Andrew McCarthy was the one Brat Packer who had more than a handful of hits in the 80’s. He went off and held the lead role in both Mannequin and Weekend at Bernie’s in addition to his Brat Pack roles in Class, St Elmo’s and Pretty In Pink.
He often played the leading man and or heart throb but he was also just as comfortable in co-starring roles.
He has gone on to become an extremely accomplished actor.
Andrew McCarthy Biography
Andrew McCarthy was born on 29th November 1962 in Westfield New Jersey. He attended Edison Intermediate School and at the age of 16 his family moved to New York where he attended Pingry School, performed in plays and musicals and played basketball.
Andrew went to New York University as a theatre major and soon landed the lead in the 1983 film, Class. This was Andrew’s film debut and he starred alongside Jacquelyn Bisset and Rob Lowe.
Class was followed by a succession of box office hits for McCarthy including St Elmo’s Fire, Pretty In Pink, Mannequin Less Than Zero and Weekend At Bernie’s.
The 90’s dip
During the 90’s, Andrew McCarthy took a different direction with his career. He chose to star in Claude Chabrol’s Quiet Days in Clichey and also did some work in the UK for the BBC.
McCarthy’s roles became less mainstream but did draw more critical acclaim. His most well known movie of this period was probably 1996’s Mullholland Falls.
Stage work and current roles
McCarthy made his Broadway debut in 1985 in the Vietnam drama The Boys of Winter. The last five years have seen him star in no less than nine plays including the Tony award-winning Sideman on Broadway.
Kingdom Hospital was Andrew’s biggest role of recent times. He played the lead role Dr Hook in this 2004 mini series from Stephen King. Andrew has also appeared in Monk, Law and Order and E-Ring in recent times.
Andrew McCarthy Quotes
“You always have to keep thinking: “Where am I going?” Whereas acting, you’re always thinking: “What am I doing?” You don’t want to know where you’re going, you want to be right where you are.”
“I have to accept the fact that these films have had a fantastic effect on people, and to deny that doesn’t make any sense until I do something that has the same cultural and social impact of those movies. That’s just the way it is.”
“I thought I understood the story very well, because I’ve lived with it for so long. But movies change and take on a life of their own once they start to be made, and you have to keep your eye on the real ball, not the ball that’s in your head.”
Andrew McCarthy Links
Andrew McCarthy – Andrew McCarthy’s official site.
Andrew Appreciation Site – Includes biography, pictures, movie and stage information, and trivia facts.
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