Defending Your Life
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.
Albert Brooks
Daniel Miller
Meryl Streep
Julia
Rip Torn
Bob Diamond
Lee Grant
Lena Foster
Michael Durrell
Agency Head
James Eckhouse
Jeep Owner
Gary Beach
Car Salesman
Julie Cobb
Tram Guide
Peter Schuck
Stan
Time Winters
Porter
Sharlie Stuart
Susan
Beth Black
Soap Opera Woman
Clayton Norcross
Soap Opera Man
Jim McKrell
Game Show Moderator
Wil Albert
Game Show Contestant
Sage Allen
Game Show Contestant
Mary Pat Gleason
Waitress
Maxine Elliott Hicks
Elderly Woman on Tram
Marilyn Rockafellow
Helen
Roger Behr
Comedian
Art Frankel
Arthur
Ernie Brown
Ernie
George D. Wallace
Daniel's Judge
Lillian Lehman
Daniel's Judge
Raffi Di Blasio
Daniel as a Boy
Kristopher Kent Hill
Bully
Eric Ehasz
Child in Schoolyard
Matthew Scharch
Daniel as an Infant
S. Scott Bullock
Daniel's Father
Carol Bivins
Daniel's Mother
Ethan Embry
Steve
Gary Ballard
Mr. Wadworth
Mary Mukogawa
Sushi Hostess
Toshio Shikami
Head Sushi Chef
Samee Park
Sushi Chef
Kagko Shikami
Sushi Chef
Tommy Inouye
Sushi Chef
Ken Thorley
Frank
Bob Braun
Talk Show Host
Jennifer Barlow Grodsky
Talk Show Guest
Buck Henry
Dick Stanley
Joey Miyashima
Casio Tipster
Nurit Koppel
Daniel's Date
Susan Walters
Daniel's Wife
Sidney Chankin
Used Car Salesman
Greg Finley
Used Car Salesman
Leonard O. Turner
Sam
Clifford Einstein
Julia's Prosecutor
Rachel Bard
Julia's Judge
Newell Alexander
Julia's Judge
Shirley MacLaine
Shirley MacLaine
Hal Landon Jr.
Man in Past Lives Pavilion
Ida Lee
Woman in Past Lives Pavilion
Noley Thornton
Victorian Girl
Glen Chin
Sumo Wrestler
James Ekim
Native
Clarke Coleman
Knight
Ronald L. Colby
Majestic Doorman
David Purdham
Peter
James Paradise
Stage Manager
Jerry Prell
Banquet Manager
Arell Blanton
Fire Marshall
Shana Ballard
Julia's Daughter
Chris Macris
Julia's Son
Joseph Darrell
Maitre d'
James Manis
Eduardo
Alex Sheafe
Martin
Cathleen Chin
Ticket Counter Agent
Lisa Sears
Tram Port Attendant
Mark Dunlap
Tram Port Attendant
Vernon Roguen
Tram Port Attendant
Dennis Germain
Tram Driver
Jorga Caye
Deceased Lady (uncredited)
Robert Gatewood
Afterlife Traveler (uncredited)
John Michael Quinn
Man in Heaven (uncredited)
Douglas M. Nelson
Tram Attendee (uncredited)
Michael Grillo
Producer
David Finfer
Editor
Allen Daviau
Director of Photography
Albert Brooks
Screenplay
Michael Gore
Original Music Composer
Albert Brooks
Director
Mark Saks
Casting
Deborah L. Scott
Costume Design
Barbara Claman
Casting
Robert Grand
Co-Producer
Herb Nanas
Executive Producer
Ida Random
Production Design
Michael Grillo
First Assistant Director
Reggie Newkirk
First Assistant Camera
John Kwiatkowski
Sound Effects Editor
John Morrisey
Assistant Editor
Richard Reynolds
Art Direction
Maureen Mitchell
Assistant Editor
Kimberly Lowe Voigt
Dialogue Editor
James Hegedus
Production Illustrator
Jim Borgardt
ADR Editor
Sara Gardner-Gail
Swing
Bobby Mancuso
Second Assistant Camera
Martha Johnston
Set Designer
Judd H. Maslansky
Assistant Editor
Robert Grand
Production Manager
Carey Dietrich
Second Assistant Director
Dane A. Davis
Supervising Sound Editor
Randy Bostic
Swing
Eric Engler
Camera Operator
Linda DeScenna
Set Decoration
John Rankin
Swing
Ric McElvin
Leadman
Spencer Cross
Associate Editor
G.W. Brown
ADR Editor
Joseph F. Brennan
Boom Operator
Joel Moss
Scoring Mixer
Hector C. Gika
Dialogue Editor
Darrell Hall
Assistant Sound Editor
Franklin Jones Jr.
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Robert Bradshaw
Dialogue Editor
Shirley Walker
Orchestrator
Jim Shelton
Dolly Grip
Donn Piller
Swing
George Stokes
Construction Coordinator
J. Roy Helland
Hairstylist
Dennis Dion
Special Effects Supervisor
Thomas Causey
Production Sound Mixer
Michael Kenner
Key Grip
Marlene D. Williams
Hairstylist
J. Roy Helland
Makeup Artist
Annette Sutera
Second Second Assistant Director
James F. Orendorff
Construction Foreman
Robert E. Denne
Standby Painter
William R. Mayberry
Assistant Chief Lighting Technician
Valerie Davidson
Foley Editor
Curtis Roush
Music Editor
Melinda Garey
Assistant Sound Editor
Joan Rowe
Foley Artist
David Harris
Greensman
Chris Burton
Special Effects Coordinator
John Thompson
Greensman
Tom Hammond
Foley Editor
Robert W. Meyers
Rigging Gaffer
Hallie D'Amore
Makeup Artist
Gregg Barbanell
Foley Artist
Steph Benseman
Location Manager
Richard Kite
Boom Operator
Tom E. Dahl
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Luca Kouimelis
Script Supervisor
Wayne Artman
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Lauren Ross
Assistant Location Manager
Paul Slansky
Thanks
Phyllis Corcoran-Woods
Set Costumer
Jeff Jensen
Stunts
Larry Wallace
Chief Lighting Technician
Ken Zimmerman
Assistant Property Master
Patti Hawn
Unit Publicist
Deborah Hopper
Set Costumer
Greg Hall
Set Costumer
Mat Beck
Visual Effects Supervisor
Carol McCullough
Still Photographer
Bill Erickson
Stunt Coordinator
Robert Raring
Color Timer
Larry Clark Bird
Property Master
John George
Set Costumer
Robert Stadd
Visual Effects Producer
Paul E. Short
Stunts
George L. Little
Wardrobe Supervisor
Nancy Ramey
Production Accountant
Cheri Hall
Assistant Accountant
Lisbeth Wynn-Owen
Production Office Coordinator
Maggie Erickson
Casting Assistant
Jeff Burks
Animation Supervisor
Erik Henry
VFX Editor
Jenny O'Haver
Casting Assistant
James Valentine
Roto Supervisor
Cary Conway
Paint Coordinator
Val Kuklowsky
Sound Editor
Kini Kay
Sound Effects Editor
Fernando Castroman
Assistant Director Trainee
Jon Farhat
VFX Artist
Malcolm McNab
Musician
Bruce Fowler
Orchestrator
John Sagray
Driver
Linda Renaud
VFX Editor
Tom Bookout
Second Company Grip
Ken Allen
Matte Painter
Richard L. Hill
Special Effects Technician
Tom Dias
Transportation Captain
Robert Scifo
Matte Painter
Louise Di Tullio
Musician
Shirley Walker
Conductor
Daniel Quick
Transportation Coordinator
Robert Foulkes
Assistant Location Manager
Tom Boyd
Musician
Bill Daly
Post Production Accountant
Lee Redmond
Camera Operator
László Regos
Steadicam Operator
David Goldberg
Modelling Supervisor
Kevin Scott Mack
Modeling
Laura Adler
Casting Assistant