Kevin Kline stands at a podium. He’s Howard Brackett, a beloved English teacher in a small town. He’s about to get married. Then, Cameron Drake—played with a hilarious, vacuous charm by Matt Dillon—wins an Oscar and tells the whole world Howard is gay.
That’s the spark.
If you grew up in the late 90s, the In and Out film cast wasn't just a list of actors on a poster; it was a snapshot of Hollywood royalty pivoting toward a conversation the industry was barely ready to have. Frank Oz directed this 1997 gem, and honestly, the casting is what keeps it from feeling like a dated relic of a bygone era. It’s a comedy, sure. But the weight carried by the performers makes it something more.
The Anchors: Kevin Kline and Joan Cusack
Kevin Kline has this specific kind of physical comedy that feels academic. It’s precise. As Howard Brackett, he has to navigate the sheer panic of a man whose identity is being narrated by someone else. When he tries to "be masculine" by listening to a self-help tape, Kline’s stiff-legged walk and desperate attempts to look tough are masterclasses in timing.
But we have to talk about Joan Cusack.
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Seriously.
Cusack played Berniece Post, Howard’s long-suffering fiancée who has been on a diet for three years just to fit into her wedding dress. Her performance is legendary. She earned an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress, and if you watch the "Is everybody gay?" meltdown in the middle of the street, you’ll see why. She brings a frantic, heartbreaking, and deeply funny energy that stops the movie from being a one-note joke about Howard’s sexuality. She represents the collateral damage of the closet, and she does it while wearing a massive white dress in the dirt.
The Supporting Players That Made Greenleaf Feel Real
The In and Out film cast didn't stop at the leads. It populated the fictional town of Greenleaf, Indiana, with faces that made the stakes feel personal.
- Tom Selleck as Peter Howell. This was a massive subversion of his Magnum, P.I. persona. Selleck plays a reporter who is actually out, providing a foil to Howard’s repression. That kiss—the one between Selleck and Kline—was a genuine "water cooler moment" in 1997. It lasted twelve seconds. At the time, that was an eternity for a mainstream Hollywood comedy.
- Debbie Reynolds and Wilford Brimley as Howard’s parents. Having a Hollywood legend like Reynolds play the mother was a stroke of genius. She brings a sweetness that grounds the film. Brimley, known for his gruff demeanor and those famous "diabeetus" commercials later in life, plays the father with a quiet, confused acceptance that feels surprisingly modern.
- Bob Newhart as Principal Tom Halliwell. Newhart does what Newhart does best: deadpan. His stuttering, dry delivery provides the perfect corporate-adjacent pressure on Howard to "sort things out."
The chemistry worked because it wasn't just a bunch of people reading lines. They felt like a community. When you look at the In and Out film cast, you’re seeing a group of veterans who knew exactly how to balance the camp of the premise with the reality of small-town life.
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Why the Casting of Matt Dillon Was a Stroke of Genius
Matt Dillon plays Cameron Drake, the "superstar" who starts the whole mess. He’s essentially playing a parody of every earnest, slightly dim-witted actor who uses their platform to make a grand gesture without thinking of the consequences.
Dillon’s character wins the Oscar for playing a gay soldier. He thinks he’s being an ally. He thinks he’s being brave. Instead, he outs his high school teacher to millions of people. The film uses Dillon to mock the way Hollywood treats "brave" roles, which is a meta-commentary that still hits home today when we talk about who gets cast in what roles.
The Uncredited and the Character Actors
If you look closely at the In and Out film cast, you’ll spot people who went on to do massive things. Lauren Ambrose is in there. Shawn Hatosy is there. These were the students. Their role in the film's climax—the "I’m gay" scene inspired by Spartacus—is the emotional core of the movie.
It’s easy to dismiss a comedy from 1997 as just a series of jokes, but the talent involved was top-tier. Paul Rudnick wrote the script, and his sharp, biting wit required actors who could handle high-speed dialogue. You can't just put anyone in a scene with Bob Newhart and expect it to hold up.
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Looking Back at the Legacy
Is it perfect? No. Some of the jokes about "how to be masculine" rely on stereotypes that feel a bit thin now. But the In and Out film cast elevated the material. They made Howard Brackett a person instead of a punchline.
The film was actually inspired by Tom Hanks' real-life Oscar speech for Philadelphia, where he thanked his high school drama teacher and a former classmate, calling them "two of the finest gay Americans I have ever known." Rudnick saw that and wondered: "What if the teacher didn't know he was being thanked?"
That real-world connection gave the actors something tangible to hold onto.
Actionable Insights for Film Buffs and Rewatchers
If you’re planning to revisit this movie or exploring the In and Out film cast for the first time, keep these things in mind to get the most out of the experience:
- Watch the backgrounds. The reactions of the townspeople during the wedding scene are incredibly detailed. The casting directors didn't just hire extras; they hired people with "midwestern" character.
- Focus on Joan Cusack’s physical acting. Notice how she uses her body to convey her character’s hunger and frustration. It’s a masterclass in using your entire frame to tell a story.
- Compare Peter Howell to typical 90s tropes. Usually, the "gay friend" or "gay mentor" was a caricature. Tom Selleck plays him as a regular guy who just happens to be a reporter. It was a subtle but important shift for the era.
- Listen to the score. Marc Shaiman did the music. He’s the same guy behind Hairspray. The music often mimics the frantic energy of Howard’s internal monologue.
The In and Out film cast remains one of the most balanced ensembles of the 90s. It bridged the gap between old Hollywood (Reynolds, Brimley) and the rising stars of the time (Dillon, Cusack, Kline). It didn't just tell a story about coming out; it told a story about how a whole community reacts when the status quo is shattered. Check it out again—it’s sharper than you remember.
Next Steps for Your Movie Night:
To truly appreciate the era, pair your viewing of In & Out with Tom Hanks' 1994 Oscar acceptance speech for Philadelphia. Seeing the real-life inspiration makes the comedy in the film feel much more grounded. Afterward, look for Joan Cusack’s interview about the "wedding dress" scene; she’s often discussed how physically demanding it was to be that funny while basically being mummified in lace.