Steve Guttenberg
He became the defining comedic face of 1980s popcorn cinema, embodying a charming, everyman goofiness in a string of massive box-office hits.
Born 1958 (age 68)·American actor, author, businessman, producer, and director·Birthday: August 24·Baby Boomers
Biography
Steve Guttenberg's rise in Hollywood was a classic tale of persistence meeting opportunity. After dropping out of college and lying his way into a mailroom job at a studio, he landed small roles until his genuine, affable screen presence found its perfect match in Barry Levinson's 'Diner'. That breakout led to a remarkable run where Guttenberg became a ubiquitous symbol of lighthearted, family-friendly fun. He headlined three of the decade's most successful franchises: as the mischievous recruit in 'Police Academy', the befuddled bachelor in 'Three Men and a Baby', and the youthful senior in 'Cocoon'. His persona—a blend of naive enthusiasm and reliable kindness—connected with audiences seeking escape. While his leading-man star faded in the subsequent decades, Guttenberg's work remains a warm, nostalgic touchstone for an era of uncomplicated Hollywood comedy.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Steve was born in 1958, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Steve Was Born
The biggest hits of 1958
#1 Movie
South Pacific
Best Picture
Gigi
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Steve's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1958Born
NASA founded
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,050Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Volare" — Domenico ModugnoBest Picture: Gigi
1963Started school
JFK assassinated in Dallas; Martin Luther King's 'I Have a Dream' speech
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $13,100Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Sugar Shack" — Jimmy Gilmer & The FireballsBest Picture: Tom Jones
1971Became a teenager
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1974Could drive
Nixon resigns the presidency
Gas: $0.53/galHome: $22,600Min wage: $2.00/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"The Way We Were" — Barbra StreisandBest Picture: The Godfather Part II
1976Could vote
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1979Turned 21
Iran hostage crisis begins; Three Mile Island accident
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $37,900Min wage: $2.90/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"My Sharona" — The KnackBest Picture: Kramer vs. Kramer
1988Turned 30
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1998Turned 40
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2008Turned 50
Barack Obama elected first Black US president; financial crisis
Gas: $3.27/galHome: $153,100Min wage: $6.55/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Low" — Flo RidaBest Picture: Slumdog Millionaire
2018Turned 60
Royal wedding of Harry and Meghan; Parkland shooting
Gas: $2.72/galHome: $211,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"God's Plan" — DrakeBest Picture: Green Book
2026Age 68 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Starred as Carey Mahoney in the first four 'Police Academy' films, a franchise that became a global comedy phenomenon.
- Played Michael Kellam in 'Three Men and a Baby', which was the highest-grossing film of 1987 in North America.
- Had a leading role in 'Cocoon', a critical and commercial success that won two Academy Awards.
- Delivered a praised early performance in Barry Levinson's acclaimed ensemble film 'Diner'.
Did You Know?
He performed his own stunt driving in the 'Police Academy' films.
He is a trained stage actor and has performed on Broadway in shows like 'The Boys Next Door'.
He wrote a children's book series called 'The Kids from D.I.N.O.S.A.U.R.S.'.
He was considered for the role of Sam Wheat in 'Ghost' before it went to Patrick Swayze.
“I never wanted to be famous. I wanted to be great.”
