There are few things we love more than an awesome celebrity throwback pic. Whether it’s for Throwback Thursday, Flashback Friday or anything in between, we are here for it.

We particularly enjoy when those images take us way, way into the forgotten times of the past. They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and these photos often leave us wondering about all of the incredible history behind them. That’s what drove us to do a little digging and unearth what these pics are all about. Keep clicking through to discover the history between 30 of our favorite nostalgic celebrity throwback photos.

(via @therealbillydee)

1. This Sweet Hobbit Moment

(via @seanastin)

Sean Astin played Samwise Gamgee in the Lord of the Rings films, but he got a special treat during The Return of the King, because his real-life daughter, Ali, got to join the cast to play Sam’s daughter, Elanor. During the filming of the movie, he’d sometimes read to her on long shoot days, as caught on camera here.

2. This Dashing Air Force Headshot

(via @morganfreeman)

Think this handsome Air Force soldier taken in the ‘50s looks familiar? That’s because it’s actually the face of renowned actor Morgan Freeman in his youth. As a kid, he fell in love with war films, dedicating himself to become a fighter pilot. While he joined the U.S. Air Force in 1955, he never actually became a pilot, realizing he was more in love with the idea than the actual act. Still, his work as a radar technician was critical to the war effort.

3. This Throwback SNL Pic

(via @adamsandler)

Back before Adam Sandler was the huge movie star he is today, he was a writer, and then cast member of Saturday Night Live in the early ’90s. He posted this pic to Instagram with his cast and crewmates on the show from back in the day, including fellow comedians Rob Schneider and Norm MacDonald, who went on to appear in many films with him.

4. This Pic From Muhammad Ali’s Birthday

(via @johntravolta)

Muhammad Ali was one of the world’s greatest boxers, with a career spanning decades, and he hadn’t yet retired in 1979 when this shot was taken at his 37th birthday party. This image was posted by actor John Travolta, who got to be there in person alongside huge stars. Everyone from Carey Gran to Lou Rawls, Kris Kristofferson and L.A. Mayor Tom Bradley were there.

5. This Very Athletic Event

(via @jvcd)

Though we can’t track down precisely the event at which this very formal photo was taken, we can say that it’s packed to the brim with some of the biggest western martial artists of its time. That’s Chuck Norris himself with his wife Gena O’Kelley, and “The Muscles from Brussels,” Jean-Claude Van Damme with his wife Gladys Portugues. Though these two legends have known each other for a long time, they technically didn’t star in a film together until The Expendables 2 in 2012.

6. This Real-Life Zero-Gravity Shot

(via @kevinbacon)

Think this pic of the cast and crew of Apollo 13 floating in the air looks super real? That’s because it is! During the making of the film, the stars got a real chance to experience weightlessness in NASA’s KC-135 trainer, aka “the Vomit Comet.” Stars Tom Hanks, Bill Paxton, Kevin Bacon and Gary Sinise joined director Ron Howard and producer Todd Hallowell for their first stomach-churning zero-gravity flight.

7. This Bunny Ears Pic

(via @lauradern)

Laura Dern and Kyle MacLachlan have had quite the history beyond this cute bunny ears pic from the ’80s. In the Instagram post, Dern mentions that the two were brought together by “our buddy, David,” no doubt referring to director David Lynch, who worked with them both on the 1986 film Blue Velvet. The two dated for a few years in the ’80s before separating, but they’ve remained lifelong friends, and later reunited for Lynch’s Twin Peaks revival in 2017.

8. This Star-Studded Golden Globes Moment

(via @ianmckellen)

There is so much incredible talent in this photo. The image pictures Ian McKellen, Greta Scacchi and Alan Rickman at the Golden Globe Awards in 1997. All three actors appeared in a historical drama TV movie called Rasputin: Dark Servant of Destiny and were nominated for their performances, with both McKellen and Rickman taking home awards.

9. This Adorable ‘80s Candid

(via @realmikejfox)

We only wish we could travel back to 1986 to be in this incredible photo. It shows actors Judd Nelson, Michael J. Fox and Rob Lowe enjoying themselves and having a great time in the back of a bus. All three of these men were undisputed kings of ’80s cinema, and in ’86, they were at the very top of their game.

10. This Display of Girl Power

(via @nicolekidman)

This single image is an incredible showcase of Australia’s best and brightest young actresses, highlighting the incredible friendship between Nicole Kidman, Naomi Watts and Rebecca Rigg. According to Kidman, she and Watts have been friends for more than 35 years. It was probably taken in 2001, when the trio was often spotted together at movie premieres and more.

11. This Gorgeous Set of Polaroids

(via @traceeellisross)

Tracee Ellis Ross is such an impressive performer that we often forget she also came from Hollywood royalty. The actress celebrated International Women’s Day this year by posting some incredible photos of the women in her family, which were taken in the ‘90s by artist Andy Warhol. Not everyone knows that her mother is the unparalleled singer and actress Diana Ross. This set of Polaroids also features her sisters, Rhonda Ross Kendrick and Chudney Ross.

12. This Dalai Lama Meeting

(via @piercebrosnanofficial)

What exactly is former James Bond actor Pierce Brosnan doing with the Dalai Lama in this photo? Well, in this 2001 photo, he’s joined by his wife Keely Shaye Brosnan and her mother, as well as his infant son Paris at just a few months old. Brosnan introduced the Dalai Lama onstage at the Shoreline Amphitheatre, but not before the Lama blessed baby Paris.

13. This Early Goldblum Shot

(via @jeffgoldblum)

Actor Jeff Goldblum posted this photo from very early in his career to celebrate World Piano Day. While Goldblum is probably best known for playing Dr. Ian Malcolm in the Jurassic Park film franchise, he’s also an accomplished jazz pianist. This image suggests that his skills go way back.

14. This Space Camp Snap

(via @lea_thompson)

Lea Thompson posted this Instagram image in celebration of the life of Kelly Preston, who sadly passed earlier this year. The photo was taken on the set of Space Camp, a 1986 space adventure movie which starred Thompson and Preston, as well as co star Kate Capshaw.

15. This Incredible Distillation of the Late ’90s

(via @lancebass)

Few images perfectly capture the essence of 1999 like this one. Back when movie rentals were still a thing, so were the Blockbuster Entertainment Awards. This particular event, held in 1999, featured all of the biggest stars of the time, and we love this image capturing all five members of N’SYNC, as well as Sarah McLachlan and Drew Barrymore.

16. This Shakespearean Shot

(via @mrchristopherlloyd)

Christopher Lloyd and Christopher Walken are both incredible actors in their own right, but most of us know them for their later works. This impressive photo, however, comes from their production of Shakespeare’s iconic Macbeth, produced back in 1973. Onstage, Walken starred as Macbeth while Lloyd played Banquo. We wish we could have been there in the audience.

17. This Celebration of Sammy Davis Jr.

(via @tonydanza)

Now this is an incredible collection of talent. In November of 1989, Sammy Davis Jr. celebrated his 60th anniversary in show business with a variety show featuring music, comedy and dance performances. The incredible roster featured Stevie Wonder, Mike Tyson, Frank Sinatra, Richard Pryor, Gregory Peck, Eddie Murphy, Liza Minnelli, Dean Martin, Jerry Lewis, Quincy Jones, Michael Jackson, Whitney Houston, Bob Hope, Gregory Hines, Goldie Hawn, Clint Eastwood and George Bush.

18.This Pic of Samuel L. Jackson Taking His First Ride

(via @samuelljackson)

Who’s that adorable little boy, might you ask? This cowboy in the making is none other than young Samuel L. Jackson, dressed to the nines as a cowboy atop a very cute pony. Jackson called this “The beginnings of Major Warren,” hinting at his upcoming role as the character in Quentin Tarantino’s The Hateful Eight.

19. This Pic of Trading Faces Becoming the Ultimate Supergroup

(via @davidbowie)

In September of 1975, in celebration of comedic actor Peter Sellers’ 50th birthday, he threw a swanky party at his L.A. home, inviting numerous celebrities, including some incredible musicians. During the day, Bowie performed with both The Who’s Keith Moon and the Rolling Stones’ Ronnie Wood in a one-day supergroup called Trading Faces ensuring everyone there was entertained.

20. This Karate Kid Throwback

(via @ralph_macchio)

Actor Ralph Macchio shared this photo from behind the scenes of The Karate Kid 2, filmed back in 1986. Despite playing a teenager in the movie, he was actually 24 at the time. Here, he poses with Mr. Miyagi himself, Pat Morita, as well as Pat Johnson, who was a fight coordinator for the film and also played a referee in the movie.

21. This Incredible Douglas Father-Son Shot

(via @michaelkirkdouglas)

Old school film buffs are well-aware that actor Michael Douglas comes from film royalty, and that his dad was the legendary Kirk Douglas. This touching family photo shows Michael’s father visiting him on the set of his first-ever feature film, Hail, Hero!, which was filmed in 1969. Though Kirk Douglas never wanted his son to follow in his footsteps, he was still a supportive dad.

22. This Legendary Assembly

(via @schwarzenegger)

Arnold Schwarzenegger is a film legend in a league of his own, so it’s fascinating to think about the actors that inspired him when he was young. One of them was actually Kirk Douglas! He got to meet him on the set of The Villain in 1979. This little-known Western comedy was on the screen long before Schwarzenegger became famous as the Terminator.

23. This Meeting From MTV’s Rock and Comedy Show

(via @whoopigoldberg)

We love an epic meeting between huge stars, and MTV’s Rock and Comedy Concert, held at New York’s Battery Park in 2002, was just that. The show’s incredible lineup didn’t just include David Bowie and Whoopi Goldberg, but also Counting Crows, Jimmy Fallon, Robin Williams, Sheryl Crow, Wyclef Jean and Robert De Niro.

24. This Pic of ‘Come With Me’ Coming Together

(via @jimmypage)

This image, posted by legendary Led Zeppelin guitarist Jimmy Page, shows Page meeting rapper and producer Sean Combs (at the time known as Puff Daddy) in 1998. Page visited to review a mix of Combs’ song “Come With Me,” which famously sampled the epic and thundering guitar riff from Led Zeppelin’s “Kashmir.” It’s safe to say that Page was a fan.

25. This Old School Boy Meets World Shot

(via @daniellefishel)

Actress Danielle Fishel, who played Topanga on Boy Meets World posted this pic in honor of the 20th anniversary of the show—and this was back in 2013! The cast all looks so young, especially given the fact that they reunited for Girl Meets World on the Disney Channel as the parents back in 2014.

26. This Old Baldwin Boys Pic

(via @alecbaldwininsta)

Back before Alec Baldwin was known for 30 Rock and making return guest appearances on Saturday Night Live, he and his brothers were considered ’80s heartthrobs. This slightly silly shirtless image shows Stephen, Alec, Daniel and William Baldwin posing together for the camera.

27. This Meeting of the Best ’90s Talent

(via @courteneycoxofficial)

In 1995, Friends star Courteney Cox and Chicago Bulls basketball superstar Michael Jordan were sat next to each other at a dinner party. They were both among the largest stars in the world at the time, one the star of the most popular show on TV, and the other the face of the best basketball team in the league. We are very curious as to what they discussed.

28. This ‘80s Blast From the Past

(via @rickygervais)

This technically isn’t one picture, but two composited into one, showing Ricky Gervais then and now. The figure on the left came from Gervais’s days in a British new wave group in the ‘80s, which was called Seona Dancing. You can see that he looked quite different than he does today. You may not have heard the band, but they were huge in the Philippines.

29. This Pre-Buffy Polaroid

(via @sethgreen)

Years and years before Alyson Hannigan and Seth Green played the on-screen couple Willow and Oz in Buffy the Vampire Slayer, they actually went on a date in a film. The two met all the way back in 1988 on the set of My Stepmother Is An Alien, and Green has this classic Polaroid to prove it.

30. This Epic Star Wars Promo

(via @therealbillydee)

Now, this is quite the photo for Star Wars fans. This hilarious image from the ’80s showcases the stars of The Empire Strikes Back, but completely out of character, with Billy Dee Williams, Mark Hamill, Carrie Fisher and Harrison Ford totally hamming it up for the camera. In Williams’ Instagram post, he compared the image to a picture of a pop band.

The History Behind 30 Nostalgic Celebrity Throwback Photos