For many, Ally Sheedy will always be Allison Reynolds, the “basket case” from The Breakfast Club—a role that made her an iconic member of the ’80s Brat Pack, alongside some of Hollywood’s coolest young stars of that era. But Sheedy’s career didn’t end in Shermer High’s library. Today, at 59, she’s still active in acting, teaching, and creative pursuits.
Sheedy continues to act. While she’s best remembered for The Breakfast Club and St. Elmo’s Fire, her career has spanned decades. She’s earned praise for roles in indie films like High Art and Life During Wartime, and has appeared on TV shows such as The Outer Limits, Oz, Once and Again, The Dead Zone, CSI, Kyle XY, and Psych. Currently, she stars as Carol on Freeform’s Single Drunk Female, portraying a mother helping her daughter get her life back on track.
However, she did face challenges in Hollywood. By the late ’90s, opportunities dwindled, and in 1997, she was dropped by her agents. “There was a whole period of time when I just could not get seen for a job,” she recalled in 2000. The “Brat Pack” label often worked against her, and she was even told she wasn’t “sexy” enough for lead roles. Sheedy remained true to her principles, turning down projects that compromised her values, even if they went on to become major hits.
Sheedy has also found fulfillment offscreen. A published author from the age of 12, she released a poetry collection in 1991 and sometimes works as a freelance book editor under a pseudonym. On stage, she made headlines in 1999 as the first cisgender woman to play the lead in Hedwig and the Angry Inch. She’s also dedicated time to teaching, volunteering in New York City public schools, and currently leads an acting class at the City College of New York, sharing insights from her early career with students.
Family remains central to her life. She married David Lansbury in 1992 and had one child, Beckett, before divorcing in 2008. Beckett, now 28, came out as trans during his teenage years, and Sheedy has been a supportive presence throughout his journey.
Sheedy has been single since 2008 and is comfortable with her life as it is. “I am completely done with men… I have a few close friends, whom I love. This is enough,” she said. Approaching 60, she embraces her age and accomplishments: “I like where my life is right now. I love the work that I do and I wouldn’t go back in time for anything.”
Sheedy hasn’t forgotten her past either. She still keeps in touch with The Breakfast Club co-star Molly Ringwald, maintaining a friendship grounded in their shared experiences and lives today.
