Where Are They Now? St. Elmo's Fire Cast
The St. Elmo's Fire cast has been rather active in the over four decades since its opening. Along with John Hughes' The Breakfast Club, another 1985 release that helped solidify the Brat Pack, a name David Blum popularized in an article for New York magazine, the film was overseen by The Phantom of the Opera and The Lost Boys director Joel Schumacher. Over the mid-to- late 1980s, a group of teenage performers known as The Brat Pack created a range of films about teens and young adults.
Of the whole primary Cast of St. Elmo's Fire, only Martin Balsam—who portrayed Wendy's father, Mr. Beamish—has passed away; the rest of the ensemble is still living. Though they have subsequently veered in many different directions on both the big and small screens, the Brat Pack movie's leads remain rather renowned in the business. Though all of them have been in well-known titles over the past five years at the time of writing, several of them still most identify with their 1980s work.
Emilio Esteved
Apart from directing more than half a dozen films, notable Brat Pack actor Emilio Estevez, who portrayed St. Elmo's Bar server Kirby Keager, has kept on acting. Since 2021, the year he returned as Coach Gordon Bombay in the Disney+ sports sequel series The Mighty Ducks: Game Changers, he has, however, taken some time away from the public. Creative disputes caused him to leave after season 1; although he has projects including Guns 3: Dead or Alive (which he is also set to direct) in pre-production, for the time being they have not materialized.
Originally portraying Gordon Bombay in the 1992 film The Mighty Ducks, Emilio Estevez returned to the part in its two follow-ups.
Rob Lowe
Early in the 2010s, Rob Lowe—who portrayed young saxophonist Billy Hicks—found another key part when he joined the Parks and Recreation Cast as the indefatigable Chris Traeger. In the meantime, he has kept prominent television roles, primarily playing Owen Strand in 9-1-1: Lone Star, which was just renewed for season 5. He appeared opposite his son John Owen Lowe in the streamer's comedy Unstable, which debuted in 2023 and has also been revived for a new season. He also portrayed a satirical version of himself on Netflix.
Kevin McCarthy
Directing and acting have also divided Andrew McCarthy, who portrayed Kirby's roommate Kevin Dolenz. Though he has also had major parts in The Blacklist, Good Girls, and 13 Reasons Why, his longest-running recent performance as an actor was as Dr. Ian Sullivan in the medical drama The Resident. McCarthy most recently helmed the documentary Brats, which included interviews with numerous Brat Pack members and documented the group's growth as well as the individual members' responses to being dubbed Brat Packers, as a director.
Deni Moore
Following her performance in St. Elmo's Fire, Demi Moore—who portrayed banker Jules Van Patten—kept up her reputation as a tabloid celebrity and major performer. She most recently starred in low-budget indie musical Please Baby Please and projects ranging from the Nicolas Cage meta-comedy The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent. She also portrayed Ann Woodward, one of the title socialites in Feud: Capote vs. the Swans, opposite former Brat Packer Molly Ringwald. Her next big performance will be as the lead in the horror drama The Substance, directed by Coralie Fargeat from Revenge.
Being romantically related to other big stars like Bruce Willis and Ashton Kutcher helped Demi Moore become a great tabloid celebrity in part. Her prior husbands also helped.
Judd Nixon
Among the most active former Brat Packers in the modern period is Judd Nelson, who portrayed the politically motivated Alec. He has acted in 15 separate films and TV shows since 2019. His most well-known performance was as Billy Beretti in the hip-hop drama Empire, four episodes total. He has, however also starred in films such South of Hope Street, The Downside of Bliss, Girl in the Basement, and The Most Dangerous Game 2022.
Associate Sheedy
Less active in recent years than her co-star Judd Nelson from St. Elmo's Fire and The Breakfast Club, Ally Sheedy portrayed architect Leslie Hunter. She just showed up in three projects in 2019. But one of those projects—in which she portrayed the mother of Sofia Black-D'Elia's lead character—was a big part in the main Cast of the Freeform sitcom Single Drunk Female. She hasn't occupied another position thus far after the show concluded in 2023.
For The Breakfast Club star Ally Sheedy, 1990's Betsy's Wedding was the last Brat Pack film; however, what did she do following the Molly Ringwald project?
Mare Winingham
Ten years after her St. Elmo's Fire performance, Mare Winningham—who portrayed social worker Wendy Beamish—was nominated for an Oscar for her role in 1995's Georgia. More lately, she has divided her time between movies and premium television, notably starring opposite Ben Mendelsohn in 2019's The Outsider as Darlene Kiger opposite Mark Ruffalo in that same year's Darkwaters. She has participated in less projects in the 2020s, but following an eight-episode appearance as Diane Mallum on Dopesick, she returned in a supporting part in the Chiwetel Ejiofor-directed 2024 drama Rob Peace.
Mare Winningham, one of the only stars in the core cast of St. Elmo's Fire not to be generally regarded as part of the Brat Pack, didn't have any more significant collaborations with the primary members.
Also MacDowell
Andie MacDowell, who portrayed Kirby's love interest Dale Biberman in St. Elmo's Fire, followed that performance with a prominent part opposite Bill Murray in 1993's Groundhog Day. More lately, participating in 18 productions since 2019, she has outperformed even Judd Nelson. These include the 2019 Radio Silence horror outing Ready or Not, the Ted Danson sitcom Mr. Mayor (in which she played herself), and the Hallmark time travel drama The Way Home.
Like many other "Brat Pack" members, St. Elmo's Fire's performers discovered great success in the 1980s. But the "Brat Pack" moniker has been mostly forgotten as younger generations of Hollywood stars emerge. However, that doesn't mean the stars of St. Elmo's Fire are any less talented or relevant today. They've continued to work in the industry, taking on diverse roles in film and television, showcasing their versatility and dedication to their craft. The "Brat Pack" era may be over, but the stars of St. Elmo's Fire remain a talented group of Actors with enduring careers.
