In honor of iconic teen comedy Can’t Hardly Wait graduating to it’s 27th reunion, let’s check in on Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ethan Embry and the other members of Huntington Hillside’s class of ’98.

Yesterday’s history. Tomorrow’s the future. Tonight’s the party! 

The cast of 1998’s Can’t Hardly Wait walked so iconic teen fare like She’s All That, 10 Things I Hate About You and Never Been Kissed could run away with impressive box office numbers. 

It’s been more than a quarter century since the teen comedy written and directed by Deborah Kaplan and Harry Elfont (who went on to make Josie and the Pussycats, Made of Honor and Leap Year together) made its way to theaters on July 12, 1998, charming audiences with its depiction of one hell of a graduation party.

And while it grossed just $25 million at the domestic box office, it introduced fans to the Huntington Hillside Class of ’98, including Ethan Embry, Jennifer Love Hewitt, Lauren Ambrose, Peter Facinelli, Seth Green and many more.

And while lovesick Preston Meyers (Embry) and his four-year crush on prom queen Amanda Beckett (Hewitt) feels a little absurd all these years later—they’d never even met before he wrote her a letter professing his love?!—there’s something so comforting about the film’s late-’90s charms. 

And identifying the bit players who’d later go on to big things like Jason Segel, Jaime Pressly and Leslie Grossman is just part of the fun.

In addition to being imminently quotable (sorry, Aman-duh), the flick had some surprisingly deep takeaways about the importance of seizing the moment. 

In the immortal words of Jenna Elfman‘s exotic dancer, “There is fate, but it only takes us so far, because once you’re there, it’s up to you to make it happen.”

Which is why we seized the day to make this list checking out where the entire sprawling cast is now. So grab your favorite strawberry Pop Tart, because we’re off to the unofficial Huntington Hillside reunion. 

Since starring as lovesick Preston Meyers, Ethan Embry has appeared in films like Sweet Home Alabama, Vacancy, and First Man and TV shows including Grey’s Anatomy, The Walking Dead and Once Upon a Time. And from 2015 until 2022, he starred as Coyote as Netflix’s Grace & Frankie.

In November 1998, Embry married first wife Amelinda Smith. After welcoming son Cogeian Sky into the world, they split in 2002. Three years later, he married actress Sunny Mabrey. In 2012, she filed for divorce, citing irreconcilable differences, however they ultimately reconciled and began dating again a year later. They remarried in June 2015.

In the years since starring as teen dream Amanda Beckett, Jennifer Love Hewitt has remained quite busy, with films like Heartbreakers, The Tuxedo and Garfield: The Movie and shows like Time of Your Life, Ghost Whisperer, The Client List and Criminal Minds.

She currently stars on the Fox hit 9-1-1, replacing Connie Britton in the show’s second season. With three albums under her belt before Can’t Hardy Wait was released, she dropped her fourth (and, it would seem final) album, BareNaked, in 2002.

In 2010, she added author to her resume, penning the dating advice book The Day I Shot Cupid.

In 2007, she got engaged to boyfriend Ross McCall and, a year later, called it off. In 2012, she and her Client List co-star Brian Hallisay began dating. By November 2013, they were married and had welcomed daughter Autumn James. Son Atticus James followed in June 2015.

After playing the acidic and somewhat antisocial Denise Fleming, Lauren Ambrose went on to make a name for herself on television, starring as Claire Fisher on HBO’s acclaimed series Six Feet Under for five seasons from 2001-05. She’s also appeared in shows like Torchwood: Miracle Day, Dig, and the recent revival of The X-Files.

And up until 2023, she starred on the Apple TV+ thriller Servant. After making her Broadway debut in the 2006 revival of Awake and Sing!, she earned a Tony nod for her turn as Eliza Doolittle in the 2018 revival of My Fair Lady.

In 2001, she married professional photographer Sam Handel. They have two children, son Orson and a daughter whose name has not been disclosed.

Since starring as wannabe baller and desperate virgin Kenny Fisher, Seth Green continued his role as Scott Evil in the Austin Powers franchise, continued starring as werewolf Oz on Buffy the Vampire Slayer through 2000, appeared in films like Party Monster, Josie and the Pussycats and Old Dogs, has voiced Chris Griffin (among other characters) on Family Guy, starred in the short-lived Fox show , and co-created the long-running Adult Swim series Robot Chicken.

He’s also guest-starred on a laundry list of TV shows, including Grey’s Anatomy, Broad City and Crazy Ex-Girlfriend. In May 2010, he married actress Clare Grant.

After playing jock Mike Dexter, Peter Facinelli appeared in films like Riding in Cars With Boys and The Scorpion King before joining the Twilight franchise in 2008, starring as Dr. Carlisle Cullen in all five films.

On TV, he’s had starring roles on Fast Lane and Nurse Jackie, with recurring appearances on show like Six Feet Under, Glee and Supergirl.

After meeting Jennie Garth in 1995, he and the Beverly Hills, 90210 star tied the knot in 2001. They welcomed three daughters, Luca, Lola and Fiona, before he filed for divorce in 2012.

Since splitting with Garth, he dated and was briefly engaged to actress Jaimie Alexander before proposing to Lily Anne Harrison in 2020. The pair welcomed son Jack in September 2022.

Since starring as bullied nerd William Lichter hellbent on revenge, Charlie Korsmo left the industry behind. He earned a degree in physics from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology in 2000 and then earned his Juris Doctor degree from Yale Law School in 2006.

In 2007, he passed the New York State Bar exam, which he followed with work as an associate in the New York office of Sullivan & Cromwell LLP and a visiting professor as Brooklyn Law School. He currently works as a professor of corporate law and corporate finance at the Case Western Reserve University School of Law in Cleveland.

In May 2011, President Barack Obama nominated Korsmo for member of the Board of Trustees of the Barry Goldwater Scholarship and Excellence in Education Foundation. In 2019, he made his return to acting with a role in the independent film Chained for Life. He and wife Adrienne have two children, daughter Lilah and son William. 

Having played T.J., one of Mike’s jock bros, Freddy Rodriguez joined Ambrose on Six Feet Under as a series regular throughout its acclaimed run. He followed that with a recurring role on Ugly Betty, guest appearances on ER and Scrubs, a starring role in the first two seasons of NBC’s The Night Shift and a five-season run on CBS’ Bull.

On the film side, he’s appeared in features like Payback, Poseidon, Lady in the Water and Planet Terror. He and high school sweetheart-turned-wife Elise have two sons, Elijah and Giancarlo.

Hitting the teen movie trifecta, Sean Patrick Thomas played Ben, another of Mike’s jock bros, appeared in Cruel Intentions and romanced Julia Stiles in Save the Last Dance. He also collected credits in The Curse of La Llorona and the Barbershop franchise.

On the small screen, he’s appeared on shows like Criminal Minds, Madam Secretary and The Good Fight and is set to return for the second season of Gen V. In 2006, he married actress Aonika Laurent. They have two children, daughter Lola and son Luc.

Channon Roe—who played Jake, the third of Mike’s jock pals—went on to appear in films like The 40-Year-Old Virgin and The Hangover Part II and on shows including Charmed, Justified, 24 and, most recently, Murder in the First.

He married actress Bianca Chiminello in 2009. The couple have one son, Marlon. In 2014, they opened a lifestyle boutique called In the Field in Ojai, Calif.

Playing Beth, Jake’s girlfriend was one of Jaime Pressly‘s earliest roles, with the actress going on to appear in films like Not Another Teen Movie, Joe Dirt, and I Love You, Man.

In 2005, she began starring in the NBC sitcom My Name Is Earl, which ran for four seasons, earning her an Emmy in 2007. After the show was canceled in 2009, she starred in the short-lived shows I Hate My Teenage Daughter and Jennifer Falls before joining the second season of CBS comedy Mom in 2014. By season three, she was made a series regular. 

After getting engaged to DJ Eric Calvo in 2006, she gave birth to their son Dezi James in May 2007. Separated in 2008, she went on to wed entertainment lawyer Simran Singh the following year and, subsequently, filed for divorce in 2011. Two weeks before filing for divorce, she was arrested in Santa Monica on suspicion of driving under the influence. (She pleaded no contest and received three years of informal probation.) In October 2017, she and longtime boyfriend Hamzi Hijazi welcomed twin sons Leo and Lenon. 

In addition to her role as Rachel, T.J.’s girlfriend, Jennifer Lyons has made appearances on TV shows like That ’70s Show, Desperate Housewives, Workaholics and As We See It. She wed Vuori exec Jeremy Fuchs in 2019. 

Since playing Cindi, Mike’s girlfriend, Tamala Jones has appeared in the films Next Friday, Up in the Air and What Men Want, among others, and starred in the TV shows For Your Love and Castle.

Since her time on the ABC procedural ended in 2016, she’s guest-starred on shows like Speechless, Seal Team and 9-1-1: Lone Star. She was cast in the 2020 pilot Rebel created by Grey’s Anatomy showrunner Krista Vernoff, but the series was canceled after one season. 

After playing the very stoned girl Stephanie, Amber Benson endeared herself to Buffy the Vampire Slayer fans as Tara, Willow’s beloved, until she was killed off in 2002.

Since then, she’s guest-starred on shows including Supernatural, Private Practice and Grey’s Anatomy, while appearing in indie films like Latter Days, Kiss the Bride and House of Demons. She’s also become an accomplished author, working on graphic novels and straight novels alike.

Once she made her cameo as the iconic angel stripper, Jenna Elfman returned to her day job on ABC’s Dharma & Greg, which ran until 2002.

After gigs on several short-lived sitcoms, including Courting Alex, Accidentally on Purpose, 1600 Penn, Growing Up Fisher and Imaginary Mary, she landed on the AMC series Fear the Walking Dead, which wrapped its eight-season run in 2023.

Elfman has also appeared in the films EDtv, Keeping the Faith, Looney Tunes: Back in Action and Friends with Benefits. She and husband Bodhi Elfman have two sons, Story Elias and Easton Quinn Monroe.

Following his turn as Amanda’s creepy cousin Ron, Erik Palladino joined ER as a series regular in 1999, the show’s sixth season. For two seasons, he starred as Dr. Dave Malucci.

After leaving the NBC hit, he’s recurred on shows like Joan of Arcadia, Make It or Break It, NCIS: Los Angeles, Suits, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Godfather of Harlem. He’s also been a series regular on the short-lived series Over There and 666 Park Avenue.

After marrying wife Jamie in 2005, the couple have welcomed three children: daughter Paloma and sons Enzo and Roman.

After appearing as Walter, Love Burger’s lead singer, Breckin Meyer appeared in films like Go, Road Trip, Rat Race and Ghosts of Girlfriend Past. He also played the iconic Jon Arbuckle in the Garfield film franchise.

He was cast in the lead role in NBC’s short-lived 2001 series Inside Schwartz, which he followed with guest appearances on House, Heroes and Party Down before starring in TNT’s Franklin & Bash from 2011-14. He continues to work on Robot Chicken alongside Seth Green and recurred on Designated Survivor.

In 2001, he married Can’t Hardly Wait‘s co-writer and -director Deborah Kaplan. They welcomed two daughters, Caitlin and Clover, before divorcing in 2014. Since 2024, he’s been in a relationship with podcaster Kelly Rizzo.

Since appearing as Dan, Love Burger’s drummer, Donald Faison has, most recognizably, starred as Dr. Chris Turk in NBC’s Scrubs, which ran from 2001-2010. From 2011-15, he starred in TV Land’s The Exes and spent one season on NBC sitcom Extended Family.

In addition to voice work, the actor has also appeared in the films Josie and the Pussycats, Big Fat Liar, Uptown Girls and Kick-Ass 2.

In 2001, he married girlfriend Lisa Askey. The couple welcomed fraternal boy-girl twins Dade and Kaya prior to their wedding and son Kobe the year they were married. They divorced in 2005. In 2012, after six years of dating, he married Jessica Simpson‘s former personal assistant CaCee Cobb, later welcoming son Rocco and daughter Wilder Frances together. (He has another son, Sean, born in 1997 with ex-girlfriend Audrey Ince.)

Jerry O’Connell booked a slew of films, including Mission to Mars, Kangaroo Jack, and Veronica Mars, following his turn as former stud Trip McNeely and appeared on TV shows like Ugly Betty, Scream Queens and Billions.

From 2001-07, he starred on the NBC procedural Crossing Jordan and, in 2018, the Canadian series Carter. He’s also appeared on Broadway a handful of times, including, most recently, a 2020 revival of A Soldier’s Play.

A frequent guest host on The Wendy Williams Show, he tested for several talk shows of his own before landing on The Talk in 2021.

In 2007, he and Rebecca Romijn tied the knot. They welcomed twin daughters Dolly Rebecca Rose and Charlie Tamara Tulip in 2009. That same year, he enrolled in Southwestern Law School, but quit a year later to star in the short-lived CBS series The Defenders.

After making her appearance as Vicki, the girl who desperately wanted everyone to sign her yearbook, Melissa Joan Hart returned to her full-time gig on Sabrina the Teenage Witch until 2003 when the sitcom came to an end.

She also starred in the films Drive Me Crazy, Not Another Teen Movie, and God’s Not Dead 2. She competed in the ninth season of Dancing With the Stars in 2009, where she was eliminated seventh.

In 2010, she returned to TV with the ABC Family sitcom Melissa & Joey, which aired until 2015. In 2017, she directed an adaptation of The Watcher in the Woods that aired on Lifetime. Since, she’s directed episodes of The Goldbergs, Young Sheldon and Schooled.

In 2003, she married musician Mark Wilkerson. They have three sons, Mason, Braydon and Tucker. 

Since playing Ready to Have Sex Girl, Nicole Bilderback appeared in Bring It On and on shows as varied as Dawson’s Creek, Bones, Good Girls, Brooklyn Nine-Nine and, most recently, Cruel Summer.

Following her role as Ready to Have Sex Girls’ Friend, Leslie Grossman starred in Ryan Murphy‘s Popular from 1999-2001 before joining the cast of What I Like About You.

Since then, she’s appeared in films like Miss Congeniality 2: Armed and Fabulous, Running With Scissors and Spring Breakdown, while guest-starring on shows as varied as Nip/Tuck, Grey’s Anatomy, Scandal, The Good Place and Shrill.

In recent years, she’s returned to Murphy’s TV world with starring roles in six installments of American Horror Story, plus Monsters: The Lyle and Erik Menendez Story.

In 1999, she married John Bronson. The couple, who shared daughter Goldie, separated in 2020. She announced her engagement to film producer Sascha Penn in 2024. 

After appearing as the Klepto Kid, Chris Owen landed the role of Chuck Sherman, a.k.a. the Sherminator, in American Pie, a role he reprised in all of the sequels, including the straight-to-DVD American Pie Presents: Band Camp.

He’s guest-starred on shows including Brothers & Sisters, The Mentalist and Criminal Minds and made an appearance in 2018’s The Last Sharknado: It’s About Time as the 30-year-old version of Gil, the son of Ian Ziering‘s Fin. In 2007, Owen married Michelle Beck. The two divorced in 2012.

Kicking off his career as Matt, the Watermelon Guy, Jason Segel scored his first major role in Judd Apatow‘s short-lived 1999 NBC series Freaks & Geeks.

Following appearances on Undeclared, CSI and Alias, he landed the role of Marshall on CBS’ 2005 rom-com series How I Met Your Mother, a gig he kept through the final season in 2014. Going on to create, executive produce and star on AMC’s Dispatches from Elsewhere in 2020, he co-created Apple TV+’s Shrinking, collecting Emmy and Golden Globe nods for his role as therapist Jimmy.

He also launched a successful film career, appearing in hits like Forgetting Sarah Marshall, I Love You, Man, Bad Teacher, The Muppets (which he also wrote and executive produced) and This Is 40. 

Since 2023, he’s been dating So You Think You Can Dance alum Kayla Radomski. 

Source: www.eonline.com