This Is What Happened To The Cast Of American Pie
By even the most stringent of cinematic standards, 1999 was a banner year for movies. Some might argue it ranks among the greatest movie years in the history of cinema, boasting a jaw-dropping slate of flicks from cinematic masters (e.g. Kubrick, Mann, Scorsese) and relative newcomers alike (including the Wachowskis, Sofia Coppola, and Spike Jonze).
Many of the year's best offerings were understandably steeped high drama, but there were a handful of legit classic comedies released in '99, too. And oddly enough, one of 1999's biggest comedic hits also serves as one of the year's more frequently overlooked delights. That film was a raunchy teen sex comedy by the name of "American Pie," which follows the tale of four young men who make a pact to lose their virginity by prom night, with hilarious and surprisingly heartfelt hijinks ensuing.
While the film is no doubt best remembered for a certain scene involving a fresh-baked apple pie, it also featured one of the hottest young casts in Hollywood upon release. Here's a look at what the cast of "American Pie" has been up to since.
Jason Biggs has carved out an impressive Hollywood career
Jason Biggs was the actor tasked with bringing that infamous apple pie moment to life, and we can only imagine he had a million questions for his director before doing the deed. That's probably true of most of his scenes in "American Pie" because more than any other character, Jim suffers the brunt of the film's (nay, the franchise's) angsty teen indignities.
Whatever the case, one has to admire Biggs' dedication to enduring those indignities, and he leans so fully into every salacious moment that you simply can't imagine "American Pie," let alone the ensuing films, without him — or without that apple pie, the super glue, that beard trimmer, or, well, you get the idea.
While "American Pie" indeed made the relative unknown Biggs a star, he's had trouble replicating such meteoric success in the years since. Still, the actor has made a mark in the entertainment biz, carving out career with films including "Loser," "Saving Silverman," and "Who We Are Now," as well as memorable work on Netflix's prison dramedy "Orange is the New Black" and Kevin Smith's "Jay and Silent Bob" flicks.
More recently, Biggs starred on two short-lived series: the NBC family sitcom "Outmatched" and the 2021 E! game show "Jason Biggs' Cash at Your Door."
Alyson Hannigan has gone on to bigger and better things since American Pie
While "American Pie" is essentially about a bunch of horny boys trying to score, it was also one of the first "horny boys" movies that fully acknowledged that horny girls exist, too. And even if it clearly objectifies some of its female characters, "American Pie" really did better than most teen sex flicks in depicting its female characters as fiercely intellectual human beings with desires of their own.
Alyson Hannigan's flute-playing "band geek" Michelle is one of the film's female characters most distinctly in the middle of that equation, mostly because "American Pie" doesn't initially paint her an object of desire. That quickly changes when she drops that shocking line about the intimate nature of her relationship with her flute. At that wholly unexpected turn, she actually becomes the adorable, band-loving sexpot that cinema didn't know it needed, and Hannigan revisited the role in three "American Pie" sequels.
Of course, out of all the young stars in the original "American Pie," Hannigan was likely the one who needed little introduction to the film's target audience because she'd already made a splash on the small screen via "Buffy the Vampire Slayer" as Willow Rosenberg. Of the film's cast, Hannigan is also the one who scored the biggest post-"Pie" hit, joining another all-star comedy ensemble for the prime-time juggernaut known as "How I Met Your Mother."
Chris Klein never quite lived up to his potential
Of all the young men who got their big break in "American Pie," Chris Klein was the one most primed for superstardom. That's largely because he's got chiseled, leading man looks, but it helps that he's a better-than-average actor, has solid comedic timing, and can even belt out a tune with the best of them. And as it happens, 1999 was the year Klein seemed most destined for fame, with winning turns in both "American Pie" as Oz the hunky but sensitive jock and in critical fave "Election" as Paul the lovably dimwitted football player.
"American Pie" was clearly the more high-profile project, however, and Klein rode the initial wave of stardom to a leading role in the sci-fi action remake dud "Rollerball," as well as largely underseen supporting turns in "We Were Soldiers" (opposite Mel Gibson), "The United States of Leland" (with Ryan Gosling), and "Just Friends" (alongside Ryan Reynolds).
Soon after that "Just Friends" appearance, Chris Klein further lost his way in Hollywood, spending much of the mid-2000s appearing in forgettable films and series too numerous to recount. Klein finally started to turn things around with a supporting turn performance opposite Elijah Wood in the gonzo FX dramedy "Wilfred," and he's since gone on to deliver work in the CW hit "The Flash" (where he portrayed the villainous Cicada), and on Netflix's warm and fuzzy hit "Sweet Magnolias" as Dr. Bill Townsend.
Mena Suvari has kept more than busy since her American Pie days
Mena Suvari had a fantastic 1999, as she featured prominently in one of the year's biggest box office hits ("American Pie") and one of its most critically adored films. That critical fave was none other than future best picture winner "American Beauty," which was ironically released just after Suvari's other 1999 offering, "American Virgin" (since renamed "Live Virgin").
Clearly, 1999 was an all-American year for Mena Suvari at the cinemas. And as it happens, she played a virginal teen in all three of those films, though most would agree her Heather in "American Pie" was the most honorable. It was also the role that put the actor's piercing vulnerability front and center and allowed her to craft as earnest a portrait of teenaged tenderness as the screen has seen.
In fact, Suvari has spent much of her career since trying to shed that innocent persona, a task made more difficult given her own fragile features. She's often succeeded in that endeavor, though, with edgier turns in films like "Sugar & Spice," "Edmond," and "Factory Girl." While Suvari has some movies on the horizon, she's appeared frequently on the small screen over the years, playing in "Six Feet Under," "Chicago Fire," "American Woman," and "American Horror Story" since her "American Pie" breakout.
Thomas Ian Nicholas went from child star to movie star with American Pie
If Alyson Hannigan was the female cast member of "American Pie" who needed little introduction to fans, it's safe to say Thomas Ian Nicholas was her male counterpart. Of all the up-and-coming talent in "American Pie," he was the only one who could count himself a full-on child star, having already spent a decade in front of the camera before appearing as Kevin in the film.
Nicholas' pre-"Pie" oeuvre is fairly impressive, with the actor earning credits on "Who's the Boss?", "Baywatch", and "Married... with Children" before he was even 10 years old. He'd also scooped a big screen credit in "Radio Flyer" before fronting "Rookie of the Year" and Disney's "A Kid in King Arthur's Court." As it was, "American Pie" was really the first "adult" role in Thomas Ian Nicholas' career, and the actor made the most of the moment, crafting one of the more amiable horny screen teens in recent cinema.
Once he got a taste of more adult fare, Nicholas never looked back to his family-friendly beginnings. He scored complex roles in the likes of "Party of Five," "The Rules of Attraction," "Stealing Sinatra," and indies like "Please Give." Most recently, he portrayed a pair of Hollywood icons in Walt Disney ("Walt Before Disney") and Martin Scorsese (James Franco's star-studded indie "Zeroville").
Tara Reid has had her share of B-movie kicks since her American Pie breakout
Tara Reid's pre-"Pie" resume wasn't super impressive, but she'd still scored scene-stealing turns in "Urban Legend," "Cruel Intentions," and something like two scenes in the Coen Brothers' immortal classic "The Big Lebowski."
Still, her work as Vicky displayed a depth many hadn't seen from Reid before, one which both male and female fans of "American Pie" could easily relate. Reid seemed destined for stardom after the film's release, and reinforced her name with roles in underperforming flicks like "Dr. T and the Women," "Josie and the Pussycats" and "National Lampoon's Van Wilder," (even if the last two did eventually become cult classics), and a funny arc on "Scrubs."
Like many of her "American Pie" co-stars, however, Reid had some trouble in the mid-2000s. Nevertheless, she's become a regular fixture of B-movies (e.g. the "Sharknado" franchise) and schmaltzy Christmas flicks, and made an appearance as herself in Amazon's hyper-violent superhero satire "The Boys."
In case you can't tell, Reid has had more fun than most in her adventurous post-"Pie" career, and she seems fit for even more with multiple projects in various degrees of production.
Natasha Lyonne has found success with streaming hits
Natasha Lyonne stole the show as the gloriously quippy intellectual Jessica, projecting attitude, wit, and genuine warmth well beyond her years. Of course, those who'd been tracking the actor's career prior to "American Pie" were already familiar with her sardonic charm, thanks largely to her breakout turn the year prior in the classic indie comedy "Slums of Beverly Hills."
Things have been a bit complicated in the years since "American Pie" for Lyonne, however, with the actor's personal and professional life seeing plenty of ups and downs. But even in spite of the struggles, Lyonne is perhaps the "Pie" star with the highest batting average when the camera's rolling, stealing scenes in indie flicks ("But I'm a Cheerleader," "Die Mommy Die!", "Honey Boy"), television series ("New Girl," "Weeds"), and all manner of projects in between.
Lyonne is probably best known for her heartbreaking work on Netflix's prison dramedy "Orange is the New Black," but it's another Netflix series that truly breathed new life into her career. It came courtesy a bravura turn in the serio-comic series "Russian Doll."
Sean William Scott will forever be known as Stifler, and that's okay with us
Did somebody say "actors who've seen their share of ups and downs since their "American Pie" breakthrough?" Because Sean William Scott has certainly seen his. Scott made his big-screen debut in the film, turning what might've been little more than a supporting turn as the token "teen movie jerk" into a career-defining triumph of cinematic smarm.
In Scott's hands, Stifler was a teen movie jerk for the ages, with the actor indulging in enough stilted attitude, boorish entitlement, and vulgar language to make a mean girl blush. So good was Scott in the role (and in ensuing sequels) that it's safe to assume he'll never fully break free from Stifler's surprisingly long shadow.
That hasn't stopped him from trying, however. The actor spent much of the 2000s on the verge of superstardom, sharing the screen with the likes of Will Ferrell ("Old School"), Dwayne Johnson ("The Rundown"), and Paul Rudd ("Role Models"), while tearing up the screen in offbeat comedies like "Dude, Where's My Car?" and "Road Trip," but every time he seemed to take a step forward, there was another "Bulletproof Monk" or "Mr. Woodcock" to knock him back two.
Personal demons eventually caught up with Scott, however, and save for 2011's misfit hockey marvel "Goon," the 2010s were a rough stretch. He's been on the rebound, however, with a return to the animated wilds of the "Ice Age" franchise, a "Goon" sequel, and a starring role as a small-town minister on the Fox comedy "Welcome to Flatch."
Shannon Elizabeth never got a real break in Hollywood after American Pie
While "American Pie" broke a little ground in the teen sex comedy genre by giving the ladies their due, it's still very much a film focused on the male characters. That means there's lots of objectification going on, and Shannon Elizabeth's foreign exchange student, Nadia, is ground zero for most of it. So much so that she doesn't have much dialogue in the film, and what she does have leans heavily into the realm of male fantasy.
As it is, if "American Pie" were made today, it's possible Nadia wouldn't even be in it. But she is, and if we're being completely honest, Shannon Elizabeth does her best to make her more of an actual human being than the script ever bothers to. She almost succeeds, ensuring even today's viewers won't spend the entirety of her screen time cringing at the embarrassing shallowness of Nadia's arc. They might even realize how genuinely funny Elizabeth is in the role.
Unfortunately, not many filmmakers (save for Kevin Smith) have seen past her looks over the years, which means there aren't many standout roles on her post-"Pie" resume. She was, however, in Smith's "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" and its recent sequel. She was also in a nine-episode "That '70s Show" gig, and she scored some laughs in "Scary Movie." Plus, she got to give Nadia some much-needed refining in the 2012 misfire "American Reunion."
Eddie Kaye Thomas has been quietly, steadily working
Eddie Kaye Thomas showed legit comic chops as Paul Finch, a.k.a. the wisdom-seeking know-it-all in the land of horny boy tomfoolery of "American Pie." Thomas has more than kept himself busy in the years since Finch infamously did the pool table mambo with Stifler's mom (Jennifer Coolidge) in the waning moments of the first film.
Like virtually all his co-stars, Thomas returned for three "American Pie" sequels (2001's "American Pie 2," 2003's "American Wedding," and 2012's "American Reunion"). He also landed a steady gig providing the high-pitched voice of comically-troubled teen Barry (as well as various minor characters) in nearly 100 episodes of the long-running animated comedy "American Dad!" He featured prominently in the "Harold & Kumar" franchise as well.
But aside from those projects, there are a few near misses ('"Til Death") and a couple of real head-scratchers (Tom Green's "Freddy Got Fingered") spotting his resume. Most famously, Kaye spent four years portraying Dr. Toby Quinn-Curtis, a super-genius crime-solver, on the CBS crime procedural "Scorpion."
Eugene Levy is American Pie's true breakout star
Older viewers who saw "American Pie" when it hit theaters in 1999 were likely already familiar with Eugene Levy, who portrayed Jim's progressive and understanding-to-a-fault dad. An influential, major comedy star in the 1970s and early 1980s, Levy was an original, prominent cast member on various "SCTV" late-night sketch shows produced in his native Canada, a gig he parlayed into supporting roles in several major '80s comedy movies, including "National Lampoon's Vacation," "Splash," "Club Paradise," and "Armed and Dangerous."
After acting steadily in numerous little-heralded and little-watched projects, "American Pie" proved to be a major comeback vehicle for Levy, who'd go on to appear in all the official "American Pie" sequels and even anchor three direct-to-video raunchy comedies under the "American Pie Presents" banner. Levy co-starred opposite Steve Martin in "Bringing Down the House," Samuel L. Jackson in "The Man," and was a pivotal part of Christopher Guest's troupe of improv-adept comic actors in the mockumentaries "Best in Show," "A Mighty Wind," and "For Your Consideration."
But Levy's most recent success overshadows everything else, even "American Pie." With his son, Dan Levy, he created the riches-to-rags Canadian sitcom "Schitt's Creek." He starred as Johnny Rose, a role that won him an Emmy Award when "Schitt's Creek" swept the comedy portion of the ceremony in 2020.
We totally forgot John Cho was in America Pie, and we're betting you did, too
Aside from the original "Harold & Kumar" trailer, there aren't many reminders that John Cho was in "American Pie." But whether you realize it or not, he's one of the reasons you know what a MILF is.
John Cho was indeed one of the so-called "MILF guys" in "American Pie," though he also popped up in a couple of "vocal jazz group" scenes. While Cho would go on to a bigger role and actually be credited as John in subsequent "American Pie" sequels, his "MILF" chanting moment in the original flick is likely the first time most moviegoers took note of the actor.
His career has shifted dramatically in the years since, with Cho scoring a co-lead opposite Kal Penn in the stoner cult-classic "Harold & Kumar" franchise. He is also featured prominently in a Hollywood blockbuster machine (he's Sulu in the recent "Star Trek" movies) and landed charming one-off turns in TV hits like "30 Rock," "New Girl," and "How I Met Your Mother." Most recently, however, Cho has made a name for himself on the indie scene via lauded films like "Columbus," "Gemini," and "Searching." And if you haven't seen him in any of those titles, all come highly recommended.
Jennifer Coolidge is a go-to comedy stalwart
When she appeared as an object of lust and desire (aka, Stifler's Mom) in "American Pie," Jennifer Coolidge wasn't well known outside of comedy circles. She'd appeared on the short-lived mid-'90s network sketch comedy shows "She TV" and "Saturday Night Special," and had popped up in "Seinfeld" and "A Night at the Roxbury."
But "American Pie," along with Christopher Guest's 2000 semi-improvised mockumentary "Best in Show," would provide Coolidge back-to-back career breaks, showing off her skill at playing kooks, weirdos, and ditzes. After portraying spaced-out wealthy dog owner Sherri Ann Cabot in "Best in Show," Coolidge memorable played friendly manicurist and confidante Paulette in both popular "Legally Blonde" movies, re-teamed with Guest for "A Mighty Wind" and "For Your Consideration," and reprised her role as Stifler's Mom in the "American Pie" sequels. She portrayed Joey's agent on the "Friends" spinoff "Joey," joined the cast of "2 Broke Girls," and earned rave reviews for her more dramatic work on the HBO vacation-from-hell miniseries "The White Lotus."