Examining the iconic Brat Pack movie St. Elmo's Fire Cast & Character Guide
Comprising several well-known teenage cinema stars from the era, St. Elmo's Fire is a cult-classic coming-of- age film from 1985. Directed by Joel Schumacher, the film stars various Hollywood Brat Pack members. The name originated in a controversial 1985 New York Magazine article to describe a particular set of 1980s young actors. Though it only features two Brat Pack performers, St. Elmo's Fire is among the most watched Brat Pack films ever produced.
Among other Brat Pack films, such The Breakfast Club and Pretty In Pink, this one is clearly a classic. The title derives from the name of the tavern where a group of college buddies congregate; St. Elmo's Fire chronicles their challenges with transitioning to adulthood. It is undERstandable that the film has endured and grown to be a beloved coming-of- age film of the 1980s given the power of the actors buoying the moments of romance and interpersonal conflict.
Andrew McCarthy as Kevin Dolenz
Born in Westfield, New Jersey, Andrew McCarthy first landed in a significant part in the romantic comedy Class in 1983. His performances in St. Elmo's Fire and Pretty In Pink fast earned him a Brat Pack membERship. McCarthy also played in Side Man, which later took home the 1999 Tony for Best Play, and acted in musicals. McCarthy has taken up directing since then and oversaw multiple episodes of Orange Is The New Black and The Blacklist.
McCarthy portrays journalist of The Washington Post Kevin Dolenz in St. Elmo's Fire, a roommate of Kirby. He wishes he could accomplish more and battles to find purpose in his new profession while simultaneously fighting with romance. He eventually gets motivated to compose a work on the essence of existence.
Demi Moore as Julianna "Jules" Van Patten
Demi Moore's birthplace is Roswell, New Mexico. Blame It On Rio in 1984 marked her first big break-through performance. She has now developed into a well-known performer playing Madison Lee in Charlie's Angel: Full Throttle and Jordan O'Neill in G.I. Jane. Her work has earned multiple Golden Globe Nominations; her performance in Ghost in 1991 brought her a Saturn Award for Best Actress.
Character: Jules, played by Demi Moore, is a party girl personally yet a banker by trade. She battles the change between her personal and business life throughout the film and turns into a sobering warning against drug usage. She also battles with relationships and with juggling her friendships.
Leslie Hunter: Ally Sheedy
Born in New York City, New York, Ally Sheedy initially landed a major part in Bad Boys in 1983. Later she starred in Oxford Blues and The Breakfast Club, which helped her become well-known as part of the Brat Pack. She has had important parts in many TV shows since then, notably Yang in Psych.
Ally Sheedy portrays architect Leslie Hunter, who is dating Alec. She is not sure whether the two of them are ready to take things seriously, hence she have her own goals and conflicts with her connection with Alec. As allegations of infidelity spread, her relationship with Alec gets ever more challenging.
Billy Hicks is Rob Lowe.
Born in Charlottesville, Virginia, Rob Lowe first had a breakthrough performance in The Outsiders in 1983. Later on, he also joined the Brat Pack and kept performing in films meant for young people like Oxford Blues and St. Elmo's Fire. Later on, his performance as Sam Seaborn in The West Wing brought two Golden Globe Awards.
Rob Lowe stars Billy Hicks, a frat kid unable to give up his partying way of life. He battles alcohol-related unpleasant events as well as personally and romantically. Billy's Character is similar to Jules' in that they both struggle in negotiating their personal and professional life.
Emilio Estevez as Keer Keger
Born in New York City, New York, Emilio Estevez initially had a big breakthrough performance in The Outsiders in 1983 with Rob Lowe. Prominent Brat Pack member he starred in hits including The Breakfast Club, Young Guns, and Repo Man. Apart from performing, he has also directed Men at Work and The Way among numerous films.
Emilio Estevez portrays Kirby Keager, a law student also working as a server at the preferred friend group venue, St. Elmo's Bar. He grows in love with Dale, the character of Andie MacDowell, all through the Movie. Unfortunately, Kirby's fixation on Dale transcends a mere crush and becomes stalking, frightening and worrying Dale.
Judd Nelson as Alec Newbury.
Born in Portland, Maine, Judd Nelson originally gained recognition for his performances as John Bender in The Breakfast Club and Alec in St. Elmo's Fire, both of which were released in 1985. Like many of his fellow actors, he joined the Brat Pack via these roles. He later surfaced in the 2012 music video for "Gotten".
Judd Nelson portrays Alec Newberry, a new graduate aiming for a political career. He battles his romantic life along with some of his buddies. Although he is emotionally engaged with Leslie, he battles infidelity and so the two of them find themselves wondering about the course of their relationship.
Mare Winningham as Wendy Beamish
Born in Phoenix, Arizona, Mare Winningham initially landed in Amber Waves as Marlene Burkhardt in 1980, where she ultimately won an Emmy Award for Best Supporting Actress in A Miniseries or A Movie. She has also been nominated for two Tony awards—for her performance in the Broadway Casa Valentina production. She became an adjacent Brat Pack member after starring in St. Elmo's Fire.
Mare Winningham is Wendy, a quiet but useful social worker. She grows to connect with Rob Lowe's character and spends the film feeding into rebellious actions. She has a rebellious attitude throughout the film that seems counterintuitive for her look.
Andie MacDowell as Dale Biberman
Actor: Andie MacDowell was born in Gaffney, South Carolina and, although having acted in St. Elmo's Fire in 1985, she did not have a major breakthrough part until Sex, Lies, And Videotape in 1989. Her character as Ann in that movie resulted in a Best Actress In A Motion Picture Drama Golden Globe nomination. She is well renowned for her parts in Groundhog Day and Four Weddings And A Funeral and has lately acted in several romantic comedies.
Andie MacDowell plays Dale Biberman. She is tied to St. Elmo's Fire even if she is not part of their main friend group since Kirby's affections target her. Working as a medical intern, Dale makes sporadic appearances in the movie as a secondary figure negotiating Kirby's romantic aspirations.
Fire Supporting Cast & Characters from St. Elmo
Martin Balsam is Mr. Beamish, Wendy's father in St. Elmo's Fire. He assumes the position of a demanding parent looking forward the best for Wendy. He tells Wendy several times how she compares to her sisters. Wendy's relationship with her father most certainly fuels her rebellious streak throughout the film. He most famously plays O.J. Berman in Breakfast at Tiffany's and Juror 1 in 12 Angry Men.
In St. Elmo's Fire, Joyce Van Patten portrays Wendy's mother Mrs. Beamish. Active since 1948, she has been in a variety of films and television shows, including The Good Guys. Her most well-known parts are those of Bernadette in Bone and Gloria Noonan in Grown Ups.
Fire in St. Elmo: A Classic Coming-of- Age Film
A fascinating film exploring the complexity of friendship, love, and the difficulties of maturing is St. Elmo's Fire. Themes of ambition, doubt, and the search for identity in the film appeal to viewers of many ages. The movie is a fascinating and remarkable cinematic experience since the whole Cast gives it a special vitality and dynamism.
Remarkably timeless, St. Elmo's Fire reminds viewers of the value of friendship, the force of love, and the ongoing appeal of the Brat Pack era.
