‘Elf’ Cast Then & Now: See How Will Ferrell, Zooey Deschanel & More Stars Changed 19 Years Later

• Elf is simply a fashionable Christmas movie that came retired successful November 2003.
• Will Ferrell plays Buddy, a quality raised by Santa’s elves, who travels to NYC to conscionable his biologic father.
• The movie besides stars Zooey Deschanel, James Caan, Mary Steenburgen, and Edward Asner.

Elf became an instant Christmas classical erstwhile it was released connected Nov. 8, 2003, and it’s present a movie everyone needs to ticker each and each vacation season. Will Ferrell‘s portrayal of Buddy the Elf stole our hearts, and made america some laughter and cry, arsenic helium traveled from the North Pole to New York City successful hunt of his biologic father. The movie became a monolithic hit, with galore fans hoping for a sequel someday.

Sadly, a sequel doesn’t look to beryllium successful the works, but the movie often plays connected repetition each twelvemonth during the holidays. And since the movie’s release, astir of the formed has gone connected to person much astonishing roles successful films and movies. Take a look beneath and spot what the Elf formed has been up to implicit the past 19 years since Elf’s release.

Will Ferrell

Will Ferrell played Buddy the Elf. (Everett Collection/AP)

Will Ferrell, 55, has go a drama fable since helium roseate to fame connected Saturday Night Live. His relation arsenic Buddy in Elf helped cement Will arsenic 1 of the go-to comedic actors successful Hollywood. The years following Elf were incredibly palmy for the actor. He starred successful the deed comedies Old School, Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy, Talledega Nights, Step Brothers, The Other Guys, and more. He has been nominated for 2 Golden Globes since Elf for his roles successful Stranger Than Fiction and The Producers. Will stars successful Spirited, the caller Christmas movie with Ryan Ryenolds connected Apple TV+. The movie references Elf in 1 scene, wherever idiosyncratic astatine a enactment is wearing a replica of Buddy’s costume.

In summation to acting, Will has besides go a high-profile producer. He’s an enforcement shaper of shows similar Succession and Dead to Me. He besides produced movies similar Booksmart, Hustlers, Vice, and more. Will is happily joined to Viveca Paulin, and they person three sons together.

Zooey Deschanel

Zooey Deschanel played Jovie. (Everett Collection/AP)

Zooey Deschanel‘s relation arsenic Jovie in Elf helped instrumentality her acting vocation to a caller level. After Elf, Zooey went connected to prima successful movies similar The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Yes Man, 500 Days of Summer, and more. Her biggest relation to day was playing Jess Day successful the FOX comedy New Girl. She received an Emmy information and 3 Golden Globe nominations during the show’s run.

Zooey, present 42, sings successful Elf, and it’s not a concealed that she has a large voice. She became a portion of the philharmonic duo She & Him, and their debut medium dropped successful 2008. They’ve released an further 5 albums. On apical of acting and singing, Zooey is besides an accomplished businesswoman. She co-founded the female-focused website HelloGiggles.

The actress was joined to Ben Gibbard from 2009 to 2012. She joined Jacob Pechenik successful 2015. They person 2 kids together, Elsie Otter, 7, and Charlie Wolf, 5. Zooey and Jacob divorced successful 2020. Zooey is present dating Property Brothers prima Jonathan Scott, 44. HollywoodLife EXCLUSIVELY broke the quality they were dating successful Sept. 2019.

James Caan

James Caan played Walter Hobbs. (Everett Collection/AP)

James Caan was an accomplished histrion before Elf owed to his roles successful The Godfather, The Glory Guys, and more. However, helium became portion of the vacation movie beingness playing Walter Hobbs, Buddy the Elf’s biologic father. After Elf, James went connected to prima successful the bid Las Vegas. He departed aft 4 seasons.

In the years after Las Vegas, James had roles successful films similar The Wrong Boyfriend, Undercover Grandpa, and Out of the Blue. James was joined 4 times. James and his 4th wife, Linda Stokes, divorced successful 2009 aft 14 years of marriage.

James died astatine 82 years old connected July 6, 2022. He passed distant from a bosom onslaught caused by coronary artery disease. His household confirmed the quality connected his Twitter. “It is with large sadness that we pass you of the passing of Jimmy connected the evening of July 6,” the connection read. “The household appreciates the outpouring of emotion and heartfelt condolences and asks that you proceed to respect their privateness during this hard time.”

Mary Steenburgen

Mary Steenburgen starred arsenic Emily Hobbs. (Everett Collection/AP)

Mary Steenburgen, 69, stole our hearts successful Elf arsenic the loving Emily Hobbs, who welcomes Buddy successful her home. The histrion had already made a sanction for herself agelong before Elf, having won the Oscar for Best Supporting Actress for her relation successful the 1980 movie Melvin and Howard.

Mary reunited with her Elf co-star Will successful the deed drama Step Brothers successful 2008. She went connected to person cardinal roles successful palmy films similar The Proposal, The Help, and Book Club. She’s returning for Book Club 2 — The Next Chapter. Mary precocious starred successful the bid Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist. Mary has been happily joined to histrion Ted Danson, 74, since 1995. She was antecedently joined to Malcolm McDonnell, 79, and they had 2 children together. Their son Charlie McDowell, 39, is simply a movie manager who is joined to histrion Lily James.

Daniel Tay

Daniel Tay starred arsenic Michael Hobbs. (Everett Collection/MEGA)

Daniel Tay‘s acting debut was playing Michael Hobbs, Buddy’s half-brother who befriends him implicit the people of the film. The aforesaid twelvemonth Elf came out, Daniel, present 31, appeared successful the movie American Splendor.

He besides voiced the titular quality Doogal successful Doogal. Daniel has besides done video crippled dependable enactment for games similar Bully and Grand Theft Auto: The Ballad of Gay Tony, which was released successful 2009.

Peter Dinklage

Peter Dinklage starred arsenic Miles Finch. (Everett Collection/AP)

One of the astir memorable scenes successful Elf is erstwhile Buddy mistakenly calls celebrated children’s writer Miles Finch, played by Peter Dinklage, 53, an elf. Just a fistful of years aft the merchandise of Elf successful 2003, Peter began starring arsenic Tyrion Lannister successful the HBO bid Game of Thrones. He received captious acclaim for his show passim the show’s 7-season tally and won 4 Emmys and 1 Golden Globe for portraying Tyrion.

On apical of playing Tyrion, Peter has had notable roles successful films similar X-Men: Days of Future Past, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, Avengers: Infinity War, and more. He played the legendary Cyrano de Bergerac successful the philharmonic adaptation of Cyrano. He’s acceptable to prima successful the upcoming Hunger Games prequel film.

Bob Newhart

Bob Newhart played Papa Elf. (Everett Collection/AP)

Bob Newhart‘s relation arsenic Papa Elf made our hearts melt. He was conscionable 1 of a fewer legends formed successful Elf. Bob, present 93, was already a drama icon from his decades successful Hollywood anterior to the vacation film. Bob has continued to person roles successful TV shows and movies since Elf, but helium has slowed down his appearances arsenic he’s gotten older.

He made a fig of impermanent appearances connected The Big Bang Theory arsenic Professor Proton. He received his archetypal Emmy for his show successful 2013. Bob reprised his relation successful The Big Bang Theory spinoff, Young Sheldon. He besides appeared successful the bid finale of Hot successful Cleveland successful 2015. His quality reunited him with Betty White, who was his co-star connected Bob decades before. Bob has been joined to his wife, Virginia Quinn, since 1963, and they person 4 children.

Ed Asner

Ed Asner starred arsenic Santa Claus. (Everett Collection/AP)

Like galore of his different co-stars, Ed Asner, who died connected Aug. 29, 2021 astatine property 91, was already precise celebrated earlier helium played Santa Claus in Elf. He’s champion known for playing Lou Grant connected The Mary Tyler Moore Show and spinoff series Lou Grant. He won a whopping 7 Emmy Awards passim his career.

After Elf, Ed notably voiced the relation of Carl successful the Pixar movie Up successful 2009. He had a fig of movie and tv passim the 2000s and 2010s, including notable impermanent spots connected The Good Wife, Dead to Me, Briarpatch, and more. Ed was joined twice. His 2nd matrimony to Cindy Gilmore ended successful 2015 aft 17 years.

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