Michael Schoeffling, Lost & Found

You know Michael Schoeffling. Half the people I know fell in love with him when he played Jake Ryan in the classic Sixteen Candles. The other half felt their hearts go all a-flutter when he played Joe in Mermaids. I remember him as one of my first huge crushes. Michael's last recorded appearance on film was in 1991's Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken, which is a shame really, because I think he's a great actor. I recently started to wonder what he's up to now. The answer:
no one seemed to know...

But fear not: Michael has been found! Yes, Michael is now living in Pennsylvania, with his wife & two children. He is running his own furniture-making business! Read below and see how my search ended with this happy discovery!

Read the Washington Post article about the allure of Jake Ryan!

Clearly this was a mystery that needed to be solved. If only so that we can all sleep through the night knowing that Michael is out there somewhere living a happy life.

Step one: I checked the Filmography for Michael Schoeffling at the Internet Movie Database. Nothing at all, besides Michael's filmography. No web sites, no biographical information, and no listing for his work after Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken.

Step two: I searched Yahoo! but only found a zillion places that sell his movies. But then, like a gleam of light in the dark, I spotted two links that actually had information... But not much.
One site, Agency Summary November 15, 1996 00:51:59 is a list of actors and the name of their representatives. So at least until the end of 1996, Michael was represented by a group called House of Reps.
The next site, a zine called Former Child Star Palooza- The Zine - had an e-mail from another fan, wondering where Michael has been lately. Their response was as follows:
You readers clearly have Michael Schoeffling on the brain. In issue No. 3, we pointed out his recent film credits from the late 1980s and early 1990s, including "Wild Hearts..." As to his whereabouts in 1997, we just don't know. So somebody, please, help us out here. The natives are getting restless. Where is Michael Schoeffling?)

Step three: Confer with gossip superstars, Babs and Murg, through posting boards on AOL. My response from Babs:
Subj: BAB'S FRIDAY FACTOID
Date: 97-12-19 13:15:58 EST
From: {Babs, Gossip Queen}
As for where actor Michael Schoeffling (Mermaids, 16 Candles) has been- NO ONE I talked to had a clue about his whereabouts. Somebody said look for him in bad soft-core cable porn soon...

Had our worst fears proven true? Had Michael dropped off the face of the Earth without leaving so much as a trace?
I had faith that he'd return. The truth was out there, kids, and we found it:

Inspired in part by our appeals here for information on M.I.A. "Sixteen Candles" costar MICHAEL SCHOEFFLING, netizen Richard Sayre has launched The Search for Michael Schoeffling Page.
"I recently started to wonder what he's up to now," Sayre writes. "The answer: no one seems to know..."
Sayre documents the usual signposts in the Schoeffling quest (the sightings in "Longtime Companion," "Mermaids," etc.) and dredges up some key new findings (a tidbit about a teacher who swears the actor lives in Pennsylvania).
Sayre's page is definitely onto something. A recently
uncovered 1990 Schoeffling interview with the Los Angeles Times seemingly confirms the Pennsylvania tip.
In the article, Schoeffling, then a married father with two
kids, talks about his successful sidelight career -- running a
furniture-making business . . .

Highlights of Michael's Career in Film:

Sixteen Candles Michael plays Jake Ryan in this John Hughes comedy about a girl who's parents forget her 16th birthday. Jake's the popular guy that she's obsessed with, who eventually ends up as the greatest birthday surprise ever.

Vision Quest Michael plays the unfortunately named Cooch- a mohawked wrestler & friend to the story's hero, played by Matthew Modine. Known also as Crazy For You!

Longtime Companion Michael plays one gay man in a circle of friends. The first major film to deal with AIDS. Michael has very little screen time, but it's a wonderful film.

Slaves of New York Michael plays Jan, a motorcycle riding guy who Bernadette Peters picks up with the help of her dog, who's name is *not* Runt. Michael doesn't show up till the last 15 minutes of the movie, but when he does, he's got long hair. 'Nuff said.

Mermaids Michael plays Joe, a 26 year old handyman who began working for the local convent after getting a girl pregnant. But not by just kissing her, Charlotte! Winona Ryder plays a girl with a thing for nuns who develops a crush on Michael. Just like any other red blooded girl, about 15% of the guys & oh yeah, Cher, who plays her mom.

Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken Michael plays a man who's touring with a show in which a girl on a horse dives into a pool. Romantic movie with Gabrielle Anwar as the rebellious Sonora (who rocks), and Michael is the love interest once more.

Make a wish...


*note, this page was created solely for entertainment, as well as a tribute to a wonderful unappreciated actor. the images used are all copyright of their prospective owners, blah blah blah.
the creator of this page is just a random fan of Mr. Schoeffling and is in no way connected to him. Duh. I have no information on the precise whereabouts of Michael or his business, so please don't e-mail me to ask. Let's respect the privacy that he clearly wishes for!*