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Defending Your Life

Defending Your Life

"The first true story of what happens after you die."

Is there love after death? After he dies suddenly, the hapless advertising executive Daniel Miller finds himself in Judgment City, a gleaming way station where the newly deceased must prove they lived a life of sufficient courage to advance in their journey through the universe. As the self-doubting Daniel struggles to make his case, a budding relationship with the uninhibited Julia offers him a chance to finally feel alive.

Albert Brooks

Albert Brooks

Daniel Miller

Meryl Streep

Meryl Streep

Julia

Rip Torn

Rip Torn

Bob Diamond

Lee Grant

Lee Grant

Lena Foster

Michael Durrell

Michael Durrell

Agency Head

James Eckhouse

James Eckhouse

Jeep Owner

Gary Beach

Gary Beach

Car Salesman

Julie Cobb

Julie Cobb

Tram Guide

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Peter Schuck

Stan

Time Winters

Time Winters

Porter

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Sharlie Stuart

Susan

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Beth Black

Soap Opera Woman

Clayton Norcross

Clayton Norcross

Soap Opera Man

Jim McKrell

Jim McKrell

Game Show Moderator

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Wil Albert

Game Show Contestant

Sage Allen

Sage Allen

Game Show Contestant

Mary Pat Gleason

Mary Pat Gleason

Waitress

Maxine Elliott Hicks

Maxine Elliott Hicks

Elderly Woman on Tram

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Marilyn Rockafellow

Helen

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Roger Behr

Comedian

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Art Frankel

Arthur

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Ernie Brown

Ernie

George D. Wallace

George D. Wallace

Daniel's Judge

Lillian Lehman

Lillian Lehman

Daniel's Judge

Raffi Di Blasio

Raffi Di Blasio

Daniel as a Boy

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Kristopher Kent Hill

Bully

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Eric Ehasz

Child in Schoolyard

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Matthew Scharch

Daniel as an Infant

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S. Scott Bullock

Daniel's Father

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Carol Bivins

Daniel's Mother

Ethan Embry

Ethan Embry

Steve

Gary Ballard

Gary Ballard

Mr. Wadworth

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Mary Mukogawa

Sushi Hostess

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Toshio Shikami

Head Sushi Chef

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Samee Park

Sushi Chef

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Kagko Shikami

Sushi Chef

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Tommy Inouye

Sushi Chef

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Ken Thorley

Frank

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Bob Braun

Talk Show Host

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Jennifer Barlow Grodsky

Talk Show Guest

Buck Henry

Buck Henry

Dick Stanley

Joey Miyashima

Joey Miyashima

Casio Tipster

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Nurit Koppel

Daniel's Date

Susan Walters

Susan Walters

Daniel's Wife

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Sidney Chankin

Used Car Salesman

Greg Finley

Greg Finley

Used Car Salesman

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Leonard O. Turner

Sam

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Clifford Einstein

Julia's Prosecutor

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Rachel Bard

Julia's Judge

Newell Alexander

Newell Alexander

Julia's Judge

Shirley MacLaine

Shirley MacLaine

Shirley MacLaine

Hal Landon Jr.

Hal Landon Jr.

Man in Past Lives Pavilion

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Ida Lee

Woman in Past Lives Pavilion

Noley Thornton

Noley Thornton

Victorian Girl

Glen Chin

Glen Chin

Sumo Wrestler

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James Ekim

Native

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Clarke Coleman

Knight

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Ronald L. Colby

Majestic Doorman

David Purdham

David Purdham

Peter

James Paradise

James Paradise

Stage Manager

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Jerry Prell

Banquet Manager

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Arell Blanton

Fire Marshall

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Shana Ballard

Julia's Daughter

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Chris Macris

Julia's Son

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Joseph Darrell

Maitre d'

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James Manis

Eduardo

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Alex Sheafe

Martin

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Cathleen Chin

Ticket Counter Agent

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Lisa Sears

Tram Port Attendant

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Mark Dunlap

Tram Port Attendant

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Vernon Roguen

Tram Port Attendant

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Dennis Germain

Tram Driver

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Jorga Caye

Deceased Lady (uncredited)

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Robert Gatewood

Afterlife Traveler (uncredited)

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John Michael Quinn

Man in Heaven (uncredited)

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Douglas M. Nelson

Tram Attendee (uncredited)

Crew
Michael Grillo

Michael Grillo

Producer

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David Finfer

Editor

Allen Daviau

Allen Daviau

Director of Photography

Albert Brooks

Albert Brooks

Screenplay

Michael Gore

Michael Gore

Original Music Composer

Albert Brooks

Albert Brooks

Director

Mark Saks

Mark Saks

Casting

Deborah L. Scott

Deborah L. Scott

Costume Design

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Barbara Claman

Casting

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Robert Grand

Co-Producer

Herb Nanas

Herb Nanas

Executive Producer

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Ida Random

Production Design

Michael Grillo

Michael Grillo

First Assistant Director

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Reggie Newkirk

First Assistant Camera

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John Kwiatkowski

Sound Effects Editor

John Morrisey

John Morrisey

Assistant Editor

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Richard Reynolds

Art Direction

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Maureen Mitchell

Assistant Editor

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Kimberly Lowe Voigt

Dialogue Editor

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James Hegedus

Production Illustrator

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Jim Borgardt

ADR Editor

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Sara Gardner-Gail

Swing

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Bobby Mancuso

Second Assistant Camera

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Martha Johnston

Set Designer

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Judd H. Maslansky

Assistant Editor

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Robert Grand

Production Manager

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Carey Dietrich

Second Assistant Director

Dane A. Davis

Dane A. Davis

Supervising Sound Editor

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Randy Bostic

Swing

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Eric Engler

Camera Operator

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Linda DeScenna

Set Decoration

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John Rankin

Swing

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Ric McElvin

Leadman

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Spencer Cross

Associate Editor

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G.W. Brown

ADR Editor

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Joseph F. Brennan

Boom Operator

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Joel Moss

Scoring Mixer

Hector C. Gika

Hector C. Gika

Dialogue Editor

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Darrell Hall

Assistant Sound Editor

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Franklin Jones Jr.

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

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Robert Bradshaw

Dialogue Editor

Shirley Walker

Shirley Walker

Orchestrator

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Jim Shelton

Dolly Grip

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Donn Piller

Swing

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George Stokes

Construction Coordinator

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J. Roy Helland

Hairstylist

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Dennis Dion

Special Effects Supervisor

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Thomas Causey

Production Sound Mixer

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Michael Kenner

Key Grip

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Marlene D. Williams

Hairstylist

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J. Roy Helland

Makeup Artist

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Annette Sutera

Second Second Assistant Director

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James F. Orendorff

Construction Foreman

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Robert E. Denne

Standby Painter

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William R. Mayberry

Assistant Chief Lighting Technician

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Valerie Davidson

Foley Editor

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Curtis Roush

Music Editor

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Melinda Garey

Assistant Sound Editor

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Joan Rowe

Foley Artist

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David Harris

Greensman

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Chris Burton

Special Effects Coordinator

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John Thompson

Greensman

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Tom Hammond

Foley Editor

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Robert W. Meyers

Rigging Gaffer

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Hallie D'Amore

Makeup Artist

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Gregg Barbanell

Foley Artist

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Steph Benseman

Location Manager

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Richard Kite

Boom Operator

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Tom E. Dahl

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

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Luca Kouimelis

Script Supervisor

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Wayne Artman

Sound Re-Recording Mixer

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Lauren Ross

Assistant Location Manager

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Paul Slansky

Thanks

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Phyllis Corcoran-Woods

Set Costumer

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Jeff Jensen

Stunts

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Larry Wallace

Chief Lighting Technician

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Ken Zimmerman

Assistant Property Master

Patti Hawn

Patti Hawn

Unit Publicist

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Deborah Hopper

Set Costumer

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Greg Hall

Set Costumer

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Mat Beck

Visual Effects Supervisor

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Carol McCullough

Still Photographer

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Bill Erickson

Stunt Coordinator

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Robert Raring

Color Timer

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Larry Clark Bird

Property Master

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John George

Set Costumer

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Robert Stadd

Visual Effects Producer

Paul E. Short

Paul E. Short

Stunts

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George L. Little

Wardrobe Supervisor

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Nancy Ramey

Production Accountant

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Cheri Hall

Assistant Accountant

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Lisbeth Wynn-Owen

Production Office Coordinator

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Maggie Erickson

Casting Assistant

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Jeff Burks

Animation Supervisor

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Erik Henry

VFX Editor

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Jenny O'Haver

Casting Assistant

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James Valentine

Roto Supervisor

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Cary Conway

Paint Coordinator

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Val Kuklowsky

Sound Editor

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Kini Kay

Sound Effects Editor

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Fernando Castroman

Assistant Director Trainee

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Jon Farhat

VFX Artist

Malcolm McNab

Malcolm McNab

Musician

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Bruce Fowler

Orchestrator

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John Sagray

Driver

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Linda Renaud

VFX Editor

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Tom Bookout

Second Company Grip

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Ken Allen

Matte Painter

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Richard L. Hill

Special Effects Technician

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Tom Dias

Transportation Captain

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Robert Scifo

Matte Painter

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Louise Di Tullio

Musician

Shirley Walker

Shirley Walker

Conductor

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Daniel Quick

Transportation Coordinator

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Robert Foulkes

Assistant Location Manager

Tom Boyd

Tom Boyd

Musician

Bill Daly

Bill Daly

Post Production Accountant

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Lee Redmond

Camera Operator

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László Regos

Steadicam Operator

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David Goldberg

Modelling Supervisor

Kevin Scott Mack

Kevin Scott Mack

Modeling

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Laura Adler

Casting Assistant