'80s stars - How their careers have changed over the years | Gallery

By Bryanne Salazar 9:06am PDT, Apr 3, 2018

On April 6, 2018, the riveting drama "Where is Kyra?" arrives in theaters. It stars Michelle Pfeiffer in the title role and tells the story of a desperate woman who, after losing everything, is forced to take drastic, dangerous measures to survive. Critics have called Michelle's performance her best in years, which makes us remember how much we loved her back in the '80s when she starred on shows like "Bad Cats" (seen here) and in hit films like "Tequila Sunrise." In honor of her newest movie's release, Wonderwall.com is taking a look at Michelle and other top stars of the 1980s to see how their careers have changed over the years. Keep reading for more…

Michelle Pfeiffer's fame only grew in the '90s with starring roles in films like "The Fabulous Baker Boys" (which earned her a best actress Golden Globe), "Frankie and Johnny," "Love Field" (which earned her an Oscar nod) and "The Age of Innocence." However, as the 2000s arrived, Michelle made a conscious choice to take a step back from her career to focus on raising her children. Although she was in semi-retirement from 2000 to 2006, Michelle still made the occasional film including 2001's "I Am Sam" with Sean Penn and 2002's "White Oleander" with Robin Wright. In 2017, the "Dangerous Minds" star appeared in several new films including "mother!" and "Murder on the Orient Express." The 2018 release of "Where is Kyra?" will be the first time Michelle's had a leading role on the big screen since she starred in the 2013 comedic thriller "The Family."

Kiefer Sutherland was a bona fide bad boy on the Hollywood scene throughout much of the '80s and '90s. The son of actor Donald Sutherland began his career performing alongside his dad in the 1983 film "Max Dugan Returns." But it wasn't long before the young star was landing roles in films like "Stand By Me" and "The Lost Boys." By the end of the '80s, Kiefer wasn't just a star but a heartthrob who also happened to have an arrest record for DUI (a charge that was later dismissed).

Kiefer Sutherland managed to maintain an active career in Hollywood throughout the '90s and 2000s by starring in films like "Flatliners," "A Few Good Men" and "Freeway." In 2001, he landed the role of Jack Bauer on the hit TV drama "24." The series ran until 2010 and earned Kiefer a Golden Globe, two Primetime Emmys and two SAG Awards. After the show ended, Kiefer tested the waters with two new television series, "Confession" and "Touch," but neither had the success of "24." In addition to reprising his character for the 2014 miniseries "24: Live Another Day," Kiefer also appeared on the big screen in films like "Pompeii," "Forsaken" and "Zoolander 2." Kiefer's TV luck changed in 2016 when he landed the lead role in the hit drama series "Designated Survivor," which is enjoying a successful second-season run. In 2018, we can catch Kiefer in the indie drama "Where is Kyra?" alongside fellow '80s star Michelle Pfeiffer.

If people didn't realize that Oprah Winfrey was about to take over the world in the 1980s, then they were missing all the clues she was dropping. Not only did Oprah star in the critically acclaimed drama "The Color Purple" in 1985 — the performance earned her an Oscar nod — but in 1986, she launched her hit national daytime series, "The Oprah Winfrey Show," which earned her the first of many People's Choice Awards. While it might have been subtle, Oprah was busy building her empire from the very beginning.

Oprah Winfrey's career has only had one trajectory since the 1980s, and that's up. The talk-show host, actress, producer and publishing mogul appeared in films like "Selma" (earning her another Oscar nod) and "The Immortal Life of Henrietta Lacks" while launching new shows like "Oprah's Master Class" and producing hit dramas like "Queen Sugar." As if her film career in front of and behind the camera wasn't enough, in 2000, she launched her "O" magazine and in 2011, she established a TV network, OWN. In 2018, Oprah's still working her magic: She appeared in the family fantasy drama "A Wrinkle in Time" and began filming two upcoming dramas, "Terms of Endearment" and "Richard Pryor: Is it Something I Said?"

Another major '80s star who's still kicking Hollywood butt is Tom Cruise, whose earliest film credits include guest roles in "Endless Love" and "Taps." Young Tom didn't have to wait long to become a major movie star, because by 1983, he was headlining films like "Losin' It," "Risky Business" and "All the Right Moves." Bigger movies followed, of course, as Tom starred in hits like "Top Gun," "Cocktail," "Rain Man" and the 1989 drama "Born on the Fourth of July," which earned him a Golden Globe Award the following year.

Remarkably, Tom Cruise has managed to stay just as relevant in Hollywood in 2018 as he was in 1983. In the '90s, Tom starred in numerous hits like "Days of Thunder," "A Few Good Men," "Mission: Impossible" (a franchise that's still churning out films today) and "Jerry Maguire." Even when Tom endured a public divorce from actress Nicole Kidman and a whirlwind romance, marriage and eventual divorce from actress Katie Holmes, he never let his personal troubles impact his career pursuits. "2000s Tom" is a certified action star who headlined high-octane films like "Minority Report," "War of the Worlds" and "Jack Reacher." In 2018, Tom will star in "Mission: Impossible – Fallout" (the sixth film in the franchise) and begin filming the 2019 sequel "Top Gun: Maverick."

Doe-eyed Goldie Hawn was a Hollywood treasure long before the '80s. Her first on-screen role was in 1967 on the TV series "Good Morning, World," which was followed by roles throughout the '70s in films like "Cactus Flower" (which earned her an Oscar and Golden Globe), "The Sugarland Express" and "Lovers and Liars." It was the 1980s, however, that made Goldie a comedic darling on the big screen with starring roles in "Private Benjamin" and "Overboard."

Throughout the '90s, Goldie Hawn was still going strong, starring in films like "Bird on a Wire," "Housesitter" and "Death Becomes Her." Then in 1993, she took an extended break from Hollywood, not returning until 1996 with the romantic comedy "Everyone Says I Love You." From there, Goldie wouldn't appear on-screen again until 1999's "The Out of Towners." In 2002, Goldie starred in her final film for the next 15 years, "The Banger Sisters" co-starring Susan Sarandon. When asked about her sudden retreat from Hollywood, Goldie shared with Vanity Fair that her decision to step away from the limelight had everything to do with wanting to find meaning and purpose in her life. "I ended up writing two books and creating MindUp," a program for kids that Goldie created through her Hawn Foundation to "improve student engagement" and "bring joy back into the classroom," she said. In 2017, Goldie finally returned to the big screen in the Amy Schumer comedy "Snatched." We hope we get to see more of Goldie in the coming years.

Eddie Murphy's first claim to acting fame came in 1980 as a cast member on "Saturday Night Live." The young comic quickly became a fan favorite, creating iconic characters like Velvet Jones and Mr. Robinson and doing a killer impersonation of James Brown. By 1982, Eddie was already in the big leagues, starring in "48 Hrs." alongside Nick Nolte. After leaving "SNL" in 1984, Eddie released a Grammy-winning comedy album and continued his big-screen domination with roles in films like "Beverly Hills Cop" and its sequel, "The Golden Child" and (our personal favorite) "Welcome to America."

If the '80s were when Eddie Murphy made his debut, then the '90s were when he arrived. The comedic genius continued his reign in Hollywood starring in hit sequels like "Another 48 Hrs." and "Beverly Hills Cop III" while also creating new characters for us to love in "The Nutty Professor" and "Dr. Dolittle." While Eddie was a masterful comic, he also proved to be a talented dramatic actor. In 2006, he had a chance to prove himself with his Oscar-nominated performance as James "Thunder" Early in "Dreamgirls." While it seemed like Eddie was poised to reinvent himself once again, sadly, he wasn't able to translate his success in "Dreamgirls" into meatier film roles. In 2012, Eddie appeared in "A Thousand Words," a fantasy-comedy about a man who had a limited number of words he could speak before dying, and then disappeared from the big screen for four long years, claiming he didn't want fans to "get sick of his face." Thankfully, Eddie returned in 2016 with the dramedy "Mr. Church" about a little girl, her dying mother and the man they hire as their cook. Eddie's also got three new projects in the works including "Beverly Hills Cop 4" and "Richard Pryor: Is it Something I Said?"

Legendary actress Meryl Streep was still an up and comer in 1979, but that all changed in 1980. That's the year Meryl took home her first of three Academy Awards, this one for her performance in "Kramer vs. Kramer." From there, Meryl went on to star in numerous critically acclaimed films throughout the '80s including "Sophie's Choice" (which earned her a second Oscar), "Silkwood," "Out of Africa" and "Ironweed" (all of which earned her Academy Award nods).

Today, Meryl Streep is widely considered to be the best actress of her generation. Not only has she proved her talent over the decades in a seemingly endless parade of hit films, like "The Bridges of Madison County," "The Hours," "The Devil Wears Prada" and "Mamma Mia!," but she's also a record holder — she's the most nominated actor or actress of all time, with an inconceivable 21 Oscar nominations alone. Throughout her career, Meryl's continuously reinvented herself, showing us her strength, beauty, determination and, most of all, unmatched artistry. On the heels of her Oscar-nominated performance in the 2017 biographical drama "The Post," Meryl is joining the cast of HBO's award-winning drama "Big Little Lies." She's also set to star in two films in 2018, "Mamma Mia! Here We Go Again" and "Mary Poppins Returns."

Although Ben Kingsley began his acting career back in 1966, it was his Oscar-winning performance in the 1982 biopic "Gandhi" that transformed the British TV actor into a bona fide film star. Throughout the '80s, Ben made several more appearances on the big screen in films like "Betrayal," "Maurice" and "Without a Clue." Not only was he proving his prowess in Hollywood, but he was quickly becoming known as one of the most versatile actors of our time.

Considering that Sir Ben Kingsley's career spans an amazing 52 years, it's incredible that even today, he's still a major star known for his compelling performances on-screen. Throughout the '90s, Ben built his reputation as a seriously talented star with roles in films like "Bugsy" (which earned him his second Oscar nod), "Searching for Bobby Fischer" and "Schindler's List." Ben also continued to dip his toes in TV films and miniseries, earning a Primetime Emmy nomination for his work as Potiphar in the biblical retelling "Joseph." Throughout the early 2000s, Ben — who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2002 — continued to grow his body of work, starring in films like "Rules of Engagement," "Sexy Beast," "House of Sand and Fog" (the last two earned him Oscar nominations) and "Shutter Island." Proving he's still as versatile as ever, Ben's appeared in superhero action films like "Iron Man 3," biblical narratives like "Exodus: Gods and Kings" and comedies like "War Machine." In 2018, Ben's set to star in six films including the historical thriller "Backstabbing for Beginners" and the drama "A Doll's House."

Not long after Bette Midler's first credited role on the big screen in 1971, she released her debut studio album, "The Divine Miss M," which went all the way to No. 9 on the Billboard 200 chart. By the time 1980 rolled around, Bette had starred in four Broadway productions, produced five albums, won a Grammy, earned an Oscar nomination and developed a very bright future as a triple threat in Hollywood. Building on her phenomenal success, Bette went on to star in several major hits in the '80s including "Ruthless People," "Outrageous Fortune," "Big Business" and "Beaches."

When you think about how hard Bette Midler's worked throughout her 52-year career in the entertainment industry, it's easy to be in awe. Before Jennifer Lopez dominated the big screen and music charts, Bette was doing it all with gusto. Throughout the '90s, Bette continued to rake in the awards, earning another Grammy, two Emmys, two Golden Globes and an Oscar nod. She also released three more studio albums and starred in numerous hit films like "Stella," "For the Boys" and "Hocus Pocus." In 2000, along with continuing her music and film career, Bette tried out TV for a while as the lead of her own sitcom, "Bette." In 2002, after 23 years away from the stage, Bette made her return to Broadway with "Short Talks on the Universe." The fiery environmentalist's most notable films of late include "The Stepford Wives" and "The Women." In 2017, Bette headlined Broadway's "Hello, Dolly!" and in 2018, it was announced that she'll star in the upcoming comedy "The Tale of the Allergist's Wife."

Daniel Day-Lewis's first credited role was on an episode of the TV series "Shoestring" in 1980. But by 1982, the talented actor had begun landing parts in major films like "Gandhi," "The Bounty," "A Room with a View," "The Incredible Lightness of Being" and the critically acclaimed biographical drama "My Left Foot" (which earned him his first Oscar). By 1989, Daniel had risen from being a little-known British actor to a major Hollywood star.

When we think of the greatest films of all time, often it's the movies Daniel Day-Lewis starred in. The powerhouse actor spent much of the '90s and 2000s giving his all in films like "The Last of the Mohicans," "In the Name of the Father," "The Crucible," "Gangs of New York," "There Will Be Blood" and, perhaps his greatest masterpiece of all time, "Lincoln." Nominated for six Oscars over his career (he's won three), Daniel's something of a legend in Hollywood. After "Lincoln" in 2012, the actor took an extended break to enjoy life with his family on his 50-acre Dublin farm (he'd previously made headlines when he took a break to work as a cobbler's apprentice in Florence, Italy). While it seemed Daniel would never return to the big screen, he ended his self-imposed sabbatical to star in the critically acclaimed 2017 Oscar-winning drama "Phantom Thread." But before the film's release, Daniel announced it would be his final role as an actor.

In the '60s, Sally Field was known for her starring role on "Gidget." In the '70s, she played Sally Burton on "The Girl with Something Extra" while also appearing on the big screen in films like "Smokey and the Bandit" and "Norma Rae" (which earned her her first Oscar). The '80s, however, were when Sally became a huge star. The actress headlined some of the biggest romantic dramas of the decade including "Backroads," "Places in the Heart" (which earned her a second Oscar) and the female-led powerhouse drama "Steel Magnolias."

Throughout the early '90s, Sally Field continued her movie star streak, appearing in films like "Soapdish," "Mrs. Doubtfire" and "Forrest Gump." Then in 2000, Sally returned to her roots by joining the TV series "ER" as Maggie Wyczenski, ultimately winning a Primetime Emmy for the performance. Leaving the show in 2006, Sally wasn't off the small screen for long. That same year, she appeared on "Brothers & Sister," which earned her a second Emmy. In 2012, Sally starred alongside Daniel Day-Lewis in the biopic "Lincoln" in which she played Mary Todd Lincoln and earned an Oscar nomination for her work. Although her film roles have been fewer and farther between in recent years, Sally still occasionally pops up on the big screen. In 2015, she starred in the dramatic comedy "Hello, My Name is Doris," and in 2017, she played Miss Shaylock in the horror-comedy "Little Evil."

Michael Caine is a living legend. The British actor has the longest career of anyone on our list, having worked on-screen since 1956 starting with the films "Panic in the Parlor" and "Hell in Korea." By the 1980s, Michael was an Oscar-nominated star, known for his roles in films like "Alfie," "Sleuth," "Hannah and Her Sisters" (which won him his first Oscar) and "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels."

Incredibly, at the age of 85, Sir Michael Caine is still hitting home runs in Hollywood. The dynamic actor continued his successful streak in the '90s and 2000s, starring in movies like "Blood and Wine," "Cider House Rules" (which earned him another Oscar), "The Quiet American" and "The Dark Knight" (and subsequent sequels) as our favorite superhero butler and mentor. In 2017, the British star — who was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 2000 — appeared in the films "Going in Style," "Dear Dictator" and the Oscar-winning historical drama "Dunkirk." Up next for Michael is the crime drama "The King of Thieves." He's also voicing Lord Redbrick in the 2018 animated adventure "Sherlock Gnomes."