Fast Times at Ridgemont High
1982 film directed by Amy Heckerling · Released August 13, 1982
Fast Times at Ridgemont High is a 1982 American coming-of-age comedy-drama film directed by Amy Heckerling in her feature directorial debut. The screenplay was written by Cameron Crowe, based on his 1981 book Fast Times at Ridgemont High: A True Story, and the film stars Sean Penn, Jennifer Jason Leigh, Judge Reinhold, Phoebe Cates, Brian Backer, Robert Romanus, and Ray Walston. Crowe went undercover as a student at Clairemont High School in San Diego and wrote about his experiences. The film chronicles a school year in the lives of underclassmen Stacy Hamilton and Mark Ratner, and their older friends Linda Barrett and Mike Damone, both of whom believe themselves wiser in the ways of romance than their younger counterparts.
Cast ages when filming began (November 2, 1981)
- Sean Penn, as Jeff Spicoli: 21
- Jennifer Jason Leigh, as Stacy Hamilton: 19
- Judge Reinhold, as Brad Hamilton: 24
- Phoebe Cates, as Linda Barrett: 18
- Brian Backer, as Mark "Rat" Ratner: 24
- Robert Romanus, as Mike Damone: 25
- Ray Walston, as Mr. Hand: 67
- Forest Whitaker, as Charles Jefferson: 20
- Nicolas Cage, as one of Brad's buds: 17
- Anthony Edwards, as one of Spicoli's stoner buds: 19
- Vincent Schiavelli, as Mr. Vargas: 32
- Eric Stoltz, as one of Spicoli's stoner buds: 20
- Amanda Wyss, as Lisa: 20
- Blair Tefkin: 21
- Kelli Maroney, as Cindy Carr: 20
- Lana Clarkson, as Mrs: 19
- Pamela Springsteen, as Dina Phillips: 19
- James Russo, as a man who tries to rob Mi-T-Mart: 28
- Martin Brest, as Dr. Miller: 30
- Hallie Todd, as Carrie Fraser: 19
- Scott Thomson, as Arnold: 24
- Stuart Cornfeld, as the Pirate King: 28
- D.W. Brown, as Ron Johnson: 20