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‘Christmas With The Kranks’ Cast Then & Now: See How Tim Allen, Jamie Lee Curtis & More Have Changed

By:
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December 24, 2024 9:00AM EST

It’s been over 15 years, since the movie ‘Christmas With The Kranks’ premiered and became a holiday classic. Check out photos of how the cast has changed over the years.

Few holiday movies are as beloved as the 2004 hit ‘Christmas With The Kranks.’ The Chris Columbus-produced comedy is based on the 2001 John Grisham book ‘Skipping Christmas,’ and it has remained a holiday classic. The movie follows Luther (Tim Allen) and Nora Krank (Jamie Lee Curtis), who plan on just forgoing Christmas entirely when they find out their daughter Blair (Julie Gonzalo) won’t be home for Christmas.

While neighbors protest the Kranks skipping out on the yuletide cheer, the pair plan to take the money they would’ve spent that holiday season to take a vacation, but as they’re leaving, Blair calls and tells her parents she’ll be home with her fiancé (Rene Lavan). The two go into a mad-dash to try to prepare for the holidays last minute. Many of the cast members from ‘Christmas With The Kranks’ were major stars long before the Christmas classic.

Scroll through our gallery to check out photos of the actors in the movie, and where they’re at today!

1 of 9

Tim Allen as Luther Krank

Tim Allen as Luther Krank
Everett Collection / Kathy Hutchins/Shutterstock

Who could forget Tim Allen as Luther Krank? While he may seem curmudgeonly for skipping Christmas as Luther, Tim was already well-known for playing the big man in the red coat in 1994’s classic ‘The Santa Clause.’ Since ‘Christmas with the Kranks,’ Tim went on to play Santa in the final ‘Santa Clause’ movie, and he’s reprised his beloved role as Buzz Lightyear in ‘Toy Story 3’ and ‘4.’

December 20, 2021, 3:23PM
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Jamie Lee Curtis as Nora Krank

Jamie Lee Curtis as Nora Krank
Everett Collection / Rob Latour/Shutterstock

While Jamie Lee Curtis is an iconic Christmas character in this movie, she’s returned to a very different holiday franchise in recent years. She starred in 2021’s ‘Halloween Kills’ as well as the 2018 sequel to the original 1978 ‘Halloween.’ In the years since, ‘Christmas With The Kranks,’ Jamie has starred in tons of different movies, playing a range of characters from comedies like ‘Beverly Hills Chihuahua’ to dramas like ‘Knives Out.’

December 20, 2021, 3:19PM
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Julie Gonzalo as Blair Krank

Julie Gonzalo as Blair Krank
Everett Collection / Jim Smeal/BEI/Shutterstock

Who could forget Julie Gonzalo as the daughter making a surprise return to her parents for Christmas? Along with ‘Christmas with the Kranks,’ 2004 was a major year for Julie, where she starred in a number of classics, including ‘A Cinderella Story’ and ‘Dodgeball.’ In the years since ‘Kranks,’ Julie has had a successful TV career, including major roles in series like ‘Veronica Mars’ and ‘Supergirl.’

December 20, 2021, 3:15PM
4 of 9

Erik Per Sullivan as Spike Frohmeyer

Erik Per Sullivan as Spike Frohmeyer
Everett Collection / Charles Sykes/Shutterstock

While Erik Per Sullivan is memorable as the annoying neighbor child Spike in the film, he’s kept a very low profile over the past decade. Other than the holiday classic, Erik was a star of ‘Malcolm in the Middle,’ and he continued acting for a few more years after the sitcom ended. His last role was in the movie ‘Twelve’ in 2010, but he’s kept out of the spotlight since then. 

December 20, 2021, 3:05PM
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Dan Aykroyd as Vic Frohmeyer

Dan Aykroyd as Vic Frohmeyer
Everett Collection / Invision/AP/Shutterstock

While Dan Aykroyd’s Vic may have been vocal in opposing the Kranks skipping Christmas, he’s been well-known as a comedic legend for decades. As a writer and star in both ‘Ghostbusters’ and ‘The Blues Brothers,’ Dan is one of the greatest living comedic talents. Since the Christmas movie, he’s taken part in a number of projects including both the 2016 and 2021 ‘Ghostbusters’ reboots, and he’s been the narrator for the ‘Hotel Paranormal’ film series. 

December 20, 2021, 3:09PM
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Cheech Marin as Officer Salino

Cheech Marin as Officer Salino
Everett Collection / Ron Eshel/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

Another comedy great who appeared was Cheech Marin, half of the iconic duo Cheech and Chong. Cheech has had a wide-ranging career with a ton of different movies and TV shows, including offering his voice to Pixar flicks like ‘Cars 3’ and ‘Coco.’ He’s also had roles in movies like ‘The War with Grandpa’ and TV shows like ‘Lost.’ 

December 20, 2021, 3:34PM
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M. Emmet Walsh as Walt Scheel

M. Emmet Walsh as Walt Scheel
Everett Collection / David Buchan/Shutterstock

Walt Scheel was another memborable character from the movie, with M. Emmet Walsh as the obnoxious neighbor. The veteran actor has had consistent work in movies and TV shows, including lending his voice to ‘Adventure Time,’ and starring in the 2019 series ‘Sneaky Pete.’

December 20, 2021, 3:28PM
8 of 9

Jake Busey as Officer Treen

Jake Busey as Officer Treen
Everett Collection / Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP/Shutterstock

The ‘Starship Troopers’ star Jake Busey has been another actor who has had regular work in TV and film since the 2004 comedy. Recently, the star was featured in the third season of ‘Stranger Things,’ as Bruce.

December 20, 2021, 3:38PM
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Austin Pendleton as Marty

Austin Pendleton as Marty
Everett Collection / Broadway World/Shutterstock

While Austin Pendleton’s all-knowing umbrella salesman is one of the most beloved characters in ‘Christmas With The Kranks,’ the actor has continued playing a wide variety of characters in a number of different movies and TV shows. He’s appeared in classics like ‘Wall Street: Money Never Sleeps’ and two episodes of ‘Billions.’

December 20, 2021, 3:41PM