He was the ’80s heartthrob every teen adored — known for St. Elmo’s Fire, Pretty in Pink, Mannequin, and Weekend at Bernie’s. Born in 1962 in New Jersey to a regular family, Andrew McCarthy never expected fame and admits he was “totally unprepared” for success, saying attention made him recoil.
His big break came suddenly after answering an open audition — going from being expelled from NYU to starring opposite Jacqueline Bisset in Class. Soon, he was branded part of the “Brat Pack,” cementing his teen idol status.
But behind the fame, McCarthy struggled with loneliness and eventually alcoholism. He revealed he was hungover through much of Pretty in Pink, explaining alcohol gave him confidence he didn’t feel in real life. After three painful years of addiction, he entered rehab at 29, determined to rebuild his life.
His career evolved beyond acting—he became a respected director of shows like Orange Is the New Black and a celebrated travel writer, calling both forms of storytelling.
In his personal life, McCarthy first married Carol Schneider in 1999 and later wed writer-director Dolores Rice in 2011, with whom he has two children. Today, he lives a quieter family life and reflects little on his ’80s fame, though fans still adore him. Despite the challenges, he’s built a lasting legacy far beyond his teen-idol image.