'Heathers' cast: Where are they now? (original) (raw)

Still so very, after all these years

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On March 31, 1989, Heathers arrived in theaters, bringing its tale of the very dark side of high school cliques to the big screen. Starring Winona Ryder, Shannen Doherty, Lisanne Falk, Kim Walker, and Christian Slater, among others, the flick was hardly a box office success, but soon became a celebrated cult classic that inspired an equally cult stage musical. Catch up with the stars ahead.

Winona Ryder (Veronica Sawyer)

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Early in her career, Winona Ryder picked up a gig as Veronica Sawyer in Heathers. She landed the role of the clique's latest recruit after making her debut in Lucas in 1986, and went on to appear in Square Dance (1987), Beetlejuice (1988), and 1969 (1988).

After completing her turn as the accidentally murderous high school student, Ryder kept busy in the late-'80s and early-'90s with parts in Mermaids (1990), Edward Scissorhands (1990), The Age of Innocence (1993), Bram Stoker's Dracula (1992), Little Women (1994), and Reality Bites (1994). She then appeared in The Crucible in 1996, Girl, Interrupted in 1999, and Mr. Deeds in 2002. Ryder slowed her filming schedule slightly in the mid-2000s, but returned with Star Trek (2009), Black Swan (2010), Experimenter (2015), Destination Wedding (2018), and Gone in the Night (2022). She also stars on the hit Netflix series Stranger Things.

Shannen Doherty (Heather Duke)

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Shannen Doherty joined Heathers as Heather Duke, a member of the clique who becomes who we now would call the Regina George of the group following Heather Chandler's death. She came into the role two years before becoming Beverly Hills, 90210's Brenda Walsh. Doherty filled her résumé ahead of the gig with a turn as Jenny Wilder on Little House on the Prairie, as well as big-screen roles in Night Shift (1982) and Girls Just Want to Have Fun (1985).

Doherty spent four years on Beverly Hills, 90210 after Heathers, later reprising her role of Brenda for the late-2000s reboot 90210and the 2019 meta-drama BH90210. She expanded her résumé with Mallrats (1995) and a late-'90s turn as Prue on Charmed. The former teen star has since tried her hand at reality TV and wrote a book, Badass: A Hard-Earned Guide to Living Life With Style and (the Right) Attitude, in 2010. Outside of that, she has appeared on Riverdale and even had a recurring role on Paramount Network's 2018 Heathers TV series as J.D.'s (James Scully) mom.

Lisanne Falk (Heather McNamara)

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Lisanne Falk joined the Heathers as Heather McNamara. The former child model came into the role after making previous appearances in I Love N.Y., In the Mood, and Less Than Zero, all in 1987.

Falk followed up Heathers with an appearance in another beloved flick, picking up a small part in 1989's Say Anything... Afterward, she went on to book roles in various TV movies in the early-'90s, also appearing in big-screen movies such as Night on Earth (1991)—starring Winona Ryder—Leather Jackets (1992), and Suicide Kings (1997). Falk's final credited project was a 2002 appearance in a short film before she retired from acting.

Kim Walker (Heather Chandler)

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Kim Walker picked up her first major role as Heather Chandler in Heathers. After appearing in one episode of Crime Story and popping up in the 1987 TV movie Student Exchange, Walker played the leader of the Heathers, who is killed in a seemingly accidental poisoning.

Walker continued to act throughout the late-'80s and early-'90s, reuniting with Lisanne Falk in Say Anything... (1989), and going on to appear in Nervous Ticks (1992) and The Favor (1994). She also appeared in episodes of The Outsiders, Picket Fences, and Matlock. Walker made her final onscreen appearances in the late-'90s and the early-2000s before dying of a brain tumor at the age of 32 in 2001.

Glenn Shadix (Father Ripper)

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Glenn Shadix came into the role of Heathers' Father Ripper after gaining experience with just a handful of parts. The star played the religious figure who speaks at Heather Chandler's funeral after making previous appearances in Beetlejuice (alongside Heathers costar Winona Ryder), 1988's Sunset, and an episode of The Golden Girls.

After hanging up his robe, Shadix had a busy small-screen career in the '90s, booking gigs on Roseanne, Seinfeld, Night Court, Cheers, and The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air. He also returned to the big screen in Demolition Man (1993) and Multiplicity (1996). In the final years of his career, Shadix appeared on Carnivàle but primarily focused on voice work, lending his vocals to the Kingdom Hearts video games, and voicing various characters on Justice League and Teen Titans. The actor died in September 2010 at the age of 58 after suffering a fall.

Patrick Labyorteaux (Ram Sweeney)

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Heathers found one of its resident bullies, Ram Sweeney, in actor Patrick Labyorteaux. Labyorteaux picked up the gig of the classic high school antagonist after making a name for himself on television with appearances on Shazam!, Starsky & Hutch, and The Love Boat, as well as a four-year turn as Andy Garvey on Little House on the Prairie.

Labyorteaux continued to see success on the small screen. He reprised his role of Andy on The Last Frontier in 1996; lent his voice to the character of Flash Thompson on Spider-Man: The Animated Series in the late-'90s; and spent 10 years playing Bud Roberts on JAG. After popping up on Ghost Whisperer, Dexter, and iCarly in 2009, the star made appearances in episodes of The People v. O.J. Simpson: American Crime Story, The Offer, and For All Mankind.

Phill Lewis (Dennis)

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Phill Lewis joined Heathers as Dennis, the school's yearbook editor. Lewis largely filled his résumé before the role with TV credits, making appearances on Hill Street Blues and 227 in 1986, as well as Sonny Spoon and The Bronx Zoo in 1988.

While he hit the big screen in City Slickers (1991), Bowfinger (1999), I Spy (2002), and Kicking & Screaming (2005), Lewis spent much of his time with TV work after Heathers. In the '90s, he was seen on episodes of Hardball, The Wayans Bros., Sister, Sister, and Mad About You. The following decade he played Principal Tweedy on Lizzie McGuire, picked up a three-episode arc on Friends, and appeared as Mr. Moseby on The Suite Life of Zack and Cody and Hooch on Scrubs. Lewis reprised his role of Mr. Moseby on The Suite Life on Deck from 2008 until 2011. He also appeared in 2014's Wish I Was Hereand has provided voice work on American Dad!

Renée Estevez (Betty Finn)

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The daughter of Martin Sheen and Janet Templeton, Renée Estevez joined the family business in the '80s. After appearing on Growing Pains, MacGyver, and in For Keeps? (1988), she picked up the role of the nerdy Betty in Heathers.

Estevez continued to act, landing roles in Cheatin' Hearts (1993), The War at Home (1996), and episodes of JAG. She also spent seven years appearing alongside her father in The West Wing, playing the assistant, Nancy. She also wrote a handful of episodes of Anger Management, which starred her brother, Charlie Sheen.