Jump to content

Michael Schoeffling

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Michael Schoeffling
Born
Michael Earl Schoeffling

(1960-12-10) December 10, 1960 (age 65)
Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, U.S.
OccupationActor
Years active1984–1991
Notable workSixteen Candles
Spouse
Valerie Robinson
​
(m. 1987)​
Children2

Michael Earl Schoeffling (born December 10, 1960) is an American former actor and model. He is known for playing the roles of Jake Ryan in Sixteen Candles, Kenny "Kuch" Kuchera in Vision Quest, Corey Burck in Let's Get Harry, Joe Perretti in Mermaids, and Al Carver in Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken.[1]

He retired from acting in 1991.

Early life and education

[edit]

Schoeffling was born in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and raised in South Jersey. He graduated from Cherokee High School in Evesham Township, New Jersey.[citation needed] He attended Temple University in Philadelphia, where he majored in liberal arts.[citation needed] 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

[edit]

Schoeffling 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 titled "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 supporting 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

[edit]

After his acting career, Schoeffling opened a woodworking shop and produced handcrafted furniture.[3] Schoeffling has kept out of the public eye and has never given interviews since retiring from acting. In 2014, his wife told People that he "simply values his privacy".[4]

Personal life

[edit]

Schoeffling met his wife, former actress and model, Valerie Robinson, on the modeling circuit in New York in the early 1980s, and married in 1987.[5] They have two children; son Zane and daughter, Scarlett, who is a professional model in New York City.[6]

Filmography

[edit]
Year Title Role Notes
1984 Sixteen Candles Jake Ryan
Racing with the Moon Amputee Soldier Uncredited
1985 Sylvester Matt
Vision Quest Kenny "Kuch" Kuchera
1986 Let's Get Harry Corey Burck
The Hitchhiker Lance TV series (episode: "Dead Man's Curve")
Belizaire the Cajun Hypolite Leger
1989 Longtime Companion Michael
Slaves of New York Jan
1990 Mermaids Joe Perretti
1991 Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken Al Carver

See also

[edit]

References

[edit]
  1. 1 2 3 4 Cammila Collar (2016). "Michael Schoeffling". Movies & TV Dept. The New York Times. Archived from the original on 2016-03-20.
  2. ↑ Stuever, Hank (February 14, 2004). "Reflections on Jake Ryan of the John Hughes Film 'Sixteen Candles'". The Washington Post.
  3. ↑ "9 Actors Who "Quit" Being Famous Archived 2015-05-18 at the Wayback Machine
  4. ↑ https://www.usmagazine.com/entertainment/news/where-is-sixteen-candles-star-michael-schoeffling-now/
  5. ↑ Telling, Gillian (May 4, 2024). "Remember Jake Ryan from 16 Candles? You Won't Be Surprised to Know His Daughter Is a Gorgeous Model: See the Photos". People.com. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
  6. ↑ Spohr, Mike (May 18, 2020). "If You Ever Wondered What Happened To Jake Ryan From "Sixteen Candles," Here's An Update Of Sorts". BuzzFeed. Retrieved July 12, 2026.
[edit]


Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Michael_Schoeffling&oldid=1363734866"