Former ’80s Star Falls for West Texas Charm

He was the rich kid in Pretty in Pink and fell in love with a mannequin at one point, but do you know what he's been up to lately? A lot, apparently!

West Texas has a way of humbling you even if you’re Hollywood royalty.

Former Brat Pack star Andrew McCarthy recently traveled through the Lone Star State while promoting his upcoming book and described Texas as a “strange, wondrous planet” during his 10,000-mile road trip across America.

If you’ve ever stood under a West Texas sky, you know exactly what he means.

Andrew McCarthy’s West Texas Road Trip Stop

McCarthy is currently promoting his upcoming book, Who Needs Friends: An Unscientific Examination of Male Friendship Across America, set for release March 24, 2026.

The project began with a surprisingly blunt question from his son: Do you even have friends?

That question sent the former ’80s icon on a nationwide journey to reconnect with old friends and examine the state of male friendship in America. Over 10,000 miles, he met with dozens of men- from cowboys to musicians- discussing vulnerability, connection, and why male friendships can be so complicated.

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And somewhere along that road, he found himself in Texas.

Why West Texas Feels Like Another Planet

In a recent Instagram Reel, McCarthy shared footage from his time in West Texas, calling it a “strange, wondrous planet.”

It wasn’t sarcasm. It was awe.

It always amazes me at how wonderful West Texas really is when it's shown to me through someone else's eyes.

From ’80s Heartthrob to American Travel Writer

Long gone are the days when McCarthy was just the star of Weekend at Bernie’s and St. Elmo's Fire; he’s now an established travel writer and author. His 2021 memoir Brat: An '80s Story revisited his rise to fame, while Walking with Sam chronicled a 32-day trek across Spain with his son.

Who Needs Friends may be his most personal project yet- less about nostalgia, more about connection.

McCarthy may have set out to reconnect with old friends, but along the way, Texas clearly left its mark on him, too. And if you ask most Texans, that’s no surprise at all.