The Cast Of Almost Famous: Where Are They Now?

Written and directed by Cameron Crowe, Almost Famous is the 2000 semi-autobiographical film about an aspiring young journalist who follows his favorite band across the country. The film was a love letter to music thanks to Crowe’s own experience hanging with rock stars. Almost Famous is a coming-of-age film that is considered one of Crowe’s masterpieces and it is due to the entire cast who embodied the characters perfectly.

But what became of the cast since Almost Famous premiered more than 20 years ago? Whatever happened to the music-loving Band-Aids, the band that fans wished were real, the uncool rock and roll critic and the rest of the characters? From Oscar winners to late-night talk show hosts, these stars have had great success in their careers since becoming Almost Famous. 

Billy Crudup: Russell Hammond

As the guy who screamed, “I’m a golden god” off a fan’s roof, Russel Hammond may have been just a guitarist from Stillwater, but Billy Crudup stole every scene and made Band-Aids out of everyone.

Since appearing as Russell, Crudup has had a successful career starring in hits like Big Fish, Mission Impossible III and the acclaimed comic book movie Watchman. Despite appearing as the father of Barry Allan aka The Flash in Justice League, Crudup had to drop out of the new Flash film due to scheduling conflicts. Currently, Crudup can be seen as Cory Ellison on the award-winning Apple + drama, The Morning Show. 

Patrick Fugit: William Miller

As the main protagonist, Patrick Fugit played William Miller, the young journalist who gets his writing break for Rolling Stone magazine. His performance as wide-eyed William was Fugit’s first feature film.

Since then, Fugit has appeared in multiple independent films, such as Spun and Wristcutters: A Love Story. He is one of the actors fans forgot played a patient on ER and he also appeared in another Cameron Crowe film, We Bought A Zoo, alongside Matt Damon. Fans might recognize him more recently from the 2014 movie The Outcast and many watched him play against type as a cop in Gone Girl. His latest appearance has been on the Bourne series Treadstone. 

Kate Hudson: Penny Lane

As Penny Lane, the original Band-Aid, Kate Hudson radiated in a role that garnered her the Best Supporting Actress award at the 73rd Academy Awards. Since then, she continued to shine in rom-coms like How To Lose A Guy In 10 Days, Fool’s Gold, and Something Borrowed. 

Just like her mother, Goldie Hawn, Hudson has also dabbled in dramatic films such as The Killer Inside Me, The Skeleton Key and Deepwater Horizon. While still acting, Hudson’s focus shifted to her focus to her activewear brand, Fabletics, and hosting a podcast with her brother, Oliver Hudson. Fans can see her in the upcoming movie, Knives Out 2. 

Frances McDormand: Elaine Miller

As Elaine Miller, Frances McDormand plays a mother with a moral compass. She may have been a nightmare to her kids, banning music and constantly ruining her son’s social life by telling him not to take drugs, but in the end, she loved them. McDormand is an incredible actor, consistently playing strong women.

McDormand had a successful career before starring in Almost Famous, with performances in Lone Star and Fargo, which gave her her first leading actress award. She has since given one unforgettable role after the other, in films such as North Country and Moonrise Kingdom. But it is her unforgettable performance in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri that is truly iconic. Her role as Mildred gave McDormand her second Oscar win for leading actress. Her latest win came from Chloe Zhao’s Nomadland and her upcoming project, Tragedy Of Macbeth, directed by her husband Joel Coen, may just lead her to another win.

Zooey Deschanel: Anita Miller

Anita Miller was denied a lot, including listening to rock and roll music and celebrating Christmas. Lucky for Zooey Deschanel, who played Anita, she is able to do both. In fact, not only is Zooey Deschanel in a successful band, She & Him, but she stars in the classic Christmas movie, Elf, which is celebrated every year. Deschanel has also has had a successful movie career beyond Almost Famous. Besides Elf, she has starred in 500 Days of Summer,The Good Girl and Our Idiot Brother.

Apart from movies and music, Deschanel played Jessica Day in the Fox comedy series, New Girl, which ran for seven seasons between 2001 and 2018. She is currently working on another music-inspired film set in the ’70s with Casey Affleck called Dreamin’ Wild. 

Jason Lee: Jeff Bebe

As Jeff Bebe, Jason Lee appears to be having fun as the rock star who is constantly getting left behind at gas stations and being outshined in t-shirts. Then again, Lee always seems to have fun in his roles.

Before becoming the lead singer of Stillwater, Lee made a name for himself starring in multiple Kevin Smith films, including Mallrats, Chasing Amy and Dogma. Following his role in Almost Famous, he appeared in Vanilla Sky and the adaptation of Stephen King’s Dreamcatcher. Kids will know Lee’s face and voice as Dave in the Alvin and the Chipmunks films and Syndrome in The Incredibles. His biggest TV role, though, was between 2005 to 2008 when he played Earl in the comedy series My Name Is Earl. He will be returning as Brodie in Smith’s upcoming Twilight of The Mallrats.

Anna Paquin: Polexia

Polexia is one of the main Band-Aides in Almost Famous but before exclaiming “It’s all happening,” Anna Paquin became the first millennial to win an Academy Award for Best Actress for her debut in Jane Campion’s The Piano in 1993.

Paquin’s career has since been solid, starring in films like 25th Hour and The Squid and the Whale. She is best known for playing Sookie Stackhouse in the long-running HBO original series True Blood and as Rogue in the X-Men movies. Recently, she has starred in a couple of TV shows, The Affair and Flaked, which air on Amazon. She will soon be seen in A Bit of Light, a drama directed by her husband, Stephen Moyer.

Fairuza Balk: Sapphire

Fairuza Balk plays Sapphire, a Band-Aid whose love of music and inability to remember any of the messages sent by William’s mother makes her stand out. She also has one of the most memorable lines in the film with “Does anybody remember laughter?” 

Fans may recognize Balk as a young Dorothy Gale in the Return To Oz, the creepy sequel to Wizard Of Oz, as well as one of the witches in the cult classic The Craft. Lately, she’s been making her rounds on TV with shows like Ray Donovan and the upcoming music drama, Paradise City.

Philip Seymour Hoffman: Lester Bangs

Philip Seymour Hoffman’s life may have been taken too soon but his legacy lives on. As the rock critic Lester Bangs, Hoffman’s ability to lose himself in every role was a treat to watch. In Almost Famous, he made being uncool cool and as he dished out advice to William, Hoffman played it effortlessly. 

Before his untimely death in 2014, Hoffman gave fans a brilliant film career, including one of his best roles in Boogie Nights. His performances in The Master, Doubt and Charlie Wilson’s War all earned him Best Actor nominations, but it was his title role as Capote that gave him his one and only Oscar. Fans have the opportunity to watch his son, Cooper Hoffman, who just like his father will star in the new Paul Thomas Anderson’s coming of age drama, Licorice Pizza, out this Christmas. 

Jimmy Fallon: Dennis Hope

Sometimes it’s hard to remember that Jimmy Fallon used to act before becoming a familiar face of Late Night. The comedian may have started in Saturday Night Live as a cast member in 1998, but his big film break was as Dennis Hope, the super successful music manager who is brought in to replace Stillwater’s current manager in Almost Famous. 

Fallon’s other film roles include Fever Pitch and Whip It, although his presence on late-night TV fits the comedian more. He has created a hilarious and fun late show, including original segments and games such as Thank You Notes, Wheel of Impressions and Box of Lies.

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