---
name: "Molly Ringwald"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/molly-ringwald"
fi1m_id: "molly-ringwald"
imdb_id: "nm0000208"
tmdb_id: 21625
wikidata_id: "Q231460"
roles: ["Actor"]
born: "18 February 1968"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 4
average_fi1m_score: 64
average_as: "actor"
average_over: 4
updated: "2026-09-23T12:02:34.731040+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Molly Ringwald

## Identity

Molly Ringwald

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/molly-ringwald
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** molly-ringwald
- **IMDb ID:** nm0000208
- **TMDB ID:** 21625
- **Wikidata ID:** Q231460
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molly_Ringwald, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q231460, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000208/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/21625

Actor. Born 18 February 1968 in Roseville, California, USA.

## Details

- **Work:** Actor
- **Born:** 18 February 1968, Roseville, California, USA
- **Active:** 1985–present
- **Also known as:** Molly Kathleen Ringwald
- **Average Fi1m score:** 64, as actor, over 4 titles
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 1980s 75 (1), 2020s 60 (3)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 64 to 59 across 4 titles
- **Score spread:** 1 at 80+, 1 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 4 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Comedy 3, Drama 3, Crime 1, Romance 1
- **Screen time:** 3 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $67m across 2 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Molly_Ringwald, https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q231460, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0000208/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/21625

## Streaming the US now

- **Disney+:** [*The Bear*](https://film.one/tv/the-bear-2022.md) (82), [*The Breakfast Club*](https://film.one/film/the-breakfast-club.md) (75)
- **Netflix:** [*DAHMER - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story*](https://film.one/tv/dahmer-monster-the-jeffrey-dahmer-story.md) (51)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Fi1m on Molly Ringwald

> Molly Ringwald’s strength is her connection with other actors, evident in her John Hughes films and still useful in smaller adult parts. We rate her quiet work in *The Bear* without needing it to recall her teenage leads.

In *The Bear* (2022), Molly Ringwald plays an Al-Anon moderator for a single episode and keeps the performance low-key. We felt grateful for her restraint in a series whose kitchen friction can leave us exhausted. Our enthusiasm for the drama rests on its unusually persuasive ensemble, and her contribution fits that humane approach. The part is brief, but she does not make it feel like an interruption by a visiting star.

John Hughes wrote the lead role of Samantha Baker in *Sixteen Candles* (1984) for her. She followed it with Claire Standish in *The Breakfast Club* (1985) and Andie Walsh in *Pretty in Pink* (1986), the last of their three collaborations. She made those teenage parts persuasive through chemistry with the other actors and a willingness to improvise. That is a better reason to revisit them than nostalgia for the decade.

Television later gave her sustained adult work, including Anne Juergens in *The Secret Life of the American Teenager* (2008–13) and a run in *Riverdale* (2017–23). Maternal and supporting roles became a recurring part of her casting. Her presence is not a recommendation by itself: in *One Night Only* (2026), where she plays Linda, the timid handling of an annual sex exemption leaves the romantic comedy muddled. Monica Barbaro and Callum Turner make an appealing pair, but their chemistry cannot make the premise funny enough to forget its unpleasantness.

Ringwald said of her appearance in *The Bear* that many people did not recognise her, something she considered the biggest compliment. We understand the satisfaction, because her understated performance gives us something to appreciate beyond recognising the face. It is a useful place to start if the teenage leads are all that come to mind when her name appears. Try the series for her quieter adult work, with fair warning that the restaurant is not a restful place to spend an evening.

## Biography

Molly Ringwald is an American actress. She began her career as a child performer in stage productions and on television series including *The Facts of Life* (1979–80). Her motion picture debut came in *Tempest* (1982), for which she received a Golden Globe nomination.

Ringwald became known for her roles in John Hughes films *Sixteen Candles* (1984), *The Breakfast Club* (1985) and *Pretty in Pink* (1986). Later credits include regular roles in *The Secret Life of the American Teenager* (2008–2013) and *Riverdale* (2017–2023), appearances in the *Kissing Booth* films, and a guest role as Moderator in *The Bear* (2022).

*Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org, variety.com.*

## On Fi1m (4)

- *One Night Only* (2026), Fi1m 46, as Linda — [page](https://film.one/film/one-night-only.md)
- *DAHMER - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story* (2022), Fi1m 51, as Shari Dahmer — [page](https://film.one/tv/dahmer-monster-the-jeffrey-dahmer-story.md)
- *The Bear* (2022), Fi1m 82, as Moderator — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-bear-2022.md)
- *The Breakfast Club* (1985), Fi1m 75, as Claire Standish — [page](https://film.one/film/the-breakfast-club.md)

## Complete filmography (85)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *One Night Only* (2026), as Linda — Fi1m 46, [page](https://film.one/film/one-night-only.md)
- *Run Amok* (2026), as Aunt Val
- *Montauk* (2025), as Wolcott
- *Catherine & Michael* (2023), as Naomi
- *Bad Things* (2023), as Miss Auerbach
- *Pursued* (2023), as Carol
- *DAHMER - Monster: The Jeffrey Dahmer Story* (2022), series, as Shari Dahmer — Fi1m 51, [page](https://film.one/tv/dahmer-monster-the-jeffrey-dahmer-story.md)
- *The Bear* (2022), series, as Moderator — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-bear-2022.md)
- *A Brief History of Us* (2022), as Narrator (voice)
- *Single Drunk Female* (2022), series, as Alice
- *The Kissing Booth 3* (2021), as Mrs. Flynn
- *HouseBroken* (2021), series, as Milly (voice)
- *The Kissing Booth 2* (2020), as Mrs. Flynn
- *Creepshow* (2019), series, as Mrs. Porter (segment "Sibling Rivalry")
- *Tales of the City* (2019), series, as Claire's Mother
- *All These Small Moments* (2019), as Carla Sheffield
- *Siberia* (2018), as Gabby
- *The Kissing Booth* (2018), as Mrs. Flynn
- *SPF-18* (2017), as Linda Sanders
- *FEUD* (2017), series, as Joanne Carson
- *Riverdale* (2017), series, as Mary Andrews
- *King Cobra* (2016), as Amy
- *Raising Expectations* (2016), series, as Paige Wayney
- *Jem and the Holograms* (2015), as Aunt Bailey
- *Bad Night* (2015), as The Collector
- *Odd Mom Out* (2015), series, as Joy Greene
- *Wishin' and Hopin'* (2014), as Madame Frechette
- *Me* (2014), as Pepper Folly
- *Rainbow Brite* (2014), series, as Dark Princess
- *Doc McStuffins* (2012), series, as Darla (voice)
- *Sincerely Yours* (2008), as Claire Standish (archive footage) (uncredited)
- *The Secret Life of the American Teenager* (2008), series, as Anne Juergens
- *Molly: An American Girl on the Home Front* (2006), as Helen McIntire
- *The Wives He Forgot* (2006), as Charlotte Saint John
- *Psych* (2006), series, as McElroy
- *Medium* (2005), series, as Kathleen Walsh
- *The Big Time* (2002), as Marion Powers
- *In the Darkness of Time* (2002), as (archive footage) (uncredited)
- *Cowboy Up* (2002), as Connie
- *Not Another Teen Movie* (2001), as Flight Attendant
- *The $treet* (2000), series, as Devyn Alden
- *In the Weeds* (2000), as Chloe
- *The Giving Tree* (2000), as Penelope
- *Cut* (2000), as Vanessa Turnbill / Chloe
- *Kimberly* (1999), as Nancy
- *Teaching Mrs. Tingle* (1999), as Miss Banks
- *Requiem for Murder* (1999), as Anne Winslow
- *Twice Upon a Time* (1998), as Beth Sager
- *Since You've Been Gone* (1998), as Claire the Fan
- *Titey* (1998), as Anne Frank (voice)
- *Office Killer* (1997), as Kim Poole
- *Townies* (1996), series, as Carrie Donovan
- *Baja* (1996), as Bebe Stone
- *Enfants de salaud* (1996), as Susan
- *Remember WENN* (1996), series, as Angela Colton
- *Malicious* (1995), as Melissa Nelson
- *The Outer Limits* (1995), series, as Allison Channing
- *Seven Sundays* (1995), as Janet Gifford
- *The Stand* (1994), series, as Frannie Goldsmith
- *Some Folks Call It a Sling Blade* (1994), as Teresa Tatum
- *Face the Music* (1993), as Lisa Hunter
- *Something to Live for: The Alison Gertz Story* (1992), as Alison Gertz
- *Betsy's Wedding* (1990), as Betsy Hopper
- *Women and Men: Stories of Seduction* (1990), as Kit (segment "Dusk Before Fireworks")
- *Strike It Rich* (1990), as Cary
- *Fresh Horses* (1988), as Jewel
- *King Lear* (1988), as Cordelia
- *For Keeps* (1988), as Darcy Elliot Bobrucz
- *The Pick-up Artist* (1987), as Randy Jensen
- *P.K. and the Kid* (1987), as P.K. Bayette
- *Johnny Appleseed* (1986), as Jenny Smith
- *Pretty in Pink* (1986), as Andie Walsh
- *Tall Tales & Legends* (1985), series, as Jenny Smith
- *The Breakfast Club* (1985), as Claire Standish — Fi1m 75, [page](https://film.one/film/the-breakfast-club.md)
- *Surviving* (1985), as Lonnie
- *Sixteen Candles* (1984), as Samantha Baker
- *Spacehunter: Adventures in the Forbidden Zone* (1983), as Nikki
- *Packin' It In* (1983), as Melissa Webber
- *Tempest* (1982), as Miranda
- *The Facts of Life* (1979), series, as Molly Parker
- *Diff'rent Strokes* (1978), series, as Molly Parker
- *Saturday TV Funhouse*, series, as Anne Frank (voice)
- *Puff and the Incredible Mr. Nobody*, series, Creator
- *Columbarium*, Actor
- *Crazy Sunshine: The Mess We Made*, Actor

## Gallery

- ![Molly Ringwald](https://film.one/media/person/44010/gallery-0854d235a027.jpg) Molly Ringwald — CaseyJNewell, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c0/Molly_Ringwald_at_Sundance_Film_Festival_2026-4_%28cropped%29.jpg/1280px-Molly_Ringwald_at_Sundance_Film_Festival_2026-4_%28cropped%29.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Cast of "The Breakfast Club" speaking at a Q&A panel at MEGACON Orlando 2025 on February 7, 2025.](https://film.one/media/person/44010/gallery-e7b9d27247ea.jpg) Cast of "The Breakfast Club" speaking at a Q&A panel at MEGACON Orlando 2025 on February 7, 2025. — Nielsoncaetanosalmeron, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/2b/MEGACON_Orlando_2025_%22The_Breakfast_Club%22_Q%26A_panel.jpg/1280px-MEGACON_Orlando_2025_%22The_Breakfast_Club%22_Q%26A_panel.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Maria Semple and Molly Ringwald in Conversation with Carolyn Kellogg of the LA Times (2013)](https://film.one/media/person/44010/gallery-ad2603cf9377.jpg) Maria Semple and Molly Ringwald in Conversation with Carolyn Kellogg of the LA Times (2013) — Neon Tommy, CC BY-SA 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/55/Maria_Semple_and_Molly_Ringwald_in_Conversation_with_Carolyn_Kellogg_of_the_LA_Times.jpg/1280px-Maria_Semple_and_Molly_Ringwald_in_Conversation_with_Carolyn_Kellogg_of_the_LA_Times.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Molly Ringwald at the opening night of "Dog Day Afternoon" on Broadway - March 30, 2026](https://film.one/media/person/44010/gallery-95ac05cbbb8b.jpg) Molly Ringwald at the opening night of "Dog Day Afternoon" on Broadway - March 30, 2026 — PhilipRomanoPhoto, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/6d/MollyRingwald-byPhilipRomano.jpg/1280px-MollyRingwald-byPhilipRomano.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Molly Ringwald](https://film.one/media/person/44010/gallery-2e805db4b775.jpg) Molly Ringwald — Image via TMDB
- ![Molly Ringwald](https://film.one/media/person/44010/gallery-a53719f65b61.jpg) Molly Ringwald — Image via TMDB
- ![Molly Ringwald](https://film.one/media/person/44010/gallery-052722fd7462.jpg) Molly Ringwald — Image via TMDB
- ![Molly Ringwald at the LA Festival of Books. (2013)](https://film.one/media/person/44010/gallery-01ec286b68aa.jpg) Molly Ringwald at the LA Festival of Books. (2013) — Angela George, CC BY-SA 3.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d0/MollyRingwaldApr2013.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail_unscaled)
- ![Ringwald at the WeHo Book Fair in 2010](https://film.one/media/person/44010/gallery-3a80a8a9f66c.jpg) Ringwald at the WeHo Book Fair in 2010 — Pop Culture Geek, CC BY 2.0, via Wikimedia Commons (https://thumb.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Molly_Ringwald_2010.jpg/1280px-Molly_Ringwald_2010.jpg?utm_source=commons.wikimedia.org&utm_campaign=imageinfo&utm_content=thumbnail)
- ![Molly Ringwald](https://film.one/media/person/44010/gallery-db159a550392.jpg) Molly Ringwald — Image via TMDB
- ![Molly Ringwald](https://film.one/media/person/44010/gallery-ee88cbecf142.jpg) Molly Ringwald — Image via TMDB
- ![Molly Ringwald](https://film.one/media/person/44010/gallery-0cebdb50e071.jpg) Molly Ringwald — Image via TMDB

## Awards

### Other awards — 1 won, 1 nominated

- Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress 1991: Golden Raspberry Award for Worst Actress (nominated), for *Betsy's Wedding*
- Theatre World Award 1987: Theatre World Award (won)

*From Wikidata, which records wins more completely than nominations.*

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/molly-ringwald