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Cast

Steve Martin
as Gil

Mary Steenburgen
as Karen

Dianne Wiest
as Helen

Jason Robards
as Frank

Rick Moranis
as Nathan

Tom Hulce
as Larry

Martha Plimpton
as Julie

Keanu Reeves
as Tod

Harley Jane Kozak
as Susan

Dennis Dugan
as David

Joaquin Phoenix
as Garry

Eileen Ryan
as Marilyn

Helen Shaw
as Grandma

Jasen Fisher
as Kevin

Paul Linke
as George Bowman

Alisan Porter
as Taylor

Janet Hirshenson

Zachary Lavoy
as Justin

Jane Jenkins

Ivyann Schwan
as Patty

Alex Burrall
as Cool

Lowell Ganz
as Stan

Rance Howard
as Dean at College

Max Elliott Slade
as Young Gil

Clint Howard
as Lou

Lamont Lofton
as Fotomat Clerk

Erika Rafuls
as Amy

Jordan Kessler
as Matt

Billy Cohen
as Eddie

Isabel Cooley
as Barbara Rice

Greg Gerard
as Doctor Lucas

Paul Keeley
as Kevin (age 21)

Walter von Bonhorst
as Opposing Coach

W. Bruce O'Donoghue
as Umpire

Isabelle Cooley
as Barbara Rice

Sherry Ferguson
as Screaming Co-ed

Todd Hallowell
as Track Official

Maxie Pontius
as Safety Man at Track

Richard Kuhlman
as Young Frank

Lloyd Cleek
as Miles

Mark Dana
as Audrey

Steve Zurk
as Highway Policeman

Emil Felski
as Doctor at Hospital

Charmin Talbert
as Nurse at Hospital

Julie Lander
as Student in Hallway

Janet Moore
as Irate Woman in Audience

Connie Adams
as Cindy

Claudio Jacobells
as Student 1 at College

Hillary Matthews
as Student 2 at College

Jonathan Bouck
as Dwarf

Michael Mickens
as Dwarf

Aspen Autrey
as Dwarf

Brittany Paige Bouck
as Dwarf

Louisa Marie
as Woman Teacher No. 1

Cindi Vicino
as Woman Teacher No. 2

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Critic Reviews for Parenthood

Audience Reviews for Parenthood

• Jun 15, 2016

  An old film I have not seen. Great performance from Steve Martin with some genuine laughs and one of the first ever roles for Keanu Reeves too. What I liked most about this was that is was more relatable and believable than other films about dysfunctional families and the characters actually had depth.
  

  Ian W Super Reviewer
• Nov 06, 2011

  Julie: He said that he loved me.  Helen: Men say that. They all say that. Then they cum.  "It could happen to you." There's so much great stuff going on in Ron Howard's Parenthood. The movie is a hilarious take on the serious issues that come from the responsibility. It is kind of like the saying, "If you don't laugh, you'll cry." That's how it is with these characters and sometimes they do laugh. Other times they can't and they cry.  There is no true plot in Parenthood, but just different parents from the same family dealing with the daily hassles of parenthood. Steve Martin and Mary Steenburgen play one of these sets of parents. They have three kids and are especially having trouble with one who has to go into special ed classes. Another set of parents are played by Rick Moranis and Ivyann Schwan. They have one daughter and the father is overly into getting her to be as smart as possible. She is 4 years old and he already has her learning foreign languages and memorizing the periodic table. Then there's a single mom played by Diane Wiest, who I normally don't like, but was surprisingly funny here; who has a daughter who just got married and a young son who is separating emotionally from her as a result of his dad leaving. Last, but not least there's the older father, played by Jason Robards. He has a son who is constantly getting in trouble with bookies and he has to decide how to handle it. He also has to atone for being a lousy father to his now adult kids. The cast is crazy good in this movie. So many big names and they are all great. The performance I enjoyed the most was from a preteen Joaquin Phoenix, credited as Leaf Phoenix. He plays Garry, a kid who is emotionally distant from his mother and enraged at his father for leaving him and not caring about him. Phoenix shows the power that he would go on to display for years at such a young age in a scene where he decides he wants to live with his father for awhile. When he makes the call and is disappointed by the answer, Phoenix gives an emotional and powerful side to a character that for the first part of the movie just said Bye and left the room. The movie is oddly touching because it is so hilarious. A few times I had to stop the movie because I was laughing so hard. A lot of the humor comes from just how true the subject matter is. Ron Howard does a great job adding humor to some of the situations. I was very surprised by just how good this movie was. I expected just another Steve Martin vehicle, but this was much, much more then that. Tod: You know, Mrs. Buckman, you need a license to buy a dog, to drive a car - hell, you even need a license to catch a fish. But they'll let any butt-reaming asshole be a father. 
  Melvin W Super Reviewer
• Oct 07, 2011

  Great family film with some fine performances. Full review later.
  Thomas B Super Reviewer
• Aug 07, 2011

  classic ron howard film with a grand cast and hilarious story.
  Brendan N Super Reviewer

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