Defending Your Life

Defending Your Life (1991)

The first true story of what happens after you die.

  • Genre: Comedy, Fantasy, Romance
  • Release Date: 1991-03-22
  • User Rating: 6.9/10 from 263 ratings
  • Runtime: 1h 52min
  • Language: English
  • Production Company: Geffen Pictures
  • Production Country: United States of America
  • Director: Albert Brooks
star 6.9/10
From 263 Ratings

Summary

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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  • Albert Brooks

    as Daniel Miller
  • Meryl Streep

    as Julia
  • Rip Torn

    as Bob Diamond
  • Lee Grant

    as Lena Foster
  • Michael Durrell

    as Agency Head
  • James Eckhouse

    as Jeep Owner
  • Gary Beach

    as Car Salesman
  • Julie Cobb

    as Tram Guide
  • Peter Schuck

    as Stan
  • Time Winters

    as Porter
  • Sharlie Stuart

    as Susan
  • Beth Black

    as Soap Opera Woman
  • Clayton Norcross

    as Soap Opera Man
  • Jim McKrell

    as Game Show Moderator
  • Wil Albert

    as Game Show Contestant
  • Sage Allen

    as Game Show Contestant
  • Mary Pat Gleason

    as Waitress
  • Maxine Elliott Hicks

    as Elderly Woman on Tram
  • Marilyn Rockafellow

    as Helen
  • Roger Behr

    as Comedian
  • Art Frankel

    as Arthur
  • Ernie Brown

    as Ernie
  • George D. Wallace

    as Daniel's Judge
  • Lillian Lehman

    as Daniel's Judge
  • Raffi Di Blasio

    as Daniel as a Boy
  • Kristopher Kent Hill

    as Bully
  • Eric Ehasz

    as Child in Schoolyard
  • Matthew Scharch

    as Daniel as an Infant
  • S. Scott Bullock

    as Daniel's Father
  • Carol Bivins

    as Daniel's Mother
  • Ethan Embry

    as Steve
  • Gary Ballard

    as Mr. Wadworth
  • Mary Mukogawa

    as Sushi Hostess
  • Toshio Shikami

    as Head Sushi Chef
  • Samee Park

    as Sushi Chef
  • Kagko Shikami

    as Sushi Chef
  • Tommy Inouye

    as Sushi Chef
  • Ken Thorley

    as Frank
  • Bob Braun

    as Talk Show Host
  • Jennifer Barlow Grodsky

    as Talk Show Guest
  • Buck Henry

    as Dick Stanley
  • Joey Miyashima

    as Casio Tipster
  • Nurit Koppel

    as Daniel's Date
  • Susan Walters

    as Daniel's Wife
  • Sidney Chankin

    as Used Car Salesman
  • Greg Finley

    as Used Car Salesman
  • Leonard O. Turner

    as Sam
  • Clifford Einstein

    as Julia's Prosecutor
  • Rachel Bard

    as Julia's Judge
  • Newell Alexander

    as Julia's Judge
  • Shirley MacLaine

    as Shirley MacLaine
  • Hal Landon Jr.

    as Man in Past Lives Pavilion
  • Ida Lee

    as Woman in Past Lives Pavilion
  • Noley Thornton

    as Victorian Girl
  • Glen Chin

    as Sumo Wrestler
  • James Ekim

    as Native
  • Clarke Coleman

    as Knight
  • Ronald L. Colby

    as Majestic Doorman
  • David Purdham

    as Peter
  • James Paradise

    as Stage Manager
  • Jerry Prell

    as Banquet Manager
  • Arell Blanton

    as Fire Marshall
  • Shana Ballard

    as Julia's Daughter
  • Chris Macris

    as Julia's Son
  • Joseph Darrell

    as Maitre d'
  • James Manis

    as Eduardo
  • Alex Sheafe

    as Martin
  • Cathleen Chin

    as Ticket Counter Agent
  • Lisa Sears

    as Tram Port Attendant
  • Mark Dunlap

    as Tram Port Attendant
  • Vernon Roguen

    as Tram Port Attendant
  • Dennis Germain

    as Tram Driver
  • Jorga Caye

    as Deceased Lady (uncredited)
  • Robert Gatewood

    as Afterlife Traveler (uncredited)
  • John Michael Quinn

    as Man in Heaven (uncredited)
  • Douglas M. Nelson

    as Tram Attendee (uncredited)
Production Michael Grillo Producer
Editing David Finfer Editor
Camera Allen Daviau Director of Photography
Writing Albert Brooks Screenplay
Sound Michael Gore Original Music Composer
Directing Albert Brooks Director
Production Mark Saks Casting
Costume & Make-Up Deborah L. Scott Costume Design
Production Barbara Claman Casting
Production Robert Grand Co-Producer
Production Herb Nanas Executive Producer
Art Ida Random Production Design
Directing Michael Grillo First Assistant Director
Camera Reggie Newkirk First Assistant Camera
Sound John Kwiatkowski Sound Effects Editor
Editing John Morrisey Assistant Editor
Art Richard Reynolds Art Direction
Editing Maureen Mitchell Assistant Editor
Sound Kimberly Lowe Voigt Dialogue Editor
Art James Hegedus Production Illustrator
Sound Jim Borgardt ADR Editor
Art Sara Gardner-Gail Swing
Camera Bobby Mancuso Second Assistant Camera
Art Martha Johnston Set Designer
Editing Judd H. Maslansky Assistant Editor
Production Robert Grand Production Manager
Directing Carey Dietrich Second Assistant Director
Sound Dane A. Davis Supervising Sound Editor
Art Randy Bostic Swing
Camera Eric Engler Camera Operator
Art Linda DeScenna Set Decoration
Art John Rankin Swing
Art Ric McElvin Leadman
Editing Spencer Cross Associate Editor
Sound G.W. Brown ADR Editor
Sound Joseph F. Brennan Boom Operator
Sound Joel Moss Scoring Mixer
Sound Hector C. Gika Dialogue Editor
Sound Darrell Hall Assistant Sound Editor
Sound Franklin Jones Jr. Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Sound Robert Bradshaw Dialogue Editor
Sound Shirley Walker Orchestrator
Camera Jim Shelton Dolly Grip
Art Donn Piller Swing
Art George Stokes Construction Coordinator
Costume & Make-Up J. Roy Helland Hairstylist
Visual Effects Dennis Dion Special Effects Supervisor
Sound Thomas Causey Production Sound Mixer
Camera Michael Kenner Key Grip
Costume & Make-Up Marlene D. Williams Hairstylist
Costume & Make-Up J. Roy Helland Makeup Artist
Directing Annette Sutera Second Second Assistant Director
Art James F. Orendorff Construction Foreman
Art Robert E. Denne Standby Painter
Lighting William R. Mayberry Assistant Chief Lighting Technician
Sound Valerie Davidson Foley Editor
Sound Curtis Roush Music Editor
Sound Melinda Garey Assistant Sound Editor
Sound Joan Rowe Foley Artist
Art David Harris Greensman
Crew Chris Burton Special Effects Coordinator
Art John Thompson Greensman
Sound Tom Hammond Foley Editor
Lighting Robert W. Meyers Rigging Gaffer
Costume & Make-Up Hallie D'Amore Makeup Artist
Sound Gregg Barbanell Foley Artist
Production Steph Benseman Location Manager
Sound Richard Kite Boom Operator
Sound Tom E. Dahl Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Directing Luca Kouimelis Script Supervisor
Sound Wayne Artman Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Production Lauren Ross Assistant Location Manager
Crew Paul Slansky Thanks
Costume & Make-Up Phyllis Corcoran-Woods Set Costumer
Crew Jeff Jensen Stunts
Lighting Larry Wallace Chief Lighting Technician
Art Ken Zimmerman Assistant Property Master
Crew Patti Hawn Unit Publicist
Costume & Make-Up Deborah Hopper Set Costumer
Costume & Make-Up Greg Hall Set Costumer
Visual Effects Mat Beck Visual Effects Supervisor
Camera Carol McCullough Still Photographer
Crew Bill Erickson Stunt Coordinator
Editing Robert Raring Color Timer
Art Larry Clark Bird Property Master
Costume & Make-Up John George Set Costumer
Visual Effects Robert Stadd Visual Effects Producer
Crew Paul E. Short Stunts
Costume & Make-Up George L. Little Wardrobe Supervisor
Production Nancy Ramey Production Accountant
Production Cheri Hall Assistant Accountant
Production Lisbeth Wynn-Owen Production Office Coordinator
Production Maggie Erickson Casting Assistant
Visual Effects Jeff Burks Animation Supervisor
Visual Effects Erik Henry VFX Editor
Production Jenny O'Haver Casting Assistant
Visual Effects James Valentine Roto Supervisor
Art Cary Conway Paint Coordinator
Sound Val Kuklowsky Sound Editor
Sound Kini Kay Sound Effects Editor
Directing Fernando Castroman Assistant Director Trainee
Visual Effects Jon Farhat VFX Artist
Sound Malcolm McNab Musician
Sound Bruce Fowler Orchestrator
Crew John Sagray Driver
Visual Effects Linda Renaud VFX Editor
Camera Tom Bookout Second Company Grip
Visual Effects Ken Allen Matte Painter
Crew Richard L. Hill Special Effects Technician
Crew Tom Dias Transportation Captain
Visual Effects Robert Scifo Matte Painter
Sound Louise Di Tullio Musician
Sound Shirley Walker Conductor
Crew Daniel Quick Transportation Coordinator
Production Robert Foulkes Assistant Location Manager
Sound Tom Boyd Musician
Production Bill Daly Post Production Accountant
Camera Lee Redmond Camera Operator
Camera László Regos Steadicam Operator
Visual Effects David Goldberg Modelling Supervisor
Visual Effects Kevin Scott Mack Modeling
Production Laura Adler Casting Assistant

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