‘Scrooged’ Cast Then & Now: How Bill Murray, Carol Kane, & More Have Changed Since 1988

By:

Elissa Anderson

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The Cast Of ‘Scrooged’ Now & Then: Bill Murray & more

The Cast Of ‘Scrooged’ Now & Then: Bill Murray & more — The 1988 dramedy holiday flick Scrooged, aka the film adaptation of the Charles Dickens story A Christmas Carol, starred comedian and actor Bill Murray as Francis Xavier “Frank” Cross, a cynical, career-driven TV executive who is putting together a live production of A Christmas Carol on Christmas Eve.

The executive becomes alienated by his family and hated by his employees, whom he overworks. The night before Christmas, he is haunted by three ghosts who try and make him see the err of his ways.

By the time Scrooged hit theaters, Bill was already a household name from his time at Saturday Night Live and in comedy films like Caddyshack and Stripes. The actor went on to star and appear in numerous films, like Groundhog Day, The Royal Tenenbaums, Broken Flowers, and more.

Want to see who went on from Scrooged to big things? Check out our gallery right here.

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Carol Kane

Carol Kane — Carol Kane played the ephervescent and fiesty Ghost of Christmas Present in the 1988 film, helping Frank to see how his career-driven ways have The actress continues to thrive both on film and TV, pictured here at the premiere of Hunters, an Amazon original show she’s acting in beside Al Pacino and others. The Cleveland, Ohio native got her start in Annie Hall, The Princess Bride, and more, and most recently delighted audiences as the kooky neighbor on The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

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Alfre Woodard

Alfre Woodard — Alfre Woodard played Grace Cooley in the film, Frank’s over-worked assistant who had to sacrifice time with her family and caring for her mute son. The actress, who had previously played Winnie Mandella in the TV movie of the life of Nelson Mandella, went on to appear in several movies like Beauty Shop, Tyler Perry’s The Family That Preys, 12 Years a Slave, and more.

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Karen Allen

Karen Allen — Karen Allen played the kind and generous Claire in the film, and her relationship with Frank was at-risk when his ruthless career pursuits got in the way of love. Karen, seen on the right at the 2020 Film Independent Spirit Awards, was famous for playing Marion Ravenwood in Raider of the Lost Ark and since appeared in films like Malcom X, The Sandlot, and The Perfect Storm.

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Bobcat Goldthwait

Bobcat Goldthwait — Bobcat Goldthwait is a comedian who starred in Scrooged as Eliot Loudermilk, a timid employee who critiques on of Frank’s controversial TV commercials and subsequently gets fired. The actor, pictured on the right at the Turner Upfront Presentation in NYC in 2018, has guest-starred in various TV shows and was the voice of Mr. Floppy the rabbit in the short-lived sitcom Unhappily Ever After. He’s now been more invested in writing and directing indie films, such as the Robin Williams-led flick World’s Greatest Dad and the found footage horror flick Willow Creek. He died on July 1, 1997, in Santa Barbara, California, due to complications of lung cancer and emphysema.

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John Forsythe

John Forsythe — The night before Frank’s pushed production of A Christmas Carol, John Forsythe appeared as the ghost of Frank’s mentor, Lew Hayward, an unloved money-hoarder who died from a heart attack. He warns Frank of three more ghosts that will appear over the next day to help him avoid the same fate.

John had an illustrious career before and after Scrooged, first beginning with Warner Brothers as a minor contract player and going on to star opposite stars like Shirley McClaine in one of Alfred Hitchcock’s few comedy films, The Trouble With Harry. In addition to playing the iconic unseen millionaire Charles Townsend in the original Charlie’s Angels, he appeared as a guest on several variety shows and served as the presenter of the 38th Miss Universe Pageant in 1989. He also appeared on the famed TV series Dynasty and returned in his same role for the Charlies Angels movies of the aughts. He died on on April 1, 2010, from pneumonia in Santa Ynez, California.

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Robert Mitchum

Robert Mitchum — Bobcat Goldthwait is a comedian who starred in Scrooged as Eliot Loudermilk, a timid employee who critiques on of Frank’s controversial TV commercials and subsequently gets fired. The actor, pictured on the right at the Turner Upfront Presentation in NYC in 2018, has guest-starred in various TV shows and was the voice of Mr. Floppy the rabbit in the short-lived sitcom Unhappily Ever After.

He went on to write and direct indie films in his later career, such as the Robin Williams-led flick World’s Greatest Dad and the found footage horror flick Willow Creek. He died on July 1, 1997, in Santa Barbara, California, due to complications of lung cancer and emphysema.

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David Johansen

David Johansen — David Johansen, best known as the lead singer of the New York Dolls, played the Ghost of Christmas past in the film — a beligerent spirt who picks up Frank in a taxi cab to take him to see his past wrongdoings. The role was apparently originally intended for comedian Sam Kinison, but went to David due to his friendship with Bill Murray.

David Johansen, pictured on the right at The Hollywood Reporter‘s annual Most Powerful People in Media cocktail reception in NYC, 2019, went on to have a successful music career under the pseudonym Buster Poindexter in the ’80s and also appeared in SNL‘s house band for some time. He also had roles in the TV shows Oz and The Adventures of Pete & Pete and appeared in the films 200 Cigarettes and Campfire Stories. David reunited with the New York Dolls in 2011 for a new album, tour, and concert films.

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John Glover

John Glover — John Glover played Brice Cummings, an assistant hired by Frank’s boss to help him out, but it becomes clear Brice is really just after Frank’s job. The actor, seen here at The Chaperone film premiere in 2019, went on to play Lionel Luther on Smallville from 2001 to 2008 and also had recurring roles on The Good Wife, Fear the Walking Dead, and more.

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