Allen’s New York Stories in 1989. She starred in Interview with the Vampire in 1994, earning her a Golden Globe for Best Actress and fame. She then went on to star in films like Little Women, The Virgin Suicides, Bring It On, the Spider-Man trilogy, Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind, and Marie Antoinette. Most recently she appeared in On Becoming a God in Central Florida and The Power of the Dog.

Kate Moss

Kate Moss is a model who became prominent in the 1990’s and rose to fame following her Calvin Klein campaign. She is often mentioned in regards to the fashion industry’s turn to size zero thanks to her waif-like figure. She was the second best paid model in 2012, earning $9.2 million in that year alone. Her daughter Lila Moss is following in her footsteps and is pursuing modeling as well.

Eliza Dushku

Eliza Dushku is best known for her role as Faith in the hit series Buffy the Vampire Slayer from 1998 until 2003. She also reprised the role in the show’s spinoff Angel in seasons 1, 2, and 4. She also appeared in films like Bring It On, Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back, On Broadway, The Scribbler, Jane Wants a Boyfriend, and Eloise.

Cynthis Rhodes

Cynthis Rhodes is an actress, singer, and dancer who is known for her roles as Tina Tech in Flashdance, Jackie in Staying Alive, Karen Thompson in Runaway, and Penny in Dirty Dancing. She married singer Rirchard Marx in 1989, and they went on to have three sons. She retired from her career in order to focus on her family. In 2014, the couple divorced after 25 years together.

Elin Nordegren

Elin Nordegren is a model who became well known during her marriage to golf player Tiger Woods. Originally from Sweden, Nordegren moved to the U.S. to work as an au pair for Swedish golfer Jesper Parnevik. She and Woods met through Parnevik and were married in 2004. By 2009, their marriage was a tabloid fixture following his many affairs and they got divorced in 2010. Nordegren then was linked to NFL player Jordan Cameron, and they had their first son in 2019 and their second son in 2022.

Delta Burke

Delta Burke is an actress who is known for her role as Suzanne Sugarbaker in the sitcom Designing Women from 1986 to 1991. She received two Emmy Award nominations for the role. She went on to star in TV shows Filthy Rich, Delta, Women of the House, and DAG. She most recently appeared in Dolly Parton’s Heartstrings in 2019.