When you think about 2006, you probably think of Low-rise jeans, Razr phones, and the absolute grip that Martin Lawrence had on the box office. Specifically, the release of the sequel to his 2000 smash hit. Looking back, the Big Momma's House 2 cast is actually a bit of a "who's who" of future Hollywood heavyweights. It's one of those rare cases where a broad, slapstick comedy acted as a launching pad for a bizarrely high number of stars who are now household names.
Most people remember the fat suit. They remember the over-the-top antics of Malcolm Turner. But if you look closer at the Fuller family and the FBI agents chasing down computer worms, you’ll find actors who went on to lead Marvel movies, star in prestige TV, and dominate the sitcom world.
The Faces Behind the Fuller Family
In this outing, Malcolm goes undercover as Hattie Mae Pierce to infiltrate the household of Tom Fuller, played by Mark Moses. You probably recognize Moses from his later, much more serious work as Duck Phillips in Mad Men or Paul Young in Desperate Housewives. He plays the "maybe-villainous" software architect with a sort of stressed-dad energy that makes the movie work.
The kids, though? That’s where the real talent was hiding in plain sight.
Kat Dennings played the oldest daughter, Molly Fuller. Honestly, she was basically playing a prototype of her 2 Broke Girls character—rebellious, cynical, and completely unimpressed by everything. It’s wild to see her here, years before she became a fixture of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Darcy Lewis.
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Then you have Chloë Grace Moretz. She was just a kid, playing the middle child, Carrie Fuller. This was years before Kick-Ass or Hugo. Even at that age, she had this screen presence that made you realize she wasn't just a background extra. Watching her learn "unique" cheerleading moves from a man in a prosthetic suit is a fever dream of mid-2000s cinema.
And we can't forget Emily Procter as Leah Fuller. Fresh off her success in The West Wing and right in the middle of her run on CSI: Miami, she brought a rigid, high-strung intensity to the mother role that perfectly contrasted with Big Momma’s chaotic "nanny" style.
The FBI and the Returning Favorites
Martin Lawrence obviously carries the movie, but he’s not alone. Nia Long returns as Sherry Pierce. In the first film, she was the love interest Malcolm was lying to; in this one, they’re married, and she’s pregnant. Long has always been the "straight man" to Lawrence’s absurdity, providing the emotional grounding the movie desperately needs so it doesn't just float away into pure slapstick.
But check out the FBI bullpen.
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Did you realize Zachary Levi was in this? Before he was Shazam! or even the lead in Chuck, he was Kevin Keneally, a bumbling FBI agent. He’s thin, he’s young, and he’s doing some of the physical comedy that would later make him a superstar. It’s a total "wait, is that him?" moment for modern viewers.
Jascha Washington also came back as Trent, Sherry's son. Seeing him grow from the little kid in the original to a teenager in the sequel gave the franchise a sense of continuity that sequels often lack.
A Cast That Defied the Genre
Usually, "part 2" of a comedy franchise is where the talent thins out. This movie did the opposite.
- Marisol Nichols (Liliana Morales) went on to be a major player in Riverdale.
- Kevin Durand (Oshima) became one of the most recognizable "tough guy" actors in Hollywood, appearing in Lost, The Strain, and Kingdom of the Planet of the Apes.
- Dan Lauria (Crawford) brought his Wonder Years dad energy to the FBI director role.
The depth here is actually kind of insane. You’ve got Josh Flitter as Stewart, the youngest Fuller kid who refuses to speak until Big Momma wins him over. It’s a formulaic plot, sure, but the chemistry between these specific actors is why it made over $138 million at the box office despite critics basically trying to bury it alive.
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Why We Still Talk About Them
People often dismiss these types of movies as "junk food" cinema. But "junk food" requires a very specific kind of chef to make it taste good. The Big Momma's House 2 cast worked because they didn't wink at the camera. They played the absurdity of a grown man in a dress pretending to be a nanny with total sincerity.
When you see Kat Dennings and Chloë Grace Moretz together on screen now, it feels like a crossover event. Back then, they were just the kids of a guy who might have sold a virus to terrorists. It’s a testament to the casting directors, Nancy Foy and the Fincannons, who clearly had an eye for who was going to be "next."
What to Do Next
If you're feeling nostalgic, the best way to appreciate this cast is to do a "where are they now" marathon.
Start by re-watching the beach scene in Big Momma's House 2 to see a young Zachary Levi and Kevin Durand, then immediately pivot to Shazam! or Abigail. It’s a jarring but hilarious way to see how far these actors have come from their days in the Fuller household. You can find the movie streaming on various VOD platforms, and it remains a staple of cable TV rotations for a reason.
Take a look at the early work of Kat Dennings in this film and compare it to her comedic timing in WandaVision. You'll notice that even in 2006, she had that specific "deadpan" delivery down to a science. Honestly, the movie is worth a re-watch just to spot all the "before they were famous" cameos hiding in the background of the spa and the country club.