The 70s Were Filled With Heartthrobs, From Beauties With Feathered Hair Like Farrah To Devastating Smiles Like David Cassidy’s On The Poster Of Almost Every Teenage Girl’s Wall. But Some Of These Stars Drastically Changed In Appearance—In Fact, Many Of Them Became Downright Unrecognizable. While Time Played Its Role, So Did Attempts To Beat Mother Nature And Reverse The Effects Of Aging. Here Are The Most Insane Complete Reinventions From Our Favorite 70s Celebs.
John Travolta
This actor is very much still in the spotlight—once a 70s heartthrob with epic dance moves and action scenes, he went from getting Oscar noms to his first love and one of his children passing away, followed by the death of his wife, Kelly Preston. The years have been filled with ups and downs, but John Travolta has continued to act. In recent years, he’s embraced his baldness, which he debuted in 2019, and more recently, he donned a new and unusual look with glasses and a beret, proving that he still hasn’t stopped reinventing himself!
Shaun Cassidy
One of the first nepo babies ever, the son of actors Shirley Jones and Jack Cassidy, had an adorable smile and large hazel eyes that made him quite popular with the ladies. Like his family members, he lived life in the limelight as a pop star and actor in “The Hardy Boys.” But he never really enjoyed being a public figure, as he told People in 2025, admitting he was an introvert. Now he works behind the scenes on successful shows, letting his A-lister daughter Katie Cassidy bask in the glow of fame instead with her show “Arrow.”
Barry Gibb
Inspiring the likes of the Jonas Brothers and Hanson, the Bee Gees were one of the biggest musical groups of the 1970s, and much of that is thanks to Barry Gibb with his long, luscious locks and dreamy brown eyes. He stole much of the attention, but when disco died, the Bee Gees were ridiculed for their style. Still, they persevered by writing hits like “Islands in the Stream.” Today, Barry is the last Bee Gees member still standing. He now has long gray hair and a gray beard and is still making music—this time, not with his brothers but with his sons.
John Schneider
This actor first gained popularity on the show “The Dukes of Hazzard” as a smoldering, blue-eyed blond, causing chaos in Hazzard County. He also came up with many a chart-topping country hit, but it all went south after the show was canceled and his first marriage failed. In 1998, he moved in with Johnny Cash and became a born-again Christian. He reclaimed tiny roles on shows like “Smallville” and “Nip/Tuck” and found love again with Elvira ‘Elly’ Castle, whom he was married to for 21 years before divorcing. He married a third time and earned a role in Tyler Perry’s “The Haves and the Have Nots.” Today, he’s an avid Trump supporter with roles on shows like “The Masked Singer,” and his blond locks have been replaced by gray.
Leif Garret
Leif had surfer boy good looks and a blond shag that made everyone in the 70s swoon. Leif Garret, known for his hit song “I Was Made for Dancin’” and his acting roles, experienced a tragic accident that left his best friend partially paralyzed, leading him to spiral down a dark path. As a result, he gave in to a drug and alcohol addiction but eventually achieved sobriety. He told his story to VH1’s “Behind the Music,” but his career never recovered. He was seen in 2022 at a hotel bar in West Hollywood, rocking long gray braids instead of his shaggy blond look.
Rick Springfield
80s kids will remember this star as the singer of “Jessie’s Girl,” but at the time, he was already a mega pop star in Australia, where he’s originally from. He started plastering the covers of teen magazines and then pivoted from music into acting, appearing on several shows before landing a recurring role in “General Hospital” as Noah Drake. He juggled singing and acting for years, experiencing success in both, and while his hair looks different, he still has his signature lanky good looks that brought him fame in the first place!
Scott Baio
You may recognize this celebrity from being in “Charles in Charge,” but first, he played Fonzie’s cousin Chachi Arcola in “Happy Days,” launching him to heartthrob status and earning him the spinoff “Joanie Loves Chachi.” While many girls swooned over him, things took a dark turn when “Baywatch” star Nicole Eggert, who co-starred on his show, revealed that he had sexually abused her since she was a teenager, and it soon escalated to verbal and physical abuse. Baio denied the allegations. Today, he looks very different and eventually left Hollywood to move to Florida.
Donny Osmond
In the 70s, millions of teenage fans were infatuated with Donny Osmond. He had his first hit record at around 12 or 13 years old and partnered with his sister to host the popular variety show “Donny & Marie.” He then moved on to Broadway and made some guest appearances on reality shows like “Dancing with the Stars,” eventually reuniting with his sister for what was meant to be a short residency in Vegas but ran for over a decade. When it ended, they decided to pursue their individual careers, and Donny ultimately came back to Vegas on his own to headline his own bizarre show where he performed with an AI version of his teen self.
70s Heartthrobs We Barely Recognize Today
