“You Don’t Look Happy…” Where Are They Now: The ‘80s Heartthrobs of Less Than Zero
Less Than Zero, the ‘80s film adaptation of Bret Easton Ellis’ novel by the same name, starred “Brat Pack” hit makers: Andrew McCarthy, Robert Downey Jr. and Jami Gertz. Andrew McCarthy’s character, Clay, comes home for Christmas break during his first year of college to find both his best friend (Downey Jr.) and high school girlfriend (Gertz) addicted to drugs and in a confusing love triangle. Set against the cocaine-ridden, party hard backdrop of LA’s wealthy offspring, the film was a grim depiction of LA’s desperate youth. Snakkle looks back on their noteworthy roles and finds out where they are now! By Brittany CarsonOne of the most successful ‘80s graduates of the “Brat Pack,” Downey Jr. has had his fair share of love, loss and triumph in LA that paralleled a little too closely his role in Less Than Zero. After becoming a real life version of his drug-addicted character Julian Wells, Downey Jr. suffered a number of drug-related arrests and incidents that harpooned his rising star. In 2000, after spending nearly a year in rehab, Downey Jr. joined the cast of Ally McBeal and won a Golden Globe for his role. In 2001, Downey Jr. was arrested again on suspicion of being under the influence. Since then, he’s cleaned up his act and landed a series of highly acclaimed supporting and lead roles. He struck box office gold with Iron Man and The Avengers series, which helped cement his career comeback as an A-list talent, and he’s been unstoppable ever since.