"The Outsiders" celebrates 30 years: Then and now

"The Outsiders" hit theaters 30 years ago -- on March 25, 1983 -- featuring little known actors who went on to become big-screen stars, including Patrick Swayze, Emilio Estevez, Tom Cruise, Matt Dillon, Ralph Macchio, Diane Lane and C. Thomas Howell, who played the lead role of Ponyboy.

Patrick Swayze

Patrick Swayze played Darrel "Darry" Curtis, a member of the Greasers and the oldest Curtis brother.

Prior to being cast in the film, Swayze had only a couple of roles in TV movies and a small part on an episode of "M*A*S*H."

Patrick Swayze

In 1983, the same year "The Outsiders" arrived, Swayze appeared in the TV series, "The Renegades." It was three years later that he landed his true breakout role in "Dirty Dancing." Swayze would go on to star in "Ghost," "Road House," "Point Break" and "Donnie Darko." In 2008, he was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, but continued to film his new TV series, "The Beast." The show was eventually canceled due to Swayze's declining health. He lost his battle with cancer on Sept. 14, 2009. He was 57.

Matt Dillon

Matt Dillon portrayed Dallas "Dally" Winston, a member of the Greasers.

Before "The Outsiders," Dillon appeared in the 1982 film "Liar's Moon," with Cindy Fisher, and in 1982's "Tex."

Matt Dillon

Matt Dillon later appeared in Francis Ford Coppola's 1984 film "Rumble Fish," with "The Outsiders" co-star Diane Lane, and had a series of other major roles throughout the '80s and '90s including parts in "Flamingo Kid," "Drugstore Cowboy," "Singles," "Beautiful Girls" and "There's Something About Mary." More recently, Dillon hit the big screen in "You, Me and Dupree," "Armored" and "Takers." He has a busy year ahead, attached to the "The Art of Steal" with Kurt Russell and "Whiskey Bar" with Willem Dafoe.

Ralph Macchio

Ralph Macchio, right, as Johnny Cade, a Greaser.

Macchio had a role on "Eight is Enough" before being cast in "The Outsiders."

Ralph Macchio

The year after "The Outsiders" hit the screen, Ralph Macchio made a big splash as the star of "Karate Kid." He kept the star power going with sequels to the film, and then a part in 1992's "My Cousin Vinny." Since his heyday, Macchio has made appearances on the TV series, "Entourage," "Law & Order: Criminal Intent," "Ugly Betty" and "Happily Divorced."

C. Thomas Howell

C. Thomas Howell played the lead role of Ponyboy Curtis, the youngest Curtis brother and a member of the Greasers.

Howell co-starred in "E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial" the year before "The Outsiders" landed in theaters.

C. Thomas Howell

C. Thomas Howell went on to star in 1984's "Red Dawn" and 1986's "Soul Man," and has kept a very active acting schedule ever since, including starring roles in "Side Out," "Gettysburg," "Baby Face Nelson," "Fatal Affair" and "Asylum Days." More recently he's appeared on the TV series "Hawaii 5-0" and "Southland." He also had an appearance in 2012's "The Amazing Spider-Man."

Diane Lane

Diane Lane, center, played Sherri "Cherry" Valance in "The Outsiders."

A year before "The Outsiders" came out, Lane appeared in "Six Pack" with Kenny Rogers.

Diane Lane

Diane Lane went on to appear in Francis Ford Coppola's 1984 film "Rumble Fish" and two box office bombs: "Streets of Fire" and "The Cotton Club." In 1989, she hit the small screen in TV mini-series, "Lonesome Dove." She has also starred in "The Perfect Storm," "Unfaithful," "Under the Tuscan Sun" and "Jumper." She'll next hit the big screen in the new Superman film, "Man of Steel," with Henry Cavill.

Tom Cruise

Tom Cruise had the role of Steve Randle, a member of the Greasers.

Cruise had only a couple of supporting-role acting gigs before landing a role in "The Outsiders," appearing in "Taps" with Sean Penn and "Endless Love" with Brooke Shields.

Tom Cruise

One of the most successful actors to come out of "The Outsiders," Tom Cruise's fame soared with roles in "Risky Business," "Top Gun," "The Color of Money," "Cocktail," "Rain Man," "A Few Good Man," "Days of Thunder," "Eyes Wide Shut," "Jerry Maguire" and the "Mission: Impossible" franchise. He recently starred in "Rock of Ages" and "Jack Reacher" and will be seen in "Oblivion" with Morgan Freeman in 2013.

Emilio Estevez

Emilio Estevez played Keith "Two-Bit" Mathews, the oldest member of the Greasers.

Before "The Outsiders," Estevez appeared alongside Matt Dillon in "Tex" and had a couple of TV roles.

Emilio Estevez

Shortly after "The Outsiders," Emilio Estevez landed a starring role in "Repo Man" and made a name for himself with "The Breakfast Club" and "St. Elmo's Fire," which were both released in 1985. He went on to appear in "Young Guns," "The Way," "The Mighty Ducks" and "Bobby." In 2012, he voiced a character in the TV movie "Abominable Christmas."

Rob Lowe

Rob Lowe, right, played Sodapop "Soda" Curtis, a Greaser and the middle Curtis brother.

From 1979-1980, Lowe appeared on the TV series "A New Kind of Family."

Rob Lowe

After "The Outsiders," Rob Lowe appeared with Emilio Estevez in "St. Elmo's Fire," later hitting the big screen in "Youngblood," "Wayne's World" and "Austin Powers." Lowe has also had a success on the small screen, with parts on "The West Wing," "Brothers & Sisters" and more recently, "Parks and Recreation."

Leif Garrett

Leif Garrett had a small role as Bob Sheldon in the film.

Garrett had been a child actor for more than 10 years before joining "The Outsiders."

Leif Garrett

Leif Garrett rose to fame as a teen idol in the '70s and after "The Outsiders," he appeared in "Shaker Run" and "Thunder Alley." Later in life, Garrett was plagued by drug abuse issues and legal troubles.

"The Outsiders"

"The Outsiders" is based on the 1967 coming-of-age novel of the same name by S. E. Hinton.