1989’s Road House stars 36-year-old Patrick Swayze as Dalton, a tough bouncer who makes some enemies while trying to keep the peace at a rowdy bar in Missouri called the Double Deuce.
The action movie has achieved cult classic status over the past few decades, and in 2024, a Road House remake was released starring Jake Gyllenhaal.
1. Road House: Where is the cast today?
After starring in the original Road House movie in 1989, most of the cast continued acting for many years.
Although there are many differences between Swayze’s 1989 Road House and 2024’s Gyllenhaal remake, this latest iteration generated renewed interest in the original Road House. Some of the stars of Road House are still acting to this day, while others have sadly since passed away.
I. Patrick Swayze As James Dalton
Swayze continued acting after Road House (1989) until he died in 2009.
Patrick Swayze is a renowned actor best known for his lead role as Johnny Castle in the 1987 classic film Dirty Dancing. In 1989, he continued to captivate audiences with his portrayal of Dalton in the movie Road House.
However, some of Swayze’s most acclaimed performances came in the 1990s. In 1990, he starred alongside Demi Moore in the supernatural romance film Ghost, earning a nomination for Best Actor at the Golden Globes.
Following that, he appeared in films like “Point Break” (1991) and “City of Joy” (1992), further solidifying his status as a versatile and talented actor.
Swayze’s most notable achievement in the 1990s came in 1995, when he received another Golden Globe nomination for his performance as a drag queen in the road trip comedy “To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar.”
In 2001, Swayze, then 19, acted in the movie Donnie Darko alongside Jake Gyllenhaal. Years later, Gyllenhaal would play Swayze’s original character, Dalton, in the 2024 remake of Road House.
Swayze continued acting throughout the 2000s, appearing in films like Waking Up in Reno (2002) and 11:14 (2003). In 2007, shortly after filming the pilot for his new TV series The Beast, Swayze was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer.
Despite his illness, he continued working on the show while receiving treatment. Sadly, Swayze passed away on September 14, 2009, at the age of 57.
His final film role was in the 2009 movie Powder Blue, where he co-starred with his brother Don Swayze. Swayze also appeared in the 2004 Dirty Dancing prequel, Dirty Dancing: Havana Nights.
II. Kelly Lynch As Dr. Elizabeth “Doc” Clay
Lynch has continued acting since Road House (1989).
After playing Dalton’s love interest, Dr. Elizabeth Clay, in the 1989 film Road House, Kelly Lynch starred in Gus Van Sant’s crime drama Drugstore Cowboy later that same year.
She continued her acting career, appearing in films like Desperate Hours (1990) and Curly Sue (1991) before marrying her current husband, screenwriter Mitch Glazer, in 1992.
Throughout the 1990s, Lynch starred in various projects, including Three of Hearts (1993), The Beans of Egypt, Maine (1994), Virtuosity (1995), Mr. Magoo (1997), and Homegrown (1998).
Lynch received her first Independent Spirit Award nomination for Best Female Lead for her work in Drugstore Cowboy. She was also nominated for her performance in the 1994 indie drama The Beans of Egypt, Maine.
Throughout the 2000s, Lynch continued acting, taking on supporting roles in films like Charlie’s Angels (2000), Joe Somebody (2001), and The Jacket (2005). From 2004 to 2005, she had a recurring role as Ivan Aycock in the first two seasons of Showtime’s The L Word and returned for the series finale in 2009.
In the 2010s, Lynch’s television work included playing Laurel Cooper in seasons 2 and 3 of the 90210 reboot from 2010-2011.
She also starred in Glazer’s drama series Magic City from 2012-2013. In 2017, Lynch starred in season 1 of David E. Kelley’s crime drama series Mr. Mercedes.
After that, she took a six-year break from acting, except for a minor role in Sofia Coppola’s film On the Rocks in 2020. Lynch officially returned to the screen in 2023, appearing in one episode of season 2 of the Apple TV+ series Physical, but has not acted since then.
III. Sam Elliott As Wade Garrett
Elliott Has Continued Acting Since Road House (1989)
Sam Elliott was already a respected character actor when he played the aging, cool mentor, Wade Garrett, in the 1989 film Road House.
In the 1990s, Elliott starred alongside his wife Katharine Ross in the 1991 film adaptation of Louis L’Amour’s 1969 novel Conagher, earning him his first Golden Globe nomination.
He then portrayed real-life public figures in the 1993 films Gettysburg and Tombstone, and for the 1995 Western miniseries Buffalo, he received another Golden Globe nomination and an Emmy nomination.
In 1998, Elliott famously narrated and starred as The Stranger in The Big Lebowski.
Over the next decade, Elliott continued acting in many movies, such as We Were Soldiers (2002), Hulk (2003), Thank You for Smoking (2005), Ghost Rider (2007), The Golden Compass (2007), and Up In The Air (2009).
Though he had been acting consistently throughout the 2000s, Elliott experienced a resurgence in popularity and recognition in the 2010s. He had recurring roles in the comedy series Parks & Recreation and Grace & Frankie season 2 and received critical acclaim for his role in season 6 of the FX series Justified in 2015.
Elliott has also lent his voice to several animated films, including Ben the Cow in Barnyard (2006), Buster (also known as Chupadogra) in Marmaduke (2010), and Butch in The Good Dinosaur (2015).
From 2016-2020, Elliott played the role of Beau Bennett in The Ranch series on Netflix.
After starring in The Hero, The Man Who Killed Hitler, and Then the Bigfoot in 2017, Elliott received his first Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his performance in Bradley Cooper’s 2018 A Star is Born remake after acting for over 50 years.
Besides doing voice work on Family Guy, Elliott’s most recent role was in the Yellowstone prequel miniseries 1883, for which he won the SAG Award for Best Male Actor in a Miniseries or TV Movie in 2023.
IV. Ben Gazzara As Brad Wesley
Gazzara continued acting after Road House (1989) until he passed away in 2012.
After playing the ruthless villain named Brad Wesley in the 1989 movie Road House, Ben Gazzara appeared in multiple American and Italian films. In the late 1990s, Gazzara had a string of roles in notable movies directed by prominent filmmakers like the Coen Brothers, David Mamet, and Spike Lee.
Following his role in The Spanish Prisoner in 1997, Gazzara also had a part in the 1998 movie The Big Lebowski, although he did not share any scenes with Elliott. That same year, Gazzara starred in Buffalo ’66 and Happiness and then appeared in The Thomas Crown Affair and Summer of Sam in 1999.
Ben Gazzara had a remarkable acting career that spanned over five decades. In 2003, he starred in the experimental film “Dogville” by Lars Von Trier. That year, he won his first and only Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his work in the 2002 TV movie “Hysterical Blindness.”
Throughout the 2000s, Gazzara continued to act in films like “Paris, je t’aime” (2006) and Italian productions such as the 2009 miniseries “L’onore e il rispetto” and the 2011 film “Ristabbànna.” Sadly, Gazzara passed away from pancreatic cancer on February 3, 2012, at the age of 81.
His final acting role was in the 2013 Italian miniseries “Pupetta: Il coraggio e la Passione.” Before his death, Gazzara had been nominated for three Golden Globes and two Emmys for his work in the 1960s drama series “Run for Your Life.” He also received one more Emmy nomination for his performance in the 1985 TV movie “An Early Frost.”
V. Marshall Teague As Jimmy Reno
Teague has continued acting since Road House (1989).
After his breakout role as Wesley’s main henchman, Jimmy Reno, in the movie Road House, Marshall Teague went on to act in many other films and TV shows.
Teague was known for numerous guest appearances as different characters on the TV series Walker, Texas Ranger, between 1993 and 2001.
He also had a recurring role in the sci-fi series Babylon 5 from 1994 to 1998, appearing in the spinoff series Crusade in 1999. Teague starred in two movies directed by Michael Bay: The Rock in 1996 and Armageddon in 1998. Teague appeared in the 1997 miniseries Rough Riders alongside his Road House co-star Sam Elliott.
In 2005, Teague played a brand-new role in the TV movie Walker, Texas Ranger: Trial by Fire. After starring in 53 episodes of the telenovela American Heiress in 2007, Teague took a three-year acting break before returning in 2010.
That year, he played minor roles in the TV series In Plain Sight, Scoundrels, and Friday Night Lights. During the 2010s, Teague played Chief Mike Connolly in the series Bail Out. In 2012, he played the lead role in the Christian Christmas film Last Ounce of Courage. Teague’s most recent role was an episode of the Netflix series Mo in 2022.
VI. Kevin Tighe As Frank Tilghman
Tighe Continued acting after Road House (1989) until 2016
After playing the role of Frank Tilghman, the owner of the Double Deuce bar, in the 1989 film Road House, Kevin Tighe continued acting for nearly 30 more years.
The following year, he starred in the 1990 sequel 48 Hrs., titled Another 48 Hrs., and then appeared in the 1991 film City of Hope.
Throughout the 1990s, Tighe guest-starred in numerous hit TV shows, such as Murder, She Wrote, Tales from the Crypt, Middle Ages, Under Suspicion, Murder One, Chicago Hope, ER, and Star Trek: Voyager.
Before Road House, Tighe’s breakthrough role was as firefighter-paramedic Roy DeSoto in the 1970s medical drama series Emergency!
VII. Red West as Red Webster
West continued acting after Road House (1989) until he died in 2017.
Red West was a well-known personality. He was best known as the former bodyguard and outcast member of Elvis Presley’s inner circle, known as “The Memphis Mafia.” Beyond his role as a bodyguard, West was also a talented songwriter, stuntman, and actor.
He starred in several films, including a notable role as the auto shop owner and Elizabeth’s uncle, Red Webster, in the movie Road House.
Throughout the 1990s, West continued his acting career, appearing in films such as Natural Born Killers (1994), The Rainmaker (1997), and I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998).
He also had a starring role in the 2006 sports drama Glory Road and played the lead in the 2008 independent film Goodbye Solo.
In the early 2010s, West’s on-screen presence continued with roles in a handful of films and TV shows, including the 2013 adaptation of Nicholas Sparks’ romance novel Safe Haven, which marked his final feature film appearance.
His last screen role was in a 2015 episode of the country music series Nashville. Sadly, on July 18, 2017, Red West passed away at the age of 81 due to an aortic aneurysm.
VIII. Jeff Healey as Cody
Healey continued making music with his band after Road House (1989) until he passed away In 2008.
Canadian musician Jeff Healey was best known as the lead member of the Jeff Healey Band. In 1989, he made his acting debut in the film Road House.
In addition to contributing to the movie’s soundtrack, the Jeff Healey Band also portrayed the fictional cover band at the Double Deuce, with Healey playing the supporting role of Cody, the band’s lead singer, and guitarist who is also a friend of Dalton’s.
Healey’s only other acting role was in an episode of the miniseries Jake’s Progress in 1995.
After his hit movie Road House was released, Jeff Healey’s band continued promoting their debut album, See the Light, in 1988. Over the next decade, the band released three more albums.
Following their fifth and final album, Get Me Some, in 2000, Healey shifted his focus to jazz. Throughout the 2000s, he recorded several jazz albums with The Jazz Wizards and as a solo artist. In 1992, Healey married his first wife, Krista Miller, with whom he had a daughter.
They divorced in 1998. He remarried in 2004 to Cristie Hall, and they had a son together. Sadly, Healey passed away in 2008 at the age of 41 after undergoing several surgeries over the previous three years.
IX. Kathleen Wilhoite as Carrie Ann
Wilhoite has continued acting since Road House (1989).
After portraying the quirky bartender Carrie Ann, who warmly welcomes Dalton at the Double Deuce in Road House, Kathleen Wilhoite continued acting consistently for the next 35 years.
Throughout the 1990s, she starred in several films, such as Lorenzo’s Oil (1992), Fire in the Sky (1993), Color of Night (1994), and The Edge (1997).
Wilhoite also played Chloe Lewis in seasons 1 and 2 of ER from 1994 to 1996, and she reprised this role in an episode of season 8 in 2005.
Additionally, Wilhoite composed the theme music for the comedy series Maggie Winters, which ran for one season from 1998 to 1999.
Throughout the 2000s, Wilhoite appeared in several popular TV shows, including Law & Order: SVU, Will & Grace, Charmed, Criminal Minds, and Grey’s Anatomy.
In 2003, she landed a recurring role as Liz Danes, the sister of Luke Danes and the mother of Jess Mariano, in seasons 4-7 of the beloved series Gilmore Girls.
In the 2010s, Wilhoite continued to act in various TV shows such as The Mentalist, Jane the Virgin, and The OA.
In 2018, she began voicing Sue in the Cartoon Network series Summer Camp Island. More recently, Wilhoite played the role of Dr. Diane Auerbach in season 2 of CSI: Vegas.
X. Sunshine Parker as Emmet
Parker continued acting after Road House (1989) until 1994 before passing away In 1999.
Character actor Sunshine Parker only had a few more roles after appearing as Dalton’s friend and landlord Emmet in the 1989 film Road House.
That same year, he played Merle Bisby in the Western comedy horror Sundown: The Vampire in Retreat, which has since gained a cult following. The following year, Parker portrayed Edgar in the 1990 comedy horror Tremors.
He also starred as the Ranch Foreman in the romance mystery Love at Large that same year, his final film role. Parker was best known for playing the “old geezer” type of supporting character.
Parker appeared in one episode of the western series The Adventures of Brisco County, Jr. in 1993. Parker’s final acting role was in an episode of the erotic anthology series Love Street in 1994. Five years later, Parker died of pneumonia on February 17, 1999, at the age of 71.
2. About Road House
Road House is an American action film serving as a remake of the 1989 film of the same name.
Directed by Doug Liman, from a screenplay by Anthony Bagarozzi and Chuck Mondry, and stars Jake Gyllenhaal, Daniela Melchior, Conor McGregor, and Billy Magnussen. Joel Silver produces the film, as he did with the original. It is set to be released by Amazon MGM Studios Distribution.
Road House released on Amazon Prime Video on March 21, 2024.
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