Andrew McCarthy is a director, an award winning travel writer, and—of course—an actor. He made his professional début at 19 in Class, and has appeared in dozens of films, including such iconic movies as Pretty in Pink, St. Elmo’s Fire, Less Then Zero, and cult favorites Weekend At Bernie’s and Mannequin.He has starred on Broadway and on television, most recently appearing in The Family, on ABC. McCarthy is also a highly regarded television director; having helmed Orange is the New Black, The Blacklist, Grace and Frankie, and many others.Simultaneously, McCarthy is an award winning travel writer. He is an editor-at-large at National Geographic Traveler, and has written for The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, The Los Angeles Times, The Atlantic, Travel+Leisure, AFAR, Men’s Journal, Bon Appetit, and many others. He has received six Lowell Thomas awards, and been named Travel Journalist of the Year by The Society of American Travel Writers.His travel memoir, THE LONGEST WAY HOME, became a New York Times Best Seller, and the Financial Times of London named it one of the Best Books of the year. He served as guest editor for the prestigious Best American Travel series in 2015.His debut novel, JUST FLY AWAY, will be published by Algonquin in the spring of 2017.McCarthy lives in New York City.
He appeared in John Parr s "St. Elmos Fire " music video.
Started smoking during the filming of St. Elmos Fire (his character smoked). Has since quit.
Brother of writer/director Justin McCarthy.
As soon as filming had finished for the movie Pretty in Pink , he was signed on to play the lead in Less Than Zero . As it happened, at the last moment, John Hughes (director of Pretty in Pink ) decided he wanted to change the ending at the last minute (to what it currently is), but Andrew had already shaved his head for his next role. To solve this problem, Mr. Hughes had him don a wig for the last scene of Pretty in Pink .
Ended up marrying his college sweetheart, Carol Schneider , 20 years after they first dated.
Has a son named Sam McCarthy, with Carol Schneider , born in 2002.
Is an avid and competent pool player.
Has worked alongside fellow actor James Spader in three previous films: Pretty in Pink , Mannequin and Less Than Zero
When the ending to Pretty in Pink was re-shot, all of the principal actors had to be called back. Andrew McCarthy had already lost a substantial amount of weight and shaved his head for a new role in a New York play called "The Boys of Winter." Although he wore an auburn wig, hes noticeably more gaunt in the reshot scenes.
Was one of the nine original members of the 1980s "brat pack", along with Judd Nelson , Demi Moore , Anthony Michael Hall , Sean Penn , Rob Lowe , Molly Ringwald , Emilio Estevez and Ally Sheedy.
Has a daughter, Willow (born 2006), with partner Dolores Rice.
Writes articles for travel magazines.
Since the mid-2000s, McCarthy has had a second career as a travel writer for such publications as National Geographic Traveler, Travel+Leisure, Afar, The Atlantic, The Wall Street Journal, Bon Appetit, The New York Times, Mens Journal, and Slate, among others. In 2010, the Society of American Travel Writers awarded McCarthy their Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism prize and named him Travel Journalist of the Year.
Is Left Handed.
Former Assistant U.S. Attorney.
Contributing editor, the National Review.
Executive director, Philadelphia Freedom Center.
Travel does this: it creates space that allows thoughts and memories to intrude and assert themselves with impunity. Smells and sights, the quality of light, the honk of a horn -- can all act as touchstones when least expected.
But in my clutching, it began to slip away. I softened my grasp and the sense of fluidity returned, I rode it like a wave. . . . This paradox provoked in me a sense of freedom and relief-relief that what I was always aware of on a faint, subconscious level was a strong and satisfying truth.
