25 favorite ’80s and ’90s teenage heartthrobs and what they’re doing now

Usher

What made him a heartthrob: It’s mostly the abs, but those dimples don’t hurt either. Usher may have started out as an R&B crooner, but he successfully transitioned to the big screen with the absurdly silly and derivative, The Faculty. Directed by Robert Rodriguez, it was released on Christmas day in 1998 and pretty much made him a giant star.

He went on to appear on the hit show, Moesha, for several seasons, and has made all sorts of guest appearances on everything from Sabrina the Teenage Witch to CSI: Miami. He’s also been in several Scary Movie films, and some of his best work is when he isn’t taking himself so seriously. He often plays himself in movies and shows, but it’s usually a drier, more ironic version of the singer/actor.

What he’s doing now: These days, we mostly know him for his turn as performer and producer, and he’s collaborating currently with the likes of Justin Bieber, Brittney Spears, and Pharrell. His latest album, Daddy’s Home, was released in January 2018.

Usher at his best: Of course, this is all just conjecture on my part, but I find Usher’s role in She’s All That to be particularly charming. For a more grown-up Usher, watch his run on The Voice as a judge. He’s such a dreamboat.