11 Adorable Brunette Friends in '80s Films

      Adorable brunette best friends are a key element in ’80s films.

      Often, they even find themselves in relationships with the main character.

      Toni Williams in Secret Admirer (Portrayed by Lori Loughlin)

      Credit: C/O

      When Michael Ryan (C. Thomas Howell) receives an anonymous love letter, he believes it’s from his blonde crush, Deborah (Kelly Preston).

      However, the sender is actually his close friend Toni, who turns out to be a brunette in a surprising twist.

      Due to a series of misunderstandings, the situation escalates, and Michael ultimately comes to the realization that Deborah is shallow, and that he and Toni are meant to be together. Naturally.

      Boof in Teen Wolf (Portrayed by Susan Ursitti)

      Credit: C/O

      Lisa “Boof” Marconi and Scott Howard (Michael J. Fox) are clearly destined for one another. Yet, Scott foolishly longs for the blonde Pamela (Lorie Griffin) — despite the fact that Pamela only likes Scott when he transforms into a wolf.

      Everything about Lisa embodies the cute brunette friend trope of ’80s films, even her charming nickname. It takes a closet party game for Scott and Boof to discover their undeniable chemistry.

      Duckie in Pretty in Pink (Portrayed by Jon Cryer)

      Credit: C/O

      Phil “Ducky” Dale boasts a fantastic ’80s fashion sense and is always there for Andie (Molly Ringwald), who is infatuated with the bland blonde Blane (Andrew McCarthy). However, Ducky is her true love — at least from his perspective.

      In hindsight, there’s something a bit creepy and cowardly about Ducky pretending to be just a friend while secretly hoping for a romantic connection with Andie.

      Yet, this dynamic is not uncommon in ’80s films.

      Also Read: 13 Stars of the ’80s Who Are Still Thriving

      Rick Morehouse in Just One of the Guys (Portrayed by Clayton Rohner)

      Credit: C/O

      No need to worry; not every entry on this list follows the classic ’80s film trope of a leading character yearning for a blonde while overlooking the supportive brunette.

      For example, in the wonderfully absurd Just One of the Guys, female high school journalist Terri Griffith (Joyce Hyser) goes undercover as a boy for a journalistic endeavor and develops feelings for the awkward new student Rick (Clayton Rohner).

      She masquerades as his new male best friend to help him fit in before her deception is uncovered and various lessons are learned.

      And before you mistakenly argue, “What? The title refers to Terri, not Rick!” please note that it actually pertains to both characters: Just One of the Guys is a compellingly layered film with multiple meanings.

      Allison Bradbury in The Sure Thing (Portrayed by Daphne Zuniga)

      Credit: C/O

      Walter (John Cusack) and Allison (Daphne Zuniga) are clearly perfect for one another, but he is infatuated with the blonde, enigmatic "Sure Thing" (Nicolette Sheridan) as the title suggests.

      Throughout a series of road trip escapades, Walter and Allison form a deep bond that eventually blossoms into romance as Walter realizes he doesn’t truly love The Sure Thing.

      This film debuted in 1985, the same year as the next film on our list.

      Monique in Better Off Dead (Diane Franklin)

      Credit: Warner Bros.

      Lane Meyer (John Cusack once more) is clearly meant for French exchange student Monique, yet he spends his time pining for blonde ex-girlfriend Beth (Amanda Wyss) while Monique is busy plotting her escape from a problematic situation with Lane’s neighbor, Ricky (Dan Schneider).

      Monique stands out as an exceptional female character in a high school ’80s movie — she’s the smartest, coolest, and most capable character throughout the film, excelling in pitching, fixing cars, skiing, and much more. Additionally, she may have the best wardrobe on this list, possibly rivaling Ducky's.

      Interestingly, we discovered during our research that Diane Franklin, the actress who played Monique, is not actually French; she simply portrays the role exceptionally well. She represents the gold standard of cute brunette friends in ’80s movies.

      Cassandra in One Crazy Summer (Portrayed by Demi Moore)

      Credit: C/O

      What is it about John Cusack’s movies from the ’80s? In this film, he plays a character reminiscent of Lane Meyer, named Hoops McCann, who quickly connects with the cool musician Cassandra (Demi Moore) but ends up dating Cookie (Kimberly Foster), the blonde girlfriend of the arrogant Teddy Beckersted.

      As previously mentioned, One Crazy Summer (1986) feels somewhat like a sequel to Better Off Dead (1985) — both written and directed