Credit: Footloose
The 1984 film Footloose is a classic coming-of-age story that follows the adventures of a young man named Ren McCormack. After his family moves from Chicago to a small town in Kansas, Ren is shocked to discover that dancing has been banned. Undeterred by this setback, he sets out to overturn the dance ban and convince the town’s residents that dancing is a harmless form of expression. Along the way, he also learns some important life lessons about tolerance and acceptance. While Footloose is often remembered for its catchy soundtrack and iconic dance scenes, it also delivers an uplifting message about the power of following your dreams.
While it only received mixed reviews during its premiere in 1984, with Rotten Tomatoes holding it at 52 percent, Footloose has since become a cult classic, with dedicated fans finding time to rewatch the movie when they can. A revisiting of the film by Black Girl Nerds wrote about the movie: “Footloose is elevated to something much more than a teen romance. It becomes a social parable about the dangers of extremism. Footloose is about what happens when you try to control people too much.”
Not only does Footloose continue to become a cultural artifact, the movie also created the careers of its cast members, most of whom have become successful decades after its release. Here’s an update on the main cast of the 1984 musical drama film Footloose.
Kevin Bacon
Credit: Footloose
Kevin Bacon portrayed the rebellious Ren McCormack in the hit musical drama Footloose. After starring in the film, he began appearing in several hit films in the ’90s and 2000s, including A Few Good Men, Apollo 13, and Mystic River. He has also appeared in several television shows, including I Love Dick and City on a Hill, where he stars alongside Aldis Hodge. Bacon has also dabbled in directing, having helmed projects like Losing Chase, Loverboy, and The Closer. His more recent film credits include They/Them and two upcoming films, The Toxic Avenger and Leave the World Behind.
Lori Singer
Lori Singer portrayed Ariel Moore in Footloose. She has also appeared in films such as The Man with One Red Shoe, Summer Heat, and Sunset Grill. In addition to her work in film, Singer has also guest-starred on television shows such as Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. A classically trained cellist, Lori Singer grew up in a family of musicians. Her father was a conductor, and her mother was a pianist. Singer’s most recent credit is 2017’s God Knows Where I Am.
Dianne Wiest
Dianne Wiest played Vi Moore in Footloose. Her long list of film credits includes some of the most iconic films of the past few decades, from Woody Allen’s Purple Rose of Cairo to Steven Soderbergh’s Let Them All Talk. But her work in independent films has earned her the most acclaim, particularly her performances in Hannah and Her Sisters and Bullets Over Broadway. Wiest received two Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actress for her roles in these movies.
John Lithgow
Credit: Footloose
John Lithgow played the villainous Reverend Shaw Moore in Footloose. After his acclaimed appearance in this film, Lithgow became best known for his role as Dick Solomon on the popular sitcom 3rd Rock from the Sun, for which he won three Emmy Awards. Lithgow has also appeared in many films, including The Twilight Zone: The Movie, The World According to Garp, Terms of Endearment, Interstellar, and The Campaign. In addition to his acting work, Lithgow is also an accomplished author and musician. He has released several albums of children’s music. Lithgow’s more recent on-screen credits include Pet Sematary, Bombshell, and The Bubble.
Sarah Jessica Parker
Sarah Jessica Parker played Rusty in Footloose. After appearing in a relatively minor role in the film, Parker shot to fame as Carrie Bradshaw on the HBO series Sex and the City (1998-2004), for which she won two Emmy Awards, four Golden Globe Awards for Best Actress in a Television Series Musical or Comedy, and a Screen Actors Guild Award. She also received critical acclaim for her performances in the films L.A. Story, Honeymoon in Vegas, Hocus Pocus, Ed Wood, The First Wives Club, Mars Attacks!, and The Family Stone. Currently, Parker is set to reprise her role as Sarah Sanderson in the sequel Hocus Pocus 2, reuniting with Bette Midler and Kathy Najimy.
Chris Penn
Chris Penn played Willard Hewitt in Footloose. A brother of actor Sean Penn and musician Michael Penn, Chris Penn appeared in movies like Rush Hour, Corky Romano, True Romance, Short Cuts, the Boys Club, All the Right Movies, and At Close Range. Sadly, Penn passed away in 2006 at 40 due to heart disease. His last on-screen credit was 2007’s King of Sorrow.
Follow Us
