Andrew McCarthy Shares How He Got His Role In ‘Pretty In Pink’

Actor Andrew McCarthy joins the 3rd Hour of TODAY to discuss his book “Brat: An ’80s Story.” He also looks back on his role in “Pretty in Pink,” sharing how he charmed Molly Ringwald to land the part.
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#AndrewMcCarthy #PrettyInPink #Brat

[@karlanorvell9573]

He was so handsome in the 80's, and look how gorgeous he still is.

[@Mouse01011]

Yes, agreed! Still looks great!

[@merylottenstein4575]

He looks amazing.

[@msairs]

He his gorgeous! Those dreamy eyes!! Swoon 😍

[@Summon256]

It's the eyes! Everything else can fade away, even physicality, but if the eyes are still "young", then the overall perception of the person will be of that he is young!…

[@Summon256]

When he looks at people he still has that "penetrating" stare he had back in the day and he also smiles the same way too...

[@amandapirot1022]

I've met Andrew McCarthy in person (reading from one of his travel books). He is very smart, insightful, charming, and gracious. A gem of a man.

[@mariameredith5328]

I met him on that tour also- got to chat for a while and he was so nice!

[@brandondavenport6147]

Awesome 👍

[@Jennifer-di4nl]

Still handsome I bet

[@brooklynbabe7896]

Absolutely a sweetie pie

[@Marcel_Audubon]

he doesn't remember meeting you

[@El-vi6lg]

We all had a crush on him in the 80's❤❤❤❤😆

[@Seattlegal2]

So very very true. Still smoking hot after almost 40 years

[@deborahblackvideoediting8697]

Both Andrew McCarthy and Ralph Macchio had the sweetest faces back in the 80s. I loved them both and watched anything they were it. It amazes me that 40 years later, they have both aged beautifully! Andrew still has that sweet, adorable face. (And it seems, a lovely personality as well.)

[@brooklynbabe7896]

Handsome young man 😻 you're a fun guy

[@joydarling314]

He hasn't changed much. He has aged well.

[@jonasalden29201]

What? He HAS aged. He looks like what he is! A 50-something. He's still handsome, but he HAS aged.

[@joydarling314]

I know he has aged I mean for the age that he is. He hasn't aged much. I even said he aged well. I didn't say he didn't age. You are probably not from America if you were you would understand what I was saying.

[@Benjorunner]

@@joydarling314 You are very clear in your comment and I agree, he looks good for his age!

[@joydarling314]

Thanks Ben😊

[@mrsj1417]

@@jonasalden29201 You're always this much fun, aren't you?

[@Rheinmeister09]

Can’t remember what morning show he was on but he told a story about when he was on the subway in NY and he was trying to remain incognito. There was a woman across from him and she smiled recognizing him. He thought ‘oh no, she’s going to ask me for a photo or questions about his career’. She said to him that it was the first time that she has smiled since her husband died seeing him. Was just such a lovely story and he seems like such a nice guy.

[@maydavalle]

🥲🥹❤️

[@Marcel_Audubon]

people always make up stories like that when they want to make an impression on a celebrity - no one whose spouse had died would ever say that

[@daenas]

I was SO in love with Andrew McCarthy back in the day...he was so beautiful.

[@karenmbbaxter]

Get in the queue lady behind me......Everyone is still obseesed with Tom Cruise and Johnny Depp who made it big around a similar time but McCarthy has always been my guy.

[@bleuskye8124]

Sorry ladies, Andrew is mine.

[@Kristen71]

Sorry girls, step aside.

[@bleuskye8124]

@@Kristen71 lol

[@shannonnonnahs6943]

Still is beautiful 💓

[@deliaangela2878]

Still gorgeous and his pretty smile never fades

[@aimeelott8262]

Pretty in Pink is a Classic 💖

[@debsreno911]

One of my favorite movies EVER! Loved Andrew McCarthy.

[@aug07broken]

I’ve always loved and had a crush on Andrew!! I will always love him!! The scene when he first walks in the record store is seared into my beloved movie memories. The way it made me feel in that moment, will never compare to any scene ever! He just melted me forever!

[@SenorJuan2023]

St. Elmo's Fire is one of my all time favorite movies. I never get tired of watching it.

[@Marcel_Audubon]

your sarcasm is delicious!!

[@SenorJuan2023]

@@Marcel_Audubon Nope, music is fantastic, memorable lines, nice scenery

[@Marcel_Audubon]

@@SenorJuan2023 I love your commitment to the absurdist character of someone who would actually like this movie! - comedic gold!! It must be really fun to play a role that everyone knows could not exist in the real world!

[@SenorJuan2023]

@@Marcel_Audubon It's a very popular movie among people my age. Guess you don't like good music and memorable lines. You probably liked There will be Blood, a dreadful movie., or Forest Gump, a very overrated one. LOL

[@SenorJuan2023]

@@Marcel_Audubon 75 people liked my original comment. :)

[@blueeyedgirlS]

Pretty in pink, mannequin and weekend at Bernie's were a few of my fave movies as a kid..and I still love them today 💓

[@annettesjoy]

Me too!

[@janeunjuchoi]

I have to say this was one of the best interviews I’ve seen. It felt more like conversations than an interview. Andrew seems humble, intelligent and insightful. He sounds very comfortable in his skin

[@sjb3858]

I met him at Comic Con a few years ago. I was so nervous and shaky but he was such a nice and gracious person. My husband said it was cute and said Andrew seemed to appreciate a true fan. BTW he is very handsome.

[@brooklynbabe7896]

What a beautiful story it's amazing how handsome indeed he's a great actor

[@clairesage572]

I was teenager in the 80s and loved him. He’s still good looking, funny, charming, likable. I want to read his book!

[@ladydee7099]

One of my favorite movies from my teenage years, along with Sixteen Candles! 😍 I’m glad the director listened to Molly about Andrew, and the ending! Definitely a classic!

[@marygoff3332]

16 candles...the male lead in that movie was stunningly handsome!

[@keving5235]

Poor O.M.D, they had 24 hrs only to write If You leave lol

[@couls3able]

Jake. Ryan.

[@donikquac]

Pretty in pink and Mannequin are straight classic my childhood I love him in both 💕💕💕

[@cw5451]

I had a HUGE crush on Andrew in the 80s!

[@nd7968]

I had a crush on him back in the 80's and he is still attractive!

[@donnawilson729]

Great guy you can just tell. The world needs more like him❤️

[@beverlyscavetta2845]

Love this man's acting. Met him in Hartford, CT when he was performing on stage. Have his autograph framed.

[@carolsiedzik8127]

Hartford Stage, right? I was there.

[@beverlyscavetta2845]

@@carolsiedzik8127 yes

[@susango123]

I remember watching, "A Weekend at Bernie's", in 1990 with visiting relatives. I was laughing so much that my face, chest and stomach was in pain. I had to go to the bathroom to stop laughing. Great movie.

[@acer4237]

It would be awesome to see a reboot of “Pretty in Pink” with both main characters, they both still look great.

[@cw5451]

A reboot? Or a sequel? I’d love a sequel!

[@luvmoon3674]

no

[@Lisa-kz7vw]

I was obsessed with him because of Pretty In Pink I had the biggest crush on him I was only eight when I saw it just remember thinking he was so cute.

[@nicolee2649]

One of my first crushes ever in high school and I am in my mid 30s. His eyes light up when he smiles like no other man. Precious, special and rare quality! He has great stories! Love watching his interviews as well! I wonder who he still talks to regularly.....rob Lowe, James Spader, ect..... in addition he looks like he is such a great kisser from all the movies I have seen! Less Than Zero is a master piece!

[@carolsiedzik8127]

He said he is still friends with James Spader.

[@BorgesProduction]

I watched Less than Zero the other day. That was a really good film. Interesting he still works with James Spader

[@juliel8720]

loved Pretty In Pink and love him as an actor

[@kellycranford3592]

He was one of my favorites of the Brat Pack!! So glad to see that he hasn't changed much and is enjoying his family and living life!! Wouldn't it be great to see him and Molly in "Still pretty in pink" or "Prettier in Pink"??? To catch up with their future characters??? That would be awesome!!

[@bettycogswell9851]

I love Andrew. Had a big crush on him in the 80's. Love his movies...

[@brooklynbabe7896]

Me too hunny

[@Vitagirl]

Omg!! I loved him and still do!! Great actor and handsome

[@hummingbird11]

Andrew is still a cutie to this day. 😍

[@selma5885]

Love him and love the fact he loves travel. Loved him in the 80's--so glad to see him after all these years.

[@pam0626]

Brat is a fantastically-written book. Thoroughly enjoyed it.

[@chrissyellem7397]

I really recommend listening to the audiobook since Andrew narrates it. I'm a big fan since Class!

[@cheekyoziechick]

Weren't we all jealous of Molly Ringwald..but yet wishing we were her. I loved the Brat packers. Never has it been seen since.

[@BishopWalters12]

Not sure why he never got to really escape his movies from the 80's, good actor and should've had a bigger career.

[@iwaisman]

I was thinking just the same...poor film choices in the nineties or he realised that the lightning never strikes twice.

[@dfangirl72]

@@iwaisman I think it's more typecasting , he did a mini series about a hospital that's haunted I believe it was from Stephen King book .Andrew said he had become an alcoholic after the success of pretty in pink or somewhere around there .

[@bengolfs1]

One of my favorite movies that he was in is "Heaven Help Us!" It's a gem of a movie that was released on HBO only, I believe. Great actor.

[@daviddarko5837]

"Welcome to St Basil's".

[@TheMisslisaemm]

It's called Catholic Boys in UK. I saw it on video in the eighties. I love it.

[@stooge81]

It was actually released in the theaters (had the pleasure of seeing it on the big screen in NYC). A great film!

[@raimeyewens7518]

@@daviddarko5837 To whom Brother

[@daviddarko5837]

@@raimeyewens7518 HA! I wasn't sure how many people remember that film but I'm glad there are others out there who appreciated it as I did.

[@Kenna198]

He was gorgeous & still very handsome, seems like a nice guy too

[@askmeificare336]

I feel teen goosebumps still!

[@cynthiacisneros1694]

I’ve always loved him 💕

[@futrpdr]

And no one mentioned The Mannequin?!!! Hands down my favorite movie he was in.

[@cummingreviews]

yes, that was an awesome movie with Kim Cattral

[@thepatootie9632]

omg yes!!!

[@djkevanati5494]

Mine too

[@Plantbliss]

I “went out” with my first boyfriend because he looked like Andrew McCarthy. And when I say went out I mean he walked me to class, we ate lunch together and held hands…in junior high school. Ahh Chuck😳😂😅

[@ColleenDaumen2]

Always LOVED him. My first crush ❤❤❤

[@annettesjoy]

Oh those gorgeous blue eyes! Man alive, he has done some great things like traveling and working for National Geographic.

[@vintagev412]

Always have loved him and now even more ❤️

[@sarahpearce1317]

His voice hasn't changed a lot from when he was young. He has aged very well.

[@JFP9036]

Love Andrew Mccarthy! Great memories 💙

[@sharonmassey2923]

An excerpt from Andrew's travel book, "The Longest Way Home", that I found interesting and enlightening: Zadock laments taking honeymooners up Kilimanjaro. "Do you get a lot of people on their honeymoon?" I ask. It seems a strange choice for newlyweds. "Too many," he replies. "And it's always a problem. They don't listen. The men think it's just walking and always try to take care of the women and ignore their own problems, and the women want to listen to the men and then the guys are always the ones who get in trouble. Always. And then the women don't know what to do about that, because often they're able to get to the top and their husbands can't and it's a problem. We try to keep them separated on the trail." Zadock continues. "Old women are the best to guide. They listen, they go slow, and they nearly always make it to the top. I had an eighty-two-year-old last year. She was great."

[@maryammure5151]

I remember seen him in law and order SVU rerun of the episode slaves from season 1. Oh wow that episode was the one that made me a fan of SVU. He was so good and creepy in it. If y'all haven't seen the episode you need to. It's so good. He's amazing in it.

[@mariamvrck]

Yeah!! I replayed it over and over, it was so good. It’ll probably never happen but if the writers wanna revisit an early episode today, I’d choose that one!

[@evalue7517]

I had a crush on Andrew Mccarthy that annoyed the boyfriend at the time. After watching this video, those crush feelings renew.

[@IzuJavier]

He’s still so handsome! My ultimate crush when I was teenager!😊 Pretty in Pink and mannequin melts me!

[@SASSY13169]

They’re not even going to mention MANNEQUIN. He was brilliant on The Family.

[@donikquac]

Yesssssssss

[@lisasmith767]

He comes across as a genuinely nice guy. Not a pretentious d-bag like a lot of actors.

[@reneeb5993]

Hands down, his best film: Less Than Zero.

[@BorgesProduction]

The soundtrack is great in that film

[@reneeb5993]

@@BorgesProduction agree!!!

[@jessicamarsh400]

Pretty in Pink was, is and will always be my absolute favorite movie.

[@julieshelley9251]

So handsome, love him in his movies

[@angelisa368]

Wow! How magical to have walked El Camino!

[@tristyevely3798]

Always the cutest member of the Brat Pack

[@hfm16]

After Rob Lowe, Emilio Estevez, and Judd Nelson. LOL.

[@tristyevely3798]

@@hfm16 nope. I said what I said and respectfully disagree. 🙂🤣

[@hfm16]

@@tristyevely3798 LOL

[@lumpyspacecadet]

I love how PiP is basically a modern Pride and Prejudice, but not really the exact same story. It is, like P&P, a love story we can't get enough of no matter how old it gets. Just a pure classic we stan forever.

[@ndnaf3705]

He's still handsome!

[@jill3985]

Love Andrew McCarthy his so handsome he still is. Love all his movies.

[@karenmbbaxter]

Everyone needs to remember Tom Cruise made it big around the same time and is still churning out big movies.......Andrew looks really fit and I would easily cast him in an action role

[@jones2277]

action? lol

[@mscarolynnigro]

He's got a Beta male vibe

[@jc9716]

Beta males surprise you when they save the day!

[@CK8smallville]

He is just as dreamy as in the 80’s!

[@c956rubber]

Man I love Andrew Mccarthy...he is my childhood, he seems very warm and kind...very nostalgic just seeing him, he takes me way back.

[@lissab.1453]

Pretty in pink is one of my favorite movies. ♥️♥️♥️

[@forgeustiss6667]

Went to see Pretty in Pink after my integral calculus exam in 2nd year university. I think of it every time I hear Someday.

[@kevinn1158]

I'm 2, maybe 3 yrs younger than Andrew and I took a GF to Pretty in Pink..... she came out of the movie and she said, oh he's dreamy. My heart sank. Even at university that happens still. And then about 45 mins later she said, you remind me of Andrew and kissed me. And I thought, ok I'll take that! Gosh, those high school and university days were so wonderful but dramatic. Now my daughter is in high school and I'm watching it from the outside...

[@nancykathryntieger8893]

What a nice guy. And he looks great!

[@goinggreen4720]

I made my husband take me to every movie he was in when I was a young bride. Ah....the memories. He was such a dreamy guy......

[@ryangettig274]

Year Of The Gun-great Frankenheimer picture he did with Sharon Stone:)He & Rob Lowe were both in Mulholland Falls:)

[@nathaliegauthier504]

Pretty in pink!! I was in love with him!! 😉🥰

[@Jadehawk2864]

I love Andrew McCarthy! My favorite 80s actor ⭐✨!

[@katy4639]

His Hallmark movie is one of the best, most touching.

[@vaskylark]

He looks so cute, even today! He's aged like a fine wine. Sad he's not acting still, because I'd love to see him in movies today. He really looks exactly the same just with a little gray and some distinguishing wrinkles but still with that killer smile and nice eyes.

[@wandawong4700]

Did you watch Good Girls? He was a semi regular.

[@vaskylark]

@@wandawong4700 No, I didn't know about that. I will have to check it out. Thanks!

[@reynapittman2445]

Andrew McCarthey was always a heart throb in acting to me , when I first saw Pretty in Pink, and Weekend at Bernie’s, and also some Hallmark movies 😊

[@aprilsky8474]

So, I wasn't the greatest Andrew McCarthy fan but it's nice to see him still working and looking great.

[@bleuskye8124]

Love Andrew ! Saw him on the tv show "The Resident" recently..

[@lc11214]

I met him in person at the travel show at Javits Center. He didn't like it when I said I love the Mannequin and Pretty in Pink. He hadn't made any memorable movies lately.

[@KH-nt7ej]

He was one of the biggest actors in the 80's. Loved this guy. Wish he was acting more now.

[@mikehisey2631]

I had a massive crush on him

[@lisafreeman4832]

I was at the test screening Andrew talks about! 🙂

[@wendyladybug355laurie4]

Well, Spill, Please 👼👼🥰🥰

[@scottbaker7104]

He’s a great man and I love all of his movies and what a genuine person he’s truly a great person

[@nataliegaines9692]

What a gem, love all his movies❤ Wish we could go back to those days😊

[@brandondavenport6147]

He is such a great actor

[@rebeccahoffman2901]

One of the coolest guys from the 80's!

[@franciscofernandez5034]

After all this years Andrew look pretty good, and what it is is his smile, 😃 that hasn't changed, good actor, and family oriented . Good memories Andrew thank you. Blessings . 🙏

[@hfm16]

How do they not mention Less Than Zero! That was a great movie!!!

[@ChickaIva]

I still have Pretty in Pink on VHS 🤣 and Weekend at Bernie's 🤣🤣

[@feliciakidd9358]

I love that movie. I have it. I was a teen of the 80's. Owned the soundtrack and everything. He looks good for his age.

[@LeppLass61]

Al saying he was too old to watch the Brat Pack movies back then, yet he is only a few years older than Judd Nelson, a Brat Packer! I was totally into the Brat Pack and I was born in '61! BTW, huge crush on Andrew McCarthy, who I saw in Class when that came out!

[@nightbird5317]

Less the Zero a must 👏🏼👏🏼👏🏼🙏🏼

[@anadelrio6645]

I love Andrew!! ❤️❤️

[@yadiraperez5952]

I had such a crush on him growing up.😻💘 Loved him in Mannequin with Kim Cattrall. 🫶🏼

[@unicornmadness6286]

I absolutely LOVE Andrew McCarthy, just Love. I've seen every movie he's been in and I mean every movie. I also bought his book Brat an 80s story and it's a wonderful read. I tell everybody if you truly support this man then buy his book, you'll love it.

[@carenwebb9044]

Love him

[@lilywong3538]

I went to see "Side Man," expecting to see Christian Slater but saw Andrew McCarthy instead. I didn't know who Andrew McCarthy was but he BLEW ME AWAY! I still remember his face when he played the 3-year-old Clifford. Phenomenal actor.

[@jag5798]

I would still recognize him on the street today. That’s a good thing.

[@s.r.9320]

He seems so genuine and grounded. And still handsome!

[@lydiatorres6109]

I’ve always liked Andrew……and that smile is captivating.

[@Boygonebad]

Truly underrated actor.