Elf Cast: Catching up with Will Ferrell, Zooey Deschanel, James Caan, and Beyond

Will Ferrell captured the hearts of audiences with his portrayal of the beloved Buddy the Elf in the 2003 film Elf, and to this day, fans continue to be charmed by the festive and comedic movie. The story follows Buddy as he ventures to New York City in search of his true father, Walter Hobbs (played by James Caan), after discovering that he is actually a human, not an elf as he had believed.

Over time, fans have longed for more interactions between Buddy, his love Jovie (played by Zooey Deschanel), and the other beloved characters. In 2021, Ferrell and Deschanel came together virtually to recreate one of their memorable scenes from the movie, singing "Baby, It's Cold Outside" in the Gimbel's locker room. The purpose was to raise funds for Georgia Democrats leading up to the state senate elections.

Ferrell announced in October 2021 that there will not be an Elf sequel in the near future. He disclosed that he declined a substantial sum of money for a second movie due to the storyline.

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Scroll down to see what the cast of Elf has been up to since the movie’s 2003 release:

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‘Elf’ Cast: Where Are They Now? Will Ferrell, Zooey Deschanel, James Caan and More

Will Ferrell captivated audiences with his portrayal of the beloved Buddy the Elf in the 2003 film Elf. Even after almost twenty years, fans continue to be enamored with this endearing holiday classic.

The movie follows Buddy as he embarks on a journey to New York City in search of his biological father, Walter Hobbs (played by James Caan). This heartwarming tale unfolds as Buddy discovers the truth about his identity and strives to find his place in the human world.

Over the years, fans have eagerly anticipated more from Buddy, his romantic interest Jovie (played by Zooey Deschanel), and the other beloved characters. In 2021, Ferrell and Deschanel reunited virtually to recreate one of their memorable scenes from the movie, singing "Baby, It's Cold Outside" in the Gimbel's locker room. This reunion served as a fundraiser for Georgia Democrats leading up to the state senate elections.

Ferrell announced in October 2021 that there won't be an Elf sequel any time soon. He turned down a large sum of money for the second movie due to concerns about the story line, stating that he wouldn't be able to promote the movie honestly. He passed on a $29 million offer, stating, "I just couldn't turn down that much money."

Scroll down to see what the cast of Elf has been up to since the movie’s 2003 release:

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Will Ferrell

Former Saturday Night Live cast member Will Ferrell played Buddy the Elf before going on to star in films such as Anchorman, Blades of Glory, Step Brothers, and Zoolander 2. He has also appeared in TV shows like The Spoils of Babylon, No Activity and The Spoils Before Dying, and landed the role of Marty Markowitz on The Shrink Next Door in 2021. With over 80 producer credits, Ferrell has worked on projects like LA to Vegas, I Love You, America, Drunk History, Dead to Me, Motherland: Fort Salem, and Succession. Additionally, he has contributed as a writer on over 20 projects, including the screenplay for Step Brothers and Eurovision, as well as creating Funny of Die Presents...

Ferrell, a California native and graduate of the University of Southern California, is married to Viveca Paulin, and the couple has three sons named Magnus, Mattias and Axel.

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Zooey Deschanel

Deschanel portrayed Jovie, Buddy’s romantic interest in the movie. Following this role, she went on to star in Winter Passing, Failure to Launch, Bridge to Terabithia, 500 Days of Summer, Our Idiot Brother, and also provided the voice for Bridget in the Trolls film series. From 2011 to 2018, the California native played the role of Jess Day in New Girl, where she also served as an executive producer. In addition to her acting career, she has released six albums with M. Ward as part of the duo She & Him, including 2016’s Christmas Party. Deschanel received a Grammy nomination in 2011 for her song “So Long,” which was featured on the Winnie the Pooh soundtrack. In 2015, she co-founded the website HelloGiggles with Sophia Rossi and in 2021, co-hosted The Celebrity Dating Game with Michael Bolton. She is also set to lend her voice to the 2023 animated film Harold and the Purple Crayon, based on the beloved children's book.

The coauthor of A Tale of Two Besties was previously married to Ben Gibbard from 2009 to 2012 and to Jacob Pechenik from 2015 to 2020. She has two children, daughter Elsie and son Charlie, with Pechenik. Deschanel has been in a relationship with Property Brothers star Jonathan Scott since September 2019. They announced their engagement in August 2023.

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James Caan

Caan played the role of Buddy’s biological father, Walter. He also appeared in a variety of films and television shows including Get Smart, Mercy, Blood Ties, Good Enough, JL Ranch, Con Man, Out of the Blue, Queen Bees, Las Vegas, Magic City, and Back in the Game.

Throughout his life, the Godfather actor was married four times and had five children. His daughter Tara was with his first wife Dee Jay Mathis, while his son Scott Caan was born to him and Shelia Ryan. He also had a son, Alexander, with his third wife Ingrid Hajek, and two sons, James and Jacob, with his last wife Linda Stokes.

The actor died in July 2022 at the age of 82. 

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Bob Newhart

The actor portrayed Papa Elf, who raised Buddy in the North Pole. Newhart also appeared in Horrible Bosses and Five. He had recurring roles on ER, The Librarians, The Big Bang Theory and Young Sheldon. The Illinois native has released eight live albums and two compilation records, and penned a memoir titled I Shouldn’t Even Be Doing This in 2006.

Newhart married Ginny Newhart in 1963, and the couple have four children: Robert, Courtney, Jennifer and Timothy.

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Ed Asner

Asner took on the role of Santa, enlisting Buddy’s assistance in a mission to save Christmas. The actor went on to appear in The Christmas Card, Gigantic, Up, Foodfight!, All of My Heart, Saving Christmas, The Parting Glass, Honor Amongst Men, and Senior Entourage. He also made guest appearances on Center of the Universe, Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, The Line, Working Class, The Cleveland Show, The Boondocks, Michael: Every Day, Forgive Me, and Dead to Me.

The former Mary Tyler Moore star passed away in August 2021 at the age of 91. He is survived by his children Matthew, Kate, and Liza, from his marriage to Nancy Sykes, and his son Charles, from his marriage to Carol Jean Vogelman.

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Mary Steenburgen

Mary Steenburgen, an Arkansas native, played the role of Walter's wife, Emily, in the film. Her notable appearances include roles in Elvis and Anabelle, The Brave One, Step Brothers, The Proposal, The Help, The Book of Love, Book Club, Happiest Season, and Nightmare Alley. She has also starred in TV shows such as Justified, Joan of Arcadia, The Last Man on Earth, Bless the Harts, and Zoey's Extraordinary Playlist. In 2022, she made a cameo appearance on her husband Ted Danson's comedy series, Mr. Mayor. In October 2020, the Academy Award winning actress signed a global publishing deal with Universal Music Publishing Group, having written over 50 songs dating back to 2007.

Steenburgen was previously married to Malcolm McDowell from 1980 to 1990, with whom she shares two children, Lilly and Charlie. She tied the knot with Danson in 1995.

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Daniel Tay

Tay took on the role of Buddy’s half brother, Michael, and later appeared in Doogal, Beer League, and Brooklyn Rules. After a hiatus from acting in 2009, he made a comeback in 2017 by revisiting his role as the voice of Doogal in an episode of AniMat’s Classic Reviews. According to his LinkedIn profile, Tay indicated that his time as an actor concluded in May 2019.

Tay, a New York native, completed his studies at Yale University in 2014. Following this, he worked as an SAT tutor and bilingual editor. He then served as a research associate at Columbia University Irving Medical Center from 2020 to 2022 and volunteered as a Patient Services Volunteer at New York Presbyterian during the COVID-19 pandemic. In 2022, Tay commenced his medical education at Cornell University, with an expected graduation date in 2026 as indicated on his LinkedIn profile as of December 2023.

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Faizon Love

Buddy’s manager at Gimbel’s, Love, is constantly worried about losing his job, while Buddy secretly transforms the store. His career includes roles in Just My Luck, The Perfect Holiday, Days of Wrath, Couples Retreat, and Bulletproof 2. This Cuba-born comedian made appearances on The Big House and Step Up: High Water, and was featured on Real Husbands of Hollywood in 2016. In 2022, he was in the film Block Party, and once again starred in the Christmas movie Santa Games. He also released three albums while on tour, including 2020’s Live From Portland.

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Peter Dinklage

He appeared as an associate of Walter named Miles Finch, who Buddy referred to as an angry elf, in addition to appearing in several films including Fortunes, Penelope, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, and The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds and Snakes. Dinklage also had roles in the TV shows Threshold and Nip/Tuck before landing the iconic role of Tyrion Lannister on Game of Thrones, which aired from 2011 to 2019. Dinklage has also worked as a producer on several projects, including I Think We’re Alone Now and How to Become a Tyrant. He married Erica Schmidt in 2005.

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Peter Billingsley

In a split-second moment, Billingsley — most famous for playing Ralphie Parker in the beloved holiday film A Christmas Story — takes on the role of the head elf in Santa's Workshop at the start of the movie. His brief appearance is due to his role as co-producer of the film. The actor made headlines once again in November 2022 with the debut of A Christmas Story Christmas, a film he co-produced and starred in while reprising his iconic role as Ralphie.