The cast of Don’t Look Up is a veritable who's who of A-list celebrities. Directed and written by Adam McKay, Don’t Look Up is a disaster movie that offers a balanced dose of drama, comedy, and impending planetary doom. It follows Dr. Randall Mindy and doctoral candidate Kate Dibiasky, two astronomers who track and map the galaxy. After discovering a comet the size of a mountain hurtling towards Earth, they aim to inform the United States government and the public so that something can be done to prevent global annihilation.
What Randall and Kate quickly find out is that their message gets tied up in politics and power dynamics, which threaten to jeopardize the mission of stopping the comet before its impact devastates the planet. Don't Look Up is a tragic comedy that brilliantly subverts classic blockbuster movie tropes, and the movie stands out thanks to its stellar cast of actors.
Leonardo DiCaprio As Dr. Randall Mindy
Dr. Randall Mindy is an accomplished astronomer who is a professor at Michigan State University. He leads a small team of scientists, hasn’t published in a while, and is a nervous public speaker. He is played by Leonardo DiCaprio in Don’t Look Up. One of Hollywood's most celebrated actors, DiCaprio broke out with his role in What's Eating Gilbert Grape. He has famously starred in Titanic, Shutter Island, Catch Me If You Can, The Departed, Blood Diamond, The Wolf of Wall Street, Inception, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood. DiCaprio won the Best Actor Academy Award for his work in The Revenant.
Jennifer Lawrence As Kate Dibiasky
Kate Dibiasky is a PhD candidate who discovered the comet headed straight for a collision with Earth. Dibiasky takes the brunt of the public’s ire when the comet’s existence and trajectory is first revealed to the world. In Don’t Look Up, Kate is played by Jennifer Lawrence. Lawrence's breakout films were The Hunger Games franchise, in which she played heroine Katniss Everdeen, and Winter's Bone, which earned her her first Oscar nomination. She won the golden statue for her role in Silver Linings Playbook. Lawrence is also known for playing the younger version of Mystique in the X-Men prequels and starring in Joy, American Hustle, mother!, and Red Sparrow.
Rob Morgan As Dr. Clayton “Teddy” Oglethorpe
Dr. Clayton “Teddy” Oglethorpe is a fellow scientist and the head of NASA’s Planetary Defense Coordination Office, which is responsible for informing the government and the public if potentially hazardous materials (like comets) are close enough to enter Earth’s orbit. Throughout Don’t Look Up, Teddy is one of the few government agents who actually assists Randall and Kate in warning the planet about the comet. The scientist is played by Rob Morgan, whose other notable film credits include Just Mercy, The Last Black Man in San Francisco, Mudbound, and The United States vs. Billie Holiday. On TV, Morgan is known for his work in Stranger Things and Netflix's Marvel series.
Meryl Streep As President Janie Orlean
Janie Orlean is the President of the United States who is embroiled in a lot of scandals and initially doesn’t take Randall and Kate seriously, primarily due to how a global disaster will affect her election campaign. Meryl Streep plays the US president in the Don't Look Up cast. Streep is a legendary actress who has been nominated for a record-breaking 21 Oscars, winning for Kramer vs. Kramer, Sophie's Choice, and The Iron Lady. The acclaimed actress' other famous movies include The Devil Wears Prada, The Bridges of Madison County, Doubt, Mamma Mia!, and Into the Woods.
Jonah Hill As Jason Orlean
Jason Orlean is President Janie Orlean’s son and her Chief of Staff. He is always doing drugs and doesn’t take his job — or the comet threat — very seriously. Jonah Hill plays Jason, loaning his hilarious comedic chops to the Don't Look Up cast. Hill broke out in Hollywood with his starring role in Superbad, and followed that up with popular comedy movies including the 21 Jump Street franchise and This Is the End. The actor has been nominated for two Oscars for his performances in Moneyball and The Wolf of Wall Street. Hill has also done voiceover work in animated movies including Megamind and The Lego Batman Movie.
Cate Blanchett As Brie Evantee
One of two hosts of the morning show The Daily Rip, Brie Evantee interviews Randall and Kate when they come on the show to talk about the comet. Brie is played by celebrated actress Cate Blanchett. While Blanchett has starred in blockbuster films, playing Galadriel in The Lord of The Rings and Hela in Thor: Ragnarok, she is more known for her work in awards-favorite dramas. She has won two Academy Awards for The Aviator and Blue Jasmine, and her other acclaimed films include the Elizabeth movies, Notes on a Scandal, I'm Not There, and Tár.
Mark Rylance As Peter Isherwell
The awkward but charismatic CEO of the tech company BASH, Peter Isherwell is a Steve Jobs type who’s just created a new phone that reacts to people’s emotions, and he's played by Mark Rylance in the Don't Look Up cast. Rylance is a famous British stage actor, but he's also done some notable work in cinema, starring in Dunkirk, The Trial of the Chicago 7, Ready Player One, and The BFG. He won an Academy Award for his performance in Bridge of Spies, directed by his frequent collaborator, Steven Spielberg.
Melanie Lynskey as June Mindy
June Mindy is Dr. Randall Mindy's highly encouraging wife in Don't Look Up. She's played Melanie Lynskey, who is no stranger to complex characters as seen in past films she's starred in including Ever After, Heavenly Creatures, But I'm a Cheerleader, They Came Together, Seeking a Friend for the End of the World, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, and Sweet Home Alabama. She has also had a successful career, turning in acclaimed work in series such as Two and Half Man, The Last of Us, and Yellowjackets.
Timothée Chalamet as Yule
Yule is a teenage fan of Kate's who meets her later on in Don't Look Off. While Yule has a very minor role in the cast of Don't Look Up, he provides some much-needed comic relief and ends up being the one who gives the world a fitting send-off. Yule is played by Timothée Chalamet in the Don't Look Up cast. Chalamet first earned acclaim for his Oscar-nominated performance in Call Me By Your Name. His filmography is full of acclaimed movies, including Lady Bird, Little Women, Dune, and Bones and All — which he appears in opposite his Don't Look Up co-star Rylance.
Tyler Perry as Jack Bremmer
Jack Bremmer is Brie Evantee’s co-host on The Daily Rip. Alongside Brie, Jack always knows how to spin bad news into funny, palatable quips for the viewers at home — even if the news in question is the impending approach of an apocalyptic comet. Comedian Tyler Perry actually tones it down for his role in the cast of Don't Look Up, especially when compared to his most famous role as the titular protagonist of the Madea series. An accomplished writer, director, and actor, Perry's other film credits include Gone Girl, Those Who Wish Me Dead, Star Trek, Alex Cross, and Vice.
Don’t Look Up ing Cast, Characters & Cameos
Ron Perlman as Colonel Ben Drask - Ben Drask is the man chosen to go into space. He’s played by Ron Perlman, who is best known for his roles in Hellboy, Nightmare Alley, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, Pacific Rim, and Sons of Anarchy.
Hettienne Park as Dr. Calder - Dr. Calder is the of NASA who Randall and Kate call before going to the president. Hettienne Park has appeared in Bride Wars, Young Adult, Law & Order, and the TV series Hannibal.
Himesh Patel as Phillip - Phillip is Kate’s boyfriend and a writer for a well-known publication. Himesh Patel has had roles in Yesterday, The Aeronauts, EastEnders, Tenet, and Station Eleven.
Conor Sweeney as Marshall Mindy - Marshall is Randall and June’s son. Connor Sweeney appeared in Leo and the Shark, and has guest-starred on Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.
Robert Radochia as Evan Mindy - Evan is Randall and June’s other son. Robert Radochia has only starred in one other project, the TV series American Odyssey, prior to ing the cast of Don't Look Up.
Erik Parillo as Sheriff Conlon - Sheriff Conlon is part of an ongoing scandal and is President Orlean’s choice for Supreme Court Justice. Erik Parillo has starred in Just One More Kiss and Right of Way.
Ariana Grande as Riley Bina - Riley Bina is a pop singer whose break-up with her boyfriend, DJ Chello, is the talk of most major outlets and social media — despite the main Don't Look Up characters scrambling to warn the world about the comet. Ariana Grande is also a famous singer in real life, but she has also appeared in series like Victorious and Winx Club. She is set to star in the movie musical adaptation of Wicked.
Kid Cudi as DJ Chello - DJ Chello is a rapper/music producer whose relationship with Riley is all anyone can talk about. Kid Cudi is a rapper and songwriter in real life and has also starred in Westworld, Bill & Ted Face the Music, We Are Who We Are, and Entourage.
Michael Chiklis as Dan Pawketty - Dan Pawketty is a TV anchor on a conservative news show. Michael Chiklis has starred in numerous films and TV shows, including Fantastic Four, Fantastic Four: Rise of the Silver Surfer, Gotham, Hubie Halloween, American Horror Story, The Shield, and The Commish.
Paul Guilfoyle as General Themes - General Themes works with the president and other key figures to plan for the comet. Paul Guilfoyle is known for Air Force One, The Good Fight, L.A. Confidential, Spotlight, and CSI: Crime Scene Investigation.
Robert Joy as Tenant - Tenant is a congressman who appears throughout Don’t Look Up. Robert Joy is best known for The Hills Have Eyes, The Goldfinch, CSI: NY, and Land of the Dead.
Sarah Silverman as Sarah Benterman - Sarah Benterman is a comedian who makes a cameo appearance in the cast of Don't Look Up. Sarah Silverman is known for her roles in Wreck-It Ralph, School of Rock, The Sarah Silverman Program, Space Jam: A New Legacy, Bob’s Burgers, Funny People, and Masters of Sex.
Chris Evans as Devin Peters - Devin Peters is an actor who stars in the fictional film Total Devastation following news of the comet. The biggest cameo in the Don't Look Up cast, Peters is played by Chris Evans. The actor is primarily known for starring in the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Captain America, but he's also been in Knives Out, Gifted, Snowpiercer, The Gray Man, The Losers, and 2005’s Fantastic Four.
