Gen X (Including Gwyneth Paltrow) Is Spiraling Over How Old Dreamy Jake From “Sixteen Candles” Turns This Year

Count Gwyneth Paltrow among the legions of Sixteen Candles fans to be shocked by the age of former actor Michael Schoeffling, who played high school heartthrob Jake Ryan in the 1984 film.

On Thursday, Jan. 30, the 52-year-old actress took to Instagram Stories to share a meme of Schoeffling as Ryan, along with the caption: "Jake Ryan turns 65 this year ... in case you haven't felt betrayed enough by 2025."

Schoeffling was first discovered by photographer Bruce Weber while he was working as a model, with the photographer reportedly convincing him to attend acting school.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE's free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Related: Remember Jake Ryan from 16 Candles? You Won't Be Surprised to Know His Daughter Is a Gorgeous Model: See the Photos

In 1983, director John Hughes, who was making his directorial debut with his teen rom-com Sixteen Candles, handpicked Schoeffling to play the role of the hunky high school senior.

In the film, Molly Ringwald's character Samantha has a massive crush on Jake, who is already dating the beautiful Caroline, played by Haviland Morris. But as fate plays out, in the end Samantha gets her man.

The comedy was a box office success, earning $23 million after being made for a budget of $6 million, but its legacy as a cult favorite has far surpassed its earnings.

The film also starred Anthony Michael Hall as "the Geek," Gedde Watanabe as Long Duk Dong and John Cusack as Bryce.

Schoeffling was 23 at the time of the film's production.

This year marks the 40th anniversary of the release of the teen cult classic, but Schoeffling isn't expected to make any anniversary appearances.

Related: The Cast of Sixteen Candles: Where Are They Now?

After making a few more movies, Schoeffling retreated from the spotlight in the early '90s to live in a small town in Pennsylvania and turn his attention to his woodworking shop.

The former actor has never publicly spoken about his decision to walk away from the spotlight, though it appears he prefers a life outside of show business with his wife, fellow former model and actress Valerie C. Robinson, and two children, daughter Scarlett and son Zane.

Although he left Hollywood, Schoeffling's grown daughter Scarlett is now making waves on her own in the modeling world, and is also dabbling in acting.

In 2020, she appeared in Blackjack: The Jackie Ryan Story, and made a guest appearance in the series Billions.

She's also a model represented by New York Models and LA Models, and has appeared in campaigns for Tommy Bahama.

Read the original article on People