From Hollywood Stardom to Obscurity: Catching Up with the 'Almost Famous' Cast

Cameron Crowe's Almost Famous, released in 2000, quickly gained a cult following. The film is a coming-of-age story about teenager William Miller (played by Patrick Fugit) who tries to write his first article for Rolling Stone Magazine during the 1970s. As he follows the rock band Stillwater, particularly lead guitarist Russell Hammond (played by Billy Crudup), William discovers himself.

William not only meets legendary rock stars, but also finds freedom from his domineering mother (played by Frances McDormand) and falls in love with Penny Lane, the leader of Band Aid (played by Kate Hudson). Through these experiences, he discovers his own voice and even has his first sexual encounter with two other Band Aids. William also learns valuable life lessons from his mentor, Lester Bangs (played by Philip Seymour Hoffman). This music-focused film earned an Oscar for its screenplay in 2001 and has remained a beloved classic for many years. It also served as a launching pad for the careers of Zooey Deschanel, Jimmy Fallon, Anna Paquin, and Jason Lee.

Penny Lane’s character portrayal by Hudson has remained one of the most unforgettable performances in the film. Initially cast as William's sister, Anita, the founder of Fabletics, Hudson pleaded with Crowe to read for the part of Penny Lane and convinced him that she was perfect for the role. Crowe was captivated by Hudson's natural ability to embody the character, stating on the “Origins: Almost Famous Turns Twenty” podcast from Cadence13 in July 2020, “Here was somebody that just walks in the room and you’re like, ‘I love her!’ She was that character.”

Deschanel credits her role as Anita in the film for propelling her and co-star Kate Hudson's careers forward. She explains that Hudson's portrayal of Penny Lane was so exceptional that it made perfect sense for Deschanel to play the role of Anita, as they looked like a family unit on screen. Deschanel considers the role to be a pivotal moment in her career.

After two decades since its debut, Crowe still takes pride in the triumph of his creation. He believes that films that leave an impact on people are the ones that stand the test of time. The producer acknowledges that the legacy of Almost Famous will not just be measured by its box-office performance. Want to know what the cast of Almost Famous has been doing since the movie's release in 2000? Keep scrolling down.

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‘Almost Famous’ Cast: Where Are They Now? Kate Hudson, Billy Crudup, Anna Paquin and More

It’s all happening! Cameron Crowe’s Almost Famous hit theaters in 2000 and instantly became a cult classic.

As a teenager in the 1970s, William Miller (played by Patrick Fugit) sets out to write his first piece for Rolling Stone, closely following the rock band Stillwater and its lead guitarist Russell Hammond (Billy Crudup). Along the way, he meets music legends, escapes his controlling mother (Frances McDormand), and falls in love with the charismatic Band Aid leader Penny Lane (Kate Hudson). Through these experiences, William discovers his own voice, loses his virginity with the help of two other Band Aids, and learns valuable life lessons from his mentor Lester Bangs (Philip Seymour Hoffman).

The film's screenplay was awarded an Oscar in 2001, and has continued to captivate audiences for years. It also served as a launching point for the careers of several of its stars, such as Zooey Deschanel, Jimmy Fallon, Anna Paquin and Jason Lee. Hudson's depiction of Penny Lane, in particular, remains a standout performance. Despite being initially cast as William's sister Anita, Hudson passionately lobbied to audition for the role of Penny Lane and ultimately convinced director Cameron Crowe that she was perfect for the part.

Crowe described the character of Penny Lane as someone who instantly captures your heart with her mere presence. "Here was somebody that just walks in the room and you’re like, ‘I love her!’ She was that character," he said during an interview with James Andrew Miller on the "Origins: Almost Famous Turns Twenty" podcast from Cadence13 in July 2020. Following Hathaway's departure from the project, Deschanel was cast as Anita, a role that would ultimately launch both actresses' careers.

During a recent podcast, Deschanel praised Kate's performance as Penny in Almost Famous, noting how perfectly she embodied the character. Deschanel also acknowledged how their physical resemblances made them believable as a family on screen. Looking back on the film's success, producer Crowe expressed pride in the movie's ability to touch people and create lasting memories, rather than just its box-office numbers.

Scroll down to see what the cast of Almost Famous has been up to since 2000.

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Billy Crudup

Crudup has had a successful career in film and television, starring in notable movies such as Big Fish, Mission: Impossible III, Watchmen, Public Enemies, Eat Pray Love, Blood Ties, Spotlight, and Where'd You Go, Bernadette. He has also made appearances on television, including his role as Cory Ellison on The Morning Show and in the 2017 series Gypsy. Crudup has been romantically linked to Mary-Louise Parker, with whom he shares a son, as well as Claire Danes and Naomi Watts, whom he married in 2023 at the New York City courthouse.

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Kate Hudson

Hudson's breakout role as Penny Lane in the Band Aid movie paved the way for her successful career in Hollywood. She has starred in various films such as How to Lose a Guy in 10 Days, Raising Helen, Bride Wars, and Something Borrowed. Additionally, she has made appearances in Deepwater Horizon, Nine, The Skeleton Key, and Rock the Kasbah. In 2012, Hudson was a recurring guest star on Glee. She ventured into entrepreneurship in 2013, launching her clothing company Fabletics. The actress also authored lifestyle books, Pretty Happy and Pretty Fun, in 2016 and 2017 respectively. Hudson and her brother, Oliver, launched the "Sibling Revelry" podcast in 2019, and she also founded King St. Vodka and In Bloom wellness company.

Kate is a mother to three beautiful children. Her first son Ryder is shared with her ex-husband Chris Robinson, while her second son Bingham is shared with ex-fiancé Matt Bellamy. Her daughter Rani is shared with Danny Fujikawa, whom Hudson recently got engaged to in September 2021.

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Patrick Fugit

Following three years of acting, Fugit's breakthrough moment came when he landed the lead role of William Miller in a rock film from the '00s. Since then, he has graced the big screen in several notable films such as Saved!, We Bought a Zoo, and Gone Girl, among others. Additionally, Fugit has appeared on several TV shows including Full Circle, Outcast, and Treadstone. His passion for filmmaking has also led him to venture into producing, with credits on four films including A Name Without a Place. Fugit's personal life includes being a father to his son Ryker, whom he shares with his partner Jenny Del Rosario.

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Michael Angarano

Angarano has had an illustrious career in both TV and film. He made his mark early on in Cover Me: Based on the True Life of an FBI Family as Chance Arno, while simultaneously gaining popularity as young William in the movie School of Rock. He has since gone on to star in numerous films, including Sky High, Lords of Dogtown, Empire State, and Wild Card. On the small screen, he has held significant roles such as Dr. Bertie Chickering Jr. on The Knick, Elliot on Will & Grace, and a young adult Nick Pearson on This Is Us.

Angarano and Pen15 star Maya Erskine have been in a relationship since 2019 and made the exciting announcement in November 2020 that they were expecting their first child.

The couple welcomed their son, Leon Frederick, in the spring of 2021.

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Zooey Deschanel

Prior to her breakout role as William's older sister Anita, Deschanel had already amassed a few acting credits, including playing Will Ferrell's love interest in Elf, a quirky best friend in Failure to Launch, and voicing a penguin in Surf's Up. She later starred in the indie hit 500 Days of Summer and reunited with Kate Hudson for Rock the Kasbah in 2015. However, Deschanel is perhaps best known for her role as Jess on the Fox sitcom New Girl, which ran from 2011 to 2018. In addition to her acting career, Deschanel is also one half of the musical duo She & Him, who have released six albums since forming in 2008. In 2011, she co-founded the lifestyle website Hello Giggles. Deschanel has been married twice, first to Ben Gibbard from 2009 to 2012 and then to Jacob Pechenik from 2015 to 2020, with whom she shares two children. She is currently dating Property Brothers' Jonathan Scott, with whom she has been in a relationship since September 2019.

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Frances McDormand

Frances McDormand has had a successful career, starring in several notable films and TV shows. Her performances in Burn After Reading, Moonrise Kingdom, and This Must Be the Place are particularly memorable. In addition to her film work, McDormand earned a Tony Award for her role in the play Good People. She also won two Oscars in 2018 for her leading role in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri, and two more in 2021 for her work on Nomadland, which she produced as well as starring in. McDormand has also appeared on State of Grace, Oliver Kitteridge (which she produced and won an Emmy Award for), and Good Omens.

She has accomplished the rare feat of winning an Oscar, Tony, and Emmy Award, making her one of only twelve actresses to ever achieve the "Triple Crown of Acting." Since 1984, she has been happily married to Joel Coen, with whom she has a son named Pedro.

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Jason Lee

Lee has a diverse acting career, with notable roles in films such as Vanilla Sky and The Incredibles, as well as on television shows like My Name Is Earl and We Bare Bears. In addition to his acting, Lee is also a published photographer and co-owner of a Texas restaurant. He is a proud father of four children, including a son with his ex-partner and three children with his wife.

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Anna Paquin

After her role as Polexia Aphrodisia in Almost Famous, Paquin went on to star in several successful box office films such as the X-Men franchise, Blue State, The Romantics, The Good Dinosaur and The Irishman in 2019. She also made her mark on television, playing the lead role of Sookie Stackhouse in True Blood from 2008 to 2014, as well as appearing in Bellevue, Alias Grace and The Affair. In addition to her acting work, she also served as a producer on Flack from 2019 to 2020 while also playing the lead character, Robyn.

The Oscar-winning actress has been married to True Blood costar Stephen Moyer since 2010. They share twins Poppy and Charlie.

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Fairuza Balk

Balk has had a diverse career in both acting and art. She has starred in several films, including Deuces Wild, Don't Come Knocking, Humboldt County, August Falls, and Trespassers. In addition to her film work, she has also had recurring roles on television shows such as Ray Donovan and Paradise City. Balk is also a musician, having released her first single "Stormwinds" in 2010 and an EP. Alongside her artistic pursuits, Balk has exhibited her artwork in Los Angeles and New York.

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Jimmy Fallon

Jimmy Fallon has had a successful career in entertainment, starting with his portrayal of Dennis Hope, Stillwater's touring manager, in his third acting role. He has since starred in several films, including Fever Pitch, Factory Girl, and Whip It. Additionally, he has hosted Late Night With Jimmy Fallon and The Tonight Show, as well as the Emmy Awards in 2010 and The Golden Globes in 2017. Fallon is also a children's book author, with more than five books to his name, including the upcoming Nana Loves You More, set to be released in 2022. In 2007, he married Nancy Juvonen, and they now have two daughters, Winnie and Frances.

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Noah Taylor

Noah Taylor, who played Stillwater’s manager Dick Roswell, went on to appear in several notable films including Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and Vanilla Sky. He reprised his role as Bryce in the sequel to Lara Croft in 2004. Taylor also starred in The Life Aquatic With Steve Zissou, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and Lawless. On television, he played Locke in Game of Thrones, Darby Sabini in Peaky Blinders, and Adolf Hitler in Preacher from 2017 to 2019. In addition to his acting career, Taylor is also an accomplished artist and musician. In 2011, he released an EP with his group, Noah Taylor & the Sloppy Boys.

The actor has been married to Dionne Taylor since 2012. He is also the father of daughter Martha from a previous relationship.

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Mark Kozelek

Kozelek has ventured into the world of acting with four credits to his name, including playing Stillwater’s bassist Larry Fellows in Almost Famous. However, he has primarily remained in the entertainment industry as a musician. Kozelek released his first solo album in 2001 and has since released 12 more records, the latest being 2020’s All the Best, Isaac Hayes. Additionally, he has produced records for other artists and contributed to numerous film soundtracks as a songwriter and performer.

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Philip Seymour Hoffman

Hoffman's prolific film career spanned many years, with notable roles in Capote, Magnolia, Charlie Wilson's War, The Ides of March, Doubt, and the Hunger Games series. He even won an Oscar for his portrayal of Truman Capote in the film Capote. Unfortunately, his life was tragically cut short by a drug overdose in 2014 at the age of 46. He is survived by his partner Mimi O'Donnell and their three children, including Cooper who has since followed in his father's acting footsteps and made his film debut in Licorice Pizza in 2021.