Jeff Spicoli is the protagonist in Fast Times at Ridgemont High (on Amazon), a 1982 high school comedy that defined a generation and is still considered to be one of the funniest teen films ever made.
Played by a 22-year-old Sean Penn, the character embodied the surfer stereotype, one associated with a carefree attitude and copious quantities of marijuana.
The Creation of Jeff Spicoli
Fast Times at Ridgemont High was based on a book by Cameron Crowe, who also wrote the screenplay.
It was directed by Amy Heckerling, but it was actually initially offered to David Lynch, who had directed The Elephant Man just a couple of years earlier.
At the time, Sean Penn was a complete unknown. He had starred in a couple of TV movies, but it was Fast Times at Ridgemont High that would serve as his breakout role.
Legend has it that he adopted the full method acting technique, insisting that crew members refer to him as Jeff Spicoli as he tried to live the part of the iconic character.
Jeff Spicoli was adored by teenagers throughout the 1980s and inspired many to take up surfing, as well as a few other recreational activities.
He was also instrumental in the rise of Vans shoes.
A scene in which he opens a box of the shoes was actually a well-planned product placement, but it did so much for the brand that the film was mentioned in the creator’s NY Times obituary several decades later. The obituary began:
Sean Penn didn’t win any major awards for his performance as Jeff Spicoli, but that didn’t stop him from becoming an iconic figure in the surfing community, and one that is still mentioned some 40 years later.
It also helped him to build a career that would eventually lead to 2 Academy Awards (for Mystic River and Milk) and a total of 5 nominations.
Jeff Spicoli Quotes From Fast Times at Ridgemont High
“Surfing is not a sport. It’s a way of life – no hobby. It’s a way of looking at that wave and saying: ‘hey bud, let’s party!”
“All I need are some tasty waves, a cool buzz, and I’m fine.”
“So what Jefferson was saying was ‘Hey! You know, we left this England place because it was bogus.
So, if we don’t get some cool rules ourselves, pronto, we’ll just be bogus too.’ Yeah?”
“I’ll tell you, Stu. I did battle some humongous waves. But you know, just like I told the guy on ABC, ‘danger is my business.'”
“Mr. Hand, do you have a guy like me in all your classes? You know, a guy you make an example of?”
Questions You Asked About Fast Times At Ridgemont High
How Old Was Sean Penn In Fast Times At Ridgemont High?
Penn was 22 years old when we played Spicoli in Fast Times At Ridgemont High. Here is how old some of the cast members were including Phoebe Cates & Judge Reinhold.
| Actor | Age When They Were In Fast Times At Ridgemont High |
| Sean Penn | 22 |
| Jennifer Jason Leigh | 20 |
| Judge Reinhold | 25 |
| Robert Romanus | 26 |
| Phoebe Cates | 19 |
Does Fast Times At Ridgemont High Have A Best-Rate Bikini Scene?
Funny you should ask.
Yes, Fast Times continuously ranks at the top of any list for one of the best bikini scenes of all time. Funny enough, we have the (edited) clip right here featuring Phoebe Cates:
Is Fast Times At Ridgemont High a Comedy, A Classic, or What?
Yes and YES! Fast Times is a comedy, a classic, a must see, a 2-hour mantra, it’s all of it.
But if you had to classify it in a more standard sense, Fast Times At Ridgemont High is a coming-of-age comedy-drama.
Fast Times At Ridgemont High on Netflix?
No, Fast Times is not on Netflix. You can watch it on Amazon.
Did Sean Penn Wear a Wig In Fast Times At Ridgemont High?
Penn reportedly wore half a wig in the movie, most likely for those long surfer locks.
What Happens To Spicoli In Fast Times At Ridgemont High?
What exactly happens to Spicoli after the movie we don’t know.
We are told in the final minutes of the movie he saved Brooke Shields from drowning and spent the reward money on Van Halen who he hired to play at his birthday party.
Is Ridgemont High A Real School?
No, Ridgemont High is a fictional name of the high school in the movie.
Most of the high school exterior scenes were shot at Van Nuys High School in Los Angeles Unified School District.
Interior shots of “Ridgemont High” were shot at Canoga Park High School in the western San Fernando Valley region of the City of Los Angeles and at Torrance High in Torrance, California.
Can Sean Penn Really Surf?
Yes, Sean Penn does surf. You can see some photographs of Sean Penn surfing here.
For something more fun and slightly uncomfortable, you can watch Sean Penn and Zach Galifianakis talking on Between Two Ferns:
