[quote=scaredyclassic]
was he recognizeably famous back then?[/quote]
I presume you mean in the 80’s (didn’t want quotes within quotes etc ad-nauseum) Yes.. and probably more ‘attractive’ too. The crazy hair is now hiding some balding.

He was on Oprah in 1988: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SEPs17_AkTI

In 1980: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0-w47wgdhso