Cover ‘Clueless’, which turns 30 this year, captured what it meant to be a teenager in the ’90s. (Photo: IMDb)
‘Clueless’, which turns 30 this year, captured what it meant to be a teenager in the ’90s. (Photo: IMDb)
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Three decades after it defined ’90s teen culture, we find out where the cast of ‘Clueless’ is now
Get ready to feel old, because Clueless is turning 30 this year. The teen classic, a modern spin on Jane Austen’s Emma, captured what it meant to be a teenager in the ’90s, becoming a cultural touchstone with its unforgettable fashion and quotable lines. Before today’s Gen Alpha had “rizz” and “drip”, Cher and her friends gave the world unforgettable phrases like “as if!” and “whatever!”, which still echo in pop culture today.
From plaid skirt suits to love triangles and misguided makeovers, Clueless became a defining film for a generation. As we celebrate the film’s 30th anniversary, it’s the perfect moment to check in on Cher, Josh, Dionne and the rest of the kids of Bronson Alcott High School and see where they are now.
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Alicia Silverstone (Cher Horowitz)
After her turn as Cher, the Beverly Hills incarnation of Jane Austen’s matchmaking, meddlesome Emma, Alicia Silverstone starred in several films in the ’90s, including Batman and Robin (1997) as Batgirl, Excess Baggage (1997) opposite Benicio Del Toro and Blast from the Past (1999) opposite Brendan Fraser.
She played another matchmaker in the TV series Miss Matched, and reunited with Clueless writer and director Amy Heckerling in the 2012 vampire comedy Vamps. Silverstone has also reunited with her Clueless co-stars over the years—with Jeremy Sisto in Suburgatory and with Elisa Donovan in a 2023 Super Bowl advert, where, to the delight of fans, she reprised her role as Cher Horowitz. The Gen Z crowd, however, may know her best as Kristy Thomas’s mum in Netflix’s remake of The Baby-Sitters Club.
A well-known vegan and environmentalist, Silverstone has also published a vegan recipe book, The Kind Diet, and runs her own lifestyle website, The Kind Life.
See also: 6 new TV shows for millennials who can’t quit teen dramas
Stacey Dash (Dionne Davenport)
Above Stacey Dash stars as Dionne, Cher’s ride-or-die. (Photo: IMDb)
Stacey Dash stars as Dionne, Cher’s ride-or-die. (Photo: IMDb)
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After playing Cher’s ride-or-die in Clueless, Stacey Dash reprised her role in the Clueless spin-off series that ran from 1996 to 1999 alongside original castmates Donald Faison, who played Murray, and Elisa Donovan, who played Amber. She also starred in TV series, TV movies and other films, most notably in 2003’s View from the Top, which had Gwyneth Paltrow in the lead role.
In the years since, she has become active in politics. She was a paid contributor on Fox News from 2014 to 2016, working as a conservative political commentator, and briefly ran for a congressional seat in California in 2018 before withdrawing her bid a month later.
Paul Rudd (Josh Lucas)
Paul Rudd, who played Josh, Cher’s stepbrother and eventual love interest, recently revealed on Amy Poehler’s podcast “Good Hang” that he almost lost the role in Clueless because of an unfortunate haircut.
Thirty years later and looking barely a day older, Rudd has become one of Hollywood’s most beloved and bankable actors. He has starred in films ranging from cult comedy classics like Wet Hot American Summer (2001), The 40-Year-Old Virgin (2005), I Love You, Man (2009) and the Anchorman films (2004, 2013) to Marvel global blockbusters as Ant-Man in the Ant-Man trilogy (2015, 2018, 2023) and a couple of Avengers films. He has also played recurring roles in the hugely popular TV series Friends and Parks and Recreation, and is part of the cast of Only Murders in the Building.
Rudd has earned Hollywood heartthrob status, with his knack for looking like he doesn’t age becoming something of a running joke. To his amusement, the actor was named People’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2021.
Brittany Murphy (Tai Frasier)
Above Brittany played the naive and sweet Tai. (Photo: IMDb)
Brittany played the naive and sweet Tai. (Photo: IMDb)
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Brittany Murphy, who played the sweet and naive Tai, went on to have a successful acting career before her life was tragically cut short in 2009 at the age of 32.
After Clueless, Murphy starred in a wide range of films that showcased her versatility, including Girl, Interrupted (1999) alongside Winona Ryder and Angelina Jolie, the Eminem quasi-biographical 8 Mile (2002), Uptown Girls (2003) alongside Dakota Fanning, Just Married (2003) opposite Ashton Kutcher (who she would go on to date after filming wrapped) and Sin City (2005).
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Donald Faison (Murray Duvall)
Donald Faison, who played Dionne’s on-again, off-again boyfriend Murray, revealed in an interview with IMDb that Clueless was the role that changed the trajectory of his career. He went on to reprise his role in the Clueless TV series spin-off. He also starred in other TV and films, including Felicity, Remember the Titans, Waiting to Exhale, Can’t Hardly Wait (where he reunited with Clueless alum Breckin Meyer), Uptown Girls (where he reunited with Brittany Murphy) and Kick-Ass 2.
But the role he is probably best known for is as Dr Christopher Turk in the medical comedy series, Scrubs, which ran from 2001 to 2010. He and Scrubs lead and co-star Zach Braff would later launch the podcast “Fake Doctors, Real Friends with Zach and Donald”, which started as a way to reminisce about their time making the hit show.
Breckin Meyer (Travis Birkenstock)
Above Breckin Meyer in 2021’s ‘Good Girls’. (Photo: IMDb)
Breckin Meyer in 2021’s ‘Good Girls’. (Photo: IMDb)
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In Clueless, Breckin Meyer played Travis Birkenstock, Bronson Alcott High School’s lovable stoner dude and skater boy, who eventually ends up with Brittany Murphy’s Tai. He has worked consistently in Hollywood since then, starring in films like Road Trip (2000), Kate & Leopold (2001), Rat Race (2001) and as the long-suffering Jon in the Garfield live-action movies (2004, 2006). He’s also appeared on TV, most notably in Franklin & Bash (2011–2014), Designated Survivor (2018) and Good Girls (2021).
Jeremy Sisto (Elton Tiscia)
Above Jeremy Sisto is Special Agent Valentine in the procedural drama ‘FBI’. (Photo: IMDb)
Jeremy Sisto is Special Agent Valentine in the procedural drama ‘FBI’. (Photo: IMDb)
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After playing the arrogant and smarmy Elton in Clueless, Jeremy Sisto continued to star in TV series and films. Fans may remember him from the critically acclaimed HBO series Six Feet Under (2001–2005), where he played the troubled Billy Chenowith. He also starred in Law & Order (2007–2010) as Detective Cyrus Lupo and as George Altman in Suburgatory (2011–2014), where he reunited with Alicia Silverstone. He is currently starring in the procedural drama FBI as assistant special agent in charge Jubal Valentine.
Elisa Donovan (Amber Mariens)
Above Elisa Donovan played Cher’s nemesis in ‘Clueless’. (Photo: IMDb)
Elisa Donovan played Cher’s nemesis in ‘Clueless’. (Photo: IMDb)
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After starring as Cher’s chief rival, Amber, Elisa Donovan reprised the role in the TV series spin-off. She also appeared in several teen cult classic TV series, including 90210 and Sabrina the Teenage Witch, and in the film A Night at the Roxbury (1998). In the 2023 Super Bowl ad, she starred in with Alicia Silverstone, the two recreated their famous debate scene from the original Clueless film.
Maggie Adan is a content writer, editor, and strategist with extensive experience across print, digital, and social media publishing. Formerly editor-in-chief at K-Zone Philippines, Summit Books and Content Lab, she has written lifestyle stories covering everything from entertainment and travel to beauty and wellness. A storyteller at heart with a keen editorial eye and a passion for narrative, she contributes to various publications and helps brands create and curate content for their social media platforms.
