Where the cast of The Buddy System is 40 years later from protests to Hollywood careers
The romantic comedy film The Buddy System had A-List stars like Susan Sarandon, Wil Wheaton, Richard Dreyfuss and more – here’s what the cast has been up to since
40 years ago today, the romantic comedy flick The Buddy System premiered.
The 1984 movie focused on Emily Price (Susan Sarandon) and her son, Tim (Wil Wheaton). Joe (Richard Dreyfuss) is a security guard at Tim’s school who goes to check on him at home. Joe forms a friendship with Tim, and Tim thinks his mum needs a friend too.
Big-name celebrities starred in this romantic film full of hijinks and sweet, tender moments. Here’s what the star-studded cast is up to now.
Richard Dreyfuss
Richard Dreyfuss continues to be a Hollywood icon (
Before his role as Joe, Richard was a Hollywood icon and that didn’t change after The Buddy System. A year after this film was released, Richard was the narrator in Stand By Me.
Other movies of his include playing Dick Cheney in W. and voicing Mr. Centepede in James and the Giant Peach. He even made a guest appearance on The Great British Bake Off in 2020.
Susan Sarandon
Susan is known for protesting as well as her acting (
Corbis via Getty Images)
Since appearing in this film, Susan has been in blockbuster hits like Thelma & Louise, Lorenzo’s Oil, The Client, Dead Man Walking, and more. She’s also made guest appearances in shows like Friends, ER, and Malcolm in the Middle.
Most recently, last November Susan spoke out against the Israeli government’s conduct during the Israel-Hamas war. Because of her comments, she was dropped by her agent at United Talent Agency.
Nancy Allen
She’s done a lot of charity work (
Getty Images)
After this film, Nancy went on to co-star in the 1987 film RoboCop and its later two sequels as Officer Anne Lewis. Other films she starred in include Poltergeist III and Les Patriotes.
She guest-starred in television shows like Touched by an Angel, The Division, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. Nancy took a break from acting in 2008 and focused on charity work for cancer research. She’s currently the executive director of the weSPARK Cancer Support Center in Los Angeles.
Jean Stapleton
Before this film, Jean was a decorated actress. She was best known as Edith Bunker, the wife of Archie oin the sitcom All In The Family. She later had roles in movies like You’ve Got Mail and guest starred in Grace Under Fire
Jean died on May 31, 2013 at the age of 90. A few days later, the marquee lights on Broadway were dimmed to honor her and her work on Broadway.
Wil Wheaton
Will was on Star Trek: The Next Generation (
ABC)
The Buddy System was Wil’s first major film. Afterwards, he landed big roles like Gordie Lachance in Stand By Me in 1986 and Wesley Crusher in the television series Star Trek: The Next Generation. Since then he’s appeared in shows like Criminal Minds, The Big Bang Theory, and competed in Celebrity Jeopardy. In his personal life, Wil married Anne Prince in 1999 and later legally adopted her two sons.
.
