Anthony Michael Hall has had an illustrious acting career spanning four decades with star turns in movies and tv series. While he widely known for his iconic roles in the John Hughes teen classics”Sixteen Candles.” “The Breakfast Club” and “Weird Science,” Hall has delivered some underrated acting performances throughout his diverse career. Here are a few notable ones:
“Johnny Be Good” (1988) –
This teen comedy will never be recognized as a classic, but is notable as Hall goes against type as a jock (rather than his traditional role as a geek) in “Johnny Be Good” as he plays Johnny Walker, the top high school quarterback in the nation fighting temptation on the college recruiting trail along with family and friends. Hall reunites with Robert Downey, Jr. from their turn in “Weird Science,” but this time they are best friends and teammates. Paul Gleason, who played Principal Vernon with Hall in “The Breakfast Club,” plays Hall’s high school coach who is attempting to manipulate his recruitment into a head coaching job in college by bringing his star player along as a package. In what is likely this film’s most important contribution, we are introduced to Uma Thurman, who is along for the ride as Hall’s girlfriend.
“National Lampoon’s Vacation” (1983) –
In a sign of things to come, John Hughes wrote a script that would end up starring Anthony Micheal Hall. Hughes’ script was inspired by his family’s trip to Disneyland when he was five years old that subsequently became his National Lampoon Magazine article “Vacation ’58.” Hall’s role as Rusty Griswold proved he could hold his own in scenes with comedy stalwarts Chevy Chase and John Candy. Ironically, when Hall declined to return as Rusty in “European Vacation” opting star in “Weird Science,” it set off the domino effect of having different actors play Rusty and Audrey in each of the subsequent films.
“The Breakfast Club” (1985) –
Although not necessarily underrated, Hall’s portrayal of Brian Johnson, the “brain” of the group, deserves recognition as he showed his dramatic range while bringing authenticity and vulnerability to the character. He reunites with Molly Ringwald after they co-starred in the previous year’s John Hughes hit “Sixteen Candles.” Hall and Ringwald were both 16 at the time of filming while their co-stars Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy and Emilio Estevez were in their twenties. Hughes wrote “The Breakfast Club” before “Sixteen Candles,” but the studio felt “Sixteen Candles” had more commercial appeal. In the end, “The Breakfast Club” grossed $51.5 million to $23.7 million for “Sixteen Candles.”
“Pirates of Silicon Valley” (1999) –
In this TNT original movie about the rivalry between Steve Jobs and Bill Gates, Hall portrays Bill Gates to Noah Wyle’s portrayal of Steve Jobs. Hall’s performance as Gates is commendable for capturing the tech mogul’s mannerisms and personality traits. Based on Paul Freiberger and Michael Swaine’s 1984 book “Fire in the Valley: The Making of the Personal Computer,” it explores the impact that the rivalry between Jobs (Apple Computer) and Gates (Microsoft) had on the development of the personal computer.
“61*” (2001) –
While not in a lead role, Hall’s portrayal of Yankees pitcher Whitey Ford stands out in the HBO film about the summer of 1961 and the home run chase between Mickey Mantle (Thomas Jane) and Roger Maris (Barry Pepper) on their quest to break Babe Ruth’s 1927 single-season home run record of 60. Of note, the film was directed by Billy Crystal.
These performances showcase Anthony Michael Hall’s range as an actor and demonstrate his ability to bring depth to various roles, even in supporting capacities.
As Hall transitioned from teen roles to adult roles, he faced the challenge of shedding his teenage persona and proving himself in more diverse and complex characters. While he took on a variety of roles in films and television, he may not have received the same level of attention or acclaim as some of his contemporaries who successfully made this transition.
