After starring in the original Road House movie in 1989, most of the cast continued acting for many years. 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.
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. All this added attention naturally sparked curiosity about what happened to the charming cast of the first movie after its release in 1989 and where they are today. Some of the stars of Road House are still acting to this day, while others have sadly since passed away.
Patrick Swayze was best known for playing Johnny Castle in 1987’s Dirty Dancing when he starred in the lead role of Dalton in Road House in 1989. However, some of Swayze’s best movies were released in the ’90s, including the supernatural romance film Ghost (1990) with Demi Moore, for which he was nominated for Best Actor at the Golden Globes. After starring in films like Point Break (1991) and City of Joy (1992), Swayze received another Golden Globe nomination for his performance as a drag queen in the 1995 road trip comedy To Wong Foo, Thanks for Everything! Julie Newmar.
In 2001, Swayze starred in Donnie Darko with then-19-year-old Jake Gyllenhaal, who would go on to play Swayze’s original Road House character, Dalton, in the 2024 remake. Swayze continued acting throughout the 2000s in films like Waking Up in Reno (2002) and 11:14 (2003). In 2007, Swayze was diagnosed with stage 4 pancreatic cancer shortly after shooting the pilot for his new series, The Beast, which he continued filming while he received treatment. On September 14, 2009, Swayze passed away at the age of 57. His final film role was in 2009’s Powder Blue alongside his brother Don Swayze.
After playing Dalton’s love interest, Dr. Elizabeth Clay aka “Doc,” in Road House in 1989, Kelly Lynch starred in Gus Van Sant’s crime drama Drugstore Cowboy later that same year. She went on to star in Desperate Hours (1990) and Curly Sue (1991) before marrying her current husband, screenwriter Mitch Glazer, in 1992. Throughout the remainder of the ’90s, she starred in Three of Hearts (1993), The Beans of Egypt, Maine (1994), Virtuosity (1995), Mr. Magoo (1997), and Homegrown (1998).
Lynch continued acting throughout the 2000s, playing supporting roles in films like Charlie’s Angels (2000), Joe Somebody (2001), and The Jacket (2005). From 2004 to 2005, Lynch 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. Her television work continued in the 2010s when she played 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.
After starring in season 1 of David E. Kelley’s crime drama series Mr. Mercedes in 2017, Lynch took a six-year break from acting. During this time, she only played one minor role in Sofia Coppola’s film On the Rocks in 2020. Lynch officially returned to the screen in 2023 for one episode of season 2 of the Apple TV+ series Physical but has not acted since.
Sam Elliott was already an esteemed character actor by the time he played aging cooler and Dalton’s mentor, Wade Garrett, in Road House in 1989. In the ’90s, Elliott starred in the 1991 film adaptation of Louis L’Amour’s 1969 novel Conagher with wife Katharine Ross, which earned him his first Golden Globe nomination. He played real-life public figures in both Gettysburg and Tombstone in 1993 and received another Golden Globe nomination and Emmy nomination for the 1995 Western miniseries Buffalo. In 1998, Elliott famously narrated and starred as The Stranger in The Big Lebowski.
Elliott continued acting in many films over the next decade, including 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 bit of 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.
From 2016-2020, Elliott played the role of Beau Bennett in The Ranch series on Netflix. After starring in The Hero and 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. Other than 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.
After playing the heartless villain, Brad Wesley, in 1989’s Road House, Ben Gazarra starred in several American and Italian productions. In the late ’90s, Gazzara had a string of roles in notable films by prominent directors like the Coen Brothers, David Mamet, and Spike Lee. After starring in The Spanish Prisoner in 1997, Gazzara was also featured in 1998’s The Big Lebowski like Elliott (although they shared no scenes). That same year, Gazzara starred in both Buffalo ’66 and Happiness, followed by The Thomas Crown Affair and Summer of Sam in 1999.
The same year he starred in Lars Von Trier’s 2003 experimental film, Dogville, Gazzara won his first and only Emmy for Best Supporting Actor for work in the 2002 TV movie Hysterical Blindness. He continued to act in films like Paris, je t’aime (2006) throughout the 2000s and star in Italian productions like the 2009 miniseries L’onore e il rispetto and the 2011 film Ristabbànna.On February 3, 2012, Gazzara died of pancreatic cancer at the age of 81. His final acting role was in the Italian miniseries Pupetta: Il coraggio e la passione, which aired in 2013.
After his breakout role as Wesley’s main henchman Jimmy Reno in Road House, Marshall Teague continued acting in a number of movies and TV shows. Teague was known for his numerous guest appearances as different characters in the Chuck Norris show, Walker, Texas Ranger, from 1993 to 2001. He also had a recurring role in the sci-fi series Babylon 5 from 1994-1998 and appeared in the spinoff, Crusade, in 1999. Teague has starred in two Michael Bay films: The Rock in 1996 and Armageddon in 1998.
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.
After playing Frank Tilghman, the owner of the Double Deuce bar, in 1989’s Road House, Kevin Tighe continued acting for almost 30 years. The year after Road House, he starred in the 1990 48 Hrs sequel, Another 48 Hrs, followed by City of Hope in 1991. Throughout the ’90s, Tighe appeared in episodes of tons of hit shows like Murder, She Wrote, Tales from the Crypt, Middle Ages, Under Suspicion, Murder One, Chicago Hope, ER, and Star Trek: Voyager.
In 1993, Tighe played the role of Ken Carver in What’s Eating Gilbert Grape, starring Leonardo DiCaprio and Johnny Depp. That same year, he starred in the psychological drama I Love a Man in Uniform, followed by the erotic thriller Jade in 1995. He was also a prolific theater actor and continued to appear in stage productions throughout the ’90s and 2000s. In the mid-2000s, Tighe played Anthony Cooper, John Locke’s biological father, in seasons 1-3 of Lost, returning for one episode of the final season in 2010.
After starring in films like Leverage (2008) and My Bloody Valentine (2009), Tighe shifted his focus more heavily onto theater in the 2010s, during which his onscreen appearances diminished. From 2012 onwards, he made only one onscreen appearance per year, including 2013’s I Am I. Tilghman’s most recent screen acting role was in an episode of Law & Order: SVU season 17 in 2016.
Best known as the former bodyguard and ousted member of Elvis Presley’s inner circle, “The Memphis Mafia,” Red West was a songwriter, stuntman, and actor who starred in Road House as the auto shop owner and Elizabeth’s uncle, Red Webster. Throughout the ’90s, West continued acting in films like Natural Born Killers (1994), The Rainmaker (1997), and I Still Know What You Did Last Summer (1998). He starred in the sports drama Glory Road in 2006 and played the lead in the indie drama Goodbye Solo in 2008.
Throughout the early 2010s, West starred in a handful of films and TV shows, including the film adaptation of Nicholas Sparks’ romance novel Safe Haven in 2013, which served as his final feature film role. West’s final screen appearance was in a season 4 episode of the country musical series Nashville in 2015. On July 18, 2017, West died of an aortic aneurysm at the age of 81.
Canadian musician Jeff Healey was better known as the eponymous member of the Jeff Healey Band when he made his acting debut in Road House in 1989. In addition to recording the soundtrack for Road House, the Jeff Healey Band played the fictional cover band at the Double Deuce, with Healey starring in the supporting role of Cody, the band’s lead singer and guitarist who’s also a friend of Dalton’s.