Heartthrobs We Fell in Love With in the ’90s, and What They Look Like Today

While the storyline of the film Cruel Intentions was pretty jaw-dropping, the real focus of the movie was on the actor Ryan Phillippe.

Though he had starred in the teen horror movie, I Know What You Did Last Summer, his role as Sebastian in the twisted drama Cruel Intentions really helped establish him as one of the biggest heartthrobs of the ’90s. Phillippe has continued acting and was most recently seen in the USA Network drama Shooter and ABC’s Big Sky.

No discussion about ’90s heartthrobs would be complete without the mention of actor Brendan Fraser. Blessed with both comedic timing and good looks, Fraser appeared in almost every cinema genre. From powerful dramas like School Ties to family films like George of the Jungle and The Mummy.

After a long hiatus, Fraser returned to acting in Doom Patrol and most recently, the crime film No Sudden Move. His return to Hollywood has been dubbed the “Brenaissance.”

During the late 1990s, the Backstreet Boys were one of the biggest music groups in the world. While fans typically had a favorite band member, Nick Carter was one of the most popular choices when it came to boy-bander crushes. Aside from being a member of the Backstreet Boys, Carter also released three solo albums including an album with a fellow ’90s heartthrob, Jordan Knight.

In recent years, Carter has made various appearances on reality televisions. Most recently, he appeared on the fourth season of The Masked Singer.

While the ’90s brought us many sitcoms, one of the most memorable shows was the teen series Saved by the Bell. One of the show’s stars, Mark-Paul Gosselaar shot to stardom as high schooler Zack Morris. After the show ended in 1993, Gosselaar appeared in a variety of film and television roles.

He recently appeared in the ABC comedy Mixed-ish and Black-ish. In 2020, he reunited with his Saved by the Bell costars for a revival of the classic sitcom.

Devon Sawa quickly became a household name during the ’90s thanks to films like Casper, Wild America, and Idle Hands. Not only did Sawa become one of the biggest actors in that decade, but his fame extended well into the early 2000s where he starred in memorable films such as the horror movie Final Destination.

Sawa has continued to work steadily in television and film. In 2021, Sawa returned to his horror movie roots with a starring role in the television series Chucky.

The 1990s may have offered a variety of different types of heartthrobs for every taste but when it came to the quintessential bad boy of the ’90s, the first name that comes to mind is Skeet Ulrich. After appearing in several films as an extra, Ulrich became a bonafide bad boy crush in the 1990s cult horror film, The Craft.

Ulrich then appeared in the classic horror slasher film Scream. Ulrich has continued to act and most recently appeared in The CW’s teen drama Riverdale as well as voicing a character on Robot Chicken.

Though Johnny Depp landed his starring role on the television series 21 Jump Street in the late 80s, his popularity and reputation as a Hollywood heartthrob only grew in the 1990s. Depp began exploring darker characters in films such as Edward Scissorhands, What’s Eating Gilbert Grape?, and Cry-Baby.

Depp’s talent and fan base have only grown with the decades. Today, thanks to roles in Pirates of the Caribbean and other big-budget films, Depp is one of the biggest film stars in the world.

Rider Strong made a name for himself in the ’90s with a starring role in the popular series Boy Meets World. On the show, Strong played Shawn Hunter, the show’s rebellious and often troubled best friend of the show’s protagonist, Cory Matthews.

By 2000, Strong had moved past sitcoms and explored more adult material with the horror film Cabin Fever in the early 2000s as well as appearances in various independent films. In 2014, he reprised his role as Shawn Hunter in the Girl Meets World series.

Kyle MacLachlan became an unexpected heartthrob on the early ’90s cult-favorite, Twin Peaks. On the show, MacLachlan played special agent Dale Cooper, a mysterious special FBI agent in the small town of Twin Peaks, Washington. MacLachlan quickly captured the attention of audiences with his strong jawline and sharp suits.

Following Twin Peaks, MacLachlan appeared in another cult classic, Showgirls. In recent years, MacLachlan has appeared in various popular shows such as Portlandia and a limited edition revival of Twin Peaks. MacLachlan will soon appear in Peacock’s Joe Exotic.

From television commercials to the aisles of your favorite bookstore, it was hard to avoid seeing Fabio during the early ’90s. The Italian model and actor gained notoriety by gracing the covers of many romance novels.

In addition to starring in various fashion campaigns and commercials, Fabio even dabbled in writing. These days, Fabio has kept to his strict workout regime. He recently released a line of male grooming products.

Though he had appeared in several television shows, actor David Hasselhoff gained international attention as the star of Knight Rider in the ’80s. By the early ’90s, he had joined another show which propelled him to the top of Hollywood’s list of heartthrobs — Baywatch.

Hasselhoff’s presence in the show helped make him one of the most famous television stars in the world. These days, Hasselhoff is getting in touch with his German heritage. The actor is expected to appear on a German television series called Ze Network.

After his promising football career promptly ended following an injury, Dean Cain slipped on another uniform — Superman. After appearing in various television shows, Cain was offered the role of the famous superhero on the popular television series Lois & Clark: The New Adventures of Superman.

His role, and masculine look, gained him a large following. In recent years, Cain has continued acting in several faith-based productions. He has also dabbled in directing with his debut film, Little Angels.

Between his smooth lyrics and washboard abs, it’s no wonder that LL Cool J was at the top of the list of ’90s heartthrobs. During the ’90s, the rapper dominated the hip hop charts with songs like “Mama Said Knock You Out” and “Doin’ It”. After catching the acting bug, he appeared in several movies including Any Given Sunday and S.W.A.T.

These days, he can be seen on the long-running crime drama, NCIS: Los Angeles as Special Agent Sam Hanna. He also hosts the reality music competition show, Lip Sync Battle.

With roles in films like School Ties and Scent of a Woman, Chris O’Donnell was one of Hollywood’s most promising young actors. With his boyish smile and blue eyes, the actor quickly became one of the biggest heartthrobs of the ’90s.

After several disappointing film roles, O’Donnell took a brief break from show business. In recent years, he has appeared on the CBS crime drama, NCIS: Los Angeles and American Dad!

During the late ’90s, it was hard to turn on the Disney Channel and not see Ryan Merriman. The actor appeared in several made-for-television movies including Smart House and later, The Luck of the Irish.

Merriman continued to act, appearing in films such as The Deep End of the Ocean and Just Looking. In recent years, Merriman has made appearances in Pretty Little Liars and most recently in the sci-fi/action television series, Robot Riot.

No list of ’90s heartthrobs would be complete without the addition of Jonathan Taylor Thomas. During the ’90s, few could say that they didn’t have at least one J.T.T. poster hanging on their bedroom wall.

The actor rose to fame on the ABC sitcom, Home Improvement, but later went on to voice Simba in The Lion King. After making a brief appearance on the ABC sitcom Last Man Standing, Thomas has chosen to stay out of the spotlight.

While the ’90s had its fair share of Hollywood bad boys, no one was as notorious as actor Christian Slater. Following the success of his dark teen drama Heathers, Slater went on to appear in popular films such as Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves, True Romance, and Interview With the Vampire.

These days, Slater is best known for his critically acclaimed performances on the small screen such as in Mr. Robot, Dirty John, and Dr. Death.

During the early ’90s, there was one zip code that everyone knew by heart — Beverly Hills, 90210. School hunk and Peach Pit patron Jason Priestley quickly became one of the show’s biggest stars. After reining as one of the biggest teen idols, Priestly departed the show in 1998.

Since then, he has returned to his Canadian roots with appearances in the Canadian sitcom Raising Expectations and the dramedy, Private Eyes.

The ’90s are often seen as the golden age of teen-centered soap operas. One of the biggest shows of the decade was the drama, Melrose Place. Actor Andrew Shue, who played Billy Campell on the soap opera, quickly became a fan favorite.

After the show ended, Shue attempted a career as a professional soccer player and later as a teacher at a school in Zimbabwe. In recent years, Shue has ventured into the world of high tech as the co-founder of the popular website, CafeMom.

Though Kilmer had made a name for himself with appearances in comedic films and theater productions in the ’80s, his status as a leading man in Hollywood was solidified in the ’90s. Kilmer’s roles in films like The Doors, Tombstone, and Heat made him one of the biggest stars of the decade.

While no longer the leading man, Kilmer has continued to appear in a variety of film and television roles. Kilmer recently made headlines when his health struggles were documented in the powerful biographical documentary, Val.

Though Joshua Jackson didn’t look like a traditional Hollywood heartthrob, his role as Pacey Witter in the classic teen drama, Dawson’s Creek, helped make him one of television’s most memorable romantic leads.

After becoming a teen idol, Jackson appeared in several darker films such as Cruel Intentions and The Skulls. Jackson has continued working in a variety of film and television roles and was most recently seen in the shows Little Fires Everywhere and Dr. Death.

Like many stars of the ’90s, von Betten got his start on soap operas. He later appeared in several Disney Channel productions including Brink! and So Weird. Von Detten continued acting and capturing hearts with roles in The Princess Diaries and Escape to Witch Mountain.

After years of working in show business, von Detten decided to essentially walk away from Hollywood. These days, von Detten has put his teen crush past behind him and now works at a commodities brokerage firm in Los Angeles.

Though John Stamos got his Hollywood break on the long-running soap opera General Hospital, he quickly soared to the top of Hollywood’s television crushes while playing Jesse on Full House.

Fans adored Stamos as the mullet-rocking “cool” uncle of the Tanner family. Following his success on the show, Stamos appeared in a variety of other television shows including ER and the Lifetime/Netflix thriller, You. Currently, Stamos plays a basketball coach on the Disney+ show, Big Shot.

While Leonardo DiCaprio had appeared in several critically acclaimed films such as What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, The Basketball Diaries, and Romeo + Juliet, the actor didn’t achieve Hollywood heartthrob status until his role as Jack Dawson in the blockbuster hit, Titanic.

Following the aptly named “Leo-Mania” of the ’90s, DiCaprio has become one of the most accomplished actors in the film industry. In addition to producing, and raising awareness for various environmental issues, DiCaprio has continued acting. He was most recently seen in the Netflix comedy, Don’t Look Up.

Freddie Prinze Jr. was the undisputed king of the teen movie during the ’90s and early 2000s. His roles in I Know What You Did Last Summer and She’s All That quickly catapulted him to Hollywood heartthrob status.

After several appearances in television shows like Friends and Boston Legal, the actor’s career took an unexpected turn when he became involved in the world of professional wrestling. Prinze Jr. recently launched a wrestling news-centered podcast called WWFreddie-Wrestling With Freddie.

The ’90s produced some of the most memorable teen dramas including Dawson’s Creek. Fans of the show tuned in each week to see how the love lives of their favorite stars would pan out on the show. While some women were fans of the character named Pacey, others were devoted to Dawson Leery, played by actor James Van Der Beek.

Van Der Beek quickly became a teen idol which led to starring roles in iconic ’90s films like Varsity Blues. Van Der Beek has continued to work in television with roles in CSI: Cyber and FX’s Pose.

During the ’90s, Usher released several albums and chart-topping singles. The singer soon became known for his abs as much as his smooth R&B sound, launching his reputation as one of the biggest heartthrobs in the music industry.

Since his hits “Nice & Slow” and “You Make Me Wanna…”, Usher has carved out an extremely successful career that goes beyond just music. He has starred in several films and has served as an advisor on the music-reality competition show, The Voice. He recently began a residency at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas.

With his dimples and charismatic personality, it’s no surprise that Mario Lopez became the ultimate teen crush during the ’90s. The actor caught his big break when he was cast as school jock A.C. Slater on the popular sitcom, Saved by the Bell.

After a variety of appearances on television shows, Lopez found his niche as the host of his own radio show On With Mario Lopez and as host for the entertainment news show, Access Hollywood.

While there was no shortage of buxom and toned lifeguards on Baywatch, one young actor quickly became a fan favorite — David Charvet. Charvet put on the famous red bathing suit in 1992 as resident lifeguard and heartthrob, Matt Brody.

In addition to acting, Charvet managed to have a successful music career in his native country, France. In recent years, Charvet has moved away from the entertainment industry and into real estate and property development.

With his long hair and rebellious nature, Lorenzo Lamas’ character in Renegade led to a successful stint as television’s most-desirable bad boy. Though he had appeared on the CBS show Falcon Crest, it was his role as Reno Raines that made him one of the most attractive men on television.

Decades after his long-hair and motorcycle days, Lamas decided to take a break from Hollywood and become a commercial helicopter and airplane pilot. Lamas gives aerial tours of Los Angeles and is also a certified helicopter flight instructor.

After appearing in a variety of advertisements for big companies like Coca-Cola and Guess, Tyrese Gibson released his chart-topping single, “Nobody Else”. The success of his music led to hosting and VJ gigs on MTV.

While Gibson is still involved in the music industry, he has parlayed his fame into a successful film career with recurring roles in blockbusters like the Fast & Furious and Transformers franchises. He will soon be seen in the Marvel Comic film, Morbius.

We don’t know if it was his perfectly spiked hair or his relationship with Buffy, but we couldn’t take out eyes off of David Boreanaz in the ’90s. Boreanaz’s popularity soared when he played the role of Angel on the hit television show, Buffy, the Vampire Slayer.

The character and actor were so loved, that a new spin-off series called Angel was created. Years after his famous role as the handsome and brooding vampire, Boreanaz has returned to the small screen with the military drama SEAL Team.

Decades before he was making headlines because of his love life, Brian Austin Green played the high schooler we all wanted to cut class with on the hit teen drama, Beverly Hills, 90210.

As his fame grew on the television series, Brian Austin Green began to explore a career in music and DJing with the release of his album, One Stop Carnival. Green has continued to appear in a variety of television shows including The Masked Singer, Dancing With the Stars, and The Conners.

Few of us will admit that seeing Joey Lawrence on the small screen had us saying his Blossom character’s trademark, “Whoa!”. With his long locks and muscular physique, it’s no surprise that his posters plastered the walls of teen rooms everywhere in the ’90s.

After a successful run on Blossom and Brotherly Love, Lawrence has continued to act. He recently appeared in the Tubi Original film, Swim, Mistletoe Mixup, and a Deadly Deed.

Jeremy London quickly rose to fame with appearances on the acclaimed television series I’ll Fly Away. He followed this role with a regular role on the hit series Party of Five. His fame as a ’90s heartthrob was further established when he starred as T.S. Quint in the cult-classic film, Mallrats.

While the actor has since struggled with substance abuse issues, he recently announced that he would be returning to acting with the thriller film, Open.

While the ’90s had no shortage of “bad boys,” few were as notorious as actor Stephen Dorff. After appearing as Alicia Silverstone’s boyfriend in the racy video for “Cryin’” by Aerosmith, Dorff went on to appear in S.F.W with Reese Witherspoon.

Towards the end of the decade, Dorff played his most memorable role yet — vampire Deacon Frost in the Marvel Comics film, Blade. These days, Dorff continues to act with roles in Embattled and the documentary, Kid 90.

While “bad boys” abounded in Hollywood during the ’90s, there were also some sweeter crushes — like Barry Watson. After appearing in a variety of popular television shows, Watson finally got his big break as the older sibling of the Camden clan on 7th Heaven.

His perfectly coiffed long hair, combined with his good looks, quickly made him a fan favorite. Following the success of 7th Heaven, Watson has continued to act with roles on Into the Dark and will soon appear in The CW’s superhero series, Naomi.

Almost two decades before Channing Tatum was stripping off his clothing to “Pony”, the song’s original artist was leaving audiences feeling “So Anxious”. The song’s music video, which featured Ginuwine’s smooth voice and muscular physique, helped the song reach the top of the charts.

Today, “Pony” is still considered one of the most influential R&B songs of all time. Though Ginuwine’s later music didn’t reach the same level of popularity, he has continued to tour and perform.

Often cast as the film’s villain or bully, Andrew Keegan appeared in a variety of television and film roles throughout the ’90s. Keegan became best known for roles on television shows like Party of Five and 7th Heaven.

His type-casting as the antagonist continued with his role as popular bully Joey Donner in 10 Things I Hate About You. Though Keegan continued to make appearances in television shows, the actor’s career took a strange turn when he began his own religious cult known as Full Circle.

During the ’90s, it was hard to pick your favorite television show heartthrob. For many fans, however, the choice was a no-brainer — Luke Perry who played Dylan McKay of Beverly Hills, 90210. Perry’s appearance in the teen drama quickly catapulted his career and made him a teen idol for millions of adoring fans.

Though he was never able to recreate the heights of 90210 fame, Perry continued to have a solid career. Before his untimely passing in 2019, Perry played Fred Andrews on the popular CW series Riverdale.