38 Wonderfully Old Photos of Famous People From Back in the Day

John Summers • Contributor

Dec 23, 2024 8:00 PM EST

Time stops for no one, not even for the rich and famous. One day you are a teenager goofing around in front of the camera in your parents living room, and the next moment you are one of the richest people on earth. One second you are nervous about taking your yearbook photo and the next you have become a rock and roll legend. It's fun to look back at old pictures of famous people and see them as they were before their life had become something else entirely.

A young Samuel L. Jackson posing for a modeling gig, not aware of the crazy twists and turns his life is going to have in the next couple of years or a 10 year old drew Barrymore posing for a photo with Billy Idol, oblivious to the exciting journey his life is about to take her on. We just wonder why we never knew that Bruce Lee was a Cha Cha Cha champion.

01
Junior Bill Nye the Science Guy, 9th grade

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02
Jackie Chan as Chun-Li and Gary Daniels as Ken on the set of City Hunter, 1993

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03
Steven Spielberg and George Lucas have a water pistol fight on the set of Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom, 1984.

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04
Stephen Stills and Peter Tork in Stills's Rolls-Royce, 1968.

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05
Samuel L. Jackson's high school yearbook photo, 1968.

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06
an 18 year old Adam Savage, in Billy Joel's 1985 video for 'You're Only Human'.

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07
Vincent Price with his son Vincent Barrett Price, 1946

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08
A young Robert Downey Jr and his dad's friend Mike Tyson, early 1980s.

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09
A young James Dean's high school basketball team photos, 1948

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10
Polaroid shot during auditions for The Outsiders, 1982.

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Rob Lowe, Darren Dalton, Adam Baldwin, Tom Cruise, Emilio Estevez and C.Thomas Howell.
11
Tiffani Amber Thiessen, Lark Voorhies and Elizabeth Berkley goof around in the wardrobe department on the Saved By The Bell set, 1989

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12
Mickey Rooney visits with Ray Bolger as the Scarecrow on the set of the Wizard of Oz, 1939.

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13
Meet the Bridges:

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Dad Lloyd Bridges spraying son Jeff Bridges with a squirt gun while other son Beau Bridges looks on. Such babies, all of them.
14
Leonard Nimoy proudly showing off his 'Hobbitt' Hole cake 1968

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15
Heath Ledger and skateboard, LA River backdrop, 2003

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16
John Wayne backstage on the set of Laugh In, getting fitted in his bunny suit. 1969

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17
Young George Clooney with a mullet

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18
Drew Barrymore and Billy Idol, 1985

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19
Bette Midler and her backup singers the Harlettes, 1982

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The one on the left is Katey Sagal!
20
Christopher Reeve signs autographs during a break in filming the Niagra Falls scene on the set of Superman 2, 1980

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21
Willy Wonka reunion, 2014

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Augustus Gloop (Michael Bollner), Violet Beauregarde (Denise Nickerson), Charlie Bucket (Peter Ostrum), Charlie's Mom Mrs. Bucket (Diana Sowle), Mike TeeVee (Paris Themmen) and Veruca Salt (Julie Dawn Cole).
22
Pope John Paul II tries out Bono's sunglasses

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23
Charlie Chaplin losing it laughing while filming Limelight, 1952

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24
Sigourney Weaver getting ready to have her head shaved ahead of filming Alien 3.

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25
Eric Idle, Lauren Hutton and Carrie Fisher back stage at the Hollywood Bowl, 1982

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26
Steve McQueen making mashed potatoes 1980

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27
Mark Hamill at San Diego Comic Con, 1976

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28
John Travolta, Brian De Palma, Nancy Allen and cast and crew wearing potato noses on the set of Blow Out, 1981.

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29
Bionic Woman Lindsay Wagner meets Wonder Woman Lynda Carter

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30
Paul Reubens in an Astroboy shirt

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31
David Lee Roth and Madonna at David's birthday party, 1984

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32
The 80s in one photo

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Justine Bateman's 17th birthday party, 1982, during Family Ties' first season. Front (and middle) row: Square Pegs' Sarah Jessica Parker, Kari Michaelsen, wee baby Jason Bateman, Michael J. Fox, Justine Bateman, and Facts of Life's Mindy Cohn. This pic never attributes the back row so if you know any of those faces, feel free to post.
33
Michael Jackson with two old ladies all clutching their handbags

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34
Julie Newmar doing a handstand

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35
Bruce Lee, 1958 Hong Kong Cha-Cha Champion

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36
A dapper young Bruce with his son Brandon Lee, 1966.

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37
Andy Warhol and Jack Nicholson share a car, 1971

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38
Tommy Lee Jones, Offensive Guard with the Harvard Football Team,1968.

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