On April 8 of every year, Empire Records fans know they mustn’t dwell, no, not today, because it’s Rex Manning Day. This hallowed holiday is a special time to listen on repeat to the classic Manning song “Say No More, Mon Amour” and pay homage to the heavily tanned and slightly sleazy crooner, also known as “oh-so-sexy Rexy.”
Although having his own day might suggest otherwise, Manning is just one of the many eccentric characters from the 1995 film, which has become a cult classic in the 22 years since its release.
Boasting an ensemble cast of now-household names like Renée Zellweger, Liv Tyler and Debi Mazar, the film centers around a close-knit staff of quirky teens fighting to save an independent record store from a corporate buyout, long before streaming services like Spotify and Tidal came into existence.
In honor of Rex Manning day, here’s a look back at the stars of Empire Records and what they’ve been up to since the film hit theaters.
Maxwell Caulfield, who played Rex Manning, has spent the years following 'Empire Records' channeling his dulcet tones into voice work for TV shows like 'Modern Family' and 'Castle' and appearing in theater productions including 'Chicago.'Warner Bros./Everett Collection; Tibrina Hobson—Getty ImagesLiv Tyler, who portrayed overachiever Corey Mason, has appeared in films including 'Armageddon' and the 'Lord of the Rings' trilogy. She's currently starring in HBO's 'The Leftovers' as Meg Abbott.Warner Bros.; David M. Benett—Getty ImagesAnthony LaPaglia, who played store manager Joe Reaves, nabbed an Emmy for his role as Daphne Moon's brother Simon on 'Frasier' and later won a Golden Globe for his leading role as Jack Malone on the television series 'Without a Trace.'Brendon Thorne—Getty ImagesRenée Zellweger saw her career skyrocket after playing the freewheelin' Gina, with starring roles in blockbuster hits like 'Jerry Maguire,' 'Bridget Jones's Diary' and 'Chicago.' She later scored an Oscar for her role in 'Cold Mountain' and, most recently, reprised her role as Bridget Jones in 'Bridget Jones's Baby'
Warner Bros.; Theo Wargo—Getty ImagesDebi Mazar, who played Jane in 'Empire Records,' has played such memorable roles as Spice in 'Batman Forever' and Shauna, Vinny Chase's long-suffering press agent, on the HBO series 'Entourage.'
Warner Bros.; Laura Cavanaugh—Getty ImagesEthan Embry, who played Mark in the film, has had starring roles on 'Brotherhood' and 'Once Upon a Time' and has appeared on 'The Walking Dead.' He currently appears in the Netflix series 'Grace and Frankie.'Warner Bros.; Paul Archuleta—Getty Images
