I wrote an article for a website my friends and I maintain – Vintage Unscripted, and wanted to do an update to that article here.
If you were a teenage girl in the mid-1970s and early-1980s, I’m sure you’ll remember these handsome heartthrobs! You probably had their posters on the walls of your bedroom (or hidden in your closet if your Mom didn’t approve). And you probably had dreams of being their girlfriend, and you might have written their names over and over again on your school notebooks…. Mrs. Shaun Cassidy, Mrs. Shaun Cassidy, Mrs. Shaun Cassidy…..
Here are some of my favorite 1970s/1980s heartthrobs, and what they look like today (in no particular order – well, okay… maybe a little bit of a favorite order – LOL).
Shaun Cassidy
Shaun started out on General Hospital at 5 years old. He became popular in the late 1970s in the Hardy Boys, Nancy Drew Mysteries alongside Parker Stevenson. He continued acting until the mid-1990s. He began writing and producing TV series and movies in the early 1990s and has been active doing that ever since. I like him best for his song “Be My JayDee Baby” (seriously, the song is “Be My Baby”, but I liked singing it with my name instead of “baby” – LOL).
Okay – just listen to this song and tell me he isn’t singing “Be My JayDee Now….”
David Cassidy
David started his TV acting career in the late 1960s – everyone remembers him best as “Keith” on the Partridge Family. He made all the teenage girls swoon when he was singing hits like “I Think I Love You“. He was an accomplished actor and musician until his death in 2017.
I love this song by David – it always makes me smile (thank you David Cassidy).
Donny Osmond
Everyone remembers the Osmond Brothers. Especially Donny. Donny with the dreamy eyes and bright smile. Donny singing “Go Away Little Girl“. Donny singing “Puppy Love“. *sigh* Donny still has his youthful good looks and continues to perform and appear on TV.
You just have to love this classic song….
Davy Jones
Davy started out as an actor in the 1950s, moved on to American broadway before he joined with the wildly popular group “The Monkeys”. Sadly, he passed away in 2012 at the age of 66, but leaves behind a great legacy. One of my favorite songs Davy sang is “Daydream Believer“.
Sing it Davy!
Bobby Sherman
Bobby started out in TV in the late 1960s, but really became a heartthrob when he joined the Teen Idol Tour with Peter Noone and Davy Jones. You might remember his hit songs “Little Woman“, “Julie Do You Love Me“, and “Easy Come Easy Go“. He was also a Captain in the Los Angeles Police Department and San Bernardino Sherrif’s Department.
A quick listen to one of Bobby’s classics. Na na na na na…..
Andy Gibb
As well as acting in many TV shows in the 1970s, Andy and his brothers were wildy successful as the “The Bee Gees”. Remember Andy’s hit “I Just Want To Be Your Everything“? Andy had a difficult time with his rapid rise to stardom, and sadly, we lost Andy in 1988, but his songs live on.
Such a classic….
Leif Garrett
Leif started acting in the late 1960s and has been in dozens and dozens of movies and TV shows throughout his life. In the late 1970s, he turned to a singing career and was best known for his disco hit, “I Was Made for Dancing“.
A fun song…
John Travolta
When you hear the name John Travolta you immediately think of his dancing prowess in Saturday Night Fever, Grease, and Pulp Fiction. But do you remember him in Welcome Back, Kotter as Vinnie Barbarino? Hubba hubba! He continues acting to this day.
While this song is from the Bee Gees, you have to love those Travolta moves!
Rick Springfield
Rick’s been in a TON of TV shows, and is probably best known for his role as the dreamy Dr. Noah Drake in the show General Hospital. But I will always remember him as a heartthrob musician singing “Jessie’s Girl” and “Don’t Talk to Strangers“.
One of my favs….
John Schneider
John Schneider played Bo Duke on The Dukes of Hazzard back in the 1970s. His acting career started when he showed up for the audition with a beard and a beer can in one hand, after all the producers were looking for a “good ole boy”. He continues acting today in his series The Haves and the Have Nots.
Here’s a video of John Schneider singing the Dukes of Hazzard theme song.
Oh My, Thank you for the rush of memories. My Mom was pretty cool and allowed me to spend “all” of my allowance on Tiger Beat, and didn’t mind my walls were plastered in Donny Osmond posters : ) He was mine! I actually was able to claim him as “My very 1st concert”, at the tender age of 12 or 13. Wow, memories of sweet tween-age : ) Thank You!