Today marks Emilio Estevez’s 58th birthday, and to celebrate we look back at the infamous “Brat Pack”, who he was a member of and what made them so special in the 80s.
The “Brat Pack”. Perhaps the first thought that pops into your head is the name of a bad name for a gang who thinks they’re tough. Well, you are wrong. The Brat Pack were a notable group of young actors who appeared in some classic coming-of-age 1980s films together.
The term “Brat Pack” originates from the infamous 1950s and 1960s term “Rat Pack” (who included members such as Frank Sinatra). However, the term was popularised for this group of young actors in 1985 when the New York magazine described a group of highly successful actors who were only in their twenties as the “Brat Pack”.
Some of the actors that were in the “Brat Pack” are ones some of us will even know today as they continue to appear in some of the shows we know and love today. Members of the gang included: Emilio Estevez (the birthday boy, well man now), Anthony Michael Hall, Rob Lowe, Andrew McCarthy, Demi Moore, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald and Ally Sheedy.
Image credit: Time Magazine
Most notable of these is Molly Ringwald, who some of us know today from starring in Riverdale as Archie Andrews mum, Mary. Ringwald got her first major role in the NBC sitcom The Facts of Life all the way back in 1979. She went on to become a teen icon after appearing in films including Sixteen Candles (1984), The Breakfast Club (1985) and Pretty in Pink (1986).
Image credit: Hollywood Reporter
Demi Moore made her TV debut after appearing on the American soap opera General Hospital but gained her recognition as a member of the Brat Pack in films including Blame it on Rio (1984), St Elmo’s fire (1986), and About Last Night… (1990). Her most famous starring role was alongside the late great Patrick Swayze in Ghost (1990) – which went on to be the highest-grossing film that year and earned her a Golden Globe nomination.
Image credit: Hollywood Reporter
Next up is the birthday boy himself, Emilio Estevez. His acting career started with the “Brat Pack” as he appeared in the films The Breakfast Club, St Elmo’s Fire and The Outsiders (1983). After his “Brat Pack” years, Estevez went on to appear in films including Repo Man (1984) and The Mighty Ducks (1992). Not only is Estevez the only actor in his family as he is the brother of Charlie Sheen and son of Martin Sheen.
Image credit: DoYouRemember?
Judd Nelson, or as many people will know him as the “criminal” in the 1985 classic The Breakfast Club is the next member of the “Brat Pack”. His acting career began in 1984 when he appeared in Making the Grade and Fandango (1985) opposite Kevin Costner. It was the “Brat Pack” though that made him the star he is today after also appearing in St Elmo’s Fire. After the “Brat Pack” years, he went on to star in films including Transformers and Billionaire Boys Club (1987).
Image credit: People.com
Rob Lowe, throughout his career so far has been nominated for six Golden Globes, a Primetime Emmy award and won two Screen Actors Guild Awards. He made his acting debut at the ripe age of 15 in ABC sitcom A New Kind of Family (1979-1980). His global standing gained more recognition when, like the other members he joined the “Brat Pack” and starred in the films The Outsiders (1983), Class (1983), The Hotel New Hampshire (1984), Oxford Blues (1984), St Elmo’s Fire, About Last Night…, and Square Dance (1987). It was these films that made him the Hollywood star he is today.
Image credit: Hollywood Reporter
Andrew McCarthy’s first major role was in the 1983 comedy Class. He is perhaps not one of the more notable members of the group, but he still appeared in notable films including St Elmo’s Fire and Pretty in Pink. This didn’t stop his success though as he went on to appear in other notable 80s films including Mannequin (1987) alongside Sex in the City star Kim Cattrall.
Image credit: Hollywood Reporter
Ally Sheedy made her filming debut in Bad Boys (1983), but went on to become a member of the “Brat Pack” after starring in The Breakfast Club as the “Basketcase” and St Elmo’s Fire. After the group’s success, she starred in the films Short Circuit (1986) and for her performance in 1998’s High Art she won the Independent Spirit Award for Best Female Lead.
Image credit: E! News
The final member of the pack was Anthony Michael Hall who began his career as a child in adverts and on stage. His film debut was in National Lampoon’s Vacation (1983) and Sixteen Candles, which was the film that shaped his acting career. It was from here he went on to appear in The Breakfast Club and Weird Science (1985). After the years of the “Brat Pack”, he appeared in other notable films including Johnny Be Good (1988) and Edward Scissorhands (1990) alongside a young Johnny Depp.
Many of the films mentioned above including The Breakfast Club, St Elmo’s Fire, Pretty in Pink, The Outsiders and many more were the films that made the “Brat Pack” what they are today. The director behind many of these films was John Hughes who directed some of the most successful live-action comedy films and rocketed these young actors to stardom.
Whether you have seen some of these notable films or not (definitely The Breakfast Club), the “Brat Pack” is the phenomenon that provided us with some of the best actors of past times and provided some great films available for our viewing that have become more appreciated over time.
If you have not seen any of these classics, then what are you waiting for? Get to it and see what you are missing out on! And finally, a Happy Birthday to Emilio Estevez!
By Katie Green
Feature image: CR Fashion Book