The Stunning Stars Of These Iconic Music Videos Look Totally Different Today

MTV might not show any music promos these days but back in the ’80s, ’90s and early ’00s, the network could make anyone a famous face with just a few plays. No doubt you still remember the girl Michael Jackson walked home in “Thriller,” for example. And the fan Bruce Springsteen called up on stage in “Dancing in the Dark.” Here’s a look at the fortunes of 40 faces who helped video kill the radio star.

40. Tom Petty – “Don’t Come Around Here No More”

Louise Foley-Cohen rose to fame as the heroine in Tom Petty’s Alice in Wonderland-inspired promo for “Don’t Come Around Here No More.” The actress was paid less than $3,000 for her memorable performance and she wasn’t even allowed to take home her blue outfit, either. Foley-Cohen later appeared in another Petty promo, “Make It Better (Forget About Me),” and had a five-year relationship with Stan Lynch, the onetime drummer in his backing band the Heartbreakers.

39. Blink-182 – “What’s My Age Again?”

Janine Lindemulder didn’t just appear in Blink-182’s “What’s My Age Again?” She graced the cover of its parent LP as well. Sadly, though, the former adult film star’s fallen on hard times since. Lindemulder’s had issues with substance abuse, lost both her home and custody of her child and spent time in prison for tax evasion and assault.

38. Michael Jackson – “Thriller”

Ola Ray appeared in one of the most iconic music videos of all time, Michael Jackson’s 14-minute “Thriller.” But she only bagged the part of the King of Pop’s girlfriend after Jennifer Beals of Flashdance fame rejected it. Ray was smitten by Jackson for real while shooting the promo, though she didn’t let him know at the time. The MTV regular spent several decades away from the cameras before resuming her acting career in the late 2010s.

37. Whitesnake – “Here I Go Again”

Tawny Kitaen got more than she bargained for when she was cast as the femme fatale in Whitesnake’s promo for “Here I Go Again.” The model went on to wed the rock group’s lead singer David Coverdale. Sadly, the pair divorced within a couple years, and her next marriage to star pitcher Chuck Finley ended acrimoniously, too. Kitaen has since appeared on Botched, the reality show, as she’d previously undergone numerous cosmetic surgery procedures.

36. Van Halen – “Hot for Teacher”

Lillian Muller can lay claim to being in two iconic music videos. She first caught attention in the promo for “Da Ya Think I’m Sexy?” by Rod Stewart and later graced Van Halen’s “Hot for Teacher” clip. The one-time Miss Norway runner-up capitalized on her MTV fame by posing for Playboy on no fewer than nine occasions. These days Muller spends just as much time on the speaking circuit as at fashion shoots.

35. Robert Palmer – “Addicted to Love”

The five women who moved in unison for Robert Palmer’s iconic “Addicted to Love” promo included Mak Gilchrist. The model, who played the moody bassist, once revealed that she was uncomfortable about how charged the clip turned out to be. Gilchrist carried on capitalizing on her good looks with the likes of Garnier and Chanel. And in 1998 she even bagged a minor role in Julia Roberts weepie Stepmom.

34. Aerosmith – “Amazing”

Alicia Silverstone will forever be best known for playing Cher in mid-’90s teen favorite Clueless. But the actress first shot to fame with her appearances in three promos for Aerosmith. Silverstone lit up the screen in the clips for “Amazing” and “Cryin’” before joining Liv Tyler, the youngest child of the band’s lead singer Steven, in the famous promo for “Crazy.” She’s continued to rack up acting credits and recently appeared in Netflix’s reboot of The Baby-Sitters Club.

33. Duran Duran – “Hungry Like the Wolf”

Duran Duran made many memorable videos during their early ’80s MTV heyday, including the Indiana Jones-themed promo for “Hungry Like a Wolf.” The clip also introduced Bermuda-born model Sheila Ming Burgess to a much wider audience. And as she told People magazine in 2013, it was an experience she’ll never forget. The trailblazer, who’s still modeling today, recalled, “Shooting the video was a dream.”

32. A-Ha – “Take on Me”

Bunty Bailey became the envy of many teens in the mid-’80s when she got to portray Morten Harket’s love interest in A-Ha’s “Take on Me” promo. Following her memorable appearance in the ground-breaking mix of live-action and animation, the actress showed up in clips with Duran Duran, Billy Idol and AC/DC. But Bailey eventually abandoned the fame game and now earns a living as a high-level personal assistant.

31. Night Ranger – “Sister Christian”

Fans repeatedly approached Macha Bennet-Shephard in public after she appeared in the promo for “Sister Christian” by Night Ranger. The ex-model later told website Noblemania that she was amused by the attention, especially as most people had no idea what her name was. Bennet-Shephard was also seen in the band’s follow-up, “When You Close Your Eyes.” But she’s since focused on her own creative efforts, graduating from the Art Center College of Design with a fine arts degree and launching a consultancy firm.

30. Guns N’ Roses – “November Rain”

Axl Rose didn’t have to look too far when casting his bride for Guns N’ Roses epic “November Rain” promo. After all, he was dating a supermodel at the time. Though Stephanie Seymour made it down the aisle with the rock icon on-screen, she didn’t in real life. The pair split up shortly after the $1 million video was made. Seymour’s since remained an in-demand model and married Peter Brant, a wealthy businessman who’s also the father of her three kids.

29. Steve Perry – “Oh Sherrie”

As you can probably guess by her name, Sherrie Swafford was immortalized in song by her then-boyfriend Steve Perry’s debut single. The object of the ex-Journey front-man’s affections even appeared in the promo for 1984 hit “Oh Sherrie.” But after the couple broke up, Swafford shied away from the media. She now works as a yoga teacher and skincare specialist but remains on good terms with Perry.

28. Bruce Springsteen – “Dancing in the Dark”

Courteney Cox had abandoned her education in pursuit of stardom just before she was cast as the fan who joins Bruce Springsteen on-stage in the “Dancing in the Dark” promo. And the actress never looked back. She went on to bag her own sitcom, Cougar Town, become a pivotal part of the Scream franchise and, of course, land the iconic role of Friends’ Monica Geller.

27. Alice Cooper – “Poison”

Alice Cooper got a second wind in the late ’80s with the anthemic rock of “Poison.” And he was undoubtedly helped by the double-duty performance of Rana Kennedy in its striking promo. The model played both a devilish brunette and an innocent blonde in the clip. Kennedy now runs her own Southern California pilates center and counts the likes of Daryl Hannah and Madonna as customers.

26. LL Cool J – “Around the Way Girl”

Leslie “Big Lez” Segar was seen in videos for Mary J Blige, Heavy D and Salt-N-Pepa during the early ’90s. But it was her appearance in LL Cool J’s “Around the Way Girl” that really put her on the map. Segar has since become a BET network regular by fronting Rap City. And LL couldn’t be prouder, telling website Rock the Bells, “She’s always been a talented chick… She took it to another level.”

25. The Cars – “Drive”

Sports Illustrated favorite Paulina Porizkova helped The Cars score their biggest hit with her brooding appearance in the video for “Drive.” The group’s front-man was certainly impressed. Ric Ocasek later wed and had kids with the American-Czech model. Sadly, the couple split in 2017, a couple of years before the singer’s death. You may also know Porizkova from her stints on Dancing With the Stars and America’s Next Top Model.

24. The Offspring – “She’s Got Issues”

Sporting striking, bright-red hair, Zooey Deschanel looks almost unrecognizable in the 1999 promo for “She’s Got Issues” by The Offspring. The actress went on to find fame as a brunette in the likes of Elf, New Girl and 500 Days of Summer. And Deschanel’s also showed she has musical ability of her own as one half of pop duo She & Him.

23. Good Charlotte – “Little Things”

Shortly before becoming an MTV star in her own right, Mandy Moore popped up in a promo for another artist: “Little Things” by Good Charlotte. The “Candy” hit-maker played an outsider who isn’t quite as enamored with the Madden brothers as her classmates in the turn-of-the-century clip. Moore’s continued to combine her love of acting and singing, enjoying her biggest success in prime-time drama This Is Us.

22. ZZ Top – “Sharp Dressed Man”

“Sharp Dressed Man” star Jeana Tomasino-Keough was one of several video stars who found fame in ZZ Top’s MTV-friendly promos. The former Playboy Playmate of the Month then appeared to snub the showbiz world when she pursued a career in real estate. But Tomasino-Keough later enjoyed a new bout of celebrity when she was cast in cat-fighting reality show The Real Housewives of Orange County.

21. Meat Loaf – “Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through”

Angelina Jolie appeared in promos for The Lemonheads, Lenny Kravitz and Antonello Venditti before making it big. But her most memorable pre-fame MTV appearance came on the Michael Bay-directed promo for Meat Loaf’s 1993 hit “Rock and Roll Dreams Come Through.” Within two years, Jolie had graduated to the big screen with a leading role in Hackers – and the rest is Hollywood history.

20. Q-Tip – “Vivrant Thing”

Leila Arcieri was just one of several girls who danced with rapper Q-Tip on the pre-millennial promo for “Vivrant Thing.” But she’s become the most successful, having landed roles in the likes of Wild Things 2 and Son of the Beach. The former Miss San Francisco, who was once linked with Hollywood star Jamie Foxx, now spends her time running her STIR Sweetener firm.

19. Motley Crue – “Girls Girls Girls”

Like many women who appeared in the hair metal videos of the ’80s, Sharise Neil became romantically involved with a co-star. In fact, the model walked down the aisle with Motley Crue front-man Vince Neil just a year after gracing the raunchy promo for “Girls Girls Girls.” The pair split up in 1993, though, with Sharise going on to launch her own clothing line and star on VH1 show Ex-Wives of Rock.

18. Lou Gramm – “Midnight Blue”

Traci Lind went on to appear in several movies following her role in Lou Gramm’s “Midnight Blue” promo, including Fright Night 2, Bugsy and My Boyfriend’s Back. But in 1997 she quit showbiz for good. Lind later explained to Noblemania, “I am an intensely private person, so the whole acting thing was just the wrong path for me, and as soon as I figured out how to segue out of it, I did.”

17. The Outfield – “Your Love”

JoAnn Willette admitted that she liked the attention she got after appearing in the 1986 promo for The Outfield’s “Your Love.” Following her brief brush with MTV fame, the actress was cast as Connie in sitcom Just the Ten of Us and popped up in everything from ER to The Young and the Restless. More recently, Willette’s staged her own one-woman play and worked with her sister to launch an accessories firm.

16. Bryan Adams – “Summer of ’69”

Lysette Anthony appeared in every promo for Bryan Adams’ Reckless campaign, including the clip for radio staple “Summer of ’69.” She went on to land big-screen roles in Husbands and Wives and Dracula: Dead and Loving It. Since 2016 Anthony’s played Marnie Nightingale in the British soap opera Hollyoaks.

15. Don Henley – “The Boys of Summer”

Don Henley’s “The Boys of Summer” video wasn’t just the debut gig for aspiring actress Audie Lenkov. It was the only thing she’d ever even auditioned for. The one-time MTV star lives in Southern California these days with her husband, Hawaii Five-O executive Peter Lenkov. And she joked to Noblemania that her appearance in the Eagles drummer’s promo helped her to get a date with her now husband.

14. Journey – “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)”

Margaret Oldsted Menendez was a shy environmental studies and science student when she became an unlikely MTV staple in 1983. In fact, she only took the job on the promo for Journey’s “Separate Ways (Worlds Apart)” to help fund her education. After being rewarded $750 for three days’ work, Menendez went on to marry her childhood beau Chuck. And their four kids are proud that their mom was once a music video star.

13. Huey Lewis and the News – “If This Is It”

Janet Cross played one of the two women Huey Lewis lusts after in the 1984 video for “If This Is It.” And she obviously enjoyed the experience, as a year later she popped up in the band’s promo for “The Power of Love.” Cross went on to study architecture at UC Berkeley and anthropology at Columbia University. She also has a keen interest in organic farming and exhibition design.

12. ABC – “The Look of Love”

Lisa Vanderpump has become one of the biggest stars of the Real Housewives franchise, even landing her own spinoff, Vanderpump Rules. But long before causing drama on reality TV, the star was a regular on MTV. Vanderpump was cast in several videos for Martin Fry’s new wave outfit ABC, most famously their signature hit, “The Look of Love.”

11. Chris Isaak – “Wicked Game”

Helena Christensen writhing around with Chris Isaak on a beach in black and white was one of the most memorable moments of late ’80s MTV. The Danish-born star was already a familiar face at the time. But the video for “Wicked Game” helped to cement her status as a bona fide supermodel. Now Christensen spends just as much time on the other side of the camera as an in-demand photographer.

10. Billy Joel – “Uptown Girl”

Christie Brinkley was the “Uptown Girl” whom Billy Joel famously wooed first in his 1983 promo and then for real. The pair ended up getting married two years later before going their separate ways in 1994. Brinkley has since shown that Joel wasn’t the only musical talent in their relationship, as she starred as Roxie Hart in the 2012 Broadway staging of Chicago.

9. Sam Kinison – “Wild Thing”

Shouty comedian Sam Kinison tried his hand at rock music in the late ’80s with his take on The Troggs’ “Wild Thing.” Several celebrities appeared in the video but it was his girlfriend at the time, Jessica Hahn, who stole the show. You might be surprised to learn that the former Playboy model’s now ditched the rock and roll in favor of life on a farm.

8. Bon Jovi – “Runaway”

Trekkies will already know about what happened to the girl who starred in the promo for “Runaway” by Bon Jovi. Jennifer Gatti has appeared on both Voyager and The Next Generation. As well as gracing the Star Trek franchise, the actress has also been seen in the likes of NCIS, Nashville and Drop Dead Diva.

7. ZZ Top – “Legs”

Called a “groovy hippie chick” by Billy Gibbons of ZZ Top, Kymberly Herrin was one of three women who famously showed off their pins in the band’s promo for “Legs.” Since then, the MTV star has shown up in Ghostbusters and Romancing the Stone and appeared in other music videos for David Lee Roth and Kiss. Herrin now focuses on her eponymous jewelry brand.

6. Prince – “Diamonds and Pearls”

Lori Elle and Robia LaMorte appeared in all four promos for Prince’s Diamonds and Pearls LP including “Cream,” “Gett Off” and the title track. The Purple One had wanted identical twins as his newest protegees at the time, but the pair’s similar appearances proved to be close enough. LaMorte later forged an acting career before publishing a book on spirituality, while Elle went on to dance for everyone from Michael Jackson to Ricky Martin.

5. Fountains of Wayne – “Stacy’s Mom”

Rachel Hunter was once married to one of MTV’s early stars, Rod Stewart. And the New Zealander tasted music video fame for herself in 2003 when she was cast as “Stacy’s Mom” in the promo for the Fountains of Wayne hit. The actress/model went on to appear in the likes of The Benchwarmers and The Brazen Bull. Turner’s also traveled the world for the TV show Rachel’s Tour of Beauty.

4. Justin Timberlake – “Cry Me A River”

Lauren Hastings’ character in Justin Timberlake’s “Cry Me A River” video was reportedly based on the former boy-bander’s ex-girlfriend Britney Spears. Since getting caught up in the teen sweethearts’ messy split, Hastings’s become a mother. And she’s still a fashion-shoot regular as a client of NTA Model Management.

3. Jay-Z – “Hey Papi”

Karrine Steffans sure put the cat among the pigeons in 2016 when she claimed that she was the “Becky with the good hair,” aka “the other woman” Beyoncé refers to on Lemonade. The actress/model had appeared in Jay-Z’s “Hey Papi” and numerous other music promos in the early ’00s and alleged that she’d hooked up with the rapper, too. Steffans had previously published a reveal-all memoir about her other experiences as an MTV star.

2. Everclear – “One Hit Wonder”

A full decade before landing her star-making role in ’60s-based drama Mad Men, Christina Hendricks appeared in a very ’90s music video. The actress, best known as the AMC drama’s Joan Harris, played an enthusiastic game show participant in the promo for Everclear’s “One Hit Wonder.” Hendricks’ character wins $1,000 in the clip before hitting the road with the rock group.

1. Aerosmith – “Jaded”

Following in the footsteps of Liv Tyler and Alicia Silverstone, Mila Kunis appeared in an Aerosmith video during her ascent to fame. The actress played a youngster who struggles to stay in touch with her emotions in the “Jaded” clip, which was filmed during the early days of That ’70s Show. Kunis has since gone on to appear in the likes of Ted, Forgetting Sarah Marshall and Black Swan, as well as becoming Mrs. Ashton Kutcher.