Golden Bachelorette Joan Vassos Appeared in St. Elmo’s Fire

Golden Bachelorette star Joan Vassos had her very own Brat Pack moment thanks to her appearance in St. Elmo’s Fire.

The Bachelor Nation star, 61, revealed she was a background actor in the 1985 John Hughes film — while teasing her celebrity crush.

“I love Rob Lowe. I think he’s so freaking handsome, and he’s funny, and he’s a great actor,” Joan told Entertainment Tonight in an interview published on Thursday, June 20. “I was actually an extra in a movie that he was in, so I met him in person. I’ve loved him since I was 21 years old. I was in St. Elmo’s Fire. You can see me, like, in a split second as an extra.”

52 minutes into the film, cameras catch Joan riding on a bicycle past a fraternity house as Lowe’s character, Billy Hicks, sits outside. St. Elmo’s Fire and other iconic coming-of-age movies in the ‘80s, like The Breakfast Club, earned a cult following. Many of the films’ stars, including Lowe, now 60, Molly Ringwald and Demi Moore were grouped together and referred to as the Brat Pack.

Related: The Brat Pack: A Complete Guide to the Actors That Ruled the ’80s

The Brat Pack will be reuniting to grace screens for the first time since the height of their Hollywood reign. Andrew McCarthy, best known for his starring roles in Pretty in Pink and St. Elmo’s Fire, is bringing the famed group of actors back together for a Hulu documentary — aptly titled Brats — that […]

St. Elmo’s Fire was filmed in several locations, including Washington, D.C., and around Joan’s home state of Maryland, which may be how she became connected with the background acting gig. After her appearance in the ‘80s flick, she did not go on to pursue a career in acting. The reality star now works in alumni relations for a school in Bethesda, Maryland.

Joan is the first-ever Golden Bachelorette after appearing in the debut season of The Golden Bachelor, which starred Gerry Turner. She left during week 3 because of a family emergency involving her daughter, who had just given birth. Joan is a widower, and her late husband, John, died in 2021 at age 59 after a battle with pancreatic cancer.

As she prepares to meet the contestants vying for a rose, Joan teased that in addition to Rob Lowe, Kevin Costner is also her type.

“I love Kevin Costner. Since Yellowstone, I just think he is the rugged, sexy guy,” she said. “Kind of opposite of Rob Lowe, who’s kind of polished. He is so darn handsome.”

Related: ‘80s Stars: Where Are They Now?

While some of today’s biggest A-listers got their start in the ’80s, many of their famous contemporaries in the “Me” decade live quieter, more low-profile lives today. From Tom Cruise, who bravely donned those tighty whities in Risky Business, to the boys and girls of the Brat Pack, click through to see which stars got their big breaks in the 1980s — and see where they ended up!

Looks aside, Joan is looking for a “family man” who knows how to treat a lady.

“My father was the ultimate gentleman. He opened doors, carried everything, hopped up when a woman walked in the room, was always polite, never cussed, just was such a gentleman. I am looking for a gentleman,” Joan said. “There is something about that that is so charming and endearing to me.”

She continued, “I’m also looking for somebody that has a little sense of adventure. I worked my whole life getting to this place in life, and had planned on having all those adventures with John.”

Joan has “really missed” planning a future with someone after the death of her husband, adding, “I am ready for somebody that has a little sense of adventure and ready to have some fun. You only get to do this once. You only get to live once. It’s a big world and I’m ready to see it. I feel like I gotta get moving.”