Michael Schoeffling was born in Pennsylvania, and raised in New Jersey. He began modeling in the mid 1980s and then started taking acting lessons. Those lessons paid off for Schoeffling when he was cast in the John Hughes film "Sixteen Candles" (1984). Shortly after, he was cast in "Vision Quest" (1985), "Sylvester" (1985) and "Belizaire the Cajun" (1985). After playing Al Carver in "Wild Hearts Can't Be Broken" (1991) Schoeffling retired from acting. He has since taken up a different art form and started a hand-crafted furniture business.