Elf
The Christmas drollery filmElfwas free in 2003 , and since then , has becomea Christmas classic . It star Will Ferrell as a human who was adopt as a baby by elves and discovers in adulthood that he is n’t really an elf . He then goes on a pursuance to New York to find his biological father . As a marvellous man plume in an elf costume who is n’t familiar with how the world outside of the North Pole play , however , hilarity ensues .
Since the film was released , the star - studded cast has hold out on to asterisk in many other projects . Many cast member , in fact , were already major star prior to the cinema . Meanwhile , some bragging names had diminished cameos in the pic , like Jon Favreau , who play the kinsfolk pediatrician who confirm that Buddy was indeed Walter ’s biological boy ( Favreau also directed the photographic film ) and Peter Billingsley , who starred in A Christmas Story as a child , who played the principal elf , Ming Ming .
But what about the principal cast ? Where are they all now ? Here ’s a look at what each independent roll member has been up to over the last 16 years .
Will Ferrell (Buddy the Elf)
AfterElf , in which he fiddle the lead role , Ferrell ’s star remain to rise as he began appearing in more hot clowning movies . Notable wasAnchorman : The Legend of Ron Burgundyin 2004 , followed byTalladega Nightsin 2006,Step Brothersin 2008,Blades of Glory(2007 ) , and , well , the list start on and on .
consider part of the “ Frat Pack , ” which includes influential comic role player who emerged in the tardy ‘ ninety and early ‘ 00s , Ferrell was named the better comic of 2015 byBritish GQ Magazineand got his lead on the Hollywood Walk of Fame that same year . Most late , he has been work behind the scenes as an executive producer of hit series likeDrunk History , Dead to Me , andSuccession .
James Caan (Walter Hobbs)
roleplay surly children ’s book publisher and Buddy ’s biological father Walter , Caan had been acting for decades prior to the film . His most notable early role was as Sonny Corleone inThe Godfather . But that ’s just the tip of the iceberg for this A - lean actor .
AfterElf , Caan starred in the TV seriesLas Vegas , which aired from 2003 - 2008 , and voiced a character in the animated filmCloudy with a Chance of Meatballsand its continuation . He has some projects in the works today and has carry on to act steadily since then . His most recent credit is in the British law-breaking dramaOut of Blue .
Bob Newhart (Papa Elf)
A comedic fable , at 90 year old today , Newhart is still extend strong . After playing Buddy ’s adopted elf dad in the motion picture , the comedian , live for his deadpan style andThe Bob Newhart Show , proceed to act as consistently through the ‘ 00s and ‘ 10 .
He is best known to a new coevals for hisguest - starring role in the seriesThe Big Bang Theoryas Professor Proton . That ’s his last acting cite since the show ended in 2018 , though Newhart did seem in a sketch at this year ’s Emmy Awards to humorously substantiate that he was n’t idle yet .
Edward Asner (Santa Claus)
play the jolly St. Nick himself , Asner , now 90 , was another bad - time player long before this film , sleep together most for his part onThe Mary Tyler Moore Show . AfterElf , he serve as the voice of Carl in the animated filmUpand continue to pretend in small screen function .
With a ton of undertaking in the whole kit and boodle , he has most recently been seen inDead to Me , as the narrator of animated sitcomAmerican Dad!(along with other voice character on that show ) , and in an sequence of Netflix seriesGrace and Frankie .
Mary Steenburgen (Emily Hobbs)
This doer , vocalist , and songwriter had an illustrious career long before playing Walter ’s wife and Buddy ’s stepmother inElf . After that flick , she asterisk inThe Brave One , Step Brothers , The Proposal , andThe Help . She also had a recurring role onJustifiedin 2014 and from 2015 to 2018 , starred inThe Last Man on Earth .
She continue to ferment as a singer / songwriter and is an active humanitarian and closemouthed protagonist of Hillary Clinton . Her most late play credits includeThe Conners , Bless the Harts , andFlannery , and she has an approaching TV labor calledZoey ’s Extraordinary Playlist .
Zooey Deschanel (Jovie)
Deschanel broke onto the Hollywood scene in the 1999 filmMumford , andElfwas one of her first major roles , where she played an employee at Gimbel ’s and Buddy ’s love interest . Since then , however , she has racked up a long curriculum vitae in films likeThe Hitchhiker ’s Guide to the Galaxy , 500 mean solar day of Summer , andBridge to Terabithia . Her most known office , however , is as the lead character inFox sitcomNew Girl .
Also a modelling and singer - songwriter , she co - launch the female - focused internet site HelloGiggles , which was sell toTime , Inc.in 2015 . Her last recognize task was a Christmas album she release in 2016 calledChristmas Partyalongside M. Ward through their collaborationShe & Him .
Daniel Tay (Michael Hobbs)
The shaver worker , now 27 , play Michael , Walter ’s son and Buddy ’s half - comrade . This role marked Tay ’s acting debut , and he appeared inAmerican Splendorthat same twelvemonth . He has also appeared inArtie Lange ’s Beer LeagueandBrooklyn Rulesand has done voice oeuvre , include the vocalization of Pedro De La Hoya inBillyand Bill Blue inGrand Theft Auto : The Ballad of Gay Tony .
Tay left acting , it appear , not having appeared in anything since 2007 . His last known occupation back in 2018 was as an SAT private instructor and bilingual editor who address Mandarin , job he took on after graduating from Yale .
Faizon Love (Wanda)
play the director at Gimbel ’s who err Buddy for a man in a costume who is utilise there for the Christmas time of year , Love has a number of acting credits to his name , includingThe Parent ‘ Hoodand BET’sThe New Edition Story .
He has several new performing projects in the works and was most recently seen in the TV seriesStep Up : High Water , as well as in a few episodes of the seriesBlack - ishfrom 2015 to 2017 play Sha , an previous friend of patriarch Dre ( Anthony Anderson ) .
Peter Dinklage (Miles Finch)
Dinklage , who play the best - selling shaver ’s author who had that memorable scene attack Buddy in the movie ( “ call me elf one more meter ! ” ) is , of course , best known today for his role as Tyrion Lannister in thewildly successful HBO seriesGame of Thrones .
AfterElf , he continued to work steadily in picture likeUnderdog , The Chronicles of Narnia : Prince Caspian , X - Men : sidereal day of Future Past , andThree hoarding Outside Ebbing Missouri . Game of Throneswrapped up earlier this class , and he bear witness no signs of slow down . Dinklage has many projects in the works and was most recently go out inBetween Two fern : The Movieand vocalise the character of the Mighty Eagle inThe Angry Birds Movie 2.He also notably played Herve Villechaize in the TV movieMy Dinner with Herve .
Amy Sedaris (Deb)
This odd womanhood is know today for voicing the theatrical role of Princess Carolyn in the Netflix animated seriesBoJack Horsemanand for her role inStrangers with Candy . InElf , she playact Walter ’s jovial secretary Deb .
Today , she hosts her own seriesAt Home with Amy Sedarisand has appeared in serial likeDivorce , Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt , andStar vs. The Forces of Evil . She also continues to do voice workplace , with a long - run stint as the voice of Ma Angler on kids cartoonSpongeBob SquarePants .
