Twenty years later and it still hits. You know the feeling of flipping through cable channels on a rainy Sunday and seeing Steve Martin’s frantic face as he tries to out-dad Eugene Levy? That’s the magic of the Cheaper by the Dozen 2 cast. It wasn't just a sequel; it was this weird, lightning-in-a-bottle moment where a massive group of child actors, comedy legends, and future superstars all shared a lakefront set in Ontario.
Most people remember the big names. Steve Martin. Bonnie Hunt. Hilary Duff. But if you actually look at the roster today, it’s kind of wild. You’ve got a future DC superhero, a pop icon, and a handful of people who basically decided Hollywood wasn't for them and walked away at the height of their fame.
The Baker Family: From Child Stars to Quiet Lives
Tom Baker is the heart of it all. Steve Martin brought that "exhausted but trying" energy that he’d perfected in Father of the Bride, but by 2005, he was transitioning into his "distinguished elder statesman of comedy" phase. He’s spent the last few years reminding everyone why he’s a genius on Only Murders in the Building, but back then, he was just a guy trying to keep twelve kids from destroying a rental cabin.
Then there’s Bonnie Hunt. Honestly, she’s the secret weapon of these movies. Her chemistry with Martin felt real because she didn’t play the "nagging wife" trope. She was the anchor. Since the sequel, Bonnie has done a ton of voice work for Pixar—you’ve definitely heard her in Cars and Toy Story—and she remains one of the most respected writers in the industry.
The kids? That’s where things get interesting.
Piper Perabo, who played the eldest daughter Nora, was already a star because of Coyote Ugly. She’s since moved into much grittier territory, specifically with Covert Affairs and her recent stint on Yellowstone. She’s one of the few who transitioned seamlessly from "teen movie sister" to "serious dramatic actress."
Tom Welling was the heartthrob. Period. He was filming Smallville at the same time, and you can tell. He has that "I’m too big for this house" energy. Welling has always been pretty private, popping up for the occasional Smallville animated revival talk or fan convention, but he mostly stays out of the paparazzi grind. He lives a fairly quiet life these days, which is a common theme for this crew.
The Murtaughs: The Rivals We Secretly Loved
You can’t talk about the Cheaper by the Dozen 2 cast without the Murtaughs. Eugene Levy as Jimmy Murtaugh was peak casting. This was right in the middle of his American Pie fame, but before the Schitt’s Creek renaissance changed his life forever. Seeing him play a competitive, high-strung billionaire was the perfect foil to Martin’s blue-collar-ish vibe.
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Carmen Electra played his much younger wife, Sarina. At the time, she was a massive tabloid fixture. People expected her to just be the "pretty face" in the movie, but she actually held her own in the comedic timing department.
And then there’s the kids. The Murtaugh children were designed to be the "perfect" versions of the Bakers.
- Robbie Amell: He played Jimmy Murtaugh Jr. This was his first big role. Now? He’s a massive star in the sci-fi world, leading the hit series Upload and playing Chris Redfield in the Resident Evil reboot.
- Taylor Lautner: This is the one that blows people’s minds. Before he was Jacob Black in Twilight, he was Eliot Murtaugh. He was just a kid with a bowl cut and a lot of energy.
The Surprise Trajectories of the Younger Bakers
Hilary Duff was the biggest name in the world when this came out. Lizzie McGuire had ended, her music career was exploding, and she was the "It Girl." What’s cool about Duff is that she didn't crash and burn like many of her peers. She grew up, did Younger, did How I Met Your Father, and became a successful entrepreneur. She’s probably the most "stable" child star of that era.
Alyson Stoner, who played Sarah Baker, was the tomboy everyone loved. She was also the girl from the Missy Elliott videos. Alyson has been incredibly vocal lately about the "troubled teen industry" and the pressures of being a child star. She’s moved into advocacy and podcasting, using her platform to talk about the psychological toll of growing up on sets like this one. It's a heavy shift from the fun-loving Sarah Baker, but it’s arguably the most important work anyone from the cast is doing right now.
The twins, Brent and Shane Kinsman, who played Nigel and Kyle? They finished the Desperate Housewives run and then basically disappeared from acting. They went to college, played football, and lived normal lives. Honestly, good for them.
Why This Specific Ensemble Worked
Most sequels fail because the cast feels like they’re just there for the paycheck. You’ve seen it a thousand times. But with this group, there was a genuine sense of chaos that felt earned.
The production was famously loud. When you have twenty-plus kids on a set in rural Ontario, things get weird. There are stories about the cast having actual campfires and hanging out by the lake during breaks. That "summer camp" vibe translated to the screen.
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Adam Shankman, the director, had to manage a massive logistical nightmare. Think about the scene at the Labor Day Cup. You have two giant families, dozens of supporting actors, and physical stunts involving canoes and eggs. It’s a miracle no one actually got hurt.
The movie was hammered by critics. Rotten Tomatoes wasn't kind. But the audience didn't care. It made over $130 million. People didn't go for the plot—they went to see the Cheaper by the Dozen 2 cast interact. It’s comfort food.
The Evolution of the Supporting Players
There are faces in this movie you might have missed.
Jonathan Bennett played Bud McNulty. You know him as Aaron Samuels from Mean Girls. He’s become the king of Hallmark Christmas movies.
Shawn Levy, who directed the first movie, stayed on as a producer for the second. He’s now one of the most powerful men in Hollywood, directing Deadpool & Wolverine and producing Stranger Things. The "Bakers" were basically his training ground for handling ensemble casts.
Factual Breakdown of the Cast Today
- Steve Martin: Writing books, touring with Martin Short, and starring in Only Murders in the Building. He’s busier at 80 than most people are at 30.
- Hilary Duff: Recently focused on her family and her brand, Below 60. She has four children now—basically starting her own "Baker" family.
- Alyson Stoner: Founder of Movement Genius, focusing on mental health and somatic movement.
- Kevin Schmidt (Henry Baker): He went into producing and stayed involved in the industry behind the camera, though he’s kept a very low profile.
- Morgan York (Kim Baker): She quit acting entirely to become a successful young adult novelist. She’s been very open on social media about why she chose a "normal" life over Hollywood.
- Jacob Smith (Jake Baker): He left acting shortly after the sequel and has remained entirely out of the public eye.
What We Get Wrong About the 2005 Era
We tend to look back at these mid-2000s comedies as "fluff." And sure, they are. But the Cheaper by the Dozen 2 cast represents a specific turning point in how movies were made. This was before every kid in a movie was a "social media influencer." They were just actors.
There’s a rawness to the kids’ performances that you don't see as much now. They weren't worried about their "personal brand" on Instagram because Instagram didn't exist. They were just kids being loud and annoying in the woods.
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The Legacy of the Baker-Murtaugh Rivalry
The rivalry between Tom and Jimmy is actually a pretty deep look at aging and insecurity. Jimmy Murtaugh has the trophy wife, the money, and the "perfect" kids who speak three languages. Tom has a messy house and a family that barely listens to him.
The "win" at the end isn't about the trophy. It’s about the fact that both families are actually kind of a mess in their own ways. When Nora goes into labor, the rivalry evaporates. It’s a trope, sure, but it works because the actors sell it. Eugene Levy’s face when he realizes he’s been a jerk is a masterclass in subtle comedy.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you’re looking to revisit the world of the Bakers, don’t just stop at the movies.
- Check out Alyson Stoner’s YouTube channel. She gives an incredibly honest look at what it was like to be a child star during that era. It completely changes how you watch her scenes in the movie.
- Follow Morgan York’s writing. If you loved the "smart" twin, you’ll likely enjoy her fantasy novels. It’s a great example of life after acting.
- Watch the 2022 Remake—with a Caveat. Disney+ released a remake starring Gabrielle Union and Zach Braff. It’s a different vibe entirely, focusing on a blended family in a modern setting. It lacks the "chaos energy" of the 2005 cast, but it’s an interesting comparison of how family dynamics in film have changed.
- Look for the Ontario filming locations. If you’re ever near Stony Lake in Ontario, Canada, you can actually see where the movie was filmed. Most of the lake scenes were shot there, and the area still has that specific "Baker family summer" feel.
The Cheaper by the Dozen 2 cast remains a fascinating snapshot of a Hollywood that doesn't really exist anymore. It was the end of the "Big Family Comedy" era before everything shifted to superheroes and streaming. Most of these actors have moved on to bigger—or at least quieter—things, but for 90 minutes, they were the biggest, loudest family in the world.
To really appreciate the evolution of this cast, watch the movie again and pay attention to the background characters. You’ll see a young Taylor Lautner trying to act cool and a pre-fame Robbie Amell just starting his journey. It’s a time capsule in the best way possible.
Check out the Only Murders in the Building behind-the-scenes features if you want to see how Steve Martin’s comedy style has aged like fine wine. You can clearly see the DNA of Tom Baker in his portrayal of Charles-Haden Savage—the same dry wit, the same slight social awkwardness, and the same underlying heart.
For those interested in the industry side, research Shawn Levy’s production company, 21 Laps Entertainment. Seeing how the producer of a "silly" family sequel became the man behind Arrival and Stranger Things is a wild lesson in how Hollywood careers actually work. It’s never just one thing; it’s a series of stepping stones that start with an egg toss on a lake in Canada.