Nineties teen heartthrob unrecognisable 30 years after hit TV show – can you guess who he is?

A former actor famous in the 90s now looks unrecognisable

THIS former teen dream appeared alongside Johnny Depp and once turned down a role in a hit film that eventually went to Keanu Reeves.

Almost three decades later, photos of the star have stunned fans who can’t believe their eyes.

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A former actor famous in the 90s now looks unrecognisableCredit: Getty Images – Getty
He once turned down a huge Hollywood film

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He once turned down a huge Hollywood filmCredit: Getty Images – Getty
He also starred in the original 21 Jump Street

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He also starred in the original 21 Jump StreetCredit: Instagram

Viewers of the original 21 Jump Street will recognise him as Detective Dennis Booker.

New Yorker Richard Grieco, 59, looks worlds away from his younger self.

The swarthy star now sports shoulder-length dark hair and a scruffy beard, with a rock star vibe.

The Tinseltown star recently appeared on screen in the 2014 film 22 Jump Street alongside Channing Tatum and Jonah Hill, plus movies Desert Moon and Jungle Run.

The 90s actor also starred in Jump Street spin-off Booker and the movie If Looks Could Kill. 

The former Calvin Klein model starred alongside Christian Slater, Patrick Dempsey and Costas Mandylor in drama Mobsters and in the series It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. 

The actor, of Italian and Irish decent, now concentrates on music and surrealist art. 

In 2012, he said about his inspiration: “About eight years ago, Dennis Hopper, who was a good friend of mine, told me to start showing my work.

“We talked about art all the time, just knocking different ideas around.

“I really respected his opinion but I only finally got around to sharing my work in 2009, when I sort of randomly posted a piece on my Facebook page.”

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The painting was purchased for over £7k and he describes his work as “abstract emotionalism”.

His website states: “Over the years he has kept a very low profile to aggressively concentrate on his art work. 

“Although his work [is] most often categorised as abstract, you will also see forms of expressionism, surrealism, and cubism just to name a few.”

The 90’s pin-up said previously told Yahoo! about his sudden fame: “I went from anonymity to everyone knowing me in about two weeks. So that was kind of a shock. It was a crazy time.

“You gotta think about it, known actors back then who were playing cops and being that age, I was basically the one person on their list.

“Coming from a place of playing Booker or playing a cop on Jump Street and then playing a detective-slash-cop-slash-whatever on Booker, if I was cast, that character would’ve been the perfect choice for that film.”

On turning down one big Hollywood role alongside Sandra Bullock, he said: “One that was offered to me that I turned down was Speed… but Keanu did a great job.”

Richard on the red carpet in 1998

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Richard on the red carpet in 1998Credit: Getty Images – Getty
The actor says he went 'from anonymity to everyone knowing me in about two weeks'

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The actor says he went ‘from anonymity to everyone knowing me in about two weeks’Credit: Alamy
Johnny Depp and Richard in 21 Jump Street in 1988

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Johnny Depp and Richard in 21 Jump Street in 1988Credit: Rex Features

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