WHERE ARE THEY NOW? We track
down the stars of American Pie
It’s been two decades since the cult teen sex comedy American Pie exploded onto our screens and “one time at band camp” became everyone’s favourite phrase. The movie about a group of horny and desperate teenagers on a quest to lose their virginity became a pop culture phenomenon, launching the careers of Jason Biggs, Tara Reid and Seann William Scott. But what happened to the cast after that warm apple pie finally cooled?
SOCIAL MEDIA MESS JASON BIGGS (played Jim Levenstein)
After American Pie’s release Biggs went on to star in three sequels. These days he’s most well known for playing Piper’s ex on Orange is the New Black and causing controversy with crazy insensitive tweets about the missing Malaysia Airlines flight just days after its disappearance: “Anyone wanna buy my Malaysian Airlines frequent flyer miles?” Ouch! He originally defended his actions and it took being fired from TV series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles for him to admit his “brain was pickled” and that booze and drugs brought out his “combative side”.
BUFFY BUDDY ALYSON HANNIGAN (played Michelle Flaherty)
Hannigan was already earning a lot of success thanks to her role in Buffy the Vampire Slayer and continued her run of TV hits by starring as Lily in How I Met Your Mother alongside Jason Segel. Since HIMYM ended in 2014, she has appeared in smaller roles, but nothing that has reached the same heights.
Holmes ended and their engagement was called off in 2005. His acting career has been underwhelming and overshadowed by a DUI and stint in rehab for substance abuse. He has since gone on to marry a travel agent and has appeared in a handful of small roles.
SEQUEL STAR SEANN WILLIAM SCOTT (played Steve Stifler)
Despite becoming one of the more famous characters, Scott was only paid $11,000 for portraying Stifler in the first movie. He reprised his role in four following films then scored leading roles in Dude, Where’s My
Car?, Road Trip and Final Destination. Since 2006, he’s voiced Crash in the Ice Age film series and for every successful movie, has appeared in twice as many flops.
COMMERCIAL KING EDDIE KAYE THOMAS (played Paul Finch)
Thomas’ career has been relatively stable but never took off, with the actor receiving only a number of small roles, such as an appearance in the Harold & Kumar films. In 2014 he joined the cast of Scorpion as Toby Curtis but received most airtime from roles in commercials.
TRAIN WRECK TARA REID (played Vicky Lathum)
It’s hard to know if Reid has earned more fame for her acting career or her headlinemaking personal life. After starring in a few hits when American Pie wrapped, her shining star quickly, faded making way for botched plastic surgeries that left her with deformities, and a string of D-list roles. Interestingly, it’s been her role in the made-for-tv Sharknado movies that has revived her failing career.
PRISON PERFORMER NATASHA LYONNE (played Jessica)
Lyonne reprised her role as Jessica in
American Pie 2 after the success of the first film, before turning to the theatre. While she was busy on stage, she also racked up a lengthy string of DUIS and drug charges. Lyonne herself says she lived in the “underbelly of society” admitting, “I spent a lot of time in various holding cells.” She is most well-known for playing drugaddicted Nicky in Orange is the New Black and now stars in the booming Netflix hit
Russian Doll, on which she is co-creator and executive producer.
BEAUTY QUEEN MENA SUVARI (played Heather)
The same year that Suvari starred as the innocent choir girl in American Pie, she became a household name for her role in American Beauty alongside Kevin Spacey. But that’s about where her film career peaked, and her limited success came as a shock to even her. “I thought every movie made $100 million!” she said last year. Suvari later made the transition to TV with roles in American Horror Story and Chicago Fire and is also a keen celebrity poker player. ■