It is almost impossible to imagine 1990 without that laugh. You know the one—Julia Roberts, head tilted back, loud and uninhibited, after Richard Gere snaps a jewelry box shut on her fingers. It’s the defining moment of a movie that shouldn't have worked. Honestly, if you look at the original script, titled 3000, it was a depressing cautionary tale about drug addiction and the grim reality of sex work in Los Angeles. But then Garry Marshall stepped in. He saw something else. He saw a rom-com. And the reason we are still talking about who played in the movie pretty woman decades later isn't just the clothes or the soundtrack; it’s the lightning-in-a-bottle chemistry of a cast that made a somewhat problematic premise feel like a dream.
The Leading Duo: Julia Roberts and Richard Gere
Julia Roberts wasn't the first choice. Not even close. Before she landed the role of Vivian Ward, the studio was looking at names like Molly Ringwald, Michelle Pfeiffer, and Meg Ryan. Ringwald famously turned it down because she didn't want to play a lady of the night. Their loss. Roberts was only 21 when she was cast, and she brought this raw, "deer-in-the-headlights" vulnerability mixed with a sharp-tongued wit that essentially invented the modern rom-com heroine. She wasn't just a character; she was a force.
Then there’s Richard Gere. He plays Edward Lewis, the corporate raider who’s basically a shark in a suit until he meets Vivian. Gere was hesitant. He felt the character was a "suit" with no soul. He turned the role down several times. It took Julia Roberts sliding him a Post-it note that said "Please say yes" to get him on board. That’s not a Hollywood myth; it’s actually how it happened. Gere’s performance is understated, which is exactly what the film needed. He provides the anchor for Roberts’ high-energy performance. He’s the straight man, the one who learns to breathe again.
The Supporting Cast That Stole the Show
While the movie is built on the backs of the two leads, the supporting players are what give the film its texture. You can't talk about who played in the movie pretty woman without mentioning Hector Elizondo. He plays Barney Thompson, the manager of the Regent Beverly Wilshire.
Elizondo is the film's moral compass. He doesn't judge Vivian. He teaches her which fork to use. He gives her the dignity the rest of the world denies her. It’s a masterclass in subtle acting. Fun fact: Elizondo appeared in every single movie Garry Marshall ever directed. They were best friends, and that comfort shows on screen.
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Then you have Jason Alexander as Philip Stuckey. This was before Seinfeld made him a household name as George Costanza. In Pretty Woman, he is genuinely loathsome. He represents the dark side of Edward’s world—greedy, misogynistic, and eventually violent. His presence is a necessary reminder of the stakes. If every character were as nice as the hotel manager, the movie would be too sugary to swallow.
The Best Friend: Laura San Giacomo
Laura San Giacomo played Kit De Luca, Vivian’s roommate and best friend. She’s the one who delivers the iconic "Cinder-f***in'-rella" line. San Giacomo brought a grounded, street-smart energy to the film that kept it from drifting too far into fantasy. She was the reality check. Her chemistry with Roberts felt authentic, like two people who had actually survived some rough nights together on Hollywood Boulevard.
The Minor Roles You Might Have Missed
The depth of the cast extends to the smaller roles too.
- Hank Azaria: Before he was the voice of half of Springfield on The Simpsons, he had a tiny role as a police officer.
- Amy Yasbeck: She played Elizabeth Stuckey, the wife of Jason Alexander’s character.
- Alex Hyde-White: He played David Morse, the grandson of the man Edward is trying to put out of business.
The casting of the saleswomen in the "Big mistake. Huge!" scene is also worth noting. These actresses managed to become the most hated women in cinema for about five minutes, which is a testament to how well they played the snobbery of Rodeo Drive.
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Why This Specific Cast Mattered
Casting is more than just finding good actors. It's about finding the right energy. If you put a more cynical actor in Gere's role, Edward Lewis comes off as a predator. If you put a more "polished" actress in Roberts' role, Vivian feels like a caricature.
The magic of who played in the movie pretty woman lies in the fact that everyone seemed to understand they were making a fairytale, not a documentary. They leaned into the charm. Richard Gere actually played the piano in that famous hotel lobby scene. He composed the piece himself. That’s the kind of personal touch that makes a movie stick in the collective consciousness.
The film also benefited from Garry Marshall's directing style, which encouraged improvisation. That jewelry box snap? That was a prank Gere played on Roberts to get a genuine reaction. Marshall loved it so much he kept it in. That laugh from Julia is 100% real, and it’s arguably the moment the audience falls in love with her.
The Cultural Footprint
When we look back at the late 80s and early 90s, the "hooker with a heart of gold" trope was everywhere, but no one did it like this cast. It’s a movie that defies logic. Why is a corporate billionaire spending his week teaching a stranger about opera? Why is the hotel manager helping a sex worker buy a cocktail dress? It doesn't matter because the actors make you believe it.
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Critics at the time were mixed. Some thought it was "glamorizing" a dangerous profession. Others thought it was a charming throwback to the screwball comedies of the 1930s. But the box office didn't care about the critics. It made $463 million worldwide. For a movie with a $14 million budget, that’s astronomical.
What to Do Next
If you’re a fan of the film or just curious about the era, there are a few ways to dive deeper into the world of 1990s cinema and the careers of these actors.
- Watch the "Director’s Cut": There are several deleted scenes that lean a bit more into the "gritty" side of the original script. You can see a different side of Jason Alexander's character that is even more menacing.
- Follow the Garry Marshall Connection: Check out The Princess Diaries or Runaway Bride. You’ll see many of the same faces, including Hector Elizondo, and you’ll recognize Marshall's signature touch of warmth and humor.
- Explore Julia Roberts’ Early Filmography: If you want to see how she became the biggest star in the world, watch Mystic Pizza (1988) and Steel Magnolias (1989) back-to-back with Pretty Woman. The range she shows in those three years is incredible.
- Visit the Locations: If you’re ever in Los Angeles, the Beverly Wilshire still embraces its history with the film. You can’t get the "Penthouse" for $3000 anymore, but you can certainly feel the ghost of Edward and Vivian in the lobby.
The legacy of Pretty Woman isn't just about a red dress or a shopping spree. It’s about a group of actors who took a dark, gritty story and found the heart inside it. It’s the reason why, thirty-six years later, we still stop scrolling when we see it on TV.
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