Ranking the Ten Most Successful Post-Empire Records Careers for the Film's Cast

By Dustin Rowles | Posted Under Seriously Random Lists | Comments (37)

10. Maxwell Caulfield (Rex Manning): Best known now as a regular in the British soap opera, “Emmerdale.”

9. Brendan Sexton III (Warren): Best known now as a bit actor in low-budget and independent fare like The Runaways.

8. Ethan Embry (Mark) Best known now as a character in Showtime’s “Brotherhood.”

7. Johnny Whitworth (A.J.) Best known now as a recurring character on “CSI: Miami.”

6. Rory Cochrane (Lucas) Best known now as a series regular on “CSI: Miami” and as a recurring character last year on “24.”

5. Debi Mazar (Jane) Best Known Now As a recurring character on “Entourage.”

4. Anthony LaPaglia (Joe): Best known now as a series regular on “Without a Trace.”

3. Robin Tunney (Debra): Best known now as a series regular on “The Mentalist,” and “Prison Break” before it.

2. Liv Tyler (Corey): Best known now for her roles in the Lord of the Rings series, Armageddon, The Strangers, Jersey Girl and The Incredible Hulk.

1. Renee Zellwegger (Gina): Best known now as an A-list, Oscar-winning actress and star of the Bridget Jones series, Cinderella Man, Chicago, and innumerable romantic comedies, most of which aren’t really worth mentioning.

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Comments

I'm having a difficult time accepting how hot Brendan Sexton is. He reminds me of Jamie Bamber, which is the best compliment I can give to anyone.

Also, it's nice to see that AJ aged well. Very well.

Posted by: Scully at August 10, 2010 2:45 PM

Maxwell Caulfield (Rex Manning): Best known now

Best known ALWAYS AND FOREVER as The Cool Rider.

Posted by: Jay at August 10, 2010 2:45 PM

In a perfect world, Debi Mazar and Robin Tunney star in a big-budget feature film called, "Debi Mazar and Robin Tunney Take a Shower Together and Make-out."

Posted by: Tracer Bullet at August 10, 2010 2:46 PM

Jay, LET'S BOWL!!

Posted by: Mrcreosote at August 10, 2010 2:52 PM

Jay I wrote this week's HoboTrashcan with you in mind. If you click my name, it will take you to a land of cool riders, girls for all seasons, and some satisfaction down at the grocery store.

Posted by: Courtney at August 10, 2010 2:57 PM

Debi Mazar's eyes are freaking me out.

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at August 10, 2010 2:59 PM

My heart swells with all this love for Grease 2. Honestly Jay, can I be your girl for all seasons?

On the other hand I am depressed that Ethan Embry isn't as cute anymore.

Posted by: bionic woman at August 10, 2010 2:59 PM

Brendan Sexton looks great, as does AJ. seriously did not see RZ's career turning out this way after empire records...good for her, questionable movies aside (cant say ive seen her in something i downright hate, though)

Posted by: Sinnh at August 10, 2010 3:01 PM

I get the feeling that this list was created solely for the purpose of the well-deserved jab at Zellwegger.

Posted by: Paul at August 10, 2010 3:03 PM

Tracer took the words, and the script, right out of my mouth.

Posted by: admin at August 10, 2010 3:04 PM

Rory Cochrane's career has been okay actually, he made a few damn decent flicks here and there and left Miami because of the Ginger Douche.

Plus Right at Your Door and that...fucking Linklater one, where INCREDIBLE.

I like to think Rory(my first crush by the by...actually, I tell a lie, my 2nd crush. My 1st was Raul Julia as Gomez Addams. And sort of Christina a little bit)is just hanging fire 'til I write this sequel to Empire Records, which I WAS gonna call Boardwalk Empires and will NOW(THANKS HBO) have to be titled 'The Empire Strikes Back'

Whassat?
George who?
What the fuck is a Jedi?

fffffffffffffffffffuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuccccccccc..............

Posted by: Nadine at August 10, 2010 3:13 PM

Ethan Embry is slowly beginning to resemble Christopher Lloyd as Fester Adams.

Posted by: PissBoy at August 10, 2010 3:16 PM

Ethan Embry (Mark) Best known now either T. B. Player from That Thing You Do, or Preston from Can't Hardly Wait.

There, I fixed it for you.

Posted by: dammitjanet at August 10, 2010 3:25 PM

Ethan Embry will always be the gay friend from Sweet Home Alabama for me. I

Posted by: KatSings at August 10, 2010 3:26 PM

dammitjanet, to me EE will forever be best known as Ethan O'Fallon from my favorite Christmas movie ever of all time, All I Want For Christmas also starring Thora Birch. I can't even talk about how much I love that movie.

Posted by: Courtney at August 10, 2010 3:33 PM

I am very excited by the number of people who cherish Grease 2. I used to own the soundtrack... where did that end up? I need to listen to it immediately.

Further- anyone else find it strange when all the onlookers were singing "Who's that Guy?" and there were several lines that only existed in Michael's head? What was everyone else doing when that was going on? "Who's that guy/ On that mororcycle?"
(silence)

Nadine-
Which Linklater film do you write of? Cochrane was great in "A Scanner Darkly," but more memorable in "Dazed and Confused."

"All right, check ya later!"

Posted by: Vuhdanessa at August 10, 2010 3:36 PM

Liv Tyler pretty.

Posted by: Mrs. Julien at August 10, 2010 3:36 PM

Oh also, Maxwell Caulfield was killed off've Emmerdale AGES ago.
Srsly you guys.

Posted by: Nadine at August 10, 2010 3:39 PM

Vuhdanessa, that was the one! Scanner Darkly.
I'm a huge fan of both but basically forgot every film Linklater has ever made. Now, of course, I could recite them, but right as I wrote that sentence I blanked.

God Damn, Slater was the voice of a generation.
A STONED ASS generation.

Posted by: Nadine at August 10, 2010 3:42 PM

If this were a post-Reality Bites list, Fishface (aka Tami aka "Call me" aka one-night-stand-girl) would be second only to Ben Stiller.

Suck on that, Winona "Best known now as a synonym for ">http://www.urbandictionary.com/define.php?term=shoplifter> shoplifter " Ryder.

Posted by: cheesemich at August 10, 2010 3:42 PM

WOW Brendan Sexton III looks great! I'm really glad that beard is covering up the creepy he had in Welcome to the Dollhouse.

Posted by: valerie at August 10, 2010 4:03 PM

2. Liv Tyler (Corey): Best known now for her roles in the Lord of the Rings series, Armageddon, The Strangers, Jersey Girl and The Incredible Hulk.

Um Crazy, the Aerosmith video? Granted, just a little creepy having Mr. Us-Jagger-Lips singing about lust & longing while his actual daughter works the pole, and, plus Alicia Silverstone but ... it's comeback-time Aerosmith.

It's OK. It was a more innocent age. Actually, Aerosmith did a series of ballad-y hot-girl videos around then, many featuring a "this is wrong, but I can't help it" near-jailbait Alicia Silverstone.

Youtube is your friend. "Aerosmith" + "Liv Tyler" and/or "Alicia Silverstone." I'll be back ... eventually. Meanwhile, you're welcome.

Posted by: BierceAmbrose at August 10, 2010 4:05 PM

Ha! I remember a couple of years ago when I stumbled upon the only episoe of CSI:Miami (YEAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAH) that I've ever seen, and I saw this guy and it bugged me for HOURS because I couldn't place him. I watched the whole painful thing until it finally hit me and I started screaming "HOLY SHIT IT'S LUCAS!" because I'm a dork. Wasn't worth watching the show ever again, though.

Also, Anthony LaPaglia has super hot in that movie. Don't care what you say.

And oh, Zellwegger. You actually had THIGHS once! really sexy ones, too! Now it's just the poor chicken legs and it just makes me sad.

Posted by: figgy at August 10, 2010 4:06 PM

Grease 2 has waaay better songs than Grease. And Adrian Fucking Zmed!

Also, Ethan Embry, to me, will always be Doyle from Dutch, the most under-rated John Hughes film ever.

Posted by: grendel at August 10, 2010 4:07 PM

figgy, Cochrane is literally the only reason I watched csi Miami. I HATED the rest of the entire show but Cochrane was the shit and made it awesome and he VISIBLY SEETHED every time Caruso was on screen with him and it was AWESOME

Posted by: Nadine at August 10, 2010 4:30 PM

I don't understand this movie. I'm all for independent record stores, that part I definitely get (I love you Lou's Records in Encinitas). But Empire Records as it appears in the movie is exactly like any mall record store you will ever find, staffed with suburban white kids and pushing watered-down versions of the latest musical movements (case in point: Gin Blossoms. Seriously, Cracker is the edgiest act on the soundtrack). In my eyes a Virgin Megastore takeover would have been a definite improvement!
Sorry, I guess I was just too old for this movie (mid-20's when it came out). Kids stuff...THAT I get.

Posted by: dagnabbit at August 10, 2010 5:19 PM

dagnabbit >> Yes, I can imagine the High Fidelity crew sniding and snarking the Empire Records folks to death for their poor taste in music.

Posted by: DarthCorleone at August 10, 2010 5:23 PM

Ethan Embry will ALWAYS be Rusty Griswold aka Mr. Papa Georgeo from Nat. Lampoons Vegas Vacation to me...

I put a dollar in... I got a car.
I put a dollar in... I got a car.
I put a dollar in... I got a car.
I put a dollar in... I got a car.

Posted by: SaucyWench at August 10, 2010 5:55 PM

Rory Cochrane .... best known as SLATER from dazed and confused. when will pajiba review that btw?

Posted by: wickedwhisper at August 10, 2010 7:54 PM

DarthCorleone>>> Even the record store gang from Pretty in Pink would be razzing these Empire guys.

Posted by: dagnabbit at August 10, 2010 8:46 PM

I feel I need to point out that the soap opera Emmerdale is about the tawdry affairs that go on in a rural farming community, and when it aired on the CBC, the tagline in the commercials was "Farmers... Dramas, Herders... Murders", Which is pretty much the best tagline ever.

Posted by: Carrie at August 10, 2010 9:37 PM

"Farmers... Dramas, Herders... Murders", Which is pretty much the best tagline ever.

Especially when spoken with a thick New England accent.

Posted by: Rykker at August 10, 2010 9:44 PM

I don't know if someone said this already, but to me Ethan Embry will always be Ethan Randall (why the name change??) of A Far Off Place, where he tramped through the desert with Reese Witherspoon.

AJ has aged Very Well Indeed...

Posted by: Carrie at August 11, 2010 6:02 AM

Oh also, Maxwell Caulfield was killed off've Emmerdale AGES ago.

Has he moved on to Holby City now?

Um, who is this other Carrie? Imposter!!!

That is an excellent tagline though.

Posted by: Carrie (The REAL One) at August 11, 2010 6:07 AM

Watching the movie as a teenager, I had a crush on AJ. Watching the movie as an adult, I had a crush on Lucas. Seeing pics of the actors now, I have a crush on......... Warren? Huh.

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Ranking the Ten Most Successful Post-Empire Records Careers for the Film's Cast

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