Gwyneth Paltrow recently stunned fans of the beloved 1980s comedy Sixteen Candles by pointing out an unexpected milestone for the film’s iconic heartthrob, Jake Ryan.
Director John Hughes’ 1984 classic, which turned 40 in May 2024, remains one of the most cherished romantic comedies of its time.
The movie follows high schooler Samantha Baker (Molly Ringwald) as she navigates an eventful 16th birthday, secretly pining for the popular and charming Jake Ryan (Michael Schoeffling) while trying to fend off the advances of her geeky friend, Farmer Ted (Anthony Michael Hall).
Paltrow, 52, appears to be a longtime fan of Sixteen Candles and recently took to her Instagram Story to share a surprising detail about Jake Ryan’s age in 2025.
“Jake Ryan turns 65 this year … in case you haven’t felt betrayed enough by 2025,” she posted alongside a clip from the film.
The Academy Award-winning actress was mostly correct, as Michael Schoeffling, the actor who played Jake Ryan, will indeed be celebrating his 65th birthday this December.
However, Schoeffling was actually a few years older than his onscreen character. Jake Ryan, portrayed as a high school senior in the film, would realistically be turning 58 this year.
Michael Schoeffling’s Life After Sixteen Candles
Following his breakout role in Sixteen Candles, Schoeffling went on to star as a determined high school wrestler in Vision Quest before landing a romantic lead role opposite Cher in the 1990 film Mermaids.
In a 1985 interview with reporter Bobbie Wygant, Schoeffling acknowledged the importance of distinguishing himself from his Sixteen Candles character after the film’s widespread success.
“I suppose I brought something to the character that people liked,” he said at the time. “Vision Quest was a big stretch from Sixteen Candles.
I need to make those stretches as an actor, and I think I get the parts because I can bring something to the character that, maybe, somebody else couldn’t.”
Despite his rising fame, Schoeffling ultimately stepped away from Hollywood after starring in 1991’s Wild Hearts Can’t Be Broken. He chose to leave the entertainment industry behind to open a woodworking shop in a small town in Pennsylvania.
Schoeffling shares two children with his wife, model and actress Valerie C. Robinson. His daughter, Scarlett Schoeffling, has followed in his footsteps, carving out a career as both a model and actress.
She starred alongside Twilight’s Ashley Greene and Scream actor David Arquette in the 2020 sports drama Blackjack: The Jackie Ryan Story.
Gwyneth PaltrowMolly Ringwald Reflects on the Legacy of Sixteen Candles
Molly Ringwald, now 56, has spoken candidly about the lasting impact of Sixteen Candles, particularly as the film faces modern-day scrutiny for some of its outdated depictions.
The 1984 teen classic has been criticized for its portrayal of offensive stereotypes, especially in its depiction of Chinese exchange student Long Duk Dong, played by Japanese-American actor Gedde Watanabe.
During an interview with Andy Cohen, Ringwald addressed these concerns, emphasizing that while she acknowledges the problematic aspects of the film, she doesn’t believe it should be erased from cinematic history.
“I feel like that’s what makes the movies really wonderful, and it’s also something I wanted to go on record talking about—the elements that I find troubling and that I want to change for the future,” she explained.
“But that doesn’t mean at all that I want them to be erased. I’m proud of those movies, and I have a lot of affection for them. They’re so much a part of me.”
Sixteen Candles Reimagined for a New Generation
Ringwald expressed her support when it was announced in 2022 that Selena Gomez would be developing a Sixteen Candles-inspired streaming series for Peacock.
Fifteen Candles is a modern reimagining of the ‘80s classic, centering on the experiences of Latina teenagers navigating high school and their quinceañeras.
“I am so happy about that [reboot],” Ringwald told at the time. “I really do feel like when people always ask me about rebooting my movies, I am like, ‘No, those movies were wonderful.’”
She continued, “But what they should do is take inspiration from them and do something completely different but inspired, so that just sounds fantastic.”
For those looking to revisit the iconic teen film, Sixteen Candles is currently streaming on Netflix.