I was curious to see how many people remember "The Brat Pack" and if so which was your favorite actor from the group. The group consisted of nine actors/actresses: Judd Nelson, Andrew McCarthy, Mare Winningham, Anthony Michael Hall, Demi Moore, Rob Lowe, Molly Ringwald, Emilio Estevez and Ally Sheedy.
For those who don't know of the brat pack but want to participate here's a bit of information courtesy of Wikipedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brat_Pack_(movies)
The "Brat Pack" was the generic name given by the press to a group of young actors and actresses who became famous in the 1980s and frequently appeared together in teen-oriented films as well as socializing together off the set. The name "Brat Pack" came from a 1985 cover story in New York Magazine by David Blum (10 June 1985, pp. 40-47). The term is a play on the Rat Pack from the 1960s. Generally considered to be a condescending grouping, it led to the brat pack members seldom being seen together in public.
[question posted by emeraldisle]
responses and comments:
Although I am not a follower of "stars", my favorite has to be Demi Moore. I think she has always pushed the line of morality but in a tasteful manner. [susaneverson]
I think that's one of the reasons we liked them. They did push the envelope in the movies and it drew us to the stories, characters and actors. [emeraldisle]
Oh yes indeed I do, The Breakfast club, St Elmos fire, Wisdom and the Lost boys are movies that defined my youth. These folks were just to cool. Man could the boys be any more handsome and tough? Could the girls be anymore smart a$$ed and sexy? Yep that's what we dreamed about in the 80's and tried to model our lives after. [Angelwhispers]
I fist saw Keifer Sutherland on The Lost Boys and have been loving him ever since. [tess1960]
I think a better question would be which ones are still working and well known for producing quality work? Demi Moore, of course, but I haven't really liked much of what she's done lately. Others - Judd Nelson, Anthony Michael Hall ( Love Dexter!!), and Rob Lowe. [DJ9020]
I love that movie as well. When it first came on TV and I saw Rob Lowe was going to play Nick I was a little stunned. To be honest I didn't think he would do a good job. Well I was wrong. He was fantastic as Nick. I have it on DVD as well and I do enjoy watching it. [emeraldisle]
Andrew Mccarthy is my all time favorite brat packer. His eyes are beautiful and he is the only straight guy I know who can bring such sensitivity to a role without diminishing his masculinity. I remember him in St Elmo's Fire, when I gained my teenaged crush on him. His charactor was so in love with Alley Sheedy's charactor that he let all his friends think he was gay, just because he didn't want to disrupt her life. In Pretty in Pink, he was hopelessly in love with Molly Ringwald, but was so afraid of what his rich friends would say. Depending on which version of the movie you watched, he said "screw you" to his friends in the end. "Less than Zero" was a tragic film about drug abuse and prostitution but he played it like he always did. OK, so my teenaged love affair was with Andrew Mccarthy. I think I am probably in the minority. [cyntrow]
I always had a crush on Andrew McCarthy too. Maybe that's why my first born son is named Andrew? :P lmao! I wouldn't leave my lover for him though... I like what I already have. :D [QueenKaren]
I laughed when I saw this discussion as my niece has a "Breakfast Club" poster in her room. She wasn't even born when the movie came out but she loves that movie. The actors are my age now and we were looking at the pictures of them, then and now. Wow, time flies. My favorite actor from that group is Demi Moore, I loved her in Ghost. [gardengalz]
She was great in St elmos. Trying to bury her "stepmonster." Classic line. [cyntrow]
Judd Nelson is probably the best actor in that bunch, because he always adds a little bit extra to his work. Anthony Micheal Hall has really moved beyond the Brat Pack because he looks so different now. The Dead Zone has been great so far. [MntlWard]
I liked Molly Ringwald because she wasn't afraid to push it when it came to fashion. Basically she was saying be yourself no matter what people think or say. [shooie]
I remember them very well, since my daughter was a teenager during those years. We saw most of those movies. I still watch "The Breakfast Club" every once in awhile. Anthony Michael Hall certainly bulked up, lol. [cremechese]
Oh, no doubt. The little nerd boy turned into a major stud. Practically overnight. I'm glad to see he's still working. He's always been a great actor. [cyntrow]
i guess i liked judd nelson the most of them. i loved "the breakfast club".that movie was hilarious :) [scarlet_woman]
My favorites were Judd Nelson and Molly Ringwald, but now that they are all grown up, I prefer Anthony Michael Hall. He sure changed over the years, didnīt he? My husband and I actually had a bet going as to whether the hunk on "The Dead Zone" was the same nerd from "The Breakfast Club". I won! [GuateMom]
Hehe oh I know he had changed a lot since those days hasn't he? I couldn't believe it. From geek to hunk. I could see him doing one of those shows of "Look at me now" type. [emeraldisle]
Yes they were like the parises and lindseys of my time, I wonder what their up to now. I know about demi more and anthony michael hall, but what about the rest of them? [kev859]
I loved the Brat Pack! I used to be hot for Rob Lowe and even had a poster of him on my bedroom wall. (I was in junior high so give me a break would ya?) I liked all of the actors and actresses and still do. They all have been successful in their own right. However, I would have to say that my favorite now is Demi Moore. She's a strong successful woman who doesn't seem to give in to what she thinks the media wants. [thumperkin]
I had one as well, or maybe it was two? Heheh we were kids and he is was cute. That was all that mattered. Of course I had a Johnny Depp one up as well. [emeraldisle]
I was only born in '83 but I love the brat pack films, especially the Breakfast Club. My favourites out of the bunch are Andrew McCarthy and Emilio Estevez, I pretty much have liked just about anything that I have seen McCarthy in. I don't remember my parents ever watching the films so I don't really know how I got into them but I like them anyway :) [Clairec23]
The Rat Pack Movies were awesome. I love Sixteen Candles, Breakfast Club and Pretty in Pink. As for my favorite members that would have to be Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall. [monica1981]
I think my fav from the brat pack would be Anthony Michael Hall. I love The Breakfast Club and can watch it over and over again. It was just on a couple weeks ago. cindy He sure has changed since then! [cinnabunch]
Hard to believe at times he's the same guy from that and Weird Science. He has changed a lot and really filled out. He looks good ;) [emeraldisle]
Rob Lowe is the only one that really springs to mind, gosh he was lovely, lol [rainbow]
That was Real Genius with Val Kilmer. Very good movie :) I really like it. [emeraldisle]
I loved them all for different reasons. At different times I identified with them all. It is amazing to see all the different directions their careers have taken. It might be kind of cool if they did another movie together. A few of them seem to have dropped off the radar, but the others have had lovely careers. I think Demi kind of made it happen for herself and does shocking things to stay in the headlines. Rob in Brothers and Sisters is so hot. I would love to get into his legal briefs. Mare on Grey's seems sweet. I haven't really watched the shows the others are on, but have heard they are good. I wonder what the other 3 are doing. [Trace86]
You might want to check out http://imdb.com You can look up actors and see what they are doing. You can also look up movies, tv shows, etc. I'm there a lot. [emeraldisle]
I loved them all but my favorite was Molly Ringwald. I have a number of their movies. Though 80's movies in general are some of my favorite kinds. [crystal8577]
The thing I liked about Molly is that she wasn't a drop dead beauty. She was going through her awkward stage at the same time I was. Made it bareble. And I loved her fashion sense. LOL [cyntrow]
Rob Lowe and Molly Ringwald are my 2 favorites out of the group. Love them all but they are my favorites. Though I have to admit, even today Judd Nelson looks so sexy in 'The Breakfast Club' I grew up with all these movies...'Lost Boys', 'Breakfast Club', 'Pretty In Pink', 'Sixteen Candles'....oh those were the days LOL [mikesgal4ever1999]
I love the Brat Pack group! :D To this day, if I'm channel surfing, and one of their movies is on, I will likely stop and watch it. The Breakfast Club of course RAWKS! But my favourite is Pretty in Pink (I always feel so sorry for Ducky though Sigh!). And I laugh over the silliness of 16 Candles too ("My grandmother just felt me up!" BWHAHAHAHA!). [QueenKaren]
And of course, we can't forget the classic name of the one exchange student....Long Duck Dong LOL [mikesgal4ever1999]
Well, Anthony Michael Hall has really grown into his looks, he was really funny-looking when younger. I prefer Emilio Estevez over that sexist brother of his. Could Robert Downey Jr be considered Brat Pack? If so, that's who I would pick, he's very talented. [larainefan24]
He was never listed in the group but I agree he should have been. He did many of the same movies as the others. I agree I prefer Emilio Estevez over Charlie Sheen. They are both good actors but I don't know but I think it's the characters Emilio Estevez plays that draws me to him. [emeraldisle]
Oh yeah I remember them. Seen most every movie they've been in together. My favorites are Anthony Michael Hall and Demi Moore. [CosmicWhiteWolf]
Oh, yes, I remember The Brat Pack. I grew up watching them. I think my favorites were Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall. They seemed kinda on the geeky side and I related more with them. Two others that come to mind that weren't members of the Brat Pack are the two Corys. Cory Feldman and Cory Haim. They did a lot of stuff in the 80's but you don't see much of them anymore. I haven't really seen much of Mare Winningham, Andrew McCarthy, Emilio Estevez or Ally Sheedy lately either. I wonder what they're all up to now adays. [wellamoose]
Oh too funny. Corey Feldmen does one of the voices on the cartoon, "Super Robot Monkey Team Hyperforce Go." Most of you have probably never heard of it, but my two youngest girls are crazy about it. When I mentioned the Corey Feldman did one of the voices, they are now extreme felman fans. They watch Goonies, Lost Boys, Stand by me; neither of them can grasp that these movies were made over 20 years ago. LOL [cyntrow]
I had a big crush on Andrew McCarthy back in the 80s. I loved all of Molly Ringwald's movies too. I'm also a huge fan of the Rat Pack (especially Frank). [brimia]
Oh yeah the BRAT PACK...love it! Brings back so mnay memories of some great movies. I really liked all of them. Ally Sheedy was great in the Breakfast Club...actually all of the Brat Packers that were in that movie were great. I love 16 Candles with Molly Ringwald and Anthony Michael Hall. My best friend in high school was SOOO in love with Rob Lowe. I never really understood that, though. I know he was really cute, but not my "dream" man or anything. :) [chaygylmommy]
I love the Brat Pack. =p I really liked a lot of the actors from this group. If I had to choose just one I guess I'd have to say Anthony Michael Hall, though I did really like so many of them that it's a close one! I wasn't really aware that Demi Moore was part of this group, now that I think about it. Thanks for the info! [lecanis]
intersting link there Em.. I remember hearing about this ratpack and I really thought there were other people as well, but now I read that they were'also' by association. My favourite is Emilio Estevez. I just happened to like his style of acting better in that he makes his character believable,I cannot say that I feel that strongly about all the others I am afraid. For those who never knew and would like to(wink) he is the son of Martin Sheen( a great actor also, in my book) and the older brother of Charlie Sheen( a NOT so great actor, in my book) Now that he is older, Emilio actually looks more like his father now too.. so enough trivia from me?? [fjaril]
I know many don't realize they are related but I knew that already. Actually Martin Sheen's real name is Ramon Gerard Antonio Estevez :) many don't know that. I have liked Emilio Estevez in those I've seen him in. I admit haven't seen them all but I really enjoyed the Mighty Ducks movies and the Stakeout ones. Of course I liked him in Mission Impossible even though his character isn't credited :( I agree that Charlie Sheen's personal issues do not help him out at all. He can be very good and then other times you are left wondering what happened. I did like him in Major League. He did a great job in it. [emeraldisle]
I remember all those actors. Although I was introduced to them later in my life because I was born in 1980. I think the nickname fit and was really cute. Elmilio Estevez is my favorite of all those actors. :) [GnosticGoddess]
What ever happened to Molly Ringwald? I remember the brat pack well in the Breakfast Club. I even remeber the Rat Pack. NOt well but I do remeber. [AskAlly]
I loved her in Not Another Teen Movie. I love it when actors can poke fun of themselves. [GnosticGoddess]
I loved the Brat pack and movies like Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club. I think Anthony Michael Hall was so great in those old John Hughes movies! And I've always followed Demi Moore and Rob Lowe's careers-- Lowe is currently playing the handsome senator on ABC's Brothers & sisters. He certainly aged well! Mare Winningham is on Grey's Anatomy- she has a recurring role as Meredith's stepmother. [awonderfullife]
Yes I remember the Brat Pack shows my age I suppose. I thought many of that group were talented, I wasn't sure if the actors which would then include many from the list above and Mare Winningham and Andrew McCarthy would also be included as they were in St. Elmo's Fire. And it was after this film that they were known as the Brat Pack. I liked most of them, as actors and found, that over the years they showed their talents well. For instance Judd Nelson in Cabin by the Lake instead of being the good guy, played in a way that created enough menace for you to be disturbed by some looks he had during the movie. Ally Sheedy was always one that I liked. She never became as big as say someone like Julia Roberts, but I do think she has an appeal, and a natural quality to her that means you can identify with her, added to that she does have talent then it is makes enjoying the movies. [nowment]
So I guess I'll let my age show... The original "Brat Pack" consisted of: Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Anyone remember the rest of the names? I can picture 2 more in my head but can't come up with the name. I think there were 5 of them. [tess1960]
I liked Andrew McCarthy in Class. But I fell in love with him in Pretty In Pink, by the time I saw St Elmo's Fire, I was one of his biggest fans. [sarahruthbeth22]
The breakfast club is the best movie,in my opinion. I like Judd Nelson,Matthew Broderick and Molly Ringwald the best probably. Breakfast Club, Some Kind of Wonderful,About Last Night, St. Elmos Fire, Pretty in Pink, 16 Candles, Weird Science, Red Dawn, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, The Outsiders, and many more.... These all are great movies. The 80's were great! [t_sireesha04]