8 Biggest Celebs In The '80s But Are Mostly Forgotten About Today

From big hair, mixtape, to power suits, slap bracelets, and big shoulder pads, '80s was a trendsetting decade when celebs let their personalities shine through their appearance and iconic character. And these iconic 80s celebs were just as appealing even off the red carpet, setting trends and inspiring millions with their iconic styles and pure charm.

The decades might be long gone, but the iconic music, TV shows and movies are forever. Some of these stars are still household names today, while others seem to have seemingly disappeared into obscurity for personal reasons. If you're wondering what happened to those biggest stars we know and love from the 80s, here are some who are famous before but forgotten about today. Wherever they may be now, they will always be remembered as the icons of their generation.

1.Phoebe Cates

You may know Phoebe Cates for her iconic role in Fast Times at Ridgemont High — particularly that very iconic pool scene. Over the course of her career, Cates has left impression on her fans as the girl-next-door with the angelic face, cute smile and curvy figure in many 80s’ films. Since the birth of her second child in the 90s, Cates has focused on her family and rarely returned to acting. Her brief film career, however, will live on in Hollywood history.

2.C. Thomas Howell

Howell’s career blossomed in the '80s with unforgettable roles in films like E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial, The Outsiders, and Red Dawn. His sharp cheekbones, long eyelashes, and floppy brown hair have earned her millions of fans. However, as quickly as his Tiger Beat status began, the bottom fell out after only a few years. Although Howell has continued to work steadily, his film career has been unimpressive, particularly when compared to those of his '80s contemporaries.

3.Jami Gertz

Unless you're an NBA fan, you probably forgot all about Jami Gertz. Now a franchise's principal owner of the Atlanta Hawks basketball team, she was once everyone's celeb crush thanks to her roles in beloved big screen classics of 80s like Less Than Zero, Sixteen Candles, and The Lost Boys. She also has appeared on a number of hit television shows, including Seinfeld and ER. Being that she's not as ubiquitous onscreen as she was in the '80s, you may be surprised to learn that Gertz is the richest actor in the world. Had she passed on the role of Monica in Friends, that popularity would've likely carried over into current pop culture.

4.Rick Moranis

Whether it was with Ghostbusters, Spaceballs, Little Shop of Horrors, Honey, I Shrunk the Kids, Parenthood, or one of his other projects... the '80s comedy Rick Moranis was once one of the most talented stars in Hollywood that had you laughing. After losing his wife in the '90s, he decided to step away behind the big screen to be a stay-at-home father. It’s now been a long time since he stopped appearing on screens, but we'll always appreciate the fine work he accomplished in his early career.

5.Kelly McGillis

McGillis has found famous in the late 1980s on her performance in Witness, then in Top Gun with Tom Cruise, then played attorney Kathryn in 1988's The Accused, which won her BAFTA and Golden Globe nods. Now the Top Gun actress has moved away from the world of acting almost entirely, yet the tremendous commercial success of her movies was undeniable.

6. Jeff Cohen

It’s been more than 35 years since Steven Spielberg's masterpiece The Goonies was released and the movie was still one of the most beloved films of that era. And some of the characters. Jeff Cohen who starring the loveable chubby kid Truffle Shuffle will always live on in our hearts. Though he acted in as handful of small roles in some projects after The Goonies, Cohen stepped away from acting in the early 1990s, and instead trained to be a lawyer. He’s also a founding member of 'Cohen & Gardner, LLP' in Los Angeles now.

7.Amanda Wyss

During the 80s, Amanda Wyss was a busy movie star, starring in 'A Nightmare on Elm Street', Fast Times at Ridgemont High, and Better Off Dead. After that she has mostly worked on TV shows, and made guest appearances on 'Charmed,' 'The Drew Carey Show,' and 'Dexter.' She also had a recurring role on 'CSI: Crime Scene Investigation' as a character named Tina. She’s been keeping things steady for the last few decades as her career has been at a standstill.

8.Anthony Michael Hall

National Lampoon's Vacation, Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club, Weird Science, Johnny Be Good... Anthony Michael Hall was one of the biggest teen stars for his roles in the '80s movies from a series of John Hughes' films, and he was regarded a legacy member of the Brat Pack.

He hung up his geek status to play a villain in Edward Scissorhands in the 90s, and joined the cast of "Saturday Night Live," but he was dismissed along with the rest of that year's SNL ensemble the next year. He's had small roles and cameos since then in films like The Dark Knight and Foxcatcher in recent yesars.