It’s been over fifteen years since Beverly Cleary’s beloved Klickitat Street characters finally made the jump to the big screen. When you look back at the actors in Ramona and Beezus, it’s honestly wild to see how many of them became absolute titans of the industry. We’re talking about a movie that featured a future Emmy nominee, a billion-dollar beauty mogul, a Grey’s Anatomy icon, and even a "Sex and the City" heartthrob.
The 2010 film wasn't just another family flick. It was a launching pad. Back then, Joey King was just a nine-year-old with giant eyes and a bowl cut, and Selena Gomez was still mostly known as the "Disney girl" from Wizards of Waverly Place. Seeing them together now feels like looking at a time capsule of pure potential.
The Quimby Sisters: Joey King and Selena Gomez
If you ask anyone about the actors in Ramona and Beezus, these two are the first names that come to mind. It's kinda funny how perfectly they were cast. Joey King, who played the rambunctious Ramona Quimby, actually shaved her head for real later in her career for The Act, but in 2010, she was just mastering the art of the "pardon my dust" attitude.
Joey didn't just fade away like many child stars. She pivoted. Hard. She went from being the kid who accidentally dyed her hair blue to playing Gypsy Rose Blanchard, a role that earned her nominations at the Emmys, Golden Globes, and SAG Awards. By 2024, she was leading massive Netflix hits like Uglies and A Family Affair. She’s become a producer in her own right, proving that the "spirited" energy Sandra Oh saw in her on set was the real deal.
Then you have Selena Gomez as Beezus (Beatrice) Quimby. At the time, Selena was trying to bridge the gap between her Disney persona and a serious film career. Playing the responsible, often-exasperated older sister was a safe but smart move.
Fast forward to 2026, and Selena is basically a legend. Between her role in Only Murders in the Building and her billion-dollar brand, Rare Beauty, her Beezus days seem like a lifetime ago. But fans still remember the chemistry. Selena and Joey actually stayed friends, which is one of those rare Hollywood stories that doesn't end in a feud. Selena even mentored Joey on the set, helping the younger actress navigate the sudden spotlight.
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The Grown-Ups: John Corbett and Bridget Moynahan
A movie like this lives or dies by the parents. If the parents are too "TV-perfect," it feels fake. If they’re too mean, the magic dies. John Corbett, playing Robert Quimby, brought that specific "cool but struggling" dad energy that made the whole recession-era subplot feel heavy. Corbett, who everyone already loved from My Big Fat Greek Wedding and Sex and the City, actually admitted he didn't have kids in real life when he filmed this. You’d never know it. The scene where he draws with Ramona? Total tear-jerker.
Bridget Moynahan played Dorothy Quimby, the anchor of the family. While she was already a household name from I, Robot and Blue Bloods, she played the "working mom" role with a lot of nuance. She wasn't just a background character; she was the person holding the household together while the father faced unemployment. It was a grounded performance in a movie that could have easily become too "saccharine."
The Romantic Subplot: Ginnifer Goodwin and Josh Duhamel
You can’t talk about the actors in Ramona and Beezus without mentioning the "cool" relatives. Ginnifer Goodwin was Aunt Bea, and honestly, she looked so much like a grown-up Joey King that the casting was almost eerie.
Goodwin was right in the middle of her Big Love fame when this came out, and she was just about to start her long run as Snow White on Once Upon a Time. She brought this whimsical, "not-quite-an-adult" energy to Aunt Bea that made you understand why Ramona worshipped her.
And then there’s Josh Duhamel as Hobart. He was the "nomadic hunk" who came back to win Bea’s heart. Duhamel was already a massive star from the Transformers franchise, so seeing him in a small-scale family movie was a bit of a surprise for audiences in 2010. His chemistry with Goodwin was the engine for the movie's secondary plot, leading to that big wedding finale that felt like a true Beverly Cleary ending.
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The Supporting Players You Forgot Were There
Sometimes the best parts of these lists are the "Oh, they were in that?" moments.
- Sandra Oh: Long before she was winning every award on the planet for Killing Eve, she played Mrs. Meacham, Ramona’s strict teacher. She was hilariously sarcastic and provided the perfect foil for Ramona’s imagination.
- Hutch Dano: He played Henry Huggins, the neighbor and Beezus’s "sorta" boyfriend. Hutch was a Disney XD mainstay back then (Zeke and Luther).
- Sierra McCormick: She played the "perfect" Susan Kushner. You probably recognize her from Disney’s A.N.T. Farm.
- Jason Spevack: He was Howie Kemp, Ramona’s best friend and the grandson of the grumpy neighbor.
Why the Casting Worked So Well
Looking back, the reason this specific group of actors in Ramona and Beezus resonated is that they didn't treat it like a "kids' movie." They treated it like a family drama.
Director Elizabeth Allen Rosenbaum clearly wanted actors who could handle the shifts in tone. One minute Ramona is pretending to be a lizard, and the next, she’s listening to her parents argue about money through the floorboards. That requires range.
The movie dealt with some pretty heavy themes for a PG rating:
- Financial Instability: The looming threat of losing their house.
- Pet Death: The loss of Picky-Picky the cat (a traumatizing moment for any kid).
- Sibling Rivalry: The genuine friction between a "perfect" older sister and a "difficult" younger one.
Without the caliber of actors they hired, these moments would have fallen flat. John Corbett’s performance in particular—showing a father’s pride mixed with the shame of being laid off—gave the film a level of "E-E-A-T" (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) that most family films lack.
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Where to Find the Cast Now
If you’re looking to follow the journey of these actors today, here’s the current "state of the union" for the main cast:
Joey King is currently one of the most prolific actors and producers in Hollywood. Following the massive success of The Kissing Booth trilogy, she has moved into high-concept action and drama. You can catch her in the 2024 film Uglies on Netflix, which she also executive produced.
Selena Gomez is basically everywhere. She just wrapped another season of Only Murders in the Building and is heavily involved in her mental health platform, Wondermind. In early 2026, her marriage to Benny Blanco remains a major talking point in the celeb world, but her career as a serious actress is what’s truly flourishing.
Ginnifer Goodwin continues to be a staple of voice acting and television. After a long stint in Zootopia and various TV projects like Pivoting, she remains a fan favorite at conventions for her Once Upon a Time legacy.
Josh Duhamel has stayed busy with both rom-coms and action flicks. He recently starred in Shotgun Wedding and continues to be a consistent face in both film and television.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Collectors
If you're a fan of the 2010 film or the Beverly Cleary books, there are a few things you can do to keep the magic alive:
- Watch for the 20th Anniversary: With 2030 approaching, keep an eye out for potential reunion specials or "Where Are They Now" features. The cast is famously close-knit and often shares throwback photos on Instagram.
- Check Out the Book Series: If you only know the movie, the books are much more extensive. There are eight books in the Ramona series alone, plus the Henry Huggins books.
- Follow the Producers: Both Selena Gomez and Joey King are now producing their own content. Following their production companies (July Moon Productions and All The King's Horses) is the best way to see the "next generation" of family-friendly or coming-of-age stories they are championing.
The actors in Ramona and Beezus provided a rare example of a "perfect" cast that actually lived up to the hype. They captured the spirit of Klickitat Street and turned a simple story about a girl who "didn't fit in" into a timeless piece of cinema. Whether you're watching it for the first time or the fiftieth, the talent on screen is undeniable.