Alexandra Elizabeth "Ally" Sheedy (born June 13, 1962) is an American film and stage actress, as well as the author of two books. Following her film debut came in the 1983's Bad Boys she became known as one of the Brat Pack group of actors in the films The Breakfast Club and St. Elmo's Fire. She is also known for her roles in WarGames, Short Circuit and High Art, for which she received critical acclaim. Sheedy was born in New York City and has two siblings, Patrick and Meghan. Her mother, Charlotte (née Baum), was a writer and press agent who was involved in women's and civil rights movements, and her father, John J. Sheedy, Jr., was a Manhattan advertising executive. Her mother was Jewish and her father was of Irish Catholic descent. Her parents divorced in 1971. Sheedy attended Columbia Grammar and Preparatory School in New York City, graduating in 1980. She started dancing with the American Ballet Theatre at age six and was planning to make it a full-time career. However, she gave up dance in favor of acting full-time. At age 12 she wrote a children's book, She Was Nice to Mice; the book was published by McGraw-Hill and became a best-seller.