Kramer vs. Kramer - actors, characters and roles

All actors and their roles in the film "Kramer vs. Kramer"
Kramer vs. Kramer (1979)
Timing: 1:45 (105 min)
Kramer vs. Kramer - TMDB rating
7.6/10
2132
Kramer vs. Kramer - Kinopoisk rating
7.986/10
56135
Kramer vs. Kramer - IMDB rating
7.8/10
165000

Actors and characters

Photo Dustin Hoffman #28852Photo Dustin Hoffman #28853Photo Dustin Hoffman #28854Photo Dustin Hoffman #28855

Dustin Hoffman

Dustin Hoffman
Character Ted Kramer
Photo Meryl Streep #44492Photo Meryl Streep #44493Photo Meryl Streep #44494Photo Meryl Streep #44495

Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep
Character Joanna Kramer
Photo Jane Alexander #84441Photo Jane Alexander #84442

Jane Alexander

Jane Alexander
Character Margaret Phelps
Photo Justin Henry #104663Photo Justin Henry #104664

Justin Henry

Justin Henry
Character Billy Kramer
Photo Howard Duff #85042Photo Howard Duff #85043

Howard Duff

Howard Duff
Character John Shaunessy
Photo George Coe #92689

George Coe

George Coe
Character Jim O'Connor
Photo JoBeth Williams #99279Photo JoBeth Williams #99280

JoBeth Williams

JoBeth Williams
Character Phyllis Bernard
Bill Moor
Character Gressen
Photo Howland Chamberlain #109115
Howland Chamberlain
Character Judge Atkins
Jack Ramage
Character Spencer
Jess Osuna
Character Ackerman
Nicholas Hormann
Character Interviewer

Ellen Parker

Ellen Parker
Character Teacher
Shelby Brammer
Character Ted's Secretary
Carol Nadell
Character Mrs. Kline
Donald Gantry
Character Surgeon
Photo Joe Seneca #81972Photo Joe Seneca #81973

Joe Seneca

Joe Seneca
Character Partygoer
David Golden
Character Grocer
Sean Albertson
Character Boy in Hospital (uncredited)

Iris Klein

Iris Klein
Character Partygoer (as Iris Alhanti)

Lori Randolph

Lori Randolph
Character Blonde Little Girl at Park (uncredited)

What's left behind the scenes

  • The film is based on Avery Corman's novel "Kramer vs. Kramer" (1977).
  • The famous ice cream scene, where Billy pleads with his father to skip lunch and go straight to dessert, was entirely improvised by Dustin Hoffman and Justin Henry. Director Robert Benton liked the scene so much that he immediately decided to keep it in the film.
  • Jane Fonda declined the role of Joanna Kramer.
  • Dustin Hoffman suggested Joan Lunden play the role of Ted's one-night stand after seeing her on a live broadcast of "Eyewitness News" (WABC). Upon learning the role involved nude scenes, Lunden refused the part.
  • James Caan turned down the role of Ted Kramer that was offered to him.
  • Shortly before filming began, Dustin Hoffman himself went through a divorce. This is why he brought many personal aspects and dialogues into the film. Director Robert Benton even offered Hoffman to become a co-writer, but Dustin declined.
  • Meryl Streep wrote the speech delivered by her character in court herself, against the advice of the film's director/screenwriter Robert Benton. She explained this by saying she was completely dissatisfied with the originally written version of the speech.
  • Dustin Hoffman worked very closely with Justin Henry on every scene. They discussed them at length until Henry began to feel more relaxed and at ease.
  • Robert Benton advised cinematographer Nestor Almendros to base the film's visuals and color palette on the paintings of Piero della Francesca. David Hockney's work also inspired Almendros to create a realistic look, for which he used light sources in rooms and any available light in exteriors.
  • The first version of the film was 43 minutes longer than the final version and contained additional scenes with Jane Alexander, JoBeth Williams, and the landlord character, which was later removed.
  • During the opening credits, Antonio Vivaldi's "Concerto for Mandolin" plays.
  • The woman Hoffman unexpectedly kisses at the party is Ingeborg Sorenson, a former Miss Norway who also modeled for Playboy.
  • Initially, Meryl Streep auditioned for the role of Ted's one-night stand, a role that eventually went to JoBeth Williams. When Kate Jackson declined the role of Joanna (due to a contract with the series "Charlie's Angels"), Streep was offered the part.
  • The scene between Hoffman and Streep in the restaurant was filmed on location in one of New York's restaurants. A photograph from the film's shooting is still hanging on the wall of this restaurant, next to the table where the scene was filmed.
  • Every time Billy (Justin Henry's character) cries, it's not acting, but genuine tears. Before filming each such scene, the director asked Justin to remember some sad event.
  • The amusing scenes with JoBeth Williams nude were optically darkened to avoid an R rating. Nevertheless, the “undarkened” version is often broadcast on television channels.
  • The film "Kramer vs. Kramer" reflected the cultural shift that occurred in public opinion in the 1970s (the period of the second wave of feminism in the United States), when the ideas of "fatherhood" and "motherhood" were reversed.
  • The famous ice cream scene, where Billy pleads with his father to skip lunch and go straight to dessert, was completely improvised.
  • Meryl Streep wrote the speech delivered by her character in court herself, as she was completely dissatisfied with the original version.
  • Robert Benton advised cinematographer Nestor Almendros to base the film's color scheme on the paintings of Piero della Francesca.
  • The film is based on Avery Corman's novel "Kramer vs. Kramer" (1977).
  • The famous ice cream scene, where Billy pleads with his father to skip lunch and go straight to dessert, was entirely improvised.
  • Meryl Streep wrote the speech delivered by her character in court herself, as she was completely dissatisfied with the original version.
  • Robert Benton advised cinematographer Nestor Almendros to base the film's color palette on the paintings of Piero della Francesca.
  • The woman Hoffman unexpectedly kisses at the party is Ingeborg Sørensen, a former Miss Norway who also appeared in Playboy.
Did you like the film?

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