Trivia

He is from an Ashkenazi Jewish family (from Russia, Poland, Romania and Lithuania).

Was one of the nine original members of the 1980s "brat pack", along with Andrew McCarthy, Anthony Michael Hall, Demi Moore, Rob Lowe, Molly Ringwald, Emilio Estevez and Ally Sheedy.

Was once engaged to Shannen Doherty.

His two most notable film roles were both released in 1985 and were polar opposite characters from each other. In The Breakfast Club he played a burnout stoner high school kid who many doubt (including himself) has much of a future and in St. Elmo's Fire he played an overachieving, yuppie college graduate with future political aspirations.

Attended the prestigious Haverford College in Haverford, Pennsylvania.

Loves to play golf, read, write and ride his motorbike.

Parents are Leonard and Merle Nelson. Has two younger sisters: Eve and Julie Nelson.

Attended the St. Paul's preparatory school in Concord, New Hampshire.

Favorite baseball team is the Boston Red Sox.

He appeared in John Parr's music video "St. Elmo's Fire (Man In Motion)" (1985).

Had a Staffordshire Bull Terrier named Talluah Bighead (deceased).

When he left Suddenly Susan (1996), he was replaced by his The Transformers: The Movie (1986) castmate Eric Idle.

Currently resides in Los Angeles, California.

Alumnus of Stella Adler Studio of Acting.

His manager is Steven Siebert.