Ever look back at a movie poster and wonder how on earth two people ended up in the same frame? In 1977, that movie was Oh, God!. You had George Burns, a vaudeville relic who was basically the human personification of a cigar, and John Denver, the ultra-earnest "Rocky Mountain High" guy who seemed to be made of sunshine and denim.
On paper, the movie oh god cast makes zero sense. It’s like putting a martini next to a glass of organic goat milk. Yet, this little $2 million comedy became a massive sleeper hit, outgrossing almost everything that year except for a little indie flick called Star Wars. People didn't just see it; they obsessed over it.
The God Nobody Expected: George Burns
Before this movie, George Burns was mostly known as the guy who used to be part of "Burns and Allen." His career had been quiet for decades. Then, Jack Benny—his best friend—passed away, and George stepped into Benny's role in The Sunshine Boys. He won an Oscar at 80. Suddenly, everyone wanted a piece of him.
When producer Jerry Weintraub and director Carl Reiner were looking for someone to play the Creator, they didn't want a booming voice from a cloud. They wanted a guy in a windbreaker and a fishing hat. George was perfect. He played God as a witty, slightly tired grandfather who misses the small things, like a good hot dog.
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Funny enough, George was a total pro. He showed up to the first table read with the entire script memorized. Not just his lines. Everyone's lines. He would actually correct the other actors when they messed up. He also refused to be seen without his toupee, which is why God wears a hat in every single scene. If you look closely, you’ll see the Big G rocking everything from a sea captain’s cap to a golf hat.
John Denver: The Accidental Leading Man
Then there's John Denver. This was his big acting debut.
Honestly, he was terrified. He plays Jerry Landers, an assistant grocery store manager who gets picked by God to spread a simple message: "I’m here, and I’m rooting for you." Denver wasn't a trained actor, but that actually helped. He had this wide-eyed, "aw shucks" sincerity that made the character feel real. You believe he’s a guy who just wants to organize the lettuce display and go home to his kids.
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David Geffen, who was a big-shot executive at Warner Bros. at the time, was the one who pushed for Denver. He knew Denver was huge with young people because of his TV specials. It was a gamble. Variety ended up calling him "sensational," which probably shocked a few critics who expected him to just sing "Annie's Song" for 90 minutes.
The Supporting Players You Forgot Were There
The rest of the movie oh god cast is a "who’s who" of 70s and 80s character actors. You’ve got:
- Teri Garr: She plays Bobbie Landers, Jerry’s wife. 1977 was a weirdly specific year for her—she played the "wife who thinks her husband is crazy because of a supernatural encounter" in both this and Close Encounters of the Third Kind.
- Paul Sorvino: Before he was a mob boss in Goodfellas, he played Reverend Willie Williams, a televangelist who is... let's just say, less than thrilled about a grocery manager talking to God.
- Donald Pleasence: This is a weird bit of trivia. He’s fourth-billed in the credits but barely in the movie. Most of his scenes were cut, leaving him with about two lines.
- Ralph Bellamy and William Daniels: Heavy hitters who brought some serious gravitas to the courtroom scenes.
Why it Actually Matters Now
We’re living in a world of CGI gods and massive explosions. Oh, God! didn't have any of that. The "miracles" were things like making it rain inside a car or God disappearing from a bathroom. It relied entirely on the chemistry of the movie oh god cast.
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The film deals with big questions—pain, suffering, and why God doesn't just "fix" everything—with a light touch. It's philosophical without being a lecture. When John Denver asks why there's bad in the world, George Burns basically says you can't have an "up" without a "down." Simple, but it sticks with you.
Actionable Takeaway for Movie Fans
If you’ve only ever seen the sequels or the parodies, go back and watch the 1977 original. Pay attention to the courtroom scene. Carl Reiner used two cameras to film it all at once so George Burns wouldn't have to repeat his long monologue too many times. George, being the legend he was, nailed it in one take.
Watch for the chemistry. It shouldn't work, but Denver’s sincerity balances out Burns’ dry wit perfectly. It’s a masterclass in how casting against type can create something timeless.