The Holdovers is one of the most talked-about movies of 2023, and the cast of The Holdovers helped the film receive mᴀssive critical success, with its warmth, humor, and heart earning it the label of an instant Christmas classic. The Holdovers only got more popular since its release, with the film a force at the Oscars that year. The Holdovers cast is filled with some immensely talented actors, with Alexander Payne’s movie set in a boarding school in December 1970.

A boarding school student named Angus Tully has to stay at the school over Christmas, watched by his classics teacher, Paul Hunham, and the school’s grieving head cook, Mary Lamb. The trio’s time together is confrontational, but they grow close as they learn more about each other. Due to The Holdovers‘ critical success, the film was nominated for five awards at the 2024 Oscars: Best Picture, Best Actor in a Leading Role, Best Original Screenplay, and Best Editing, while Da’Vine Joy Randolph won for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.

Paul Giamatti As Paul Hunham

Date Of Birth: June 6, 1967

• Active Since: 1989

Actor: Paul Giamatti is one of the most celebrated actors of the modern day. 1997’s Private Parts featured Giamatti’s breakout role, with him having a prolific career in comedies and dramas throughout the next few decades. Before The Holdovers, Giamatti worked with Alexander Payne on Sideways, with the duo reuniting for The Holdovers and earning Giamatti a nomination for Best Actor in a Leading Role. Paul Giamatti also has a prolific TV career, appearing in series like John Adams, Billions, and 30 Coins.

Notable Movies & TV Show Roles:

Character: In The Holdovers, Paul Giamatti plays Paul Hunham, an upтιԍнт classics professor who is tasked with watching over Angus Tully over Christmas break. The lonely teacher has spent most of his life at Barton, with him being despised by his students until the events of The Holdovers.

Dominic Sessa As Angus Tully

Date Of Birth: October 25, 2002

• Active Since: 2022

Actor: Dominic Sessa, 21, was born in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, with him now being a widely-known name despite his young age. As it turns out, The Holdovers is actually Sessa’s film debut, with his leading role being his first role in any movie. Sessa did act in plays throughout his school years, but his breakout role didn’t occur until 2023. The Holdovers was filmed at Deerfield Academy, with the casting director allowing Deerfield students to audition. Tully is one of the students who auditioned for the part, with him having a bright future ahead of him after The Holdovers.

Notable Movies & TV Show Roles:

Character: In The Holdovers, Dominic Sessa plays Angus Tully, a student at Barton who discovers that he will be staying at Barton over Christmas break due to his parents going on vacation. After the rest of the students leave, Tully is stuck with Hunham and Mary Lamb, with him starting out as a miserable rebel before warming up to the two adults later in the movie.

Da’Vine Joy Randolph As Mary Lamb

Date Of Birth: May 21, 1986

• Active Since: 2011

Actor: Da’Vine Joy Randolph, 37, was born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, with her career exploding since the late-2010s. Da’Vine Joy Randolph scored roles in major TV shows like This Is Us before having her breakout film role in 2019’s Dolemite Is My Name, which has led to her continued success. Randolph has appeared in more and more movies each year, but 2023’s The Holdovers is one of her most notable yet, with her winning the Oscar for Best Actress in a Supporting Role.

Notable Movies & TV Show Roles:

Character: In The Holdovers, Da’Vine Joy Randolph plays Mary Lamb, the head cook at Barton who decides to stay at the school over Christmas due to her grieving the loss of her son in war. Throughout the film, Mary acts as a reconciling force between Hunham and Tully, with her being what really brings the trio closer together by the end of the film.

The Holdovers Supporting Cast & Characters

Carrie Preston as Lydia Crane: Carrie Preston plays Lydia Crane, an employee at Barton, the ᴀssistant to Barton’s headmaster Dr. Woodrup. Preston is known for her roles in True Blood, The Good Wife, Person of Interest, My Best Friend’s Wedding, Vicky Cristina Barcelona, and They/Them.

Andrew Garman as Dr. Hardy Woodrup: Andrew Garman plays Barton’s headmaster, Dr. Hardy Woodrup. Garman is known for his roles in the remake of ᴅᴇᴀᴅ Ringers, Don’t Feed the Bums, Madam Secretary, and Mercy.

Stephen Thorne as Thomas Tully: Stephen Thorne plays Thomas Tully, Angus’s insтιтutionalized father. For most of the movie, he is believed to be ᴅᴇᴀᴅ, but he turns out to be the person that Angus fears he could become later in life. Thorne is known for his roles in Don’t Look Up, Boston Stranger, and Mother/Android.

Gillian Vigman as Judy Clotfelter: Gillian Vigman plays Judy Clotfelter, Angus’s mother. She wants her son to have nothing to do with his birth father and threatens to send him to military school if he attempts to contact him. Vigman is known for her roles in MADtv, Sonx & Daughters, Suburgatory, and New Girl.

Tate Donovan as Stanley Clotfelter: Tate Donovan plays Stanley Clotfelter, Angus’s stepfather. He is on Gillian’s side when it comes to sheltering their son from his father. Donovan is known for his roles in The O.C., Damages, Love Potion No. 9, Good Night and Good Luck, and 24: Live Another Day.

The Other Holdovers: The other four holdovers are Teddy Kountze (Brady Hepner), Alex Ollerman (Ian Dolley), Ye-Joon Park (Jim Kaplan), and Jason Smith (Michael Provost). These cast members’ talent made the film a success, and the The Holdovers couldn’t exist without them.