'Footloose' Cast: Where Are They Now?

Footloose' Cast: Where Are They Now?

It was 25 years ago that the small-town, teen-angst film 'Footloose' hoofed it through an abandoned warehouse and made Kevin Bacon a superstar, grossed more than $80 mil at the U.S. box office and spawned a hit Broadway musical.

Not bad for a little movie that received mixed reviews when it came out, eh? With a remake currently in the works (officially star-less since Zac Efron dropped out), we wanted to find out what happened to all those folks from the tiny burg where dancing was outlawed.

Let's see where the cast has been this quarter-century (yeah, that's how they'd say it in 'Footloose' country). -- By Ryan McKee

Paramount

Kevin Bacon

Played: Ren McCormack

Then: After a bit part in 'Animal House' and catching critics' attention as the surly Timothy Fenwick in 'Diner,' Bacon hit the big time as Ren McCormack in 'Footloose.' The hardnosed Chicago teen (Bacon was actually 24 at the time) just wants to dance. Is that so wrong? You gotta give it to the boy ... just give the boy a chance.

Paramount / Everett Collection

Kevin Bacon

Played: Ren McCormack

Now: While his career has ebbed and flowed, the inspiration for the Six Degrees of Kevin Bacon game has averaged at least a film per year since 'Footloose.' He's been married to actress Kyra Sedgwick for 20-plus years; they have two children, Travis and Sosie. Most recently he played an aide to Tricky Dick in the acclaimed 'Frost/Nixon,' spoofed prank shows with the FunnyorDie.com video 'Bacon'd,' directed episodes of Sedgwick's hit cable series 'The Closer' ... and on the downside, lost an undisclosed amount in Bernie Madoff's Ponzi scheme.

Duffy-Marie Arnoult, WireImage

Lori Singer

Played: Ariel Moore

Then: A Juilliard-trained musician, Singer appeared in the TV version of 'Fame' before reportedly beating out Madonna for the role of Ariel Moore. She may be the preacher's daughter, but this adrenaline junkie is no choirgirl. After she and her meathead boyfriend give Ren a hard time, she falls hard for his immoral hip shakes.

Everett Collection

Lori Singer

Played: Ariel Moore

Now: After roles in a string of '80s films and Robert Altman's 'Short Cuts,' Singer has focused on her music. In the short film 'Sarabande,' she plays alongside master cellist Yo-Yo Ma. Most recently she performed as a soloist at Carnegie Hall in January 2008.

Jim Spellman, WireImage

John Lithgow

Played: Rev. Shaw Moore

Then: Reverend Moore -- the anti-dance, anti-rock, slaphappy holy roller -- made it his mission to raise the small town to heaven. The early '80s were hot times for the stage and screen veteran. In addition to his role in this box office smash, Lithgow was nominated for a Best Supporting Actor Oscar in 1983 and 1984 for 'The World According to Garp' and 'Terms of Endearment,' respectively.

Paramount / Everett Collection

John Lithgow

Played: Rev. Shaw Moore

Now: He's continued to work on stage and screen with recent roles in 'Dreamgirls' and 'Confessions of a Shopaholic.' However, this TV generation probably knows him best as the excitable alien father in '3rd Rock From the Sun,' and he's connecting with a whole new generation as a children's book author. He recently popped in for a cameo on '30 Rock' and is rumored to be in the upcoming 'Smurfs' movie.

Bennett Raglin, WireImage

Dianne Wiest

Played: Vi Moore

Then: As Vi, the Reverend's devoted yet realistic wife, Wiest became the only parent in town speaking any sense. After the role, the gentle-voiced actress caught the attention of Woody Allen and became inducted to his crew of regulars. Her roles in 'Hannah and Her Sisters' and 'Bullets Over Broadway' both won her Academy Awards for Best Supporting Actress.

Paramount/ Everett Collection

Dianne Wiest

Played: Vi Moore

Now: For 2007's 'Dan in Real Life,' she played the mother of Steve Carell and Dane Cook. Then she became Gabriel Byrne's therapist on the experimental HBO series 'In Treatment,' which garnered her a second Emmy. She also reteamed with John Lithgow for the controversial Broadway revival of 'All My Sons' with Patrick Wilson and Katie Holmes.

Donna Ward, Getty Images

Chris Penn

Played: Willard Hewitt

Then: The younger brother of Sean Penn, Chris appeared in Francis Ford Coppola's avant-garde drama 'Rumble Fish' and as the best friend of Tom Cruise in 'All the Right Moves' before landing the role of Ren's drawling best friend Willard Hewitt. Legend has it that in real life Penn had two left feet, which led to the scenes of him learning to dance being added to the film.

Paramount/ Everett Collection