What the Hell Happened to Ralph Macchio?

[TMC]

http://lebeauleblog.com/2014/04/19/w...ralph-macchio/

In the 1980′s Ralph Macchio was a teen heartthrob. He rose to prominence along with with other hot actors of his generation with roles in iconic movies that are still relevant today. Macchio managed to avoid the Brat Pack label that doomed many of his contemporaries. But he struggled with transitioning to adult roles. In the early nineties, after a small role in one last memorable movie, Macchio faded into obscurity.

What the hell happened?

“The next job” was a regular role on the TV comedy-drama, Eight is Enough. Macchio joined the show for its final season from 1980-1981.

The show was based on the writings of syndicated newspaper columnist, Thomas Braden who wrote a book about raising his eight kids. In the show, Dick Van Patten played Tom Bradford, a newspaper columnist with eight kids. His wife, Joan, was played by actress Diana Hyland for the first four episodes. Tragically, Hyland was diagnosed with breast cancer and had to be written out of the rest of the season. She passed 12 days after the first episode aired. She was romantically involved with John Travolta at the time.

The show’s second season acknowledged Hyland’s death by making Tom Bradford a widower. In the first episode of the second season, he married a school teacher played by Betty Buckley. Buckley was cast partially because she had played a similar role in the hit movie, Carrie. The show made teen idols of its young stars Grant Goodeve and Willie Aames. Yes, Bibleman was a Tiger Beat sensation once upon a time.

As the young cast matured, Macchio was cast to keep the youth demographic. He played Abby’s orphaned nephew who gets taken in by the Bradford clan. Macchio recalled being cast on the show:

“I was coming right off Up The Academy, and I auditioned for that part, got the network test, and I was on the set of Eight Is Enough in, like, 24 hours. I was just like, “Wow!” And then the actors went on strike for three months that day. I’ll never forget that… I guess at the time, it was like, “Let’s get a Scott Baio type and infuse some youth into the cast of this show in its fifth season.”

Like Goodeve and Aames before him, Macchio started showing up on the covers of teen magazines.

Apparently this issue contained a sexy centerfold of Macchio! I’m sorry. Ralph. No one on this cover has a last name except for Dukes of Hazzard star, John Schneider. I wonder if that’s why he wasn’t subjected to a cheesy Christmas poze.

Unfortunately, nothing in Macchio’s giant Christmas stocking could save Eight is Enough. It was cancelled at the end of the fifth season. But Macchio’s teen heartthrob days were just getting started.

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[Wawwie]

I think Ralph Macchio is a nice guy. He's one of the few actors who has not fallen victim to a life of scandal. So what's the problem?
Leave the guy alone.

[Zoneboy]

Originally Posted by Wawwie

I think Ralph Macchio is a nice guy. He's one of the few actors who has not fallen victim to a life of scandal. So what's the problem?
Leave the guy alone.

Agreed and this one of the most useless blogs I've ever read.