April 2, 1984
Michael Schoeffling
"Sixteen Candles"Michael Schoeffling, who portrays Jake Ryan, Samantha Baker's love obsession in "Sixteen Candles," is making his second appearance in a motion picture and his first in a leading role. He was just recently seen as the amputee soldier in "Rading With the Moon," co-starring with Sean Penn, Elizabeth McGovern and Nicolas Cage.
Born in Pennsylvania, Schoeffling grew up all over the state and attended nine different schools before graduating from Cherokee High in New Jersey. Although his family had to move often due to his father's computer business work, the experience gave young Schoeffling a desire to travel at an early age.
"In 1978, he joined the U.S. Junior Wrestling Team and went to Munich, Germany, winning the Gold Medal at the European Championships (Golden Freestyle). He then moved to New York at 18, where he still currently resides, and attended Temple University under a Liberal Arts major, focused on wrestling. Undecided as to his career, he eventually moved to Europe and traveled throughout the continent for the next year and half."
Schoeffling returned to New York with a desire to study acting. He soon was accepted at the Lee Strasberg Institute, working as a model for GQ and other publications to finance his theatrical education. Besides income, the modeling brought him worldwide travel for the next two years, as well as to the attention of casting directors.
Schoeffling most recently completed his third motion picture. He is soon to be seen in a starring role in the upcoming "Vision Quest."
A John Hughes Film, "Sixteen Candles" stars Molly Ringwald, Paul Dooley, Carlin Glynn, Justin Henry, Michael Schoeffling, Haviland Morris, Gedde Watanabe, Blanche Baker, Edward Andrews, Billie Bird, Carole Cook, Max Showalter, Liane Curtis, John Cusack, Darren Harris, Deborah Pollack and Anthony Michael Hall as The Geek. The Universal Picture is produced by Hilton A. Green and written and directed by John Hughes. Ned Tanen is the executive producer.
(Universal News -- Press Department, 1984)