TV - Movies
Whatever
Happened To
Jake From
Sixteen Candles?
By RENÉE CAMUS
In 1984, many teenage girls’ first crush was on Jake Ryan (Michael Schoeffling) from "Sixteen Candles." Schoeffling's dark eyes and sensitive demeanor gave the character enduring popularity, but some fans may note that they haven't seen the actor on-screen in quite some time. So, what happened to Schoeffling?
Following the success of "Sixteen Candles," Schoeffling continued acting for several years, appearing in films like “Vision Quest,” "Sylvester," and “Mermaids.” Surprisingly, after a role in 1991's "Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken," instead of continuing on the path of stardom, Schoeffling opted to retire from the industry that made him famous.
More than 30 years later, Schoeffling is the CEO of his own hand-crafted furniture business in his hometown of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. He and his wife, Valerie, have two grown children, Zane and Scarlett, the latter of whom appears to have plans to follow in her father's footsteps.