Michael Schoeffling's story: Movies, family, latest news
Whenever Michael Schoeffling is mentioned, the 80s American teen comedy film Sixteen Candles comes to mind. He is remembered for his iconic character in the movie as Jake Ryan. But he retired when his acting career was about to bloom, and fans expected more of him on their screen. As a result, many are curious to know what happened to the former celebrity actor.
Source: Getty Images
Michael Schoeffling is an American actor and model. He was among the rising stars of the 80s and 90s movie industry. It has been over 39 years since he shot to fame, and his few movie appearances verify his incredible talent.
Profile summary
| Full name | Michael Earl Schoeffling |
| Gender | Male |
| Date of birth | 10 December 1960 |
| Age | 63 years old (as of 2024) |
| Zodiac sign | Sagittarius |
| Place of birth | Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, USA |
| Current residence | Pennsylvania, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Ethnicity | White |
| Sexuality | Straight |
| Height in feet | 6'0" |
| Height in centimetres | 182 |
| Weight in pounds | 165 |
| Weight in kilograms | 75 |
| Hair colour | Black |
| Eye colour | Brown |
| Siblings | 2 |
| Marital status | Married |
| Spouse | Valerie Robinson |
| Children | 2 |
| School | Cherokee High School |
| University/college | Temple University, Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute |
| Profession | Former model, actor, businessman |
| Net worth | $500,000 |
Michael Schoeffling's brief bio
Michael Schoeffling (63 years of age as of January 2024) was born on 10 December 1960, in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, but grew up in South Jersey. He has an elder brother named Tom and a younger brother named Matt.
Education
According to sources, Schoeffling attended Cherokee High School in New Jersey and later obtained a degree in Liberal Arts from Temple University in Philadelphia.
In school, he was an active sportsman who participated in wrestling competitions and won national and international championships for the Jr. U.S wrestling team. Michael ventured into modelled and started acting at a young age, so he enrolled at the Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute in Manhattan to build his career.
Source: Getty Images
What movies has Michael Schoeffling been in?
Michael has been in several hit 80s and 90s movies like Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken and Sylvester. Initially, in the mid-1980s, he pursued becoming a model. He modelled for GQ and photographer Bruce Weber. But he later focused on acting.
His first role and fame came at the age of 23 when he played his role in the John Hughes movie Sixteen Candles. Since then, until his retirement, he appeared in eleven movies. Below is a list of Michael Schoeffling's movies and their year of release:
| S/N | Movie title | Role | Year |
| 1 | Sixteen Candles | Jack Ryan | 1984 |
| 2 | Racing with the Moon | Amputee Soldier | 1984 |
| 3 | Sylvester | Matt | 1985 |
| 4 | Vision Quest | Kenny "Kuch" Kuchera | 1985 |
| 5 | Let's Get Harry | Corey Burck | 1986 |
| 6 | The Hitchhiker | Lance | 1986 |
| 7 | Belizaire the Cajun | Hypolite Leger | 1989 |
| 8 | Longtime Companion | Michael | 1989 |
| 9 | Slaves of Newyork | Jan | 1989 |
| 10 | Mermaids | Joe Perretti | 1990 |
| 11 | Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken | Al Carver | 1991 |
What happened to Michael Schoeffling?
Schoeffling called it quits from acting in 1991. He swapped his acting career for a furniture business.
What does Michael Schoeffling do now?
Michael opened a woodworking shop in Northeastern Pennsylvania and started making handcrafted pieces of furniture. He reportedly retired because movie roles were no longer coming, and he needed money to care for his family. He had this to say:
In film work, you do the best you can under the given circumstances, but you don't have control. At least, I don't. Actors spend most of their time out of work, so I actually spend more time making furniture. The thing about furniture that's much better than acting is that it's just me. There's no director, no script - the concept is me unless a client wants something.
Is Michael Schoeffling married?
Michael married his wife in 1987, and they have been together for nearly four decades.
Who is Michael Schoeffling's wife?
Michael's wife is Valarie Robinson. She is also an American former model and actress. She began acting in 1977 with her first movie, Having Babies II. She also starred in Patty Hearst and Over the Brooklyn Bridge.
Source: Getty Images
Does Michael Schoeffling have a son?
The former actor and his wife have a son named Zane Schoeffling. He was born on 6 August 1988. They also have a daughter, Scarlett, who was born in 1990 and is quite active on social media. She took after her parents as an actress and works as a model for brands like Neutrogena. More so, Black: The Jackie Ryan Story and Billions are part of her acting credits.
Where is Michael Schoeffling now?
The Sixteen Candles cast member is a family man living in his hometown in Pennsylvania. He still runs his woodwork shop but is off the public radar. His daughter Scarlett posts his pictures and family on her Instagram page @scarloz.
How much is Michael Schoeffling worth?
Michael has an estimated net worth of $500,000, as revealed by Celebrity Net Worth. He made this from his career, first as an actor and then as a woodwork expert.
If Michael Schoeffling had continued pursuing his acting career, he could have become one of the most exceptional actors in history. Despite that, fans from the 80s cherish him, and his talented daughter carries on his legacy.
READ ALSO: Top Gun star Kelly McGillis' bio: where is she now?
As published on Briefly, more than three decades have passed since the 1986 premiere of Top Gun, a film that propelled Kelly McGillis, who portrayed Charlie, into the limelight as Tom Cruise's love interest.
Despite the initial surge in fame during the '80s, her career trajectory did not match the soaring expectations. Her absence in the 2022 blockbuster sequel, Top Gun: Maverick, has further sparked curiosity among fans who wonder what happened to the actress.
Source: Briefly News
