It's hard to believe that one of the 1980s' most cherished teen dramedies, Pretty in Pink, is now 40 years old.
Released on 28 February, 1986, the film arrived at the height of the "Brat Pack" movement, directed by Howard Deutch and written by the movement's leading figure, John Hughes.
© Pretty In PinkIt is now one of the quintessential "prom" movies, blending commentary on class and cultural differences, male-female friendship dynamics, and dysfunctional families, with one of the decade's most acclaimed soundtracks and a stacked cast.
But where are those stars, 40 years later? Walk down memory lane with HELLO! as we revisit the lives of the film's central cast in 2026…
© Getty ImagesMolly Ringwald aka Andie Walsh
Now 58, Molly Ringwald broke into the mainstream with Pretty in Pink as one of the defining members of the Brat Pack. She parlayed that success into a film career as an adult in the '90s, including several French films that came from a move to Paris.
Her career briefly slowed in the 2000s before picking up once again thanks to a main role in The Secret Life of the American Teenager (2008-13), the Kissing Booth film series (2018-21), and Riverdale (2017-23). She also received notices for the Ryan Murphy series Monster (2022) and Feud (2024), and has two more movies set for a 2026 release.
Molly married French writer Valéry Lameignère in 1999, although their marriage was short-lived, ending in 2002. She married author Panio Gianopoulos in 2009, welcoming three kids with him.
© Getty ImagesJon Cryer aka Philip "Duckie" Dale
Now 60, Jon Cryer appeared in several films throughout the '80s and '90s, including Morgan Stewart's Coming Home and Superman IV: The Quest for Peace (both 1987), plus TV shows like The Famous Teddy Z, Partners and The Trouble with Normal, as well as Supergirl in the early 2020s.
His main claim to fame is now his turn as Alan Harper in Two and a Half Men from 2003-2015, remaining the show's lead for its entire run and winning two Primetime Emmys for his work. He married actress Sarah Trigger in 1999, welcoming a son before their 2004 divorce. Since 2007, he has been married to journalist Lisa Joyner, with the couple sharing a daughter.
© Getty ImagesAndrew McCarthy aka Blane McDonnagh
Now 63, Andrew McCarthy's career with the Brat Pack continued to soar, especially with the film Fresh Horses (1988), as well as the '80s smash hits Mannequin (1987) and Weekend at Bernie's (1989). After a run on Broadway, he turned to TV, best known for directing episodes of the shows Gossip Girl, White Collar and Orange is the New Black, plus starring in The Resident.
In 2024, he directed the Brat Pack documentary BRATS, recentering the narrative about the group. In 1999, he tied the knot with Carol Schneider, welcoming a son (Sam, now also an actor) before their 2005 divorce. He then welcomed two children with writer Dolores Rice, who he married in 2011.
© Getty ImagesAnnie Potts aka Iona
Now 73, Annie Potts was already an established star by the time Pretty in Pink came out, especially due to her involvement with the Ghostbusters franchise. Since then, she's earned much acclaim and recognition for her TV work, including central turns in shows like Designing Women, Love & War, Dangerous Minds, Any Day Now, The Fosters, Young Sheldon, and currently, George and Mandy's First Marriage and Best Medicine.
She is also known for voicing Bo Peep in the Toy Story franchise (the latest instalment of which comes out later this year). Shortly after Pretty in Pink's release, Annie divorced her third husband, B. Scott Senechal, with whom she'd welcomed a son. Since 1990, she has been married to James Hayman, welcoming two more sons with him.
© Getty ImagesJames Spader aka Steff McKee
Now 66, James Spader achieved his critical breakthrough just a few years after Pretty in Pink, winning a Cannes Film Festival Award for Best Actor for his turn in 1989's Sex, Lies, and Videotape. On the other hand, many cinema buffs may also recognize him as the voice of Ultron from the Marvel Cinematic Universe, specifically 2015's Avengers: Age of Ultron.
He starred as Alan Shore in the last season of The Practice (2003-04), before taking that role to spin-off Boston Legal (2004-08), winning three Primetime Emmy Awards for the latter. He also has multiple Golden Globe and SAG Award nominations for his work in Boston Legal, The Office and The Blacklist.
In 1987, he married decorator Victoria Kheel, welcoming two sons before their 2004 divorce. Since 2002, he has been with his Alien Hunter co-star Leslie Stefanson, welcoming another son with her.
© Getty ImagesHarry Dean Stanton aka Jack Walsh
Harry Dean Stanton was already a Hollywood heavyweight by the time he appeared in Pretty in Pink, known especially for his work as a supportive anchor to many Hollywood blockbusters as well as critically acclaimed indie darlings, especially praised by the likes of Jack Nicholson, Francis Ford Coppola, Roger Ebert, and David Lynch.
Some of his most prominent roles since Pretty in Pink include Wild at Heart (1990), The Straight Story, The Green Mile (both 1999), Inland Empire (2006), Rango (2011), The Avengers (2012), Lucky (2017), and the Twin Peaks franchise. He never married or had kids. In 2017, he passed away at the age of 91.
