What happened to 1980s teen idol Andrew McCarthy?

Andrew McCarthy emerged as one of the most memorable faces of the 'Brat Pack'—the iconic group of 1980s actors who once defined a generation. Today, only a few from this close-knit circle remain in the spotlight, while others have faded from Hollywood’s relentless stage. McCarthy’s journey offers a captivating glimpse into the highs and lows of fame.

McCarthy was a shining member of that legendary ensemble that included the likes of Emilio Estévez, Anthony Michael Hall, Rob Lowe, Demi Moore, Judd Nelson, Molly Ringwald, Ally Sheedy, and Mare Winningham. This elite crowd dominated the teen movie scene, going down in history for many of their roles.

So resonant was his impact that McCarthy, now a forgotten face for many, holds the 40th spot in VH1’s '100 Greatest Teen Stars’ list. What happened?

McCarthy’s journey took a wild detour from Hollywood stardom when he grappled with addiction to alcohol and illegal substances. However, he managed to put the pieces back together, carving out a new life, albeit far from the limelight.

In 2021, he laid bare his past in his book, ‘Brat: An ’80s Story,’ offering a retrospective look at that singular moment of time. As the blurb, written by Candace Bushnell, teases, it “explores masculinity, success, the dangers of fame, ambition and cigarettes in an elegant coming of age tale.”

McCarthy’s acting debut came in 1983 with ‘Class,’ directed by Lewis John Carlino. He shared the spotlight with another ‘Brat Pack’ luminary, Rob Lowe. As college roommates on screen, they navigated the choppy waters of young love. Ah, the heady days of youth…

Throughout the '80s, he appeared in an impressive array of movies, averaging two or three features per year. However, two titles remain fan favorites: ‘St. Elmo’s Fire’ and ‘Pretty in Pink,’ directed by Joel Schumacher and John Hughes respectively.

‘St. Elmo’s Fire’ was particularly notable as it brought together a sizable chunk of the ‘Brat Pack:’ Emilio Estévez, Rob Lowe, Demi Moore, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy, and of course, Andrew McCarthy.

Other notable roles from his heyday include ‘Mannequin,’ ‘Fresh Horses,’ ‘Kansas,’ and ‘Weekend at Bernie’s.’

Reflecting on these films in his book, McCarthy wrote that there was something quite endearing about those films. Although the performances may not always have been top-notch, they embodied the zeal of youth.

However, his years of professional success mirrored personal failures. In his book, he says he began drinking at the age of 12 and started using illegal substances in high school. Both habits intensified as his star rose.

While shooting ‘St. Elmo’s Fire,’ the producers gifted him a bottle of wine, which he discussed in ‘Brat: An ’80s Story.’ He brought it home and drank it all by himself, marking the first, but not last, time he’d drink alone.

By 1987, he was drinking excessively nearly every day, according to his memoir. This was combined with abusing other drugs — a combination that nearly cost him his life. During the filming of ‘Less than Zero,’ he took a bump just before diving into the pool, and when he splashed into cold water his chest “constricted in a way I hope to never feel again.”

In that same year, he had another dangerous incident. On a road trip across the United States, the police pulled him over and the actor tried to sniff up as much coke as he could before the officer got there. “I tried to look as if I had just woken up instead of as if my heart were about to explode out of my chest,” he wrote.

By the early 90s, he found himself at a critical crossroad. Waking up one morning to severe convulsions and a painful hangover, he broke down and made a life-altering decision. In 1992, age 29, he checked himself into rehab, vowing to leave behind the reckless lifestyle that had steered him off the path to stardom.

Post-rehab, throughout the 90s, he transitioned from cinema to television, immersing himself in low-budget movies and relatively obscure series. Despite his issues, he never stopped working.

The 2000s saw McCarthy juggling his acting career with new professional pursuits, one of which was directing. He sat behind the camera directing episodes of series such as ‘Gossip Girl,’ ‘Orange is the New Black,’ ‘Halt and Catch Fire,’ ‘New Amsterdam,’ and ‘Grace and Frankie.’

Further diversifying his portfolio, he established himself as a travel writer. So much so that he eventually became an editor at National Geographic Traveler, contributing articles to The Atlantic, The New York Times, and The Wall Street Journal. He also penned the books’ Just Fly Away’ and ‘The Longest Way Home.’

In recognition of his talent in travel writing, he was awarded “Travel Writer of the Year” by the Society of American Travel Writers in 2010.

His recent acting credits include roles in ‘The Family’ (2016), ‘White Collar’ (2011), ‘Good Girls’ (2020-2021), and ‘The Resident’ (2022-2023), portraying a diverse variety of characters.

A few years earlier, in 2003, he made headlines for his falling out with actor Vincent D’Onofrio, which got him fired from ‘Law & Order: Criminal Intent.’ However, four years later, in 2007, he made a guest appearance in an episode of the same series (without D’Onofrio).

Commenting on the incident, the series creator, Dick Wolf defended the decision, stating that "Mr. McCarthy engaged in fractious behavior from the moment he walked on the set." McCarthy defended himself, saying: "I was fired because I refused to allow a fellow actor to threaten me with physical violence, bully me and try to direct me."

As for his recent endeavors in film, Andrew McCarthy featured in the drama and mystery movie ‘Finding Julia’ (2019), directed by Igor Sunara; Damián Romay’s drama ‘Isle of Hope’ (2022); and Rory Karpf’s horror film ‘Grace Point’ (2023).

In his personal life, McCarthy married his high school sweetheart, Carol Schneider, in 1999. They had a son, Sam McCarthy, who followed his father’s footsteps into acting. However, they divorced in 2005. He remained single until he met Dolores Rice in 2011, with whom he has two children.

One of the things that helped change McCarthy's life was walking the Camino de Santiago in Northern Spain. Then, he decided to share the experience with his son Sam. And he turned that experience into the 2023 New York Times Bestselling Book 'Walking With Same.' An exerpt? "For so long I had felt ill-equipped, insufficient in some way, and often very alone. It took the Camino to teach me that I was solid in myself."

Image: Andrew and Sam McCarthy (left and center)

The Andrew McCarthy of the 80s, a charming young man who dazzled Hollywood, seems a world away. Despite crashing headfirst into the wall of his own excesses, he managed to pivot successfully, never straying too far from the world of acting. What comes next? We shall see!

Follow us for more great galleries