• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Middle Aged Mama

Blogging about my Midlife Adventures

  • About
  • New? Start Here!
  • What’s Middle Age?!
  • Work With Me
  • As Seen In
  • Workshops
  • Fine Print
  • Contact
  • Show Search
Hide Search

Middle Aged Heart Throbs?!

Janet Camilleri · 05/04/2016 ·

Ever wondered what happened to the famous fellas that used to make you swoon?

middle aged hunks and heart thobs when they were young

Their posters used to hang on our bedroom walls; we would doodle their names endlessly on our school books; and daydream about one day meeting or even marrying one of them!

Well can I just tell ya – you know you’re getting old when the teen idols you remember are celebrating their 50th birthdays …  *sigh*. I still don’t think I’ve recovered from the shock of hearing that Keanu Reeves turned 50!

However, just because they were cute when they were younger, doesn’t necessarily mean that they are now middle aged hunks. Like most ordinary humans, some of them just haven’t aged that well (maybe all that fast living – you know, sex, drugs and rock’n’roll – has caught up with them?!). Let me show you what I mean …

What They Look Like Now: Middle Aged Hunks or ?!

Back in the late 70’s, we idolised the stars of TV shows like “Eight is Enough” (Willie Aames) and “Happy Days” (Scott Baio).

With his blonde curly locks and cheeky grin, Willie Aames made many a feminine heart flutter. Sadly, I don’t think he has quite the same star quality now that he is 55. What do you think?

Embed from Getty Images

My personal favourite was probably Scott Baio, who is also 55. Oddly enough I ended up marrying a guy who could easily have been Scott Baio’s cousin … except I think my hubster wears his age better. Baio is also a Trump supporter … make of that what you will. At any rate, I’m glad I chose my hubster 😉 !

Embed from Getty Images

God bless the 80’s, which gave us hunks of spunk like Michael J Fox (54), Johnny Depp (52), and Keanu Reeves (51).

Embed from Getty Images

 

Embed from Getty Images

 

Embed from Getty Images

And then there’s the baby of the bunch, Leonardo Di Caprio, 42. He never really rang my bells, maybe because I was 30 when Titanic was released – so well and truly past that teen adoration thing.  I’ve seen some photos of him looking mighty scruffy, but I guess he scrubs up alright …

Embed from Getty Images

 

What About the Others?

You may have noticed that some middle aged hunks are conspicuous by their absence. Where are the likes of George Clooney, and Australia’s own Hugh Jackman?

Believe it or not, there *is* a method to my madness. You see, they weren’t famous when they were young; they have only come to our attention now that they are older. So it’s a given that of course they are “middle aged heart throbs” 😉 .

Which one is your favourite of the middle aged hunks I’ve mentioned here – or have I left out somebody noteworthy?!

Save

Save

Filed Under: The Joys of Middle Age

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Ingrid @ Fabulous and Fun Life says

    05/04/2016 at 8:13 am

    This post brings back so many teenage crush memories!

    • Janet Camilleri says

      05/04/2016 at 10:10 am

      Hard to believe we are not teenagers anymore when it all comes flooding back 😉

  2. Renee Wilson says

    05/04/2016 at 9:47 am

    I remember in primary school I used to be dead keen on Scott Baio from Charles in Charge and I also liked Johhny Depp and Emilio Estevez lol. I also liked Leo from his Growing pains days and I reckon he’s still go it 🙂 Great post.

    • Janet Camilleri says

      05/04/2016 at 10:11 am

      Johnny Depp is still hawt I reckon 😉 .

  3. HUgzilla says

    05/04/2016 at 9:49 am

    OMG bahhahhahahhaha! This is great! (and thanks for making me feel ancient, by the way). Found out a couple of weeks ago that Scott Baio is a Trump supporter, which totally erases all the goodwill he built up in Happy Days and Charles in Charge. LOL.

    • Janet Camilleri says

      05/04/2016 at 10:11 am

      Ewww that is just WRONG.

  4. Nicole @ The Builder's Wife says

    05/04/2016 at 10:34 am

    Brad, what about Brad? Oh my swoon!! The is most definitely the best thing I have read on the internet all week!

    • Janet Camilleri says

      05/04/2016 at 10:57 am

      Naww thanks Nicole! Yes Brad is a bit of all right, though I don’t like it when he gets a bit scruffy 😉

  5. Vanessa says

    05/04/2016 at 10:53 am

    They’re all a bit old for me but they certainly have aged well!!

    • Janet Camilleri says

      05/04/2016 at 10:58 am

      Yeah not too bad I guess. I think Willie Aames was the biggest shock for me but he definitely still has a winning smile.

  6. Vicki @ Boiled Eggs & Soldiers says

    05/04/2016 at 12:06 pm

    I wouldn’t have recognise Willie Aimes and I think Scott Baio might be stuck in the 80’s but I used to love him as Chachi! This was a good trip down memory lane, thanks!

  7. Min@WriteoftheMiddle says

    05/04/2016 at 12:26 pm

    I was crazy about Scott Baio and Leif Garratt. I sobbed in my room one time called out Leif’s name because he was in Brisbane and Mum and Dad wouldn’t let me go and see him. I’m sure he was devastated too! lol I also was a huge fan of Sean and David Cassidy 🙂 (and there were more haha)

  8. Deborah says

    05/04/2016 at 2:54 pm

    I sometimes have to remind myself to admire age-appropriate men!

    I loved the pretty boys when I was young… (Leif Garrett, Rick Springfield and the like) but now I like men a bit more rugged.

    Richard Armitage is a big fave of mine now… I’m sure there are others… but more often than not they’re in their 30s and I’m reminded that I’m possibly a decade their senior!

  9. Emily says

    05/04/2016 at 9:23 pm

    I think I’m the wrong demographic for this! Must say that Keanu had my heart when Speed came out. (My brother ‘borrowed’ a life-sized Keanu cut-out from the local video store as my thirteenth birthday present.) That eyebrow raise smirky smile. The way he runs. THOSE ARMS. Swoon. Okay, maybe I am the right demographic! #teamIBOT

  10. JF Gibson says

    05/04/2016 at 9:55 pm

    Oh yes, huge crushes on Keanu and Johnny here. Oh and Christian Slater!

  11. Jo says

    06/04/2016 at 12:09 am

    They’re a bit young for me … helppppp! But Johnny Depp oh yes please at any age! Donny Osmond and David Cassidy … hmm, might be too old for you?

  12. Kit@lifethroughthehaze says

    06/04/2016 at 3:23 pm

    Oh Janet you left out an entire group of heart throbs!

    C. Thomas Howell
    Matt Dillon
    Ralph Macchio
    Patrick Swayze
    Rob Lowe
    Emilio Estevez
    Tom Cruise
    Andrew McCarthy
    Jon Cryer
    Patrick Dempsey

    Ahhhhhhhhhhh I grew up in the 80s in the time of some really great movies including all the John Hughes movies. Some of these have heart throbs have aged much better than others!

    • Janet Camilleri says

      06/04/2016 at 5:56 pm

      Definitely some very nice eye candy and truly worthy of a mention! As Patrick Swayze has passed away, sadly he couldn’t be on the list. Oh and Tom Cruise was a deliberate oversight – can’t stand him, especially since he dumped Our Nic!

  13. Denise says

    06/04/2016 at 11:36 pm

    The guy that played Jake Ryan in Sixteen Candles! Dreamy and sweet <3

  14. EssentiallyJess says

    11/04/2016 at 8:21 pm

    I loved Leo when younger but not so much now. In some pics he looks ok, but in others he’s so different from Romeo and Juliet where I first saw him.

Primary Sidebar

Meet the Middle Aged Mama

Janet Camilleri is an Australian bloggerHi - I'm Janet Camilleri aka the Middle Aged Mama; crazy cat lady, award-winning business woman, and mother of two grown children. I might be a middle aged woman, but that doesn't mean I've lost all interest in looking stylish! I love chocolate, chick lit, cruising holidays and the husbear - and not necessarily in that order wink. I live in Brisbane, Australia, and I'm learning how to fashion a new life now that we have an empty nest - did somebody say "travel"?!

Middle Aged Mama logo

Ads & Affiliates




Topics

  • Blogging, Reading & Writing
  • Fashion & Beauty
  • Health & Wellbeing
  • Home & Garden
  • Leisure
  • Memories
  • Middle Age
  • Rants & Ramblings
  • Relationships & Parenting
  • Travel
  • Work & Finances

Follow My Adventures On:

Facebookpinterestrssinstagram

Footer

Archives

where you can find me

How to dress over 40

Bloggernity

Blog Directory

Search Middle Aged Mama

© 2025 Janet Camilleri / Middle Aged Mama