Male Heartthrobs of the '90s: Where Are They Now?

Wondering What Your Favorite Heartthrob Is Up to Today?

The 90s brought us a wide array of iconic TV shows, movies, and music that introduced us to some of the sexiest and swoon-worthy heartthrobs we've ever had. Many of the men on this list have gone on to have extremely successful careers in Hollywood, and continue to age like fine wine. Let's take a stroll down memory lane and check out some of the most famous male heartthrobs of the 1990s.

Leonardo DiCaprio

Then

Before his poster was hung on the bedroom walls of millions of girls everywhere, DiCaprio initially became a household name after receiving an Oscar nomination for his role in the 1993 film, What's Eating Gilbert Grape?

During the '90s, he would also star in The Basketball Diaries, Marvin's Room, and The Man in the Iron Mask. Leo-mania was in full swing in the latter part of the decade, when Leonardo DiCaprio took the world (and ladies) by storm with his dreamboat roles in Romeo + Juliet (1996) and Titanic (1997).

Now

Since becoming an ultimate Hollywood hunk, DiCaprio has built one of the most extensive and colorful film careers in history. With movies such as Catch Me If You Can, Gangs of New York, The Departed and The Wolf of Wall Street on his resume, the actor is truly a chameleon.

He's had an impressive five Academy Award nominations, finally winning Best Actor for his role in 2016's The Revenant. DiCaprio is also well-known for his environmentalism and produced a documentary on climate change, Before the Flood. Plus, he’s still as handsome as ever.

Jonathan Taylor Thomas

Then

Jonathan Taylor Thomas was the ultimate teen heartthrob due to his role as mischievous teen Randy Taylor on Home Improvement. The young actor became the resident hottie on the hit show, which aired from 1991 to 1999. Prior to his success as Randy, Thomas had starred as Kevin Brady on the short-lived spin-off, The Bradys (1990). He also voiced Simba in The Lion King (1994).

Now

Thomas left the show in 1998 in order to focus on his academics; he would go on to study at Harvard, Columbia, and St. Andrews in Scotland. After the early 2000s, he almost stopped acting entirely. He had guest roles on the shows 8 Simple Rules For Dating My Teenage Daughter, Smallville and Veronica Mars. In 2013, he was reunited with his once on-screen dad Tim Allen on Last Man Standing; he returned once more in 2015.

Freddie Prinze Jr.

Then

Prince Jr. developed a loyal and passionate fan-base after appearing in the late '90s films I Know What You Did Last Summer. The film series made him well-known among teenage audiences, and he nabbed his first leading role in the romantic comedy She's All That (1999). The film was a box office success, grossing $63 million upon its release, and has since become one of the most popular teen films of the 90s.

Now

The actor went on to find success in the 2000s, starring as Fred Jones in the live-action film version of Scooby-Doo, and its sequel Scooby-Doo 2: Monsters Unleashed. He began dating his I Know What You Did Last Summer co-star Sarah Michelle Gellar in 2000, and the couple was married in 2002. They have two children together.

Prinze Jr. made appearances on the shows Friends and Boston Legal, and on his own television sitcom, Freddie. These days, the actor primarily does TV work, having appeared on shows such as Bones and 24.

James Van Der Beek

Then

James Van Der Beek captured the hearts of girls across the country as the titular character in the hit WB series Dawson’s Creek. The successful show ran from 1998 to 2003, making its young stars household names. During this time Van Der Beek would also appear in the films Varsity Blues (1999) and The Rules of Attraction (2002), the former placing at number one for two weeks at the box office.

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Now

Since his days at the Creek, Van Der Beek has appeared in TV films including Taken in Broad Daylight and Salem Falls. He starred as a fictionalized version of himself on the cult ABC sitcom Don’t Trust the B——in Apartment 23, CSI: Cyber, and What Would Diplo Do? He currently stars as Matt Bromley in the FX drama Pose.

Luke Perry

Then

Luke Perry became the ultimate heartthrob when he starred as resident bad boy Dylan McKay on the iconic teen drama Beverly Hills, 90210. Perry appeared on the show from 1990 to 1995, and again from 1998 to 2000. When he wasn’t wooing Brenda or Kelly on the drama, the actor would also appear in the 1992 film Buffy the Vampire Slayer, Invasion, and The Fifth Element.

Now

Since his days at the ultimate heartbreaker, Perry has gone on to make appearances on shows like What I Like About You, Will & Grace, and Body of Proof. He starred as Fred Andrews in the Archie Comics-based teen drama Riverdale, and appeared in the Quentin Tarantino film, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. He passed away in 2019.

Will Smith

Then

Actor, rapper, and overall funnyman Will Smith began his career as a performer under the name The Fresh Prince in the late 1980s, and soon skyrocketed to fame on the beloved comedy show, The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. The series ran for 6 seasons, from 1990 to 1996.

It didn’t take long before Hollywood came calling, as Smith went on to star in the box office smash hit Independence Day (1995), as well as Bad Boys, Men in Black, Enemy of the State, and Wild, Wild West. The actor soon became a blockbuster staple.

Now

Smith has continued to become a Hollywood heavy hitter and is the only actor to have eight consecutive films gross over $100 million at the domestic box office. His long movie resume includes hits such as Hitch, I Am Legend, Hancock, and Suicide Squad. He is set to appear as the Genie in the live-action version of Aladdin this summer.

Mark-Paul Gosselaar

Then

Mark-Paul Gosselaar first rose to fame as the scheming but lovable Zack Morris on the teen sitcom Saved by the Bell, a character he played from 1989 to 1993. He would reprise the role for the spin-off, Saved by the Bell: The College Years from 1993 to 1994. The blonde sensation would appear alongside fellow sitcom star Candace Cameron Bure in the 1996 TV drama film She Cried No.

Now

Gosselaar has kept himself busy since his sitcom days, starring as Detective John Clark, Jr. on NYPD Blue, Raising the Bar, and as Peter Bash in Franklin & Bash. The actor is set to star in the upcoming supernatural drama The Passage, and most recently appeared alongside Bruce Willis in the 2016 film Precious Cargo.

Brad Pitt

Then

Arguably one of the most swoon-worthy heartthrobs of the 1990s, Brad Pitt first came onto the scene as the sexy cowboy hitchhiker in the 1991 iconic film Thelma & Louise. His famous love scene with Geena Davis in the movie further solidified his “sex symbol” status.

He would go on to steal the hearts of women everywhere with his handsome looks and performances in Interview with the Vampire, Seven, 12 Monkeys, and Fight Club.

Now

Brad Pitt has most definitely kept himself busy since driving women everywhere crazy, acting, and producing many hit films. Just a few of his mega-successful movies include Ocean’s Eleven, Mr. & Mrs. Smith, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and The Big Short.

He had high-profile marriages to both Jennifer Aniston and Angelina Jolie, the latter whom he shares six children with. He starred alongside fellow ’90s heartthrobs Leonardo DiCaprio and Luke Perry in the film Once Upon a Time in Hollywood.