Rise to Success: Career Highlights of Anthony Michael Hall
From career breakthroughs to professional milestones, explore how Anthony Michael Hall made an impact.
Anthony Michael Hall is an American actor, producer, and comedian who rose to prominence in the 1980s. He began his film career with a debut in *Six Pack* (1982) and a supporting role in *National Lampoon's Vacation* (1983). Hall achieved significant recognition for his starring roles in three John Hughes-directed films: *Sixteen Candles*, *The Breakfast Club*, and *Weird Science*. These roles led to his association with the 'Brat Pack,' a group of young actors prominent during that era.
1977: Stage Debut in The Wake
In 1977, Anthony Michael Hall made his stage debut as the young Steve Allen in Allen's semi-autobiographical play The Wake.
1980: Screen Debut in The Gold Bug
In 1980, Anthony Michael Hall made his screen debut in the Emmy-winning TV movie The Gold Bug, playing the young Edgar Allan Poe.
1981: Starring in Rascals and Robbers
In 1981, Anthony Michael Hall starred as Huck Finn in Rascals and Robbers: The Secret Adventures of Tom Sawyer and Huckleberry Finn.
1982: Gaining Notice in Six Pack
In 1982, Anthony Michael Hall gained real notice with the release of the Kenny Rogers film Six Pack.
1983: Role in National Lampoon's Vacation
In 1983, Anthony Michael Hall played Russell "Rusty" Griswold in National Lampoon's Vacation, which was a supporting role.
1984: Breakthrough Role in Sixteen Candles
In 1984, Anthony Michael Hall had his breakout role as "The Geek" in John Hughes' Sixteen Candles.
1985: Joining Saturday Night Live
In 1985, Anthony Michael Hall joined the cast of Saturday Night Live (SNL) to diversify his roles.
1985: Starring in The Breakfast Club and Weird Science
In 1985, Anthony Michael Hall starred in The Breakfast Club as Brian Johnson and Weird Science as Gary Wallace, solidifying his status as a teen star.
1985: Declining Role in Vacation Sequel
In 1985, after Vacation, Anthony Michael Hall moved on to other projects and declined to reprise his role in the Vacation sequel.
1986: Starring in Out of Bounds
In 1986, Anthony Michael Hall starred in the film Out of Bounds to avoid being typecast.
1986: Turning Down Roles and Starring in Out of Bounds
In 1986, Anthony Michael Hall turned down roles in Ferris Bueller's Day Off and Pretty in Pink to avoid being typecast, and instead starred in Out of Bounds.
1987: Negotiations for Full Metal Jacket Fall Through
In 1987, Anthony Michael Hall was offered the starring role in Full Metal Jacket, but a financial agreement could not be reached after eight months of negotiation.
1988: Starring in Johnny Be Good
In 1988, Anthony Michael Hall starred in Johnny Be Good, which received critical failure.
1990: Starring in Edward Scissorhands
In 1990, Anthony Michael Hall starred in Edward Scissorhands.
1992: Starring in Into the Sun
In 1992, Anthony Michael Hall starred in the comedy Into the Sun as a visiting celebrity at a military air base.
1993: Six Degrees of Separation
In 1993, Anthony Michael Hall's role in Six Degrees of Separation made news when Will Smith refused to film a kissing scene between them, citing career concerns after consulting with Denzel Washington. The scene was filmed using a camera trick.
1994: Directing Hail Caesar
In 1994, Anthony Michael Hall starred in and directed his first feature film, a low-budget Showtime comedy titled Hail Caesar, also producing its soundtrack.
1994: Writing songs for Hail Caesar
In 1994, Anthony Michael Hall wrote the songs featured in his self-directed film Hail Caesar.
1997: Starring in Claude's Crib
In 1997, Anthony Michael Hall starred as "Shorty" Lattimore on the USA Network sitcom Claude's Crib.
1998: Forming Hall of Mirrors
In 1998, Anthony Michael Hall pursued his passion for music by forming his band, Hall of Mirrors, where he was the lead singer and songwriter.
1999: Starring in Pirates of Silicon Valley
In 1999, Anthony Michael Hall gained media attention for his portrayal of Bill Gates in the Emmy-nominated TNT movie Pirates of Silicon Valley.
1999: Portraying Bill Gates in Pirates of Silicon Valley
In 1999, Anthony Michael Hall starred as Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates in the television film Pirates of Silicon Valley.
1999: Releasing Welcome to the Hall of Mirrors
In 1999, Anthony Michael Hall's band, Hall of Mirrors, released their album Welcome to the Hall of Mirrors through his own RAM Records label.
2000: Cameo in Happy Accidents
In 2000, Anthony Michael Hall made a cameo appearance as himself in the comedy film Happy Accidents.
2001: Roles in Hitched, Hysteria, and 61*
In 2001, Anthony Michael Hall appeared in the TV movies Hitched, Hysteria: The Def Leppard Story, and 61*.
2001: Supporting Roles in The Caveman's Valentine and Freddy Got Fingered
In 2001, Anthony Michael Hall took on supporting roles in The Caveman's Valentine and Freddy Got Fingered.
June 16, 2002: Premiere of The Dead Zone
On June 16, 2002, The Dead Zone premiered on USA Network, starring Anthony Michael Hall as Johnny Smith, achieving record-breaking premiere ratings.
2002: Lead Role in The Dead Zone
In 2002, Anthony Michael Hall experienced a career resurgence with the lead role in the USA Network science fiction series The Dead Zone.
2002: Role in All About the Benjamins
In 2002, Anthony Michael Hall played a supporting role in the action-comedy All About the Benjamins.
June 17, 2007: Premiere of The Dead Zone's Final Season
On June 17, 2007, the sixth and final season of The Dead Zone premiered, with Anthony Michael Hall as co-executive producer.
December 2007: Cancellation of The Dead Zone
In December 2007, USA Network officially canceled The Dead Zone, a show starring Anthony Michael Hall.
2007: The Dead Zone Ends
In 2007, Anthony Michael Hall concluded his role in the USA Network science fiction series The Dead Zone.
2008: Appearance in The Dark Knight
In 2008, Anthony Michael Hall appeared as Gotham City television reporter/anchor Mike Engel in The Dark Knight.
2010: Starred in Aftermath
In 2010, Anthony Michael Hall starred in the independent crime-drama film Aftermath, alongside Tony Danza and Frank Whaley.
2011: Played Walter Sykes in Warehouse 13 and Gideon in Z Nation
In 2011, Anthony Michael Hall played Walter Sykes, the main antagonist in Season 3 of Warehouse 13, and also guest-starred in Z Nation as Gideon, a former communications manager.
2012: Reprising Role in Old Navy Commercials
In 2012, Anthony Michael Hall reprised his role as Rusty Griswold from National Lampoon's Vacation in a series of Old Navy holiday commercials.
2014: Premier of Bosch series
In 2014 the series Bosch premiered, which later had a follow-up series called Bosch: Legacy where Hall appeared.
2015: Starring in Results
In 2015, Anthony Michael Hall starred in the film Results.
2015: Hall was cast in War Machine
In 2015, Anthony Michael Hall was cast in the Netflix film War Machine, acting alongside Brad Pitt.
2016: AT&T Mobile commercial and role on Murder in the First
In 2016, Anthony Michael Hall appeared as himself in an AT&T Mobile commercial and was cast in a recurring role on the TNT drama series Murder in the First.
2017: Hall starred in War Machine
In 2017, Anthony Michael Hall starred in "War Machine", a Netflix film, in which he played General Greg Pulver alongside Brad Pitt.
2017: Roles in War Machine and Bodied
In 2017, Anthony Michael Hall starred in the films War Machine and Bodied.
2019: Hall appeared on The Goldbergs
In 2019, Anthony Michael Hall began appearing on the ABC sitcom The Goldbergs, playing Rusty in the season 7 premiere, which paid homage to his character from the 1983 film National Lampoon's Vacation. He had a recurring role as Mr. Perott for the remainder of the series.
2021: Starring in Halloween Kills
In 2021, Anthony Michael Hall starred in the film Halloween Kills.
2021: End of Bosch series
In 2021, the final year of the series Bosch, Anthony Michael Hall would later appear in its follow-up series Bosch: Legacy in 2023.
2022: Did not return for Halloween Ends
In 2022, despite expressing interest, Anthony Michael Hall did not return for Halloween Ends.
2023: Appeared in Bosch: Legacy
In 2023, Anthony Michael Hall appeared in 5 episodes of the Amazon Prime Video series Bosch: Legacy, a follow-up to the series Bosch.
June 2024: Hall developing a new series with Robert Downey Jr.
As of June 2024, Anthony Michael Hall was said to be developing a new series with Robert Downey Jr called Singularity.
2024: Starring in Trigger Warning
In 2024, Anthony Michael Hall starred in the film Trigger Warning.
2025: Main role in Reacher Season 3
In 2025, Anthony Michael Hall is set to have a main role on the third season of the Amazon Prime Video series Reacher.
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