Where The Cast Of Cinderella Man Is Now

Cinderella Man is a hugely popular boxing movie that took the world by storm in 2005, but many of the actors involved have gone on to carve unique careers for themselves and star in plenty more recognizable projects. The story follows a former boxer named James J. Braddock, whose life is turned upside-down by the Great Depression and he’s forced to get into the ring once more. It’s one of the most inspiring movies about underdogs in recent memory, and the story has managed to stay relevant for almost two decades.

The A-list cast behind Cinderella Man is another of the film’s strongest assets. While it’s very much a character study with a clear protagonist, the supporting characters often steal the show with their grounded performances and crucial subplots. Cinderella Man is best known for being one of Russell Crowe’s best movies, but even the most minor characters are played by actors that audiences would immediately recognize today. In the years since the project, Cinderella Man’s cast has gone on to star in plenty of exciting movies and TV shows that have furthered their careers even more.

Russell Crowe as James J. Braddock

Date of Birth: April 7, 1964

Active Since: 1992

Actor: Russell Crowe was born in Wellington, New Zealand, and broke out in the film industry with his debut feature Romper Stomper. From there, he quickly became one of Hollywood’s biggest names after starring in the historical epic Gladiator and later won the Best Actor Oscar for his performance in the movie. More recently, the actor has appeared in The Nice Guys and Les Miserables.

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Character: James J. Braddock was a real-life American boxer from New Jersey who was forced to quit the sport after a dangerous injury in the ring. Without his income from boxing, Braddock and his family suffer through the turmoils of the Great Depression until he’s forced to come back to what he knows and loves.

Renée Zellweger as Mae Braddock

Date of Birth: April 25, 1969

Active Since: 1993

Actor: Renée Zellweger is an American actress from Katy, a Western suburb of Houston, Texas. Her career began with an uncredited role in Richard Linklater’s Dazed and Confused, before she landed her first credited role in Reality Bites, directed by Ben Stiller. She was a rising star throughout the 1990s, appearing in projects such as Empire Records and Jerry Maguire. She later played the lead role in the beloved Bridget Jones trilogy, which can definitely be considered among Renée Zellweger’s best movies.

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Character: Mae Braddock is the wife of Russell Crowe’s protagonist, and she spends the majority of the film taking care of their family while they struggle under the financial pressures of the Great Depression. Her supporting role is crucial to understanding James’ motivations for getting back in the ring.

Paul Giamatti as Joe Gould

Date of Birth: 6 June, 1967

Active Since: 1994

Actor: Paul Giamatti was born in New Haven, Connecticut and became one of Hollywood’s most reliable character actors throughout the 1990s. His early roles included a minor appearance in NYPD Blue, and more recognizable characters in Private Parts and Mighty Aphrodite. In the following decade, Giamatti became known for his roles in Sideways and Big Fat Liar. One of Paul Giamatti’s best movies, The Holdovers, earned him an Academy Award nomination for Best Actor in 2024.

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Character: Joe Gould is Braddock’s professional manager and close personal friend, and he’s the one who arranges for the protagonist to make his return to boxing. He pushes Braddock to overcome his injury and rise to the strengths that he displayed at the height of his career,

Craig Bierko as Max Baer

Date of Birth: August 18, 1964

Active Since: 1991

Actor: Craig Bierko was born in Rye Brook, New York and rose to fame throughout the 1990s, with his first role in Victimless Crimes and later appearances in The Long Kiss Goodnight and Scary Movie 4. He also starred alongside Marisa Tomei in Danika in the same year as his most famous role in Cinderella Man.

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Character: Max Baer is a rival boxer who currently holds the Heavyweight Champion title, famous for having killed two opponents in the ring. As Braddock gets more accomplished following his return to the sport, he realizes that he stands a shot against Baer, and that becomes his main goal.

Paddy Considine as Mike Wilson

Date of Birth: September 5, 1973

Active Since: 1999

Actor: Paddy Considine is a British actor and filmmaker from Burton upon Trent, Staffordshire. His first major role came in A Room for Romeo Brass in 1999, the first of several collaborations with director Shane Meadows. After appearing in Dead Man’s Shoes and My Summer of Love, Considine truly broke through with international audiences in 2007 when he starred in both Hot Fuzz and The Bourne Ultimatum. Since then, he’s become famous for playing King Viserys Targaryen I in HBO’s House of the Dragon.

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Character: Mike Wilson was one of Braddock’s boxing colleagues, though he spent most of his time advocating and demonstrating for the communist party after the US government failed his family during the Depression. His character adds a unique political element to the story, enriching the historical context of the film.

Cinderella Man Supporting Cast & Characters

Bruce McGill as James Johnstone – McGill is an American actor best known for his roles in My Cousin Vinny, where he played Sheriff Farley, and Amazon’s Reacher series, where he plays Grover Teale.

David Huband as Ford Bond – David Huband is a Canadian actor and writer whose most famous roles outside of Cinderella Man included Dream House, Good Sam, and Cube Zero.

Connor Price as Jay Braddock – Connor Price played Braddock’s son in Cinderella Man and has since started a career in music, releasing several hip-hop records.