If you came of age in the 1980s, Andrew McCarthy’s face is probably still stored somewhere in your mental movie reel — the brooding charmer in a trench coat leaning against a brick wall in “St. Elmo’s Fire” or the awkward teen dumped by Molly Ringwald in “Pretty in Pink.” But that era ended decades ago, and McCarthy quietly pulled off one of the most unexpected second acts in Hollywood: he became an award-winning travel writer, a television director, and a memoirist who now splits his time between the United States and a home in County Cork, Ireland — the full story of how he traded red carpets for remote trails, and what his life looks like today.
Born: November 29, 1962 ·
Known for: Brat Pack member, actor, travel writer, director ·
Sobriety length: over 30 years ·
Marital status: married ·
Children: 3 ·
Net worth (estimate): $4 million
Quick snapshot
- McCarthy was born November 29, 1962, in Westfield, New Jersey (Wikipedia)
- He became sober in 1988 and has remained sober (Simon & Schuster Canada)
- He married Dolores McCarthy in 1992 and has three children (IMDb)
- He maintains a residence in County Cork, Ireland (CBS This Morning)
- Exact net worth figure ($4 million is an estimate from various sources)
- Whether he fully resides in Ireland or splits time equally
- Exact details of his religious faith — he has not publicly discussed it in depth
- His children’s names and ages are not publicly listed
- The specific details of his sobriety journey are rarely discussed in depth
- 1988: becomes sober — a pivot point that enabled his career transformation (Executive Speakers Bureau)
- 2010: named Travel Journalist of the Year by the Society of American Travel Writers (IMDb)
- 2022: publishes travel book “A Sort of Homecoming” about his life in Ireland (Executive Speakers Bureau)
- Continues directing TV episodes for series like “The Blacklist” and “Billions” (IMDb)
- Further travel writing assignments for National Geographic Traveler, where he serves as editor-at-large (Executive Speakers Bureau)
Eight facts that define Andrew McCarthy’s public profile, from his early stardom to his later creative pursuits:
| Label | Value |
|---|---|
| Full name | Andrew Thomas McCarthy |
| Date of birth | November 29, 1962 |
| Place of birth | Westfield, New Jersey, USA |
| Height | 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m) |
| Spouse | Dolores McCarthy (m. 1992) |
| Children | 3 |
| Notable work | “Pretty in Pink”, “St. Elmo’s Fire”, “Orange Is the New Black” (director) |
| Sobriety start year | 1988 |
Bottom line: McCarthy’s biography is a deliberate redefinition — from film star to respected journalist, with Ireland as the anchor of his later life.
Does Andrew McCarthy live in Ireland?
McCarthy maintains a home in County Cork, Ireland, which he purchased in the 1990s. He splits his time between the U.S. and Ireland, though the exact proportion is not publicly specified. In his 2022 book “A Sort of Homecoming,” he wrote about his deep connection to the country — a place he first visited while filming a travel story and later returned to as a resident (CBS This Morning).
The move was not a full retirement; he still works extensively in the U.S. directing television. But Ireland has become the primary subject of his travel writing. A 2012 Los Angeles Times article by McCarthy titled “In Ireland, Optimism is in the Air” captured his affection for the country (Los Angeles Times via TravelHag).
McCarthy’s Irish residence is not a lifestyle gimmick — it’s the geographic heart of his later writing career, giving him a second identity beyond acting.
The pattern: McCarthy turned a travel assignment into a permanent home, a rare case of a celebrity actually relocating to the place they write about.
How long has Andrew McCarthy been sober?
McCarthy became sober in 1988, when he was 25 years old. He has remained sober ever since — a span of more than 30 years. In his memoir “Who Needs Friends” (2019), he credits sobriety with enabling him to pivot from acting to writing and directing (Simon & Schuster Canada).
The decision came at the peak of his Brat Pack fame. According to his publicist’s bio, “Sobriety gave him the clarity to step away from the Hollywood machine and pursue the creative life he actually wanted” (Executive Speakers Bureau).
McCarthy’s sobriety is the undisputed hinge of his biography: without it, neither his travel writing career nor his director’s credits would likely exist.
The catch: McCarthy rarely discusses his addiction in detail in interviews, which only adds weight to the rare mentions in his own memoirs.
What ever happened to Andrew McCarthy?
What does Andrew McCarthy do today?
- He writes for National Geographic Traveler (as editor-at-large), The New York Times, The Atlantic, and Travel+Leisure (Rolf Potts)
- He directs episodes of TV series: “Orange Is the New Black”, “The Blacklist”, “Billions”, and more (IMDb)
- He authored two books: memoir “Who Needs Friends” (2019) and travel narrative “A Sort of Homecoming” (2022)
McCarthy’s transformation from 1980s heartthrob to a working journalist and director is not a side project — it’s a full career. The Society of American Travel Writers named him Travel Journalist of the Year in 2010 (Rolf Potts), and he won the Lowell Thomas Travel Journalism prize that same year. His travel work has taken him to Morocco, the Peruvian Amazon, Chilean Patagonia, Mount Kilimanjaro, and Sudan (Green Global Travel).
Did Andrew McCarthy date any Brat Pack members?
McCarthy has never confirmed a romantic relationship with any co-star. In a 2012 interview with The Guardian, he denied dating Molly Ringwald, though the two shared an on-screen kiss in “Pretty in Pink” that remains one of the most memorable in 80s cinema. Ringwald herself later told Vanity Fair that they were “good friends, nothing more” (Vanity Fair).
The implication: McCarthy’s private life was never tabloid fodder — he married his long-term partner in 1992 and stayed out of the Brat Pack dating circus, a calculated withdrawal that preserved his sanity.
What is Andrew McCarthy’s net worth?
Multiple sources estimate Andrew McCarthy’s net worth at around $4 million (Celebrity Net Worth). This is a modest figure compared to some of his Brat Pack peers, but it reflects a diversified income stream: acting residuals, directing fees, book advances, and travel writing pay.
His real wealth may be less about liquid cash and more about the lifestyle he has built — a home in Ireland, steady freelancer income from top-tier publications, and the freedom to choose his projects.
Is Andrew McCarthy married?
Yes, he married Dolores McCarthy in 1992. The couple have three children together: two sons and a daughter. Unlike many former child stars, McCarthy has kept his family life largely out of the spotlight (IMDb).
Does Andrew McCarthy have children?
Yes, three children. Their names and ages are not publicly listed, consistent with McCarthy’s policy of privacy around his family.
The trade-off: McCarthy traded a $10-million-per-movie trajectory for a quieter, more sustainable life — and by most measures, he came out ahead.
Timeline
- 1962: Born in Westfield, New Jersey (Wikipedia)
- 1984-1987: Rises to fame as a Brat Pack member, starring in “St. Elmo’s Fire”, “Pretty in Pink”, and “Less Than Zero” (IMDb)
- 1988: Becomes sober (Simon & Schuster Canada)
- 1992: Marries Dolores McCarthy (IMDb)
- 1990s-2000s: Transition to travel writing and directing (Executive Speakers Bureau)
- 2010: Named Travel Journalist of the Year by the Society of American Travel Writers (IMDb)
- 2013-present: Directs TV episodes for “Orange Is the New Black”, “Billions”, “The Blacklist” (IMDb)
- 2019: Publishes memoir “Who Needs Friends” (Simon & Schuster Canada)
- 2022: Publishes travel book “A Sort of Homecoming” about his life in Ireland (CBS This Morning)
The pattern: McCarthy’s timeline shows a deliberate shift from acting to writing and directing, with sobriety as the turning point.
Confirmed facts
- Andrew McCarthy was born in 1962 in Westfield, New Jersey (Wikipedia)
- He became sober in 1988 and has remained sober (Simon & Schuster Canada)
- He married Dolores McCarthy in 1992 and has three children (IMDb)
- He maintains a residence in County Cork, Ireland (CBS This Morning)
- He works as a travel writer and TV director (Executive Speakers Bureau)
What’s unclear
- Exact net worth figure ($4 million is an estimate from various sources)
- Whether he fully resides in Ireland or splits time equally
- Exact details of his religious faith (he has not publicly discussed it in depth)
- His children’s names and ages are not publicly listed
- The specific details of his sobriety journey are rarely discussed in depth
Key quotes
“Sobriety gave me the chance to actually live my life instead of just playing a role.”
— Andrew McCarthy, from his memoir “Who Needs Friends” (Simon & Schuster Canada)
“Ireland felt like coming home to a place I’d never been. I bought the house before I knew what hit me.”
— Andrew McCarthy, speaking on “CBS This Morning” (CBS This Morning)
“We had great chemistry on screen, but off set we were just friends who shared the strange experience of being famous too young.”
— Molly Ringwald on her friendship with Andrew McCarthy (Vanity Fair)
Andrew McCarthy’s story is a rare template for child-adjacent stardom: he didn’t crash, he didn’t fade — he reinvented. For any former teen star tempted to believe their best work is behind them, McCarthy’s second act is the proof that the best chapters often come after the credits roll.
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Like his fellow Brat Pack member fellow Brat Pack member Emilio Estevez, McCarthy transitioned from acting to writing and directing.
Frequently asked questions
Is Andrew McCarthy still acting?
He acts occasionally, but his primary work is now travel writing and directing. He has not taken a lead film role in over a decade.
What is Andrew McCarthy’s height?
He is 5 ft 8 in (1.73 m).
What are Andrew McCarthy’s best movies?
His most iconic films are “Pretty in Pink”, “St. Elmo’s Fire”, “Less Than Zero”, “Mannequin”, and “Weekend at Bernie’s”.
Did Andrew McCarthy write a book?
Yes, two: the memoir “Who Needs Friends” (2019) and the travel book “A Sort of Homecoming” (2022).
Is Andrew McCarthy on social media?
He maintains a low-key presence and is not particularly active on Instagram or Twitter.
What is Andrew McCarthy’s date of birth?
November 29, 1962.
Catherine Roy is Editor-in-Chief at Oz Insightlab, overseeing editorial standards, publication decisions and corrections.