Ever gone down a rabbit hole trying to find a specific actor only to realize you’re looking at a completely different movie with the exact same title? It’s frustrating. Honestly, the change of heart movie cast is one of those search queries that is a total minefield because there isn't just one movie. There are at least four or five floating around out there.
Depending on whether you're looking for a Kenny Ortega comedy, a 90s TV drama, or a Hallmark-style romance, you’re going to find different faces.
Most people are actually looking for the 2017 film A Change of Heart. It’s that quirky one where a bigoted guy gets a heart transplant from a drag queen. Yeah, that one. It’s got a surprisingly deep bench of talent that you probably recognize from other stuff but couldn't quite place.
The 2017 Cast: Jim Belushi and a Drag Queen's Legacy
If you saw a trailer with a guy looking very uncomfortable in a hospital bed, you're thinking of the Kenny Ortega-directed film. Ortega, the genius behind Hocus Pocus and High School Musical, took a weirdly specific premise and filled it with a lot of Miami flavor.
Jim Belushi leads the pack as Hank. He's playing that classic "grumpy old man who hates change" archetype he’s perfected over decades. Hank is the kind of guy who is terrified of the world evolving, which makes the plot twist—him receiving a heart from a Puerto Rican drag queen—the ultimate "be careful what you wish for" scenario.
Then you've got Virginia Madsen as Deena. She’s phenomenal. You might know her from Sideways or Candyman, and here she brings a much-needed grounding energy to Hank’s chaos.
The Supporting Players
The rest of the roster is basically a "who’s who" of TV favorites:
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- Aimee Teegarden: Every Friday Night Lights fan knows her as Julie Taylor. In this film, she plays Josie.
- Kathy Najimy: A frequent Ortega collaborator. She plays Ruthie and, as always, steals every scene she's in.
- William Levy: The "Brad Pitt of Mexico" plays Carlos. His presence alone brought a huge international audience to this indie project.
- Gloria Estefan: Yes, the music legend. She shows up as Dr. Farjado. Seeing her in a white lab coat instead of on a concert stage is a trip.
Wait, Is This the 1998 Drama Instead?
This is where the confusion kicks in. If you aren't seeing Jim Belushi, you might be thinking of the 1998 television movie A Change of Heart (sometimes listed as just Change of Heart).
The vibe here is totally different. It’s a heavy family drama about a woman discovering her husband is gay.
Jean Smart stars as Elaine Marshall. Long before she was winning every Emmy on the planet for Hacks, she was doing these intense, emotional roles. She is the anchor of this movie. Her husband, Dr. Jim Marshall, is played by John Terry (who you’ll definitely recognize as Jack Shephard’s dad from Lost).
If you’re watching a movie about a family falling apart in a suburban home, you’re looking at Jean Smart, not Jim Belushi.
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The 2012/2016 Hallmark Version
Then there is the "Bed and Breakfast" version. This one is often titled Change of Heart or sometimes Changing Hearts. It stars Leah Pipes (from The Originals) and Rick Malambri (the lead from Step Up 3D).
This is your classic romantic trope: a high-powered woman gets stranded at a B&B and the owner tries to set her up with her son. Lindsay Wagner, the literal Bionic Woman, plays the mom/matchmaker.
It’s light. It’s breezy. It’s the kind of movie you watch on a rainy Sunday afternoon. If there’s a lot of talk about scones and romantic tension in a small town, this is your cast.
Why the Title "Change of Heart" is So Common
Basically, it's a pun writers can't resist.
In Hollywood, if a character either:
- Literally gets a heart transplant.
- Metaphorically decides to be a better person.
...the studio is going to name it Change of Heart.
It’s a bit of a nightmare for SEO and for fans. You’ve got the 1999 Australian film starring Grant Bowler, which is about an ad executive raising money for a heart transplant. Then there’s the 1999 British thriller Heart starring Christopher Eccleston, which is a whole different level of dark.
How to Identify Which Movie You're Watching
Check the lead actor. It’s the easiest way to solve the puzzle.
- Grumpy guy in Florida? That’s the Jim Belushi 2017 version.
- Wife dealing with a secret? That’s the Jean Smart 1998 version.
- Romance at a Bed and Breakfast? That’s the Leah Pipes/Lindsay Wagner 2012 version.
- Ad executive in Australia? That’s the Grant Bowler 1999 version.
The Real Impact of These Casts
What’s interesting is how these movies serve as snapshots of careers. The 2017 change of heart movie cast was a big deal for Latino representation in a mainstream American comedy, bringing in names like Eduardo Yáñez and Mauricio Sanchez alongside Hollywood staples.
Meanwhile, the 1998 version was a massive moment for Jean Smart to prove she could carry a heavy dramatic lead before her career resurgence in the 2020s.
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If you’re trying to track down a specific performance, your best bet is to look for the director. Kenny Ortega’s style is bright and theatrical. Arvin Brown (the 1998 director) is much more focused on quiet, intimate character beats.
Actionable Steps for Film Buffs
To stop the confusion next time you're searching, don't just search the title. Type the year or the lead actor's name into your streaming app. If you're looking for the Belushi version, it’s currently making the rounds on various ad-supported streaming platforms. For the Jean Smart version, you might have to dig a bit deeper into digital archives or specialized drama channels.
Always cross-reference the character names. If you see "Hank," you're in 2017. If you see "Elaine," you're in 1998. It saves a lot of time and a lot of "Wait, who is this guy?" moments.