Anthony Michael Hall Says He Struggled in Career After ’80s Stardom, Relied on Vince Vaughn for Help

Despite finding success as a teen in the ‘80s in classic films, Anthony Michael Hall turned to Vince Vaughn for help when he was “struggling” less than 10 years later.

“It was really hard for me to get work ’cause I made this kind of big impact,” Anthony, 56, said about his 20s in an interview with People published on Tuesday, March 4. “I remember meeting Vince Vaughn back in the ’90s and I was struggling. We happened to both be in Vegas at the Hard Rock Hotel — and I looked up to Vince.”

Anthony respected Vince, 54, as a “great comedian and a great actor,” so he took his opinion seriously when the Four Christmases star said “something sweet” to him.

“He goes, ‘Mike don’t worry about it, man. You left an indelible mark and, you know, it’ll come around again,’” he recounted. “It was great. It was really — I’m getting a little choked up thinking about it because it was really encouraging me at that time. It was really sweet.”

Anthony made a splash when he starred in the 1983 comedy National Lampoon’s Vacation at just 15 years old. He went on to join the cast of Saturday Night Live at just 17 years old, earning credits in films like Sixteen Candles, The Breakfast Club and Weird Science.

Decades later, the actor has moved beyond his child star label, taking on more mature roles in TV shows like The Dead Zone and Bosch: Legacy, as well as films such as The Dark Knight, Foxcatcher, and Halloween Kills.

Anthony previously opened up about his transition from child star to adult actor and how he had to “reinvent himself” for a new era in an exclusive interview with Closer in October 2022.

“I had made such a great early impression as a child actor and as a kid in my teens, but then I had to adapt to a new decade, literally, and reinvent myself,” he explained. “I think I’ve done that two or three times in my so-called adulthood. It makes you a stronger person because you realize what you’ve gone through, and you can address the work with more humility and maybe a better sense of who you are. [It’s important] to be open to change to evolve and grow.”

Despite the bumps in his career, Anthony said he had no regrets about starting his acting career so young.

“I’m really grateful for it, too, because it gave me a great boost of confidence and in some ways kind of kick-started my adulthood because it forced me to be more mature and to learn a business and to learn a craft,” he explained. “It gave me a sense of purpose and a direction in life that I love to this day.”

If he could give his younger self any advice, it would be to remain strong through adversity. “Just to hang in there, and to stay humble, and to keep your eyes on the road,” the actor said in hindsight. “Stay focused on the work ahead.”