I Wondered What The Actors From My Favorite Teen Movies Looked Like Today, So I Looked It Up, And Damn I Still Love Them

Recently, I was watching Season 2 of The White Lotus (for at least the fourth time) and noticed a verrrrrrry familiar actor in the first few episodes.

Will Smith in "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air"
Will Smith in "The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air"

NBC

Alongside the iconic Tanya McQuoid (played by Jennifer Coolidge) was Greg Hunt, a dude with a pretty recognizable face — but for the life of me, I couldn't pinpoint where I knew him from!

Coolidge and Jon Gries in S2 of "The White Lotus"
HBO Max

Enter ye olde IMDb — I tracked down the actor's name, and voilà: It turned out to be Jon Gries (aka Rico Dynamite from the 2004 teen classic Napoleon Dynamite!).

Jon Gries in "Napoleon Dynamite"
Jon Gries in "Napoleon Dynamite"

Fox Searchlight Pictures

This got me thinking about other teen movie actors, and what they look like now and what projects they've been involved with these days. So, here are some stars of popular teen movies back in the day vs. today:

Here's what Matthew Lillard looked like as Brock Hudson in She's All That (1999):

Lillard in "She's All That"
Miramax / Courtesy of Everett Collectioon

And here's what Matthew Lillard looks like today at age 53:

Lillard at an event in West Hollywood
Steve Granitz / WireImage / Getty Images

Matthew Lillard in 1999 vs. today:

Matthew Lillard in 1999

Here's what Natasha Lyonne looked like as Megan Bloomfield in But I'm a Cheerleader (1999):

Lyonne in "But I'm a Cheerleader"
Lionsgate / Courtesy of Everett Collection

And here's what Natasha Lyonne looks like today at age 43:

Lyonne in 2023
Steve Granitz / FilmMagic / Getty Images

Natasha Lyonne in 1999 vs. today:

Natasha Lyonne in 1999

Here's what Molly Ringwald looked like as Andie Walsh in Pretty in Pink (1986):

Ringwald in "Pretty in Pink"
Paramount Pictures / Courtesy of Everett Collection

And here's what Molly Ringwald looks like today at age 54:

Ringwald in 2022
Kristina Bumphrey / Variety via Getty Images

Molly Ringwald in 1986 vs. today:

Ringwald in 1986

Here's what Omar Epps looked like as Quincy McCall in Love & Basketball (2000):

Epps with his hand in his pocket
New Line Cinema / Courtesy of Everett Collection

And here's what Omar Epps looks like today at age 49:

Epps in 2022
Vivien Killilea / Getty Images for Lionsgate

Omar Epps in 2000 vs. today:

Epps in 2000

Here's what Donald Faison looked like as Murray Duvall in Clueless (1995):

Faison posing for a portrait as Murray
Paramount Pictures / Courtesy of Everett Collection

And here's what Donald Faison looks like today at age 48:

Faison in 2022
Araya Doheny / Getty Images for Baby2Baby

Donald Faison in 1995 vs. today:

Faison in 1995

Here's what Heather Matarazzo looked like as Lilly Moscovitz in The Princess Diaries (2001):

Matarazzo in "The Princess Diaries"
Disney / Courtesy of Everett Collection

And here's what Heather Matarazzo looks like today at age 39:

Matarazzo in 2022
David Livingston / Getty Images

Heather Matarazzo in 2001 vs. today:

Heather Matarazzo in 2001

Here's what Jon Gries (right) looked like as Rico Dynamite in Napoleon Dynamite (2004):

Gries in "Napoleon Dynamite"
Fox Searchlight / Courtesy of Everett Collection

And here's what Jon Gries looks like today at age 65:

Gries in 2022
Amy Sussman / Getty Images

Jon Gries in 2004 vs. today:

Jon Gries in 2004

Here's what Christopher Reid looked like as Christopher "Kid" Robinson Jr. in House Party (1990):

Reid in "House Party"
New Line Cinema / Courtesy of Everett Collection

And here's what Christopher Reid looks like today at age 58:

Reid in 2022
Robin L Marshall / Getty Images for BET

Christopher Reid in 1990 vs. today:

Christopher Reid in 1990

Most memorable teen movies: House Party 2 (1991), House Party 3 (1994), Class Act (1992)

Most recent movies/TV shows: Apple & Onion (2021)

New Line Cinema / Courtesy of Everett Collection, Robin L Marshall / Getty Images for BET

Here's what Larisa Oleynik looked like as Bianca Stratford in 10 Things I Hate About You (1999):

Oleynik wearing a sweater and '90s hairdo
Buena Vista Pictures / Buena Vista Pictures/Courtesy of Everett Collection

And here's what Larisa Oleynik looks like today at age 41:

Oleynik at the "10 Things I Hate About You" musical parody premiere
Tibrina Hobson / Getty Images

Larisa Oleynik in 1999 vs. today:

Larisa Oleynik in 1999

Here's what Jessica Alba looked like as Kirsten Liosis in Never Been Kissed (1999):

Alba wearing a bright-colored top and lipstick
20th Century Fox

And here's what Jessica Alba looks like today at age 41:

Alba in 2022
Phillip Faraone / Getty Images for Baby2Baby

Jessica Alba in 1999 vs. today:

Alba in 1999

Most memorable teen movies: P.U.N.K.S. (1999), Honey (2003), Idle Hands (1999)

Most recent movies/TV shows: Killers Anonymous (2019), Trigger Warning (2022), L.A.'s Finest (2019-2020)

20th Century Fox, Phillip Faraone / Getty Images for Baby2Baby

Here's what Gabrielle Union looked like as Isis in Bring It On (2000):

Union in "Bring It On"
Universal / Courtesy of Everett Collection

And here's what Gabrielle Union looks like today at age 50:

Union in 2022
James Devaney / Getty Images

Gabrielle Union in 2000 vs. today:

Gabrielle Union in 2001

Here's what Kel Mitchell looked like as Ed in Good Burger (1997):

Mitchell in "Good Burger"
Paramount Pictures / Courtesy of Everett Collection

And here's what Kel Mitchell looks like today at age 44:

Mitchell in 2022
Michael Buckner / Variety via Getty Images

Kel Mitchell in 1997 vs. today:

Kel Mitchell in 1997

Most memorable teen TV shows: Kenan & Kel (1996-2000), All That (1994-1999)

Most recent movies/TV shows: Deliciousness (2020-present), South Side (2019)

Paramount Pictures / Courtesy of Everett Collection, Michael Buckner / Variety via Getty Images

Here's what Winona Ryder looked like as Veronica Sawyer in Heathers (1989):

Ryder in "Heathers"
New World Pictures / Courtesy of Everett Collection

And here's what Winona Ryder looks like today at age 51:

Ryder in 2022
Kevin Winter / Getty Images for Deadline Hollywood

Winona Ryder in 1989 vs. today:

Ryder in 1989

Here's what Ice Cube looked like as Doughboy in Boyz n the Hood (1991):

Ice Cube in "Boyz n the Hood"
Columbia Pictures / Courtesy of Everett Collection

And here's what Ice Cube looks like today at age 53:

Ice Cube in 2022
Paras Griffin / Getty Images for Idol Roc

Ice Cube in 1991 vs. today:

Ice Cube in 1991

Most memorable teen movies: Friday (1995), Next Friday (2000), 21 Jump Street (2012)

Most recent movies/TV shows: The High Note (2020)

Columbia Pictures / Courtesy of Everett Collection, Paras Griffin / Getty Images for Idol Roc

Here's what Meagan Good looked like as April Palmer in Stomp the Yard (2007):

Good in "Stomp the Yard"
Screen Gems / Courtesy of Everett Collection

And here's what Meagan Good looks like today at age 41:

Good in 2022
Momodu Mansaray / Getty Images

Meagan Good in 2007 vs. today:

Meagan Good in 2007

Most memorable teen movies: You Got Served (2004), Roll Bounce (2005), D.E.B.S. (2004)

Most recent movies/TV shows: Day Shift (2022), Death Saved My Life (2021), Harlem (2021)

Screen Gems / Courtesy of Everett Collection, Momodu Mansaray / Getty Images

Here's what Sean Patrick Thomas looked like as Derek Reynolds in Save the Last Dance (2001):

Thomas in "Save the Last Dance"
Paramount Pictures / Courtesy of Everett Collection

And here's what Sean Patrick Thomas looks like today at age 52:

Thomas in 2022
Michael Rowe / Getty Images for IMDb

Sean Patrick Thomas in 2001 vs. today:

Sean Patrick Thomas in 2001

Here's what Ally Sheedy looked like as Allison Reynolds in The Breakfast Club (1985):

Sheedy in "The Breakfast Club"
Universal Pictures / Courtesy of Everett Collection

And here's what Ally Sheedy looks like today at age 60:

Sheedy in 2022
Dia Dipasupil / Getty Images

Ally Sheedy in 1985 vs. today:

Ally Sheedy in 1985

Most memorable teen movies: St. Elmo's Fire (1985), Blue City (1986), Oxford Blues (1984)

Most recent movies/TV shows: Single Drunk Female (2022)

Universal Pictures / Courtesy of Everett Collection, Dia Dipasupil / Getty Images

Here's what Didi Conn looked like as Frenchy in Grease (1978):

Conn as Frenchy in "Grease"
CBS Photo Archive / Getty Images

And here's what Didi Conn looks like today at age 71:

Conn at an event at Royal Albert Hall
Sopa Images / LightRocket via Getty Images

Didi Conn in 1978 vs. today:

Conn in

Most memorable teen movies: Grease 2 (1982), Almost Summer (1978)

Most recent movies/TV shows: Blue Bloods (2022), The Mimic (2020)

CBS Photo Archive / Getty Images, Sopa Images / LightRocket via Getty Images

And finally: Here's what Anthony Michael Hall looked like as Ted Farmer in Sixteen Candles (1984):

Hall as a teenager in "Sixteen Candles"
MCA / Courtesy of Everett Collection

And here's what Anthony Michael Hall looks like today at age 54:

Hall in 2022
Jody Cortes / Getty Images for ABA

Anthony Michael Hall in 1984 vs. today:

Anthony Michael Hall in 1984