The Outsiders': Where Are They Now?
Stay gold!" a dying Johnny Cade tells pal Ponyboy in 'The Outsiders,' Francis Ford Coppola's look at teen class warfare in Tulsa, Okla., circa 1967.
On the film's anniversary, we check in with the "Greasers" and "Socs" to find out who's stayed gold ... and who hasn't. --By Tom Johnson
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C. Thomas Howell
Then: As introspective dreamer Ponyboy Curtis, Howell set many a pre-pubescent girl's heart aflutter, but it was his far-from-PC star turn in 'Soul Man' that gained the actor enduring fame. He played a white student who pretends he's black to get into Harvard.
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C. Thomas Howell
Now: Film stardom, including a role in 'Red Dawn,' has given way, mostly, to rounds of TV guest spots on hit shows such as '24.' Like 'Outsiders' co-star Tom Cruise, he starred in 'War of the Worlds' in 2005 -- except his version was low-budget and straight-to-DVD.
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Patrick Swayze
Then: Swayze's turn as buff older bro Darry gave 'The Outsiders' needed gravitas. It was just one of many roles ('Dirty Dancing,' 'Roadhouse') that showcased the machismo of this classically-trained ballet dancer and thrill-seeker.
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Patrick Swayze
Now: In January, Swayze was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer. Though initial tabloid rumors claimed he had only weeks to live, the actor's doctor denied these reports, saying that Swayze has a "limited amount of the disease" and is responding well to treatment.
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Rob Lowe
Then: As tough-guy Greaser Sodapop Curtis, Brat Packer Rob Lowe was more bumble than rumble. No matter, the chiseled actor weathered a damaging sex tape scandal, hitting his stride (and winning an Emmy) in the long-running TV hit, 'The West Wing.'
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Rob Lowe
Now: A tireless fundraiser for cancer charities, the actor is also an avid political activist and "renowned" sportsman (he famously killed the Iowa state bird, a goldfinch, while golfing there). He can currently be seen on the ABC drama 'Brothers & Sisters.'
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Ralph Macchio
Then: Too bad Ralph couldn't channel the survivor instinct of his most famous role, 'Karate Kid,' into doomed hood Johnny Cade. He was a popular cover boy on teen mags like Tiger Beat, but his boyish good looks exacted a price and he never "grew" into adult roles.
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Ralph Macchio
Now: Macchio lives with his wife and kids in Long Island and has showed good humor burlesquing himself as himself on TV comedies like 'Entourage.' He makes a rare film appearance in this year's horror-comedy, 'Rosencrantz and Guildenstern Are Undead.'
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Glenn Withrow
Then: Withrow's Tim Shepard was a Greaser of few words, but the actor parlayed that minimalist approach into roles in five Coppola films.
Now: Jettisoning acting for a steadier paycheck, Glenn is the CEO of an L.A.-based media production facility.
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Reader Comments (26)
James at 8:55PM on Jun 28th 2008
Ummm, yeah, there are actually 4 Hinton novels that have been filmed, not 3. And Dillon is in 3 of them: Outsiders, Tex, & Rumble Fish.
He isn't in "That Was Then, This Is Now", but Emilio Estevez and Diane Lane are.
(Get better fact-checkers, MovieFone!)
Jiksy at 4:37PM on Apr 11th 2009
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silverlightvt1 at 8:40PM on Jun 29th 2008
C. Thomas Howell just edged out Hal Sparks to win Celebracadabra. They were both excellent and it was a surprisingly interesting show. Frankly, if you're going to do a "Where are They Now?" bit like this, you should know something like that.
Christine at 9:07PM on Jun 29th 2008
Who said men age better than women...never seen these pictures!!!!!!
Sonja Oakes at 9:29PM on Jun 29th 2008
Say! I looked because of Johnny Cade. He was nott included in the pictures! WHY???
Kim at 12:09AM on Jun 30th 2008
sonja...uummm...look again...Ralph Macchio is about the fourth from the beginning...
Dottie at 12:17AM on Jun 30th 2008
Sonja..................Ralph Macchio = Johnny Cade (pictures #8 & 9).
**Trista** at 1:45AM on Jun 30th 2008
GREAT MOVIE *** I LOVED IT***
vic bake at 4:16AM on Jun 30th 2008
Love the book and the movie. What a nice dejavu to see how the actors have done and how they look now. I live in Tulsa, OKlahoma and my brothers were a part of the era written about in this book. The book was used for English literature in most area schools. I developed a special fondness for it in 1973-74. "Stay gold" . . . I wonder if others remember the importance of the golden sunset or pony boys golden locks and distant glow -- the love of beauty in the midst of trauma and the peace and joy that passes all understanding. In Tulsa, we still have golden sunrises and sunsets and beautiful country views. Reflection of a sentiment. Good day.
Melanie at 4:47PM on Jul 26th 2008
It's Marcia, not Maria
Chris at 8:20PM on Jul 27th 2008
WHAT IS THIS? ECONOMY IS DOWN, CRIME IS UP, PROTECT YOUR HOME AND FAMILY, WWW.YOUBSAFE.COM
Brad at 8:19PM on Jul 27th 2008
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Tori at 3:13PM on Aug 21st 2008
Is it amazing or what? Estevez and Lowe became what would be the Brat Pack, Swayze and Howell reunited in the very first PG-13 movie Red Dawn (were they friends or where they too old to hang out?), Swayze and Lowe played hockey players in Youngblood, and Dillon and Estevez were previously in Tex. Weird, huh?
NaeNae at 11:22PM on Aug 26th 2008
God, I love the book so much (just recently finished re-reading it... again, haha, and I love S.E. Hinton in general) and the movie is good, too. But poor Leif - they used his worst possible "after" picture, haha.
lrafghangirl at 9:10PM on Aug 28th 2008
OMG, i like literally just finished re-reading this book, cried liked a baby!!!!!!! LOVE THIS BOOK
Mark at 8:09PM on Aug 29th 2008
Well, should the truth be known, I am the real "Soda Pop". However, the actual nickname is "Sodie". My friend (Chuck) hung it on me when he offered me a dime to go get a soda pop so he could make out with his girlfriend.
whelped4 at 10:26PM on Aug 28th 2008
I wonder if S.E. Hinton would react kindly to the glaringly incorrectly spelled word in her subtitle. Honestly, AOL, I really expect better from you.
whelped4 at 10:29PM on Aug 28th 2008
I wonder what S.E. Hinton would say about glaringly incorrectly spelled word in her subtitle. Honestly, AOL, I expect better from you.
js at 11:34PM on Aug 28th 2008
Correction, Matt Dillon was in 3 out of the four movies by S.E Hinton and so was Emilio Estevez. The difference Matt was in Rumble Fish, Emilio was in That was then..., they both were in the Outsiders and Tex
Sandra Deffner at 2:17PM on Aug 29th 2008
This is my all time favorite movie .... At 37 it is still number one on my list ... I read the book over 100 times and I have read 4 of S.E.Hintons books .. this movie came out when i was 12 years old and was a major part of my teenage years .... I loved these actors (ok I never liked Tom Cruise but I do like him better since I saw that he had his copy of the outsiders script bound in leather like he did his other scripts)Patrick Swayze is still one of my Favorites .... I want to thank S.E.Hinton for writing this book and to al lthe kids that fought to get this movie made ... Its the best .... Sandra