Rob Lowe Reveals His Favorite Part of Filming St. Elmo’s Fire: ‘It Doesn’t Get Any More 1980s Than’ That (Exclusive)

NEED TO KNOW
- Rob Lowe reveals his favorite part of filming St. Elmo’s Fire in an exclusive interview with PEOPLE
- The actor starred as saxophone-playing frat boy William “Billy” Hicks in the 1985 film
- “It was just a great moment that those writers gave my character, and I’ll never forget it,” Lowe says of the moment
Rob Lowe has a standout moment from working on one of his most popular films.
In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, the actor, 61, reveals his favorite part of filming 1985’s St. Elmo’s Fire, in which he starred as frat boy William “Billy” Hicks.
“I think playing the saxophone in that bar was a highlight,” Lowe says of the scene, in which he performs the woodwind instrument onstage during a night out. “It doesn’t get any more 1980s movie moment than playing your sweaty sax solo with your iconic bat shirt on and then getting in a brawl.”
“It was just a great moment that those writers gave my character, and I’ll never forget it,” adds the star, who continues his ongoing partnership with Atkins.
St. Elmo’s Fire is an essential movie part of the “Brat Pack” genre — a nickname given to a group of young actors and actresses who appeared in popular coming-of-age films during the 1980s.
The Joel Schumacher-directed project follows a group of recent graduates and their adjustment to post-college life.
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Alongside Lowe, Emilio Estevez, Andrew McCarthy, Demi Moore, Judd Nelson, Ally Sheedy, Andie MacDowell and Mare Winningham also star.
Deadline reported that a sequel was in the works in June 2024. The outlet said the project is in early development at Sony Pictures.
Speaking with PEOPLE in 2024, Lowe said being famous in the ’80s was “crazy,” further explaining, “It’s the kind of stuff you look back on and go, did that really happen?”
And one of the more “surreal” moments that came in the wake of the release of St. Elmo’s Fire, the father of two said, was seeing people dressing up as his charismatic party boy character for Halloween.
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“It was the first time I ever saw someone dressed like me for Halloween,” Lowe said. “I remember being on a balcony, looking down and somebody getting out of a car dressed like my character with a saxophone over their back and the shaggy hair, earring and the Hawaiian shirt.”
St. Elmo’s Fire is available to purchase and stream.
Source: People
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