Defending Your Life (1991)
Defending Your Life (1991)
The first true story of what happens after you die.
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.

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Cast

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
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Storyline

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.


Tagline: The first true story of what happens after you die.
Certification: PG

Details

Genres: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance

Language: English

Release Date: 22 March 1991

Country: US

Runtime: 112m

Company Credits

Company: Geffen Pictures, Warner Bros. Pictures

Revenue: $16,400,000

External Links

Cast

Albert Brooks

Albert Brooks

Daniel Miller

Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep

Julia

Rip Torn

Rip Torn

Bob Diamond

Lee Grant

Lee Grant

Lena Foster

Michael Durrell

Michael Durrell

Agency Head

James Eckhouse

James Eckhouse

Jeep Owner

Gary Beach

Gary Beach

Car Salesman

Julie Cobb

Julie Cobb

Tram Guide

Peter Schuck

Peter Schuck

Stan

Time Winters

Time Winters

Porter

Sharlie Stuart

Sharlie Stuart

Susan

Beth Black

Beth Black

Soap Opera Woman

Clayton Norcross

Clayton Norcross

Soap Opera Man

Jim McKrell

Jim McKrell

Game Show Moderator

Wil Albert

Wil Albert

Game Show Contestant

Sage Allen

Sage Allen

Game Show Contestant

Mary Pat Gleason

Mary Pat Gleason

Waitress

Maxine Elliott Hicks

Maxine Elliott Hicks

Elderly Woman on Tram

Marilyn Rockafellow

Marilyn Rockafellow

Helen

Roger Behr

Roger Behr

Comedian

Art Frankel

Art Frankel

Arthur

Ernie Brown

Ernie Brown

Ernie

George D. Wallace

George D. Wallace

Daniel's Judge

Lillian Lehman

Lillian Lehman

Daniel's Judge

Raffi Di Blasio

Raffi Di Blasio

Daniel as a Boy

Kristopher Kent Hill

Kristopher Kent Hill

Bully

Eric Ehasz

Eric Ehasz

Child in Schoolyard

Matthew Scharch

Matthew Scharch

Daniel as an Infant

S. Scott Bullock

S. Scott Bullock

Daniel's Father

Carol Bivins

Carol Bivins

Daniel's Mother

Ethan Embry

Ethan Embry

Steve

Gary Ballard

Gary Ballard

Mr. Wadworth

Mary Mukogawa

Mary Mukogawa

Sushi Hostess

Toshio Shikami

Toshio Shikami

Head Sushi Chef

Samee Park

Samee Park

Sushi Chef

Kagko Shikami

Kagko Shikami

Sushi Chef

Tommy Inouye

Tommy Inouye

Sushi Chef

Ken Thorley

Ken Thorley

Frank

Bob Braun

Bob Braun

Talk Show Host

Jennifer Barlow Grodsky

Jennifer Barlow Grodsky

Talk Show Guest

Buck Henry

Buck Henry

Dick Stanley

Joey Miyashima

Joey Miyashima

Casio Tipster

Nurit Koppel

Nurit Koppel

Daniel's Date

Susan Walters

Susan Walters

Daniel's Wife

Sidney Chankin

Sidney Chankin

Used Car Salesman

Greg Finley

Greg Finley

Used Car Salesman

Leonard O. Turner

Leonard O. Turner

Sam

Clifford Einstein

Clifford Einstein

Julia's Prosecutor

Rachel Bard

Rachel Bard

Julia's Judge

Newell Alexander

Newell Alexander

Julia's Judge

Shirley MacLaine

Shirley MacLaine

Shirley MacLaine

Hal Landon Jr.

Hal Landon Jr.

Man in Past Lives Pavilion

Ida Lee

Ida Lee

Woman in Past Lives Pavilion

Noley Thornton

Noley Thornton

Victorian Girl

Glen Chin

Glen Chin

Sumo Wrestler

James Ekim

James Ekim

Native

Clarke Coleman

Clarke Coleman

Knight

Ronald L. Colby

Ronald L. Colby

Majestic Doorman

David Purdham

David Purdham

Peter

James Paradise

James Paradise

Stage Manager

Jerry Prell

Jerry Prell

Banquet Manager

Arell Blanton

Arell Blanton

Fire Marshall

Shana Ballard

Shana Ballard

Julia's Daughter

Chris Macris

Chris Macris

Julia's Son

Joseph Darrell

Joseph Darrell

Maitre d'

James Manis

James Manis

Eduardo

Alex Sheafe

Alex Sheafe

Martin

Cathleen Chin

Cathleen Chin

Ticket Counter Agent

Lisa Sears

Lisa Sears

Tram Port Attendant

Mark Dunlap

Mark Dunlap

Tram Port Attendant

Vernon Roguen

Vernon Roguen

Tram Port Attendant

Dennis Germain

Dennis Germain

Tram Driver

Jorga Caye

Jorga Caye

Deceased Lady (uncredited)

Robert Gatewood

Robert Gatewood

Afterlife Traveler (uncredited)

John Michael Quinn

John Michael Quinn

Man in Heaven (uncredited)

Douglas M. Nelson

Douglas M. Nelson

Tram Attendee (uncredited)

Directed By

Albert Brooks

Albert Brooks

Director

Michael Grillo

Michael Grillo

First Assistant Director

Carey Dietrich

Carey Dietrich

Second Assistant Director

Luca Kouimelis

Luca Kouimelis

Script Supervisor

Annette Sutera

Annette Sutera

Second Second Assistant Director

Fernando Castroman

Fernando Castroman

Assistant Director Trainee

Writing Credits

Albert Brooks

Albert Brooks

Screenplay

Production Crew

Michael Grillo

Michael Grillo

Producer

Barbara Claman

Barbara Claman

Casting

Mark Saks

Mark Saks

Casting

Robert Grand

Robert Grand

Co-Producer

Herb Nanas

Herb Nanas

Executive Producer

Robert Grand

Robert Grand

Production Manager

Steph Benseman

Steph Benseman

Location Manager

Lauren Ross

Lauren Ross

Assistant Location Manager

Nancy Ramey

Nancy Ramey

Production Accountant

Cheri Hall

Cheri Hall

Assistant Accountant

Lisbeth Wynn-Owen

Lisbeth Wynn-Owen

Production Office Coordinator

Maggie Erickson

Maggie Erickson

Casting Assistant

Laura Adler

Laura Adler

Casting Assistant

Jenny O'Haver

Jenny O'Haver

Casting Assistant

Robert Foulkes

Robert Foulkes

Assistant Location Manager

Bill Daly

Bill Daly

Post Production Accountant

Edited By

David Finfer

David Finfer

Editor

Spencer Cross

Spencer Cross

Associate Editor

Maureen Mitchell

Maureen Mitchell

Assistant Editor

John Morrisey

John Morrisey

Assistant Editor

Judd H. Maslansky

Judd H. Maslansky

Assistant Editor

Robert Raring

Robert Raring

Color Timer

Costume and Makeup

Deborah L. Scott

Deborah L. Scott

Costume Design

Hallie D'Amore

Hallie D'Amore

Makeup Artist

Marlene D. Williams

Marlene D. Williams

Hairstylist

J. Roy Helland

J. Roy Helland

Makeup Artist

J. Roy Helland

J. Roy Helland

Hairstylist

George L. Little

George L. Little

Wardrobe Supervisor

Phyllis Corcoran-Woods

Phyllis Corcoran-Woods

Set Costumer

Deborah Hopper

Deborah Hopper

Set Costumer

Greg Hall

Greg Hall

Set Costumer

John George

John George

Set Costumer

Sound

Michael Gore

Michael Gore

Original Music Composer

Dane A. Davis

Dane A. Davis

Supervising Sound Editor

G.W. Brown

G.W. Brown

ADR Editor

Jim Borgardt

Jim Borgardt

ADR Editor

John Kwiatkowski

John Kwiatkowski

Sound Effects Editor

Kimberly Lowe Voigt

Kimberly Lowe Voigt

Dialogue Editor

Hector C. Gika

Hector C. Gika

Dialogue Editor

Robert Bradshaw

Robert Bradshaw

Dialogue Editor

Tom Hammond

Tom Hammond

Foley Editor

Valerie Davidson

Valerie Davidson

Foley Editor

Melinda Garey

Melinda Garey

Assistant Sound Editor

Darrell Hall

Darrell Hall

Assistant Sound Editor

Joan Rowe

Joan Rowe

Foley Artist

Gregg Barbanell

Gregg Barbanell

Foley Artist

Thomas Causey

Thomas Causey

Production Sound Mixer

Joseph F. Brennan

Joseph F. Brennan

Boom Operator

Richard Kite

Richard Kite

Boom Operator

Wayne Artman

Wayne Artman

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Tom E. Dahl

Tom E. Dahl

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Franklin Jones Jr.

Franklin Jones Jr.

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

Joel Moss

Joel Moss

Scoring Mixer

Curtis Roush

Curtis Roush

Music Editor

Shirley Walker

Shirley Walker

Orchestrator

Kini Kay

Kini Kay

Sound Effects Editor

Val Kuklowsky

Val Kuklowsky

Sound Editor

Tom Boyd

Tom Boyd

Musician

Bruce Fowler

Bruce Fowler

Orchestrator

Malcolm McNab

Malcolm McNab

Musician

Louise Di Tullio

Louise Di Tullio

Musician

Shirley Walker

Shirley Walker

Conductor

Visual Effects

Dennis Dion

Dennis Dion

Special Effects Supervisor

Mat Beck

Mat Beck

Visual Effects Supervisor

Robert Stadd

Robert Stadd

Visual Effects Producer

Ken Allen

Ken Allen

Matte Painter

Jeff Burks

Jeff Burks

Animation Supervisor

Jon Farhat

Jon Farhat

VFX Artist

David Goldberg

David Goldberg

Modelling Supervisor

Erik Henry

Erik Henry

VFX Editor

Robert Scifo

Robert Scifo

Matte Painter

Kevin Scott Mack

Kevin Scott Mack

Modeling

Linda Renaud

Linda Renaud

VFX Editor

James Valentine

James Valentine

Roto Supervisor

Camera

Allen Daviau

Allen Daviau

Director of Photography

Eric Engler

Eric Engler

Camera Operator

Reggie Newkirk

Reggie Newkirk

First Assistant Camera

Bobby Mancuso

Bobby Mancuso

Second Assistant Camera

Michael Kenner

Michael Kenner

Key Grip

Jim Shelton

Jim Shelton

Dolly Grip

Carol McCullough

Carol McCullough

Still Photographer

Tom Bookout

Tom Bookout

Second Company Grip

Lee Redmond

Lee Redmond

Camera Operator

László Regos

László Regos

Steadicam Operator

Lighting

Larry Wallace

Larry Wallace

Chief Lighting Technician

William R. Mayberry

William R. Mayberry

Assistant Chief Lighting Technician

Robert W. Meyers

Robert W. Meyers

Rigging Gaffer

Art Department

Ida Random

Ida Random

Production Design

Richard Reynolds

Richard Reynolds

Art Direction

Linda DeScenna

Linda DeScenna

Set Decoration

Ric McElvin

Ric McElvin

Leadman

Donn Piller

Donn Piller

Swing

John Rankin

John Rankin

Swing

Sara Gardner-Gail

Sara Gardner-Gail

Swing

Randy Bostic

Randy Bostic

Swing

James Hegedus

James Hegedus

Production Illustrator

Martha Johnston

Martha Johnston

Set Designer

George Stokes

George Stokes

Construction Coordinator

James F. Orendorff

James F. Orendorff

Construction Foreman

Robert E. Denne

Robert E. Denne

Standby Painter

David Harris

David Harris

Greensman

John Thompson

John Thompson

Greensman

Larry Clark Bird

Larry Clark Bird

Property Master

Ken Zimmerman

Ken Zimmerman

Assistant Property Master

Cary Conway

Cary Conway

Paint Coordinator

Other Crew

Chris Burton

Chris Burton

Special Effects Coordinator

Patti Hawn

Patti Hawn

Unit Publicist

Bill Erickson

Bill Erickson

Stunt Coordinator

Paul E. Short

Paul E. Short

Stunts

Jeff Jensen

Jeff Jensen

Stunts

Paul Slansky

Paul Slansky

Thanks

Richard L. Hill

Richard L. Hill

Special Effects Technician

Tom Dias

Tom Dias

Transportation Captain

Daniel Quick

Daniel Quick

Transportation Coordinator

John Sagray

John Sagray

Driver

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