It’s fair to say that the collaborations between filmmaker John Hughes and actress Molly Ringwald in the 1980s made them both teen movie sensations. Worked on together Sixteen candles and The breakfast clubwrote Hughes for Ringwald Beautiful in pink, the 1986 film directed by Howard Deutch and produced by Lauren Shuler Donner. Ringwald in the cast of this teen comedy-drama includes stars such as Harry Dean Stanton, Jon Cryer, Annie Potts, James Spader, Andrew McCarthy and Kate Vernon, among others.
Beautiful in pink, which takes its name from the song Psychedelic Furs, follows Andie, an outstanding working-class student living with her father, who has been depressed and unemployed since his wife left the family. The young girl divides her days between work and school, which is also not easy as she is constantly bullied by the popular kids. Luckily, Andie relies on her best friend Duckie, a maverick like her, though he secretly has an absolute crush on her. Andie’s life is turned upside down when she falls in love with Blane, one of the popular boys at school, though their different social backgrounds threaten to jeopardize their relationship.
Praised for the performances of the actors and the brilliant soundtrack, Beautiful in pink turned into a cult classic, attracting fans all over the world. It is also considered a Brat Pack movie as it features appearances from Ringwald and McCarthy, two of the core members, as well as Cryer and Spader, who were heavily associated with this group of young newcomers. Let’s take a look at the current projects of the Beautiful in pink cast.
Molly Ringwald
Molly Ringwald‘s acting career boomed in the 1980s after he was cast in the NBC sitcom The facts of life, and from then on she rose to prominence and starred in several blockbusters of the time. In recent years, Ringwald has also been involved in several hit productions, such as the film series The pillow box and the TV program River valley, starring Mary, the mother of Archie Andrews. At the same time, Ringwald is branching out in her career, working as a columnist for The Guardian and debuting as a translator in 2019, adapting Philippe Besson’s French novel. Lie down with me in English (via Vanity purse).
Jon Cryer
Aside from pursuing an acting career after his breakout role as Duckie in Beautiful in pink, Jon Cryer also tried his luck as a director, writer and producer in various films and shows. However, one of the most important projects of his career was starring in the CBS show Two and a half Men alongside Charlie Sheen and later Ashton Kutcher. He also portrayed Lex Luthor in the series super girl, Arrow, Batwoman, The flash and Legends of tomorrow.
Annie Potts
Annie Potts is Iona, Andie’s manager and boyfriend in the movie. Over the course of her career, Potts has worked on a number of TV and film productions. She voiced characters such as Bo Peep in the Toy Story franchise and Edmée in the Netflix movie Arlo the alligator boy and the sequel series I have a heart for Arlo. In 2021, she reprized her role as Janine Melnitz from the 1984 film Ghostbusters and the sequel Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Moreover, she has been part of the cast of the sitcom since 2017 Young Sheldonthe spin-off prequel The big bang theory.
Andrew McCarthy
Andrew McCarthy is Blane McDonough, Andie’s love interest. Over the years, this actor played roles as a TV director and also as a travel writer. Though he has not been so active in film productions in recent years, he has participated in several TV series in various roles. In his role as a director, he directed 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 inhabitant.
James Spader
In Beautiful in pink, James Spader is Steff McKee, a rich, popular, and rather evil young man who, like it or not, is interested in Andie. Spader’s career spans a wide variety of projects, although in recent years he has concentrated 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 movie Avengers: Age of Ultron. Spader has starred in the show since 2013 The blacklist as Red Reddington, a role for which he won a slew of nominations and awards.
Kate Vernon
Kate Vernon had a small role in the film as Benny Hanson, a popular schoolgirl who hates Andie. Throughout her career, Vernon has mostly worked in series and TV movies, but she hasn’t been as active in the industry for the past year. Her last roles to date were in the series The morning showstarring Jennifer Aniston and Reese Witherspoon, and the sci-fi drama Another lifewhich was canceled after two seasons.
Andrew Dice Clay
Andrew Dice Clay is a bouncer who never lets Duckie into Andie’s favorite nightclub. This artist’s career is divided 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 two nights in a row (via The Atlantic Ocean). In recent years, Andrew has appeared in two very popular productions: the Bradley Cooper movie A star is born and the 2022 series Pam and Tommy. He also won the cooking reality show in 2017 My kitchen rules.
Kristy Swanson
Kristy Swanson was credited Beautiful in pink as Duckette, the attractive young woman who catches Duckie’s attention at the prom. However, Swanson is best known for playing Buffy Summers in the 1992 film Buffy the vampire killer. In recent years, the actress has been involved in few projects: in 2019, she played a minor role in the show SEAL teamand in 2021, she starred in the film alongside Scott Baio Courting mom and dad.
Gina Gerson
In the movie Gina Gerson is Trombley, one of Benny Hanson’s henchmen. Throughout her career, this actress has appeared in all kinds of movies and shows, and as of 2018, she played Gladys Jones in River valley, again sharing a cast with Ringwald. One of her latest films is the crime thriller Emily the criminal and the Netflix movie Don’t look up, though her scenes in the latter are omitted. She also starred in the series New Amsterdam, Loafigand made a cameo appearance as himself in the 2022 show Chuckie.
Margaret Colin
Completion of the list is Margaret Colinwho entered Beautiful in pink as a teacher. Still, Colin is best known for her role as Eleanor Waldorf in the series Gossip Girlwhich she reprized in an episode of the 2021 reboot. Her other best-known projects in recent years include the series Veep and Chicago med. In 2022, she starred in the movie Three wise men and a baby after not appearing in films since 2016 Equity.