Iconic ’80s heartthrob who starred alongside Sean Penn in a coming-of-age classic spotted at 69 — can you guess who?
An actor who appeared in one of the most memorable films of the 1980s — and later popped up on two beloved TV series from the same era — was seen out and about in Los Angeles this week.
He’s best remembered for his role in the movie that helped launch the careers of Sean Penn and an actress who would later become one of Quentin Tarantino’s frequent collaborators.
Throughout the ’80s, he also had recurring roles on a hit musical drama centered around a performing arts school and on a popular sitcom set in an all-girls boarding school.
In the years since, he’s shared the screen with stars like Dakota Fanning and Kristen Stewart, and made guest appearances on shows including Will & Grace, Family Guy, and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
Now 69, he looked energetic as ever during a grocery run, dressed casually in jeans, a hoodie, and tortoiseshell sunglasses.
So who is he?
It’s Robert Romanus — best known for playing ticket scalper Mike Damone in the 1982 teen classic Fast Times at Ridgemont High.
Adapted from a book by Cameron Crowe, the film became a breakout hit for Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, and Judge Reinhold, while also putting director Amy Heckerling on the map before she went on to helm Clueless.
Romanus, who was born to a Lebanese family in Connecticut, originally moved to Los Angeles to pursue music. While working as a singing waiter, a customer suggested — not entirely kindly — that he might be better suited to acting. Taking the hint, he enrolled in classes and quickly found his passion, landing his first film role in the 1980 drama Foxes, starring Jodie Foster.
It took persistence to secure his part in Fast Times at Ridgemont High — he reportedly auditioned seven times before winning over producers. As the overconfident Mike Damone, he charmed audiences with his misguided “advice” on how to impress girls.
Looking back, Romanus has said filming the movie felt like a relaxed summer project, with no inflated egos despite the rising talent involved. Watching Sean Penn work, he recalled feeling inspired to sharpen his own craft.
Later in the decade, he appeared on the musical TV series Fame and had a notable role on The Facts of Life, playing the boyfriend of Natalie Green.
Over the years, Romanus has continued acting, with guest spots on numerous television series and roles in films like American Pie Presents: The Book of Love. In a full-circle moment, he portrayed a guitar teacher in the 2010 biopic The Runaways, starring Kristen Stewart and Dakota Fanning — three decades after making his own film debut alongside Cherie Currie in Foxes.
Decades on, Romanus remains a familiar face to fans of ’80s cinema — even if his latest sighting required a second look.
