The 1980s saw the rise of an ensemble of actors who took Hollywood by storm. Emilio Estevez, Anthony Michael Hall, Judd Nelson, Demi Moore, Molly Ringwald, Andrew McCarthy, and Ally Sheedy are considered to be the main members of the Brat Pack, with others considered unofficial members.
Their movies are most notable for being classic coming-of-age stories such as The Outsiders, The Breakfast Club, St. Elmo's Fire, About Last Night, and Sixteen Candles. Here are some photos of the 80s ensemble that are sure to bring back some nostalgic memories!
St. Elmo's Fire
St. Elmo's Fire is a coming-of-age movie that follows a group of friends facing the challenges of adulthood after graduating from college.
Although critics' reviews of the movie were relatively negative, it was still a box office hit and grossed $37.8 Million
Emilio Estevez, Brat Pack Leader
Emilio Estevez is considered to be the leader of the Brat Pack, though he never liked the name for his friend group.
Here you can see Emilio(Right) with childhood friends Tom Cruise (Middle) and fellow Brat Pack member Rob Lowe (left) at the premiere screening for In the Custody of Strangers in 1982.
The Sheen Legacy
Emilio has always been used to the spotlight - his father of course is Martin Sheen and his brother is Charlie Sheen!
Here's a picture of Emilio with then-girlfriend and fellow Brat Pack member Demi Moore and father Martin Sheen at a Pro-Peace March in 1985.
Friendship Before Jealousy
Perhaps the chemistry between Demi Moore and Rob Lowe was due to their one-time fling, which Moore has mentioned in her autobiography.
After this fling, she would go on to date and become engaged to Rob's best friend Emilio and it never came between their friendships.
Judd Nelson, Method Actor Extrodinaire
Judd Nelson took his part as Bender very seriously, even going to the lengths of attending a local high school to see if his character was working out the way he intended.
In The Breakfast Club detention hall, the other characters look uncomfortable while Bender appears in his element.
Rob Lowe, 80s Heart-Throb
If the 80s taught us anything, it was that Rob Lowe is the quintessential heartthrob. The hair, the eyes, the smile - girls wanted him, and guys wanted to be him.
Demi Moore could probably attest to that - her and Rob's chemistry in St. Elmo's Fire and About Last Night... was unmatched.
Childhood Friends
Rob Lowe's film debut was in The Outsiders - a film that he co-starred in with his childhood friends Tom Cruise and Emilio Estevez, all three attended Santa Monica High School.
The friendship between Rob and Tom shines through in this photo as they smile at each other while they arm wrestle.
Demi Moore, 90s Celebrity
Demi Moore was one of the biggest names to come out of the Brat Pack. She went on to star in G.I. Jane, Striptease, and A Few Good Men.
Here's a picture of Demi, Emilio Estevez, and Ally Sheedy posing for photos at the Pro-Peace, Global Nuclear Weapons Disarmament March in 1985.
Molly Ringwald, Most Wanted Actress
After Molly Ringwald burst onto the movie scene in Sixteen Candles she had roles either written with her in mind or handed to her because of her great talent.
Director John Hughes asked Molly and Anthony Michael Hall to star in The Breakfast Club; and had written her character for Pretty in Pink, Andie Walsh, just for Molly.
Ally Sheedy, The Future Star
St. Elmo's Fire director Joel Schumacher thought Ally Sheedy was going to be the next big actress in Hollywood. Unfortunately, this would not come to fruition.
However, her characters from her Brat Pack days are some of the most iconic. Her character in The Breakfast Club, Allison Reynolds is a staple of the "quirky girl" in high school.
Movie Count
In the end, there are 13 movies that are generally credited to the Brat Pack that came out over a span of a decade, from 1983 to 1994.
Rob Lowe and Molly Ringwald contributed the most with 6 movie roles each, followed by Ally Sheedy with 5, then Emilio Estevez, Andrew McCarthy, and Judd Nelson each contributing to 4, and Anthony Michael Hall and Demi Moore contributing to 3.
The Breakfast Club
The Brat Pack became famous because of their movies and the coming of age stories they told.
The Breakfast Club has defined a generation; it has spoken to many teenagers over the years, challenging their views on societal high school norms, and is still considered the best High School movie of all time!
Certified Bad Boy
Everyone's favorite high school "bad boy" was also considered a bad boy in real life! Judd Nelson's friend said his character Bender was an accurate representation of Nelson when the cameras were not rolling - as the bad boy would often be seen partying with Rob Lowe and driving a motorcycle.
But even bad boys like to dance - a classic photo of Anthony, Emilio, and Judd from The Breakfast Club
A Dream Co-star
Molly Ringwald wanted to have Robert Downey Jr. co-star in Pretty in Pink. Though it did not happen, Ringwald got her chance to star with RDJ in The Pick Up Artist.
In this photo, we see Ringwald and Robert Downey Jr. in The Pick Up Artist looking like they have a true connection.
Andrew McCarthy, Not One of The Pack
On one occasion or another, McCarthy has stated he has not considered himself as part of The Brat Pack because he barely saw any of the others after filming St. Elmo's Fire.
Though later on, McCarthy went on to co-star with Molly Ringwald twice in Pretty in Pink and Fresh Horses.
Members by Association
Even though Andrew McCarthy does not consider himself part of the Brat Pack, his co-stars James Spader and Robert Downey Jr. consider Anothony one of them.
Here McCarthy and Robert Downey Jr. sit and talk on a bench while filming Less Than Zero.
Close Friends
Ally Sheedy and Demi Moore were very close friends back in the day. Ally was a bridesmaid at Demi and Bruce Willis' wedding.
Although the two lost touch for a while, Demi appeared by Ally's side when she was having personal struggles, like a true friend.
Unofficial Members
Next to the core members of the Brat Pack, there is a long list of actors who are also sometimes considered members because of their connections - like being co-stars, close friends, or having familial ties - to the core ensemble.
This list includes actors like Tom Cruise and the rest of The Outsiders cast, Robert Downey Jr., Charlie Sheen, James Spader, and others.
Anthony Michael Hall, High School Sweetheart
Anthony Michael Hall was the youngest of the Brat Pack. During filming, he spent a lot of time being tutored by co-star and fellow Brat Pack member Molly Ringwald since they were still in High School.
All of this time together helped bud a romance between the two and they dated for a while. Ah, young love!
The Party Days
Anthony Michael Hall was also known for his partying side. Here's a photo of Anthony (Middle Left), with Robert Downey Jr.(Left) - who was sometimes seen with the members of the Brat Pack.
David Lee Roth sits in the (Middle Right), and Sonia Braga (Right), all crammed into a convertible at the 1984 MTV Music Awards afterparty at the Hard Rock Cafe in New York City.
