Kevin Bacon returns to ‘Footloose’ high school for its 40th anniversary

Kevin Bacon just took off his Sunday shoes and returned to high school – “Footloose” high school, that is.

On Saturday, the star of “Tremors” and “Mystic River” visited the Utah school where he shot his movie “Footloose” 40 years ago, after students there campaigned for him to attend.

“40 years. That just blows my mind,” Bacon, 65, said at Payson High School, according to a video shared on Instagram by the Utah Office of Tourism. “Things look a little different here. I would say I am the most different.”

Payson High School students had launched a social media campaign with the hashtag #bacontopayson, calling on the actor to visit to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the 1984 film and to celebrate their last prom before the school was moved. The students also held benefits in support of Bacon’s charity, SixDegrees.org.

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In March, Bacon confirmed to students that he would be visiting, telling them he was “so impressed” with their efforts. “The movie and Payson High School were a big part of my life, and I’m amazed at the work you all put into this,” he said on the “Today” show, also praising them for their work. with his foundation to “give back to your community.”

During his visit on Saturday, Bacon said when he heard about the campaign he thought, “Wow, this is crazy,” according to ABC4. But the actor told the “tireless” students that they “talked me into it.”

Bacon also said it’s “amazing” the power “Footloose” has had to “bring people together and connect based on its core ideas,” which include “sometimes standing up to authority and being forgiving of people who aren’t exactly be the same as you. and for standing up for your own freedoms and the right to express yourself, and for having compassion for other people.”

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In his Instagram Stories, Bacon shared a video of himself posing with Payson High School students as he received an honorary diploma. “Let’s dance!” the actor and students shouted as they took a photo together. Another Instagram clip showed Bacon visiting his locker from the film.

According to SixDegrees.org, Payson High School students helped build 5,000 essential care packages containing hygiene items, socks, journals, reusable water bottles, non-perishable goods and vouchers for free counseling, which will be distributed to “young people and families in need of resources throughout Utah, Colorado and Nevada.” According to a video of the event posted by the Utah tourism board, Bacon said the students “turned what could have been a movie star coming back to get a pat on the back into something very positive.”

Contributions: Naledi Ushe

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