Can You Match These Actors to Their 1980s Movies?

By: Amanda Monell
Estimated Completion Time
6 min
Can You Match These Actors to Their 1980s Movies?
Image: Noble Treize / YouTube

About This Quiz

Undeniably, during the 1980s, there was an electric energy that seemed to hum through the streets, inspiring people in almost every field.  The portable movie industry was in its infancy with two formats, VHS and Betamax, battling it out to see which device would live in family homes. While many consider the Betamax to be a far superior recorder, one major drawback was that each tape was only 60 minutes long, making it difficult to record anything of considerable length. Even though the VHS recorder was declared the winner by the late 1980s, it was already becoming obsolete: the DVD was getting ready to make its way onto the scene, providing a space-saving medium for consumers to enjoy their favorite films on the go. Of course, right now, the DVD is drawing its dying breath: streaming has become the most recent advancement in the portable media war, eliminating storage space for any recording equipment. Of course, in the 1980s, how you watched your movies wasn't the only competition: there was also the hottest actor category.

Which of the two Coreys was your favorite?  Was it Corey Haim, the shy quiet type, or was it the in-your-face Corey Feldman, who took no prisoners with his antics?  


How many of these Hollywood dreamboats do you remember?  Do you think you can match the actor to his 1980s' film?  There's one way to find out!
1 Tom Hanks Starring alongside a slobbery French mastiff, this actor made audiences laugh with "Turner & Hooch." Who was it?
Leonardo DiCaprio
Patrick Swayze
Tom Hanks
Keanu Reeves
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

With a budget of $13M, "Turner & Hooch" had an impressive U.S. box office: in its opening weekend, it pulled in $12M. By the end of its run, $71MM was made. This is almost four and a half more times than what was originally budgeted.

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2 Dan Akroyd Based off the crime drama, "Dragnet," this actor accompanied Tom Hanks to help fight crime in Los Angeles. Who was it?
Patrick Swayze
Dan Aykroyd
Bruce Willis
Corey Feldman
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In the 1980s, Dan Aykroyd also played Dr. Raymond Stantz in "Ghostbusters." For almost 40 years, he has played this character: there are currently 14 different occurrences of this character in TV, video games, and film.

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3 John Belushi To kick off the 1980s, you have to dream big. And there was no film bigger than the comedy/musical, "The Blues Brothers." Who starred beside Dan Aykroyd in this film?
John Belushi
Chevy Chase
Jim Belushi
Tom Hanks
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Only two years after the release of "The Blues Brothers," John Belushi was found dead in his hotel room at the age of 33. The coroner ruled the death as an accidental overdose.

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4 Bob Hoskins In 1988, "Who Framed Roger Rabbit?" brought adult animation to the forefront with the sexy portrayal of Jessica Rabbit. Who played Eddie Valiant, the detective determined to clear Roger's name?
Val Kilmer
Bob Hoskins
Dabney Coleman
Christopher Lloyd
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

To make the portrayal of cartoon society accurate, a pivotal scene was made: a piano duet featuring Warner Brothers' Daffy Duck and Disney's Donald Duck. Prior to this, Disney and Warner Bros. had been in competition, and to date, this is the only time that a crossover has been made between the two animation studios.

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5 Rick Moranis In "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids," a scientist father accidentally shrinks his kids using a homemade shrink ray. Who played this disastrous dad?
Rick Moranis
Bill Murray
Tom Hanks
Dan Aykroyd
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In addition to "Honey, I Shrunk the Kids," Moranis had a couple of other screen credits of note. He portrayed Lewis Tully in "Ghostbusters," Seymour Krelborn in the film adaptation of "Little Shop of Horrors," and Dark Helmet in the sci-fi spoof, "Spaceballs."

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6 Henry Thomas In 1982, Steven Spielberg's "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" warmed the hearts of theatergoers around the world. Who played E.T.'s best friend, Elliot?
Corey Haim
Corey Feldman
Henry Thomas
Topher Grace
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Not only did Henry Thomas get a chance to shine in his role as Elliot, there was another lesser known actress in the film at the time: Drew Barrymore. At the age of 7, she portrayed Elliot's younger sister, Gertie.

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7 Ralph Macchio In 1986, almost every kid attempted to do the crane kick in "The Karate Kid." Who played the title role?
Pat Morita
Matt Dillon
Patrick Swayze
Ralph Macchio
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Before playing the bullied Daniel in "The Karate Kid," Macchio played the ill-fated Johnny Cade in Francis Ford Coppola's "The Outsiders." Other cast members included Matt Dillon and Patrick Swayze.

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8 Patrick Swayze After playing heartthrob Johnny Castle in "Dirty Dancing," this actor went on to play Dalton in "Road House." Who was it?
Brad Pitt
Rob Lowe
Matt Dillon
Patrick Swayze
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Patrick Swayze wasn't only known for steaming up the silver screen. He was in the civil war mini-series "North & South," a tale about two friends struggling to keep their friendship together during the war.

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9 Keanu Reeves Looking for help on a history project? Better call Bill and Ted, a pair of time-traveling teens. Who portrayed Ted alongside Alex Winter's Bill?
Matt Dillon
Keanu Reeves
Rob Lowe
Robert Downey Jr.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When it comes to film, this isn't Reeves' only jaunt into the science fiction genre. He later would become Neo in the film that dared you to question reality, "The Matrix."

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10 Robert Englund If you want a visit from Freddy Krueger, you should take a nap. Who played this character in "A Nightmare on Elm Street?"
Johnny Depp
Robert Englund
Dabney Coleman
Bob Hoskins
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When it came to filming the first of the "Nightmare on Elm Street" series, Robert Englund accepted the role as the iconic Freddy Krueger because it fit into his schedule, which thrilled the horror movie fan. He has played Freddy Krueger in 13 occurrences, including a spot on the 1980s' sitcom, "The Goldbergs."

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11 Kevin Bacon If "Footloose" taught us anything, it was that we should be able to dance whenever and wherever we want. Who played city slicker Ren, who broke the no dancing rule?
Tom Hanks
Bruce Willis
Kevin Bacon
Rob Lowe
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In addition to performing as an actor, Kevin Bacon is one of the frontmen for his band, The Bacon Brothers. He plays opposite his brother, Michael, making an eclectic brand of music, creating eight albums over the past 20 years.

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12 Kirk Cameron In "Like Father, Like Son," Dudley Moore plays the role of a stuffy doctor who, after drinking a potion, swaps bodies with his son. Who played the rambunctious teen?
Matt Dillon
Kirk Cameron
Keanu Reeves
Corey Feldman
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Filmed in 1987, Kirk Cameron's dance card was quite full when it came to acting: when he wasn't filming movies, he was playing Mike Seaver on "Growing Pains."

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13 Dudley Moore In 1981, the warm-hearted drunk, "Arthur," found true love in the arms of a penniless girl. Who played the playboy millionaire?
Dabney Coleman
Bob Hoskins
Dudley Moore
Michael Caine
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In addition to the "Arthur" franchise, Moore was also known for his work in "10," playing beside Bo Derek as George Webber, a music composer going through a midlife crisis.

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Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM)/Buckhantz-NMC Company/Peerford Ltd. (made by)/Artista Management (as Artista Entertainment A.G.)/Blake Edwards Entertainment/Ladbroke
Movieclips Classic Trailers / YouTube
In the gender-bending 1982 film, "Victor/Victoria," this actor played Chicago nightclub owner King Marchand, who falls in love with Victoria Grant. Who was it?
Ted Danson
James Garner
Bruce Willis
Tom Selleck
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

James Garner didn't only play film roles, he had a couple of television roles to his credit as well. He portrayed Jim Rockford on "The Rockford Files," Bret Maverick in "Bret Maverick," and after John Ritter's unexpected death in 2003, Jim Egan, the father of Cate Hennessy (the widow) on "8 Simple Rules."

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15 C Thomas Howell Many new drivers learned not to pick up hitchhikers after watching "The Hitcher" featuring Rutger Hauer. Who played opposite him as one of the victims of the hitcher's crimes?
Rob Lowe
C. Thomas Howell
Kirk Cameron
Robert Downey Jr.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Rutger Hauer seems to have a thing for playing bad guys. In addition to "The Hitcher," Hauer starred opposite Harrison Ford in "Blade Runner" as Roy Batty, a renegade replicant.

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16 Michael J Fox Playing opposite Christopher Lloyd's Doc Brown, this actor went back in time to help his parents fall in love in "Back to the Future." Who was it?
Rob Lowe
Michael J. Fox
Matthew Broderick
C. Thomas Howell
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Michael J. Fox's career came to a pause when in 1991, he was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease. While he was able to play a small role on the series "Spin City," but the disease made it difficult for him to remember lines. He founded the Michael J. Fox Foundation, which helps fund Parkinson's disease research.

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17 Robin Williams In "Good Morning, Vietnam," a DJ is sent to the front lines to bolster the morale of the U.S. Armed Services. Who played this fun-loving DJ?
Steve Martin
Dan Aykroyd
Bill Murray
Robin Williams
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When it came to filming Disney's "Aladdin," very little guidance was needed when it came to Williams' Genie. Most of what you see on the screen was performed by Williams off script!

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18 Danny Glover 1 Starring alongside Mel Gibson, this actor helped fight a drug lord in "Lethal Weapon." Who was he?
Eddie Murphy
Will Smith
Danny Glover
Lawrence Fishburne
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Before making "Lethal Weapon," Danny Glover was one of the leading men featured in "The Color Purple" opposite Whoopi Goldberg and Oprah Winfrey. Not only was "The Color Purple" nominated for 11 Academy Awards, it was the first film to include three black actors of either gender to be nominated in a single category.

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19 Leslie Nielsen Starring alongside Priscilla Presley, this actor brought his role on "Police Squad!" to the big screen in "The Naked Gun: From the Files of Police Squad!" Who was this PI?
Michael Caine
Leslie Nielsen
Dick Van Dyke
Steve Martin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When he first began his career, Leslie Nielsen wanted to be a dramatic actor. He always wanted to do comedy but he lacked the courage to do so. We're very lucky that he got over his jitters and gave us some amazing performances!

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20 Arnold Schwarzenegger Who played the killer android in "The Terminator"?
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Dolph Lundgren
Sylvester Stallone
Bruce Willis
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"The Terminator" series wasn't the only franchise that Arnold Schwarzenegger started in the 1980s. He also starred in two "Conan the Barbarian" movies.

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21 Carl Weathers Who was the actor who starred alongside Arnold Schwarzenegger in "Predator"?
Lawrence Fishburne
Will Smith
Danny Glover
Carl Weathers
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

One of Carl Weathers's more recent roles was on the revived sitcom "Arrested Development": he portrays himself as Tobias's acting coach.

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22 Sylvester Stallone Along with his "Rocky" franchise, this actor knocked some heads together in "First Blood" along with several other "Rambo" movies. Who was it?
Bruce Willis
Dolph Lundgren
Sylvester Stallone
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In 2010, Stallone gave action film fans something they had been craving: "The Expendables." This film, directed by and starring Stallone, featured action stars Arnold Schwarzenegger, Jet Li, Jason Statham, and Dolph Lundgren as a team of mercenaries.

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23 Dolph Lundgren Not all films are good. Which action star loaned his name to the flop, "Masters of the Universe"?
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Dolph Lundgren
Sylvester Stallone
Bruce Willis
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Before "Masters of the Universe," Sweden-born Lundgren portrayed Drago, the Russian boxer who became known for killing Apollo Creed, Rocky Balboa's former rival. By the time "Rocky IV" ended, Rocky had defeated Drago and restored faith in the American people.

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24 Bruce Willis Which actor had a breakthrough performance with as John McClane "Die Hard"?
Bruce Willis
Dolph Lundgren
Sylvester Stallone
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Many fans of the television series, "Moonlighting," were disappointed in its final seasons. Season four had Willis juggling the second "Die Hard" film as well as performing as David Addison Jr., one half of the Blue Moon Detective agency. Because of this, his story lines got more and more ridiculous as the season progressed.

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25 Jason Patric Featuring the two Coreys, "The Lost Boys" had this teen heartthrob as Michael, a boy who falls for a vampire. Who was this "Star" struck lover?
Rob Lowe
Jason Patric
Keifer Sutherland
Jason Bateman
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

After "The Lost Boys," Jason Patric went on to perform in "Rush," a crime drama. Patric portrayed a seasoned cop who, after taking on a new partner, ends up going undercover, where both officers end up falling victim to drug addiction.

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26 Keifer Sutherland Before playing Jack Bauer on "24," this actor starred beside Michael J. Fox in "Bright Lights, Big City." Who is it?
Kevin Bacon
Keifer Sutherland
Alex Winters
Keanu Reeves
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

One of Keifer Sutherland's best performances was when he performed as the lead vampire, David, in "The Lost Boys." This baddie, combined with both of the Coreys and Jason Patric, make for some really fun movie watching.

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27 Nicholas Cage Who played the object of Cher's affection in "Moonstruck"?
Michael Keaton
Nicolas Cage
Bill Murray
Steve Martin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Moonstruck" won three Academy Awards, including Best Actress for Cher's performance asLoretta Castorini, a lonely bookkeeper from Brooklyn.

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28 Tom Cruise Before "Days of Thunder," this actor flew high as Maverick on "Top Gun." Who was it?
Kevin Bacon
Tom Cruise
Rob Lowe
Robert Downey Jr
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Before "Top Gun," Tom Cruise had quite a few successful films under his belt. In 1981, he was in the military drama "Taps," in 1983 he became a household name by dancing in his underwear in "Risky Business," and in 1985, he got to battle demons in the cult fantasy film, "Legend."

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29 Harrison Ford Who played Indiana Jones, an adventurous archaeologist with a fear of snakes?
Bruce Willis
Nicolas Cage
Harrison Ford
Dolph Lundgren
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

By the time the first "Indiana Jones" film was released into theaters, Harrison Ford already had a few blockbusters under his belt. He was Han Solo in every "Star Wars" film, up until 2015, where in "Star Wars: The Force Awakens" Solo meets his maker at the hands of an enemy.

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30 Mark Hamill Which of these actors played Luke Skywalker in the "Star Wars" saga?
William Shatner
Harrison Ford
Leonard Nimoy
Mark Hamill
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

When he's not on the big screen battling space baddies, Mark Hamill lends his voice to several cartoon characters. One of his most notable voices it that of Batman's archnemesis, the Joker.

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31 Jack Nicholson Who portrayed the deviously seductive Daryl Van Horne in "The Witches of Eastwick"?
Bill Murray
Jack Nicholson
Michael Keaton
Patrick Swayze
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In addition to "The Witches of Eastwick," Jack Nicholson was in 11 other films in the 1980s, two of which are still being talked about today: Jack Torrence, the tortured writer in Stanley Kubrick's "The Shining" and Jack Napier/The Joker in Tim Burton's "Batman."

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32 Michael Keaton In "Mr. Mom," Jack Butler loses his job and decides to stay home and raise the kids while his wife goes off and resumes her successful career. Who was this fantastic father?
Bill Murray
Aiden Quinn
Nicolas Cage
Michael Keaton
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Written by John Hughes, this heartwarming story shows the trials and tribulations of what motherhood is and how raising children is a shared task. Keaton gives an almost adorable performance as the dad in distress.

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33 Eddie Murphy Who portrayed Detroit cop Axel Foley in "Beverly Hills Cop"?
Will Smith
Eddie Murphy
Morgan Freeman
Danny Glover
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Not only was "Beverly Hills Cop" a commercial success, but the theme song was as well. Harold Faltermeyer's "Axel F" spent 19 weeks on the Billboard charts, peaking at the No. 3 slot on June 1, 1985.

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34 Paul Rubens Who played the title role in "Pee-Wee's Big Adventure"?
Paul Reubens
Robert Englund
Rob Lowe
Robert Downey Jr.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

"Pee-Wee's Big Adventure" was so much of a success, that it created not only a second movie ("Big Top Pee-Wee"), but it also gave many kids additional joy when a Saturday morning show was produced. The show ran for four years and several famous personalities loaned their names to the project: Phil Hartman played Captain Carl, Lawrence Fishburne played Cowboy Curtis, and Dweezil Zappa provided some of the music. Another creepy fact? Rob Zombie was a production assistant for the show during its debut season in 1986.

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35 Ted Danson Who played Jack Holden, one of the three dads in "3 Men & a Baby"?
Bill Murray
Ted Danson
Michael Keaton
Michael Caine
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In 1987, when "3 Men & a Baby" was released, Ted Danson was a pretty good guy. He played retired baseball player Sammy Malone in the TV show, "Cheers." The show ran for a little more than a decade and introduced an angst-ridden Frasier Crane, who later got his own spin-off series.

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36 Jeff Goldblum Who played Seth Brundle, a brilliant but unfortunate scientist who became a human/fly hybrid in "The Fly"?
Tom Cruise
Richard Gere
Rob Lowe
Jeff Goldblum
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

While this isn't the first scientist that Goldblum played, he's better known as Dr. Ian Malcolm, a mathematician whose specialty is the chaos theory. In "Jurassic Park," he made this role his own, and reclaimed it in 2018's, "Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom."

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37 Bill Murray Dr. Peter Venkman, one of the Ghostbusters, was played by this funny man. Who is it?
Bill Murray
Ted Danson
Dan Aykroyd
Steve Martin
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

Bill Murray is, by far, one of America's funniest guys. If you're looking for an example of his best comedic performances, look no further than the classic "Caddyshack," released in 1980.

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38 Steve Martin Who not only helped write, but also starred as Lucky Day in "¡Three Amigos!"?
Ted Danson
Steve Martin
Bill Murray
John Goodman
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

If you're looking to laugh at Steve Martin's brilliance, but only have a short amount of time, you can check out his novelty song, "King Tut." Released in 1978, Tut spent 15 weeks on the Billboard Music Charts.

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39 Christian Slater Released at the end of the 1980s, "Heathers" explores teen cliques with the dark cynicism that would echo into the '90s. Who played Jason 'J.D.' Dean, who orchestrated the murders of a group of girls?
Jason Bateman
Christian Slater
Rob Lowe
Robert Downey Jr.
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

One of Christian Slater's more recent roles didn't actually involve him going into makeup. He portrayed a CIA agent named Slater on the FX show,"Archer." This character made its first appearance in season five.

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40 Chevy Chase Who played Clark W. Griswold in "National Lampoon's Vacation"?
Bill Murray
Steve Martin
Martin Short
Chevy Chase
Correct Answer
Wrong Answer

In 2015's "Vacation," not only did Chevy Chase reprise the role of Clark Griswold, but his co-star, Beverly D'Angelo, rejoined him as Ellen Griswold. Unfortunately, "Vacation" wasn't as well received as the 1983 classic.

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