The 1980s were a whirlwind of neon colors, big hair, and unforgettable cultural shifts. From blockbuster movies to groundbreaking music and historic world events, it was a decade that seemed larger than life. But beyond the iconic moments we all know, there’s a treasure trove of rare photographs that offer a glimpse into the everyday, the extraordinary, and the just plain unexpected. These images capture the spirit of the ’80s in ways that may surprise you, revealing a decade full of vibrant energy, innovation, and unapologetic individuality. Let’s dive into these hidden gems from the 1980s!
Long before Cameron Diaz picked up the mantle of Charlie’s Angels in the 2000s this fresh faced young woman was a cheerleader at Long Beach Polytechnic High School, a place that also had the honor of hosting Snoop Dogg. Instead of going to college Diaz signed a contract with the Elite Model Management at the age of 16 – her fellow students must have been jealous. She appeared in ads for Calvin Klein, Levi’s Jeans and Coca Cola. That was only a stepping stone for Diaz who went on to star in The Mask in 1994 before garnering critical acclaim in Being John Malkovich.
In the 1980s you had to go out of your way to avoid Heather Locklear, this blonde star was a series regular on TJ Hooker and a beloved presence on Dynasty where she got to be as wicked as she wanted to be. She totally ruled the ‘80s with her poofy hair and suggestive eyes, and aside from appearing on some of the most watched shows of the decade she also got into the hair metal scene when she married Motley Crue drummer Tommy Lee. She truly was an ‘80s queen and proved that she could rock just as hard as the boys. Heather Locklear will always tubular in our book.
The 1980s saw Jamie Lee Curtis take a new step in her career as she transitioned from scream queen to beauty icon. In the 1985 film Perfect she spends most of her time in tiny leotards while she acts out extremely saucy work out scenes. She told the Chicago Times, “They`re supposed to be substitute love scenes, but in a way the scenes are almost more pornographic than if I were naked. It`s my big disappointment [about the picture]. I think the scenes are held on too long. And because the point of them is held on and drilled home so hard, I think maybe if you saw [me] making love, it might be a little softer. When I asked about having them cut down, I was told that they already had been cut down.”
Whoever said there are no second acts in America never met Cathy Lee Crosby. This delightful young woman began her career as a professional tennis player. She was so radical at the sport that she played at Wimbledon twice between 1967 and 1970 before retiring from the sport to act throughout the ‘70s and ‘80s. She even appeared as a guest commentator for the televised special advertising WrestleMania 2. When she wasn’t commentating she was popping up on Kolchak: The Night Stalker and Wonder Woman. This multifaceted star showed young women across the world that they could do anything they wanted.
There are two things that we remember from Beastmaster, the fact that the titular master of beasts has a pseudo magical power to control animals and Tanya Roberts. As the queen of b-movies in the 1980s Roberts was a teen boy’s dream and she says that she chose to appear in Beastmaster because there wasn’t as much focus on her. She told Fangoria, “I chose The Beastmaster because it gave me the chance to slip into movies without getting the whole book thrown at me. The movie wasn’t built around me. I was just an actor in it, and it was a good chance for me to be seen.”
Christie Brinkley was one of the most sought after models of the 1980s. She was all over Sports Illustrated and created the modern ideal of what we think of as a super model. However, she wasn’t just some model – she created art and even came up with ideas to help young women. She told the New York Times, “In the late 1980s, I had the idea to create a Real Model doll collection. I thought, Supermodels fly around the world, speak multiple languages, and the dolls could teach girls a variety of things. We had dolls for Paulina, Cheryl Tiegs and me, among others.”
Dolly Parton is one of the hardest working people in show business and in the 1980s she transitioned from simply being a country singer to a movie star and pop idol with the ease that someone has walking to the fridge. When Roger Ebert asked Parton if it bothered her when people made fun of her famous bust she countered, “I don’t. It don’t bother me so much unless people dwell on it. Get tacky and all. It’s part of the act. If someone gets really carried away, well, I sort of pity him. Cause it’s his problem, not mine. Other than that, I’m a good sport. I know some of the best Dolly Parton jokes. I made ’em up myself.”
It’s impossible to think of Lynda Carter as anything but Wonder Woman so it’s hard to imagine that she doesn’t just look like Princess Diana. In an interview with Palm Springs Life in 1981 Carter said that she wasn’t born with the bod of Wonder Woman and that it takes a lot of work. In order to stay in shape she committed herself to doing intense aerobics and strenuous ballet every day while she ate a lot of fresh vegetables without going on any specific fad diets. It’s clear that she’s seriously committed to staying in shape and it shows.
Throughout the 1980s Kim Basinger appeared in films with stars like Sean Connery and Michael Keaton but even though she was stuck between all of these stars she always managed to shine on her own like a pin up from World War II. Her role in Never Say Never Again was of the titular Bond girl even though it’s not a full on 007 movie. Basinger says that she’d never seen a Bond movie before that so she threw herself into research. She told Interview Magazine, “I did a lot of research. I remember going to that meeting with the producer. It was Micheline, Sean’s wife, who had suggested me for this role. I had a meeting with these people, and I sat there and suggested a lot of other girls in the business for the part because I said, ‘I do not look like that, okay?’ But the producer said, ‘No, Sean wants to meet you in London.’”
Kelly LeBrock was already known worldwide thanks to her modeling career, but thanks to her role in Weird Science she became an legit icon. Here’s the thing, she never even wanted to be in front of the camera. LeBrock says that she wanted to work with animals before her modeling career took off. She explained, “I actually never wanted to be a model, I wanted to always be a veterinarian. I always have had acting in my heart, and it was something I had done since grade school. When I moved to LA and met my first husband, we produced Woman in Red, which was my first film. I really love creating characters and getting the chance to be someone else.”