Defending Your Life

The first true story of what happens after you die.

Duration: 111 min
Release date: 1991-03-22
IMDB

Is there love after death? After he dies suddenly, the hapless advertising executive Daniel Miller finds himself in Judgment City, a gleaming way station where the newly deceased must prove they lived a life of sufficient courage to advance in their journey through the universe. As the self-doubting Daniel struggles to make his case, a budding relationship with the uninhibited Julia offers him a chance to finally feel alive.

Romance Fantasy Comedy Drama

Defending Your Life

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Defending Your Life

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Casting arrow_drop_down

Albert Brooks
Albert Brooks
as Daniel Miller
Meryl Streep
Meryl Streep
as Julia
Rip Torn
Rip Torn
as Bob Diamond
Lee Grant
Lee Grant
as Lena Foster
Michael Durrell
Michael Durrell
as Agency Head
James Eckhouse
James Eckhouse
as Jeep Owner
Gary Beach
Gary Beach
as Car Salesman
Julie Cobb
Julie Cobb
as Tram Guide
Peter Schuck
Peter Schuck
as Stan
Time Winters
Time Winters
as Porter
Sharlie Stuart
Sharlie Stuart
as Susan
Beth Black
Beth Black
as Soap Opera Woman
Clayton Norcross
Clayton Norcross
as Soap Opera Man
Jim McKrell
Jim McKrell
as Game Show Moderator
Wil Albert
Wil Albert
as Game Show Contestant
Sage Allen
Sage Allen
as Game Show Contestant
Mary Pat Gleason
Mary Pat Gleason
as Waitress
Maxine Elliott Hicks
Maxine Elliott Hicks
as Elderly Woman on Tram
Marilyn Rockafellow
Marilyn Rockafellow
as Helen
Roger Behr
Roger Behr
as Comedian
Art Frankel
Art Frankel
as Arthur
Ernie Brown
Ernie Brown
as Ernie
George D. Wallace
George D. Wallace
as Daniel's Judge
Lillian Lehman
Lillian Lehman
as Daniel's Judge
Raffi Di Blasio
Raffi Di Blasio
as Daniel as a Boy
Kristopher Kent Hill
Kristopher Kent Hill
as Bully
Eric Ehasz
Eric Ehasz
as Child in Schoolyard
Matthew Scharch
Matthew Scharch
as Daniel as an Infant
S. Scott Bullock
S. Scott Bullock
as Daniel's Father
Carol Bivins
Carol Bivins
as Daniel's Mother
Ethan Embry
Ethan Embry
as Steve
Gary Ballard
Gary Ballard
as Mr. Wadworth
Mary Mukogawa
Mary Mukogawa
as Sushi Hostess
Toshio Shikami
Toshio Shikami
as Head Sushi Chef
Samee Park
Samee Park
as Sushi Chef
Kagko Shikami
Kagko Shikami
as Sushi Chef
Tommy Inouye
Tommy Inouye
as Sushi Chef
Ken Thorley
Ken Thorley
as Frank
Bob Braun
Bob Braun
as Talk Show Host
Jennifer Barlow Grodsky
Jennifer Barlow Grodsky
as Talk Show Guest
Buck Henry
Buck Henry
as Dick Stanley
Joey Miyashima
Joey Miyashima
as Casio Tipster
Nurit Koppel
Nurit Koppel
as Daniel's Date
Susan Walters
Susan Walters
as Daniel's Wife
Sidney Chankin
Sidney Chankin
as Used Car Salesman
Greg Finley
Greg Finley
as Used Car Salesman
Leonard O. Turner
Leonard O. Turner
as Sam
Clifford Einstein
Clifford Einstein
as Julia's Prosecutor
Rachel Bard
Rachel Bard
as Julia's Judge
Newell Alexander
Newell Alexander
as Julia's Judge
Shirley MacLaine
Shirley MacLaine
as Shirley MacLaine
Hal Landon Jr.
Hal Landon Jr.
as Man in Past Lives Pavilion
Ida Lee
Ida Lee
as Woman in Past Lives Pavilion
Noley Thornton
Noley Thornton
as Victorian Girl
Glen Chin
Glen Chin
as Sumo Wrestler
James Ekim
James Ekim
as Native
Clarke Coleman
Clarke Coleman
as Knight
Ronald L. Colby
Ronald L. Colby
as Majestic Doorman
David Purdham
David Purdham
as Peter
James Paradise
James Paradise
as Stage Manager
Jerry Prell
Jerry Prell
as Banquet Manager
Arell Blanton
Arell Blanton
as Fire Marshall
Shana Ballard
Shana Ballard
as Julia's Daughter
Chris Macris
Chris Macris
as Julia's Son
Joseph Darrell
Joseph Darrell
as Maitre d'
James Manis
James Manis
as Eduardo
Alex Sheafe
Alex Sheafe
as Martin
Cathleen Chin
Cathleen Chin
as Ticket Counter Agent
Lisa Sears
Lisa Sears
as Tram Port Attendant
Mark Dunlap
Mark Dunlap
as Tram Port Attendant
Vernon Roguen
Vernon Roguen
as Tram Port Attendant
Dennis Germain
Dennis Germain
as Tram Driver
Jorga Caye
Jorga Caye
as Deceased Lady (uncredited)
Robert Gatewood
Robert Gatewood
as Afterlife Traveler (uncredited)
John Michael Quinn
John Michael Quinn
as Man in Heaven (uncredited)
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Crew arrow_drop_down

Michael Grillo
Michael Grillo
Producer
Michael Gore
Michael Gore
Original Music Composer
Albert Brooks
Albert Brooks
Director
Albert Brooks
Albert Brooks
Screenplay
David Finfer
David Finfer
Editor
Allen Daviau
Allen Daviau
Director of Photography
Mark Saks
Mark Saks
Casting
Barbara Claman
Barbara Claman
Casting
Deborah L. Scott
Deborah L. Scott
Costume Design
Ida Random
Ida Random
Production Design
Robert Grand
Robert Grand
Co-Producer
Herb Nanas
Herb Nanas
Executive Producer
John Rankin
John Rankin
Swing
John Morrisey
John Morrisey
Assistant Editor
Kimberly Lowe Voigt
Kimberly Lowe Voigt
Dialogue Editor
Donn Piller
Donn Piller
Swing
Dennis Dion
Dennis Dion
Special Effects Supervisor
Dane A. Davis
Dane A. Davis
Supervising Sound Editor
Jim Borgardt
Jim Borgardt
ADR Editor
G.W. Brown
G.W. Brown
ADR Editor
Michael Grillo
Michael Grillo
First Assistant Director
Bobby Mancuso
Bobby Mancuso
Second Assistant Camera
Reggie Newkirk
Reggie Newkirk
First Assistant Camera
Martha Johnston
Martha Johnston
Set Designer
Valerie Davidson
Valerie Davidson
Foley Editor
Sara Gardner-Gail
Sara Gardner-Gail
Swing
Judd H. Maslansky
Judd H. Maslansky
Assistant Editor
James Hegedus
James Hegedus
Production Illustrator
Tom Hammond
Tom Hammond
Foley Editor
Carey Dietrich
Carey Dietrich
Second Assistant Director
Eric Engler
Eric Engler
Camera Operator
Linda DeScenna
Linda DeScenna
Set Decoration
Randy Bostic
Randy Bostic
Swing
Robert Grand
Robert Grand
Production Manager
Richard Reynolds
Richard Reynolds
Art Direction
Ric McElvin
Ric McElvin
Leadman
Spencer Cross
Spencer Cross
Associate Editor
Maureen Mitchell
Maureen Mitchell
Assistant Editor
John Kwiatkowski
John Kwiatkowski
Sound Effects Editor
Franklin Jones Jr.
Franklin Jones Jr.
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Curtis Roush
Curtis Roush
Music Editor
Larry Clark Bird
Larry Clark Bird
Property Master
Gregg Barbanell
Gregg Barbanell
Foley Artist
Tom E. Dahl
Tom E. Dahl
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Shirley Walker
Shirley Walker
Orchestrator
Steph Benseman
Steph Benseman
Location Manager
Jim Shelton
Jim Shelton
Dolly Grip
Larry Wallace
Larry Wallace
Chief Lighting Technician
Chris Burton
Chris Burton
Special Effects Coordinator
Richard Kite
Richard Kite
Boom Operator
Wayne Artman
Wayne Artman
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
John Thompson
John Thompson
Greensman
Joan Rowe
Joan Rowe
Foley Artist
Joseph F. Brennan
Joseph F. Brennan
Boom Operator
William R. Mayberry
William R. Mayberry
Assistant Chief Lighting Technician
Lauren Ross
Lauren Ross
Assistant Location Manager
Robert W. Meyers
Robert W. Meyers
Rigging Gaffer
Hallie D'Amore
Hallie D'Amore
Makeup Artist
Ken Zimmerman
Ken Zimmerman
Assistant Property Master
Melinda Garey
Melinda Garey
Assistant Sound Editor
Hector C. Gika
Hector C. Gika
Dialogue Editor
Annette Sutera
Annette Sutera
Second Second Assistant Director
Robert E. Denne
Robert E. Denne
Standby Painter
Marlene D. Williams
Marlene D. Williams
Hairstylist
Robert Bradshaw
Robert Bradshaw
Dialogue Editor
Darrell Hall
Darrell Hall
Assistant Sound Editor
Thomas Causey
Thomas Causey
Production Sound Mixer
Luca Kouimelis
Luca Kouimelis
Script Supervisor
David Harris
David Harris
Greensman
J. Roy Helland
J. Roy Helland
Hairstylist
George Stokes
George Stokes
Construction Coordinator
Joel Moss
Joel Moss
Scoring Mixer
James F. Orendorff
James F. Orendorff
Construction Foreman
Cheri Hall
Cheri Hall
Assistant Accountant
Patti Hawn
Patti Hawn
Unit Publicist
Maggie Erickson
Maggie Erickson
Casting Assistant
John George
John George
Set Costumer
Nancy Ramey
Nancy Ramey
Production Accountant
Bill Erickson
Bill Erickson
Stunt Coordinator
Jeff Jensen
Jeff Jensen
Stunts
George L. Little
George L. Little
Wardrobe Supervisor
Lisbeth Wynn-Owen
Lisbeth Wynn-Owen
Production Office Coordinator
Paul E. Short
Paul E. Short
Stunts
Michael Kenner
Michael Kenner
Key Grip
J. Roy Helland
J. Roy Helland
Makeup Artist
Robert Raring
Robert Raring
Color Timer
Phyllis Corcoran-Woods
Phyllis Corcoran-Woods
Set Costumer
Deborah Hopper
Deborah Hopper
Set Costumer
Paul Slansky
Paul Slansky
Thanks
Robert Stadd
Robert Stadd
Visual Effects Producer
Mat Beck
Mat Beck
Visual Effects Supervisor
Greg Hall
Greg Hall
Set Costumer
Carol McCullough
Carol McCullough
Still Photographer
Cary Conway
Cary Conway
Paint Coordinator
Fernando Castroman
Fernando Castroman
Assistant Director Trainee
Ken Allen
Ken Allen
Matte Painter
Kevin Scott Mack
Kevin Scott Mack
Modeling
Tom Bookout
Tom Bookout
Second Company Grip
Robert Foulkes
Robert Foulkes
Assistant Location Manager
Richard L. Hill
Richard L. Hill
Special Effects Technician
Shirley Walker
Shirley Walker
Conductor
Lee Redmond
Lee Redmond
Camera Operator
Robert Scifo
Robert Scifo
Matte Painter
Malcolm McNab
Malcolm McNab
Musician
James Valentine
James Valentine
Roto Supervisor
Jon Farhat
Jon Farhat
VFX Artist
Laura Adler
Laura Adler
Casting Assistant
Tom Boyd
Tom Boyd
Musician
Bruce Fowler
Bruce Fowler
Orchestrator
Bill Daly
Bill Daly
Post Production Accountant
Val Kuklowsky
Val Kuklowsky
Sound Editor
Jeff Burks
Jeff Burks
Animation Supervisor
Linda Renaud
Linda Renaud
VFX Editor
Louise Di Tullio
Louise Di Tullio
Musician
David Goldberg
David Goldberg
Modelling Supervisor
Tom Dias
Tom Dias
Transportation Captain
László Regos
László Regos
Steadicam Operator
Kini Kay
Kini Kay
Sound Effects Editor
Erik Henry
Erik Henry
VFX Editor
Jenny O'Haver
Jenny O'Haver
Casting Assistant
Daniel Quick
Daniel Quick
Transportation Coordinator
John Sagray
John Sagray
Driver
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