Kevin James basically owns the "everyman" trope, doesn’t he? When Paul Blart: Mall Cop hit theaters back in 2009, nobody really expected it to become the juggernaut it did. It was a January release. Usually, that’s where movies go to die. Instead, it hauled in over $183 million globally. People kept asking who played in Mall Cop because the chemistry between the bumbling security guard and his ragtag group of mall employees felt weirdly authentic, even when the stunts involved a Segway doing a face-plant.
It’s easy to forget that this wasn’t just a solo Kevin James vehicle. The movie’s DNA is tied to Happy Madison Productions, which means Adam Sandler’s fingerprints are all over the casting choices. You see a lot of the "Sandler Regulars," but the film also gave some character actors their biggest career moments. Honestly, the casting is the only reason the movie survives its own slapstick.
Kevin James as the Hypoglycemic Hero
You can't talk about who played in Mall Cop without starting with the man himself. Kevin James played Paul Blart, a single dad with a failed dream of joining the New Jersey State Police. Because of his hypoglycemia, he frequently passes out during physical exams, which leads him to his "calling" at the West Orange Pavilion Mall.
James didn't just show up and read lines. He did a lot of his own stunts. Watching a man of his stature navigate a Segway with the grace of a ballerina—or a falling piano—is genuinely impressive. He brought that King of Queens energy but dialed up the vulnerability. He’s the guy who takes his job too seriously because it’s the only thing he has left besides his daughter and his mother.
The Heart of the Blart Family
Raini Rodriguez played Maya Blart. At the time, she was a relatively unknown child actress, but she held her own against James. Their dynamic actually grounded the film. While Paul is busy being a "Security Officer," Maya is the one trying to help him find love. It’s sweet. It’s simple. It works because Rodriguez played it straight instead of being a "Hollywood brat."
Then you’ve got Shirley Knight. She played Mom. Knight was an Oscar-nominated powerhouse (think The Dark at the Top of the Stairs), and seeing her in a goofy comedy about a mall heist was a bit of a trip. She brought a level of class to the "Mom" role that arguably the script didn't even require. She was there for the snacks and the support.
The Love Interest: Jayma Mays
A lot of people recognize Jayma Mays from Glee, where she played the germaphobic Emma Pillsbury. In Mall Cop, she plays Amy Anderson, the woman who runs the hair extension kiosk.
Let's be real: the "hero saves the girl" trope is a bit dated now. But in 2009, Mays made Amy feel like a person you’d actually find at a mall kiosk. She’s kind of awkward, very sweet, and remarkably patient with Paul’s bizarre attempts at flirting. If you're wondering who played in Mall Cop as the romantic lead, it’s Mays, and her wide-eyed reactions to James's physical comedy are some of the best parts of the movie.
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The Villains: Extreme Sports Gone Wrong
This is where the movie gets weird. The "heist" isn't carried out by seasoned bank robbers. It’s a group of extreme sports athletes. They use skateboards, BMX bikes, and parkour to take over the mall.
Keir O'Donnell played Veck Simms. He was the "inside man" who initially seemed like just another trainee under Blart’s wing. O'Donnell has this nervous energy that makes the eventual reveal—that he’s a criminal mastermind—pretty funny. He’s not a hulking brute; he’s a guy who’s tired of being underestimated.
The rest of the crew included:
- Bobby Cannavale (as Commander Kent): Okay, Cannavale is a heavy hitter. Seeing him in a comedy as the "real" police commander who looks down on Blart is great. He plays the arrogant foil perfectly.
- Stephen Rannazzisi (as Stuart): You might know him from The League. He plays one of the guys trapped in the mall.
- Adhir Kalyan (as Pahud): He’s the guy at the cell phone kiosk. His obsession with his girlfriend and his tech skills become weirdly pivotal to the plot.
Why the Supporting Cast Actually Matters
Most people think of this as a one-man show. It isn't. If you look at who played in Mall Cop, you see a network of character actors who fill in the gaps.
Peter Gerety plays Chief Brooks. He’s another one of those "hey, I know that guy" actors from The Wire. Having him play the straight man to Kevin James’s insanity helps sell the stakes. When the Chief is worried, the audience feels like maybe the mall really is in danger, despite the fact that the villains are riding skateboards.
Then there’s Jamal Mixon. He plays Leon, the "big guy" at the food court. The scene where he and Paul Blart discuss the merits of nachos is a fan favorite for a reason. It’s just two guys being dudes, talking about snacks while a crisis looms. It’s that kind of humanity that made the movie a "Discover" hit on streaming services years later.
A Quick Breakdown of the Main Players
If you're just looking for a quick list of the heavy lifters, here's how the main credits shake out:
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The Blart Household
Kevin James as Paul. Raini Rodriguez as Maya. Shirley Knight as Margaret.
The Mall Staff and Friends
Jayma Mays as Amy. Jamal Mixon as Leon. Adhir Kalyan as Pahud.
The Law and the Outlaws
Keir O'Donnell as Veck. Bobby Cannavale as Kent. Adam Ferrara as Sergeant Howard.
The "Happy Madison" Connection
If you look closely at the credits, you'll see names like Gary Valentine. Gary is actually Kevin James’s real-life brother. He plays a singer in the mall. This is a staple of these movies. The cast is basically a big family reunion.
Allen Covert, a long-time Sandler collaborator, also appears as a jerky security guard in the beginning. This "rep company" style of filmmaking is why these movies have a specific vibe. They feel loose. Sometimes they feel like a series of sketches tied together by a thin plot. But for a movie like Mall Cop, that looseness is an asset. It makes the mall feel lived-in.
Surprising Facts About the Casting
Did you know that Kevin James actually trained with real Segway riders to make sure his movements looked "professional"? It’s true. The man took the art of the two-wheeled scooter very seriously.
Another weird detail: the movie was filmed at the Burlington Mall in Massachusetts. Many of the "extras" you see in the background were local residents who just happened to be there during the long night shoots. The production had to wait until the mall closed at 9:00 PM to start filming, often working until 6:00 or 7:00 AM the next morning.
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The physical toll on the cast was real. James reportedly lost a significant amount of weight during filming because he was constantly running, jumping, and falling. By the time they got to Paul Blart: Mall Cop 2 in 2015, the cast had changed slightly, adding people like Daniella Alonso and Neal McDonough, but the core "Blart energy" remained centered on James’s willingness to hurt himself for a laugh.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Cast
People often confuse this movie with Observe and Report. That’s the Seth Rogen mall cop movie. It came out around the same time but is way darker. Like, "don't watch with your kids" dark.
When you're looking for who played in Mall Cop, make sure you’re looking for the PG-rated Kevin James version. The Seth Rogen one features Anna Faris and Ray Liotta. Totally different vibe. Paul Blart is the one with the nacho eating and the heroic Segway jumps. It’s the one that’s safe for a Sunday afternoon with the family.
Why the Cast Kept Us Coming Back
The genius of the casting was putting "serious" actors in ridiculous situations. Shirley Knight didn't play her role for laughs; she played it like a loving mother. Bobby Cannavale played the commander like he was in a Michael Mann thriller.
When the actors take the premise seriously, the comedy lands harder. If everyone is in on the joke, it gets boring. But when Paul Blart is screaming about his "oath" to protect the food court, and the other characters react with genuine confusion or annoyance, that’s where the magic happens.
Actionable Insights for Fans of the Movie
If you've just rewatched the movie and are deep-diving into the cast, here is what you should do next to get the full "Blart" experience:
- Check out 'The King of Queens': If you liked the chemistry Kevin James has with his "family" in the movie, his long-running sitcom is the gold standard for his brand of humor. Gary Valentine (his brother) is also a regular there.
- Watch 'Zookeeper': This is essentially the spiritual successor to Mall Cop. It uses many of the same crew and features James talking to animals instead of Segways.
- Follow Raini Rodriguez: She went on to have a massive career on Disney Channel’s Austin & Ally. It’s cool to see where the "Blart daughter" ended up.
- Spot the Cameos: Next time you watch, look for the small roles played by Sandler’s friends. Peter Dante and Jonathan Loughran almost always pop up in these films.
The legacy of who played in Mall Cop isn't just about a guy on a Segway. It's about a specific era of mid-budget comedies that managed to capture the hearts of millions by being unapologetically goofy. Whether you're a fan of the physical comedy or the weirdly intense mall-heist plot, the cast is what keeps this movie on the "most-watched" lists of streaming platforms over a decade later.
Next time you’re at a mall and you see a security guard cruising by, just remember: they might not be Paul Blart, but they’re the only thing standing between you and a skateboard-riding heist crew. Probably.