Elf cast now 20 years after Christmas film from Will Ferrell to Zooey Deschanel
The beloved Christmas film 'Elf' is celebrating its 20th anniversary this year. The movie, directed by Jon Favreau and written by David Berenbaum, has become a festive favourite since it first hit screens in 2003.
The film follows the story of Buddy, a human raised by Santa's elves, who travels to New York City to meet his real dad. Since its release, 'Elf' has inspired a Broadway musical in 2010 and an animated TV special, 'Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas ', in 2014.
The original film was released on November 7, 2003. As we mark its anniversary, let's catch up with what the cast members have been doing since they brought Buddy and his friends to life.
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Will Ferrell
Will Ferrell as Buddy Hobbs (Getty Images)Will Ferrell, now 56, played the role of Buddy Hobbs, a human raised among elves. Before 'Elf', Ferrell was a regular on 'Saturday Night Live', where he performed from 1995 until 2002.
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Will Ferrell, known for his roles in films like "Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy" (2004), "Step Brothers" (2008) and "The Lego Movie" (2014), has also made a name for himself in recent years with "Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga" (2020) and "Barbie" (2023).
He's not just an actor, but also a producer. He was an executive producer on HBO's hit show "Succession", which bagged him two Emmy Awards. He was part of the team behind Netflix's "Dead to Me". Since 2016, he's been a co-owner of the football team Los Angeles FC.
Off-screen, Will is happily married to fellow actor Viveca Paulin, 54. They've been together since 2000 and have three children - Magnus, 19, Mattias, 16, and Axel, 13.
Zooey Deschanel
Zooey Deschanel as Jovie (REX, Getty Images)Zooey Deschanel, who played Jovie in "Elf", had already made her mark in films like "Almost Famous" (2000) before joining the cast of the Christmas classic.
She continued her successful career with roles in "Yes Man" (2008) and "500 Days of Summer" (2009). She lent her voice to the character Bridget in the "Trolls" film series, including "Trolls Band Together" (2023). Zooey is also well-known for playing Jess Day in Fox's "New Girl", which ran from 2011 to 2018.
In addition to acting, Zooey has a passion for music. She's part of the duo She & Him, alongside her friend M. Ward, and they've released several albums together. She's also contributed her vocals to various film soundtracks.
The actor announced her engagement to Property Brothers star Jonathan Scott, 45, in August. She shares two children with her ex-husband Jacob Pechenik, 51. Zooey and film producer Jacob are parents to Elsie, eight, and Charlie, six.
Mary Steenburgen
Mary Steenburgen as Emily Hobbs (REX, Getty Images)Mary Steenburgen, now 70, played Buddy's stepmother Emily Hobbs in the film. She had previously received acclaim for her performances in films including Time After Time (1979), Melvin and Howard (1980) and Ragtime (1981).
The Academy Award winner later reunited with Will in Step Brothers (2008). She's been in other films like The Proposal (2009), The Help (2011) and Nightmare Alley (2021). She's also among the cast of the film Book Club (2018) and its sequel Book Club: The Next Chapter (2023).
Her TV credits include shows like Fox's The Last Man on Earth and NBC show Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist. She's also ventured into music, with her credited as having written songs like Glasgow (No Place Like Home), which featured in the film Wild Rose (2018).
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Mary was once married to Malcolm McDowell, 80. The former couple have two children together, including director Charlie McDowell, 40, who's been married to actor Lily Collins, 34, since 2021. Mary has been married to actor Ted Danson, 75, since 1995 and is a step-parent to his two children.
Bob Newhart
Bob Newhart as Papa Elf (REX, Getty Images)Bob Newhart, 94, known for his role as Papa Elf in the film 'Elf', has had a successful career with shows like The Bob Newhart Show and Newhart under his belt. However, he hasn't been seen much in films since Elf (2003), with appearances in Horrible Bosses (2011) and documentaries like Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic (2013).
He's also made appearances on TV shows like Desperate Housewives and more recently, The Big Bang Theory and its spin-off prequel series Young Sheldon. The actor, who won Grammy Awards for his music, was married to the late Ginnie Quinn since 1963 and they had four children together.
Daniel Tay
Daniel Tay as Michael Hobbs (REX, Getty Images)Daniel Tay, 31, played Michael Hobbs in Elf (2003). He's also acted in films like American Splendor (2003) and Brooklyn Rules (2007). However, he's said to have moved away from acting in recent years and is credited as a voice actor for video games like Grand Theft Auto IV.
He studied Economics at Yale University and later worked for a tutoring company that prepares students for university entrance exams.
James Caan
James Caan as Walter Hobbs (REX, FilmMagic/Getty Images)James Caan, who sadly passed away last year at the age of 82, played Walter Hobbs, Buddy's biological father in the film. He was known for his roles in The Godfather (1972) and Misery (1990), as well as Get Smart (2008) and Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009). His TV credits include NBC's Las Vegas, The Simpsons, and Family Guy.
James was married four times and had five children, including Scott Caan, 47, who also became an actor and starred in films like Ocean's Eleven (2001). After James' death, stars like Barbra Streisand, who worked with him on Funny Lady (1975), paid tribute to him.
* An AI tool was used to add an extra layer to the editing process for this story. You can report any errors to [email protected]
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