Molly Ringwald

Molly Ringwald began her career in 1978 at age 10, when she was cast as Kate in the West Coast production of the musical Annie. In 1979, she appeared in the television series Diff'rent Strokes and joined the cast of its spinoff, The Facts of Life, playing Molly Parker. She left the series at the beginning of its second season. In 1980, Ringwald performed as a lead vocalist on two Disney albums, Yankee Doodle Mickey, singing "This Is My Country" and "The Star-Spangled Banner," and Disney's Merry Christmas Carols, performing "The First Noel."

In 1982, Ringwald played a supporting role in Paul Mazursky's film Tempest, earning a Golden Globe Award nomination. She rose to prominence in 1984 with her portrayal of Samantha Baker in John Hughes' teen comedy Sixteen Candles. In 1985, she starred as Claire Standish in Hughes' The Breakfast Club. The following year, she played Andie Walsh in Pretty in Pink (1986), another Hughes film. In 1987, Ringwald starred as Randy Jensen opposite Robert Downey Jr. in The Pick-up Artist.

In 1988, Ringwald starred as Darcy Elliot in For Keeps and appeared in Fresh Horses, alongside Andrew McCarthy. In 1990, she starred in Strike It Rich, directed by James Scott, and played Betsy Hopper in Betsy's Wedding. In 1992, she starred in the television film Something to Live for: The Alison Gertz Story.

During the mid-1990s, Ringwald moved to Paris and appeared in several French films while continuing to take roles in American film and television productions. In 1994, she played Frannie Goldsmith in the television miniseries The Stand, adapted from Stephen King's novel. In 1995, she starred as Melissa Nelson in the film Malicious and appeared in the ABC sitcom Townies. She also appeared as a blind woman in the television series Remember WENN. In 1998, she starred alongside Lara Flynn Boyle and Teri Hatcher in the television film Since You've Been Gone.

In 1999, Ringwald played Li'l Bit in Paula Vogel's play How I Learned to Drive at the Mark Taper Forum in Los Angeles. In 2000, she appeared in the Showtime series The Outer Limits in the episode "Judgment Day" and starred in the ensemble film In the Weeds. In 2001, she made a cameo appearance in the comedy Not Another Teen Movie, earning an MTV Movie Award nomination. That year, she also appeared in the Off-Broadway musical tick, tick... BOOM! as Susan and began playing Sally Bowles in the Broadway revival of Cabaret, a role she performed through 2002.

In 2003, Ringwald appeared in the Broadway production of Enchanted April. In 2004, she starred opposite Jason Biggs and Craig Bierko in the Broadway play Modern Orthodox. In 2006, she starred in the television film The Wives He Forgot and played Charity Hope Valentine in the national tour of the Broadway revival of Sweet Charity. That year, she also played Helen, Molly McIntire's mother, in the television film Molly: An American Girl on the Home Front.

From 2008 to 2013, Ringwald starred in the ABC Family series The Secret Life of the American Teenager, which ran for five seasons and 121 episodes. In 2014, she played Madame Frechette in the Lifetime Christmas film Wishin' and Hopin'. In 2015, she portrayed Aunt Bailey in the film Jem and the Holograms. In 2016, she played Amy in the crime drama King Cobra and began appearing in the CW television series Riverdale as Mary Andrews, the mother of Archie Andrews. Her role became more prominent as the series continued.

She most recently appeared in Are You Now or Have You Ever Been Off-Broadway in 2026.