Kevin Bacon
Animal House (1978) Bacon was fortunate to make his film debut in what others claim to be one of the greatest comedies ever, Animal House. This R-rated film had Bacon starring alongside John Belushi, Karen Allen, and Tim Matheson. He plays the role of a snobby pledge who leaves the good guys to run with the rich fraternity.
Kevin will always be remembered for his role in the drama dance hit film Footloose. Bacon plays Ren McCormack, a teen from Chicago who moves to a small town where rock and dancing are banned due to the efforts of a local preacher. The movie was loosely based on the story that took place in the small and rural community of Elmore City, Oklahoma.
Edward Norton
Primal Fear (1996) Norton is famous for one of the best movie debuts in film history. Primal Fear is a cult classic where the actor plays an accused killer with an identity disorder. The film has become a fan favorite due to its twist at the end. Norton is credited with a stunning performance that makes all the twists in the plot a masterpiece. This acclaim led to his Oscar nomination in 1997 for Best Supporting Actor. He won a Golden Globe Award for Primal Fear.
Norton is not only an actor but a social activist and an environmentalist. He is a member of the board of trustees of a non-profit organization that develops affordable housing called Enterprise Community Partners. This was founded by his grandfather James Rouse. He is active in raising money for charity through Crowdrise, a social networking community for volunteers.
Emily Blunt
My Summer of Love (2004) Blunt’s first film was an R-rated film that shows two girls’ infatuation with one another over the course of their summer vacation. My Summer of Love showcased Blunt’s authentic and brilliant performance, even at the young age of 20. The story revolves around the two women, one from the upper class and the other from the working class, who are drawn to each other. Even if they come from different levels of society, they find common ground when it comes to their dysfunctional families.
Blunt has become an award-winning actress which includes a Golden Globe Award and a nomination from the British Academy Film Awards. She also has a Screen Actors Guild Award. She stars in the latest sequel to the classic American musical Mary Poppins Returns.
Sean Penn
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) Penn’s first R-rated film turns out to be one of the most beloved teen flicks of the ‘80s. The movie garnered Penn the Best Actor Award at the Oscars for portraying Jeff Spicoli, a burned-out surfer dude with big dreams despite his situation. The coming-of-age comedy film is an adaptation of a 1981 book written by Cameron Crowe as he went to Clairemont High School in San Diego and shared his experiences there.
The film marked the directorial debut of Amy Heckerling and shows a school year in the lives of freshmen and older schoolmates who believe that they are wiser in the ways of love than their younger counterparts. In 2005, the film was chosen for preservation in the US National Film Registry by the Library of Congress for being “culturally, historically, or aesthetically significant.”
Eric Stoltz
Fast Times at Ridgemont High (1982) Eric was another future star who made his R-rated film debut in Fast Times. He had the role of Spicoli’s shirtless surfer buddies in a bit role for the teenage classic. He will always be remembered for being cast and consequently fired from Back to the Future. He was supposed to be the original Marty Mcfly. Five weeks into the filming, he was replaced by Michael J. Fox, and scenes that featured Eric had to be shot again, this time featuring Fox.
Stoltz is also a producer and director. He became a regular director with the TV series Glee. In 1985, he got a Golden Globe nomination for his portrayal of Rocky Dennis in The Mask. In 2014, Eric was the producing director of the CBS political drama series Madam Secretary. He became one of the four Executive Producers of the TV series the following year.