Who Played Jake in Sixteen Candles
Jake Ryan in the 1984 film Sixteen Candles was played by Michael Schoeffling. He is the popular senior whose attention drives much of the story.
Michael Schoeffling and the Role
Michael Schoeffling was a model and actor best known for this role. In the movie, Jake is the object of Samantha Baker's crush, creating the central romantic tension.
Sixteen Candles Cast and Character Impact
The film also stars Molly Ringwald as Samantha and Anthony Michael Hall as Long Duk Dong. Jake Ryan remains a defining character in 1980s teen cinema, and the movie is frequently cited in lists of iconic coming-of-age films. For more background on the cast and production, see the film's entry on IMDb Sixteen Candles.
