It’s fair to say that collaborations between filmmaker John Hughes and actress Molly Ringwald during the 1980s turned them both into teen movie sensations. Having worked together on Sixteen Candles and The Breakfast Club, Hughes wrote for Ringwald Pretty in Pink, the 1986 film directed by Howard Deutch and produced by Lauren Shuler Donner. Joining Ringwald in the cast of this teen comedy-drama are stars such as Harry Dean Stanton, Jon Cryer, Annie Potts, James Spader, Andrew McCarthy, and Kate Vernon, among others.
Pretty in Pink, which got its name from the Psychedelic Furs song, follows Andie, an outstanding working-class student who lives with her father, who has been depressed and unemployed since his wife walked out on the family. The young girl splits her days between work and school, where things are not easy either, as she is constantly bullied by the popular kids. Luckily, Andie relies on her best friend Duckie, a misfit like herself, although he is secretly absolutely in love with her. Andie’s life turns upside down when she falls in love with Blane, one of the popular boys at school, although their different social backgrounds threaten to jeopardize their relationship.
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Acclaimed for the actors’ performances and the brilliant soundtrack, Pretty in Pink turned into a cult classic, attracting fans all over the world. It is also considered a Brat Pack film as it features performances by Ringwald and McCarthy, two of its core members, as well as Cryer and Spader, who were strongly associated with this group of young up-and-comers. Let’s take a look at the current projects of the Pretty in Pink cast.
Molly Ringwald
Paramount Pictures
Molly Ringwald’s acting career boomed in the 80s after being cast in the NBC sitcom The Facts of Life, and from that moment on, she rose to prominence, starring in several blockbusters of the time. In recent years, Ringwald was also involved in several hit productions, such as the movie series The Kissing Booth and the TV show Riverdale, starring as Mary, Archie Andrews’ mother. At the same time, Ringwald branched out in her career: she worked as a columnist for The Guardian, and in 2019 debuted as a translator, adapting Philippe Besson’s French novel Lie With Me into English (via Vanity Fair).
Jon Cryer
Aside from chasing an acting career following his breakthrough role as Duckie in Pretty in Pink, Jon Cryer also tried his luck as a director, writer, and producer in several films and shows. However, one of the most important projects of his career was co-starring in the CBS show Two and a Half Men alongside Charlie Sheen, and later on, Ashton Kutcher. He also portrayed Lex Luthor in the series Supergirl, Arrow, Batwoman, The Flash and Legends of Tomorrow.
Annie Potts
Annie Potts is Iona, Andie’s manager and friend in the film. Over the course of her career, Potts has worked on a number of TV and movie productions. She voiced characters such as Bo Peep in the Toy Story franchise and Edmée in the Netflix film Arlo the Alligator Boy and the follow-up series I Heart Arlo. In 2021, she reprised her role as Janine Melnitz from the 1984 film Ghostbusters and its sequel in Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Moreover, since 2017 she is part of the cast of the sitcom Young Sheldon, the spin-off prequel to The Big Bang Theory.
Andrew McCarthy
Andrew McCarthy is Blane McDonough, Andie’s love interest. Throughout the years, this actor took on roles as a TV director and also as a travel writer. Although he has not been so active in film productions in recent years, he has taken part in several TV series playing different roles. In his role as director, he helmed episodes in shows like Orange Is the New Black, The Sinner and The Blacklist. As an actor, he is currently starring in the medical drama show The Resident.
James Spader
In Pretty in Pink, James Spader is Steff McKee, a rich, popular, and rather evil young man who, whether he likes it or not, is interested in Andie. Spader spans a career with quite diverse projects, although in recent years, he has focused his efforts on three productions in particular. In 2011, he joined the cast of The Office as Robert California, and a few years later, he played Ultron in the MCU film Avengers: Age of Ultron. Since 2013, Spader has starred in the show The Blacklist as Red Reddington, a role for which he won a slew of nominations and awards.
Kate Vernon
Kate Vernon played a small role in the film as Benny Hanson, a popular school girl who loathes Andie. Throughout her career, Vernon has worked mostly in series and TV movies, but in the last year, she was not as active in the industry. Her latest roles so far were in the series The Morning Show, starring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, and the science fiction drama Another Life, which was canceled after two seasons.
Andrew Dice Clay
Andrew Dice Clay is a bouncer who never lets Duckie enter Andie’s favorite nightclub. This performer’s career has been split between acting and stand-up comedy. In fact, in 1990, he became the first stand-up comedian to sell out New York City’s Madison Square Garden for two nights in a row (via The Atlantic). In recent years, Andrew has been featured in two highly popular productions: the Bradley Cooper film A Star Is Born and the 2022 series Pam & Tommy. Furthermore, in 2017 he won the cooking reality show My Kitchen Rules.
Kristy Swanson
Kristy Swanson was credited in Pretty in Pink as Duckette, the attractive young woman who catches Duckie’s eye at prom. However, Swanson is best known for playing Buffy Summers in the 1992 film Buffy the Vampire Slayer. In recent years, the actress has been involved in few projects: in 2019 she played a minor role in the show SEAL Team, and in 2021 she starred alongside Scott Baio in the film Courting Mom and Dad.
Gina Gershon
In the movie, Gina Gershon is Trombley, one of Benny Hanson’s minions. Throughout her career, this actress has appeared in films and shows of all kinds, and as of 2018, she played Gladys Jones in Riverdale, sharing a cast once again with Ringwald. Among her latest films are the crime thriller Emily the Criminal and the Netflix film Don’t Look Up, although her scenes in the latter were edited out. She has also starred in the series New Amsterdam, Loafy, and made a cameo as herself in the 2022 show Chucky.
Margaret Colin
Rounding out the list is Margaret Colin, who appeared in Pretty in Pink as a teacher. Still, Colin is best known for her role as Eleanor Waldorf in the series Gossip Girl, which she reprised in an episode of the 2021 reboot. Among her other best-known projects of recent years are the series Veep and Chicago Med. In 2022, she starred in the film Three Wise Men and a Baby after not appearing in films since 2016’s Equity.
