01of 07Winona Ryder as Lelaina PierceJersey/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock; VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty ImagesWinona Ryderhad already become a household name, thanks to her star-turning roles in the 1998 filmsBeetlejuiceandHeathers. Like those characters, her performance as Lelaina Pierce — the college grad and budding filmmaker who falls in love with Troy Dyer (Ethan Hawke) — would also win audiences over. Months afterReality Biteswas released, Ryder starred inLittle Womenand earned her second Oscar nomination. She followed up with appearances inHow to Make an American Quilt(1995),The Crucible(1996), Girl, Interrupted(1999) andMr. Deeds(2002), among others.After herinfamous arrest for shopliftingin 2001, Ryder returned to the big screen inStar Trek(2009),Black Swan(2010),Experimenter(2015),Destination Wedding(2018) andGone in the Night(2022). She received her third Golden Globe nomination in 2017 for her portrayal of Joyce Byers onNetflix’sStranger Things.Ryder has been in a relationship with fashion designerScott Mackinlay Hahnsince 2011.
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Winona Ryder as Lelaina Pierce
Jersey/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock; VALERIE MACON/AFP/Getty Images
Winona Ryderhad already become a household name, thanks to her star-turning roles in the 1998 filmsBeetlejuiceandHeathers. Like those characters, her performance as Lelaina Pierce — the college grad and budding filmmaker who falls in love with Troy Dyer (Ethan Hawke) — would also win audiences over. Months afterReality Biteswas released, Ryder starred inLittle Womenand earned her second Oscar nomination. She followed up with appearances inHow to Make an American Quilt(1995),The Crucible(1996), Girl, Interrupted(1999) andMr. Deeds(2002), among others.
After herinfamous arrest for shopliftingin 2001, Ryder returned to the big screen inStar Trek(2009),Black Swan(2010),Experimenter(2015),Destination Wedding(2018) andGone in the Night(2022). She received her third Golden Globe nomination in 2017 for her portrayal of Joyce Byers onNetflix’sStranger Things.
Ryder has been in a relationship with fashion designerScott Mackinlay Hahnsince 2011.
02of 07Ethan Hawke as Troy DyerJersey/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock; Walter McBride/WireImageAs one of the film’s more experienced actors, Hawke was revered for his roles in 1989’sDead Poets Societyand 1991’sWhite Fangbefore portraying Troy, the guitarist who makes a living playing at coffee houses and with part-time jobs.SinceReality Bites, Hawke has remained a mainstay in Hollywood, evenamid a painful divorce, appearing in films likeBefore Sunrise(1995),Gattaca(1997),The Newton Boys(1998),Taking Lives(2004),Lord of War(2005),Daybreakers(2009),The Purge(2013),Regression(2015),First Reformed(2017),Juliet, Naked(2018),The Black Phone(2021),Raymond & Ray(2022) andGlass Onion(2022).His performances in 2001’sTraining Dayand 2014’s Boyhood earned him Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actor. He also received two Oscar nods for Best Adapted Screenplay for 2004’sBefore Sunsetand 2013’sBefore Midnight. After starring as Michael Bakunin inThe Coast of Utopiaplay trilogy, he was nominated for a Tony Award in 2007 for best featured actor.Beyond the big screen and stage, the actor was a regular on the Showtime limited seriesThe Good Lord Bird, which he wrote and produced, and the Disney+ superhero showMoon Knight.Hawke wed actress and producerRyan Shawhughesin 2008, with whom he shares two daughters,Clementine and Indiana. Hawke was previously married toKill BillfranchisestarUma Thurmanfrom 1996 to 2005. They have two children,MayaandLevon.
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Ethan Hawke as Troy Dyer
Jersey/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock; Walter McBride/WireImage
As one of the film’s more experienced actors, Hawke was revered for his roles in 1989’sDead Poets Societyand 1991’sWhite Fangbefore portraying Troy, the guitarist who makes a living playing at coffee houses and with part-time jobs.
SinceReality Bites, Hawke has remained a mainstay in Hollywood, evenamid a painful divorce, appearing in films likeBefore Sunrise(1995),Gattaca(1997),The Newton Boys(1998),Taking Lives(2004),Lord of War(2005),Daybreakers(2009),The Purge(2013),Regression(2015),First Reformed(2017),Juliet, Naked(2018),The Black Phone(2021),Raymond & Ray(2022) andGlass Onion(2022).
His performances in 2001’sTraining Dayand 2014’s Boyhood earned him Oscar nominations for Best Supporting Actor. He also received two Oscar nods for Best Adapted Screenplay for 2004’sBefore Sunsetand 2013’sBefore Midnight. After starring as Michael Bakunin inThe Coast of Utopiaplay trilogy, he was nominated for a Tony Award in 2007 for best featured actor.
Beyond the big screen and stage, the actor was a regular on the Showtime limited seriesThe Good Lord Bird, which he wrote and produced, and the Disney+ superhero showMoon Knight.
Hawke wed actress and producerRyan Shawhughesin 2008, with whom he shares two daughters,Clementine and Indiana. Hawke was previously married toKill BillfranchisestarUma Thurmanfrom 1996 to 2005. They have two children,MayaandLevon.
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Ben Stiller as Michael Grates
Van Redin/Jersey/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock; Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images
Stiller followed the film’s modest success with roles inThere’s Something About Mary(1998),Meet the Parents(2000),Zoolander(2001),Along Came Polly(2004),Dodgeball: A True Underdog Story(2004),Night at the Museum(2006),Tropic Thunder(2008),Little Fockers(2010),Tower Heist(2011),The Watch(2012) andLockdown(2021) to name a few. Stiller also made guest appearances on shows likeFriendsandCurb Your Enthusiasmand hada recurring role onArrested Development.
04of 07Janeane Garofalo as Vickie MinerJersey/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock; Donna Ward/Getty ImagesJaneane Garofalostarred as Lelaina’s friend, Vickie, who — through a series of one-night stands — becomes concerned she could have contracted HIV.As a comedian, Garofalo was a cast member ofThe Ben Stiller Show,Saturday Night LiveandThe Larry Sanders Show, earning back-to-back Emmy nominations in 1996 and 1997 for outstanding supporting actress on a comedy series.Her film credits includeThe Truth About Cats & Dogs(1996),Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion(1997),Sweethearts(1997),Mystery Men(1999),The Independent(2000), Wet Hot American Summer(2001),Flora & Ulysses(2021) andThe Apology(2022), among many independent films.Garofalo had a recurring role on shows likeThe West Wing,24,Criminal Minds: Suspect BehaviorandGirlfriends' Guide to Divorce.She guest appeared onBroad City,Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp,TheJim GaffiganShow,YoungerandBillions. Garofalo also voiced Sally Reardon, Felicity Porter’s mentor on the hit showFelicity.
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Janeane Garofalo as Vickie Miner
Jersey/Kobal/REX/Shutterstock; Donna Ward/Getty Images
Janeane Garofalostarred as Lelaina’s friend, Vickie, who — through a series of one-night stands — becomes concerned she could have contracted HIV.
As a comedian, Garofalo was a cast member ofThe Ben Stiller Show,Saturday Night LiveandThe Larry Sanders Show, earning back-to-back Emmy nominations in 1996 and 1997 for outstanding supporting actress on a comedy series.
Her film credits includeThe Truth About Cats & Dogs(1996),Romy and Michele’s High School Reunion(1997),Sweethearts(1997),Mystery Men(1999),The Independent(2000), Wet Hot American Summer(2001),Flora & Ulysses(2021) andThe Apology(2022), among many independent films.
Garofalo had a recurring role on shows likeThe West Wing,24,Criminal Minds: Suspect BehaviorandGirlfriends' Guide to Divorce.She guest appeared onBroad City,Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp,TheJim GaffiganShow,YoungerandBillions. Garofalo also voiced Sally Reardon, Felicity Porter’s mentor on the hit showFelicity.
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Steve Zahn as Sammy Gray
Steve Zahnplayed Sammy Gray, a friend of Lelaina and Vickie who lived as a closeted gay man before coming out to his conservative parents.
Like many of his costars, Zahn’s career took off afterReality Bites. His prolific list of film credits includesCrimson Tide(1995),That Thing You Do!(1996),Out of Sight(1998),You’ve Got Mail(1998),Joy Ride(2001),Daddy Day Care(2003),Sahara(2005).Rescue Dawn(2006),A Perfect Getaway(2009) and theDiary of a Wimpy Kidfilm series. The actor received critical acclaim for his roles in 2013’sDallas Buyers Cluband 2017’sWar for the Planet of the Apes.
In 2022, he earned an Emmy nomination for his role as Mark Mossbacher on HBO’sThe White Lotus. Zahn can also be seen in the 2023 filmsYour Place or Mine— starringReese WitherspoonandAshton Kutcher— andGringafeaturingRoselyn SanchezandJudy Greer.
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John Mahoney as Grant Gubler
Universal Pictures; Joey Foley/Getty
Mahoney was best known for portraying the blue-collar patriarch Martin Crane on the sitcomFrasier, for which he received two Emmy and two Golden Globe nominations.
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Renée Zellweger as Tami
Universal ; Pascal Le Segretain/Getty
Future Hollywood starRenée Zellwegerhad her first credited role inReality Bitesas Tami, who has a one-night stand with Troy.
Zellweger’s career skyrocketed after her appearance, with the actress earning Oscar nominations for 2001’sBridget Jones’s Diaryand 2002’sChicago. She would later take home a statuette in 2004 for Best Supporting Actress forCold Mountainandwas named Best Actress in 2020 for her performance inJudy.
Other notable film credits includeJerry Maguire(1996),Nurse Betty(2000),Me, Myself & Irene(2001),Miss Potter(2006),Leatherheads(2008),Case 39(2009) andHere and Now(2018). Zellweger starred on Netflix’s neo-noir thrillerWhat/Ifthroughout 2019 and NBC’sThe Thing About Pamin 2022.
source: people.com
