‘Lost & Found in Cleveland’ boasts a star-studded cast — here’s where you’ve seen them before
CLEVELAND, Ohio — For an independent, modestly budgeted film shot entirely in Northeast Ohio, “Lost & Found in Cleveland” boasts a cast most Hollywood studios would envy. Directors Keith Gerchak and Marisa Guterman pulled together an ensemble that includes a three-time Emmy winner, an Oscar nominee and several TV comedy veterans.
“They say don’t work with your heroes,” Gerchak said. “We say, do.”
Opening in theaters Friday, the film follows five Clevelanders whose paths cross when a antiques-appraisal television series comes to town. Set during the holidays, it tells a story of dreams, loss and belonging — themes that resonated with the cast.
“Martin Sheen said scripts like this just hadn’t come across his desk, and Dennis Haysbert said the same thing,” Gerchak said. “It was an opportunity (for them) to have something to sink their teeth into and work with people they’d always wanted to work opposite on a film that was trying to say something about the human condition in America — that it is hope-filled.”
The casting process started with a wish list — and a bit of serendipity. Gerchak said they wrote the role of Gladys more than 10 years ago with June Squibb in mind. But she agreed to do it only if her “Nebraska” co-star Stacy Keach played her husband. Turns out, he felt the same way.
“Once you had the foundation of that couple, the rest kind of fell into place,” Gerchak said.
Haysbert, who plays a grieving mailman named Marty, said he was drawn to the story’s heart and depth. Working with Sheen, with whom he shares one of the film’s most pivotal scenes, was a bonus.
“I love that scene,” he said. “Martin Sheen was a joy to work with and even more of a joy when the cameras were off. I’ve known Martin for a long time, and it was great to sit down and just catch up. The cast was first-rate, stellar.”
Here’s a closer look at the ensemble that brings “Lost & Found in Cleveland” to life:
Dennis Haysbert (Marty Anderson): The “Major League” and “24” star plays a mailman whose collection of glass vases carries deep emotional meaning. Haysbert is also known for “The Unit,” “Love Field” and, of course, for being the reassuring voice that reminds us we’re “in good hands” with Allstate.
Stacy Keach (Will Sokolowski): The veteran actor plays a retired steelworker who brings a collection of Greco-Roman plates he inherited from a fallen war buddy to the show. Besides “Nebraska,” he’s known for roles in “Fat City,” “Mickey Spillane’s Mike Hammer” and “Titus.”
June Squibb (Gladys Sokolowski): Squibb plays Will’s no-nonsense, caring wife. The character actress, who started her career at Cleveland Play House in the 1950s, was nominated for an Oscar in “Nebraska.” Last year, at 94, she landed her first lead role in a feature film, “Thelma.”
Martin Sheen (Dr. Austin Reybourne): The Emmy-winning “West Wing” star (and Dayton native) plays the show’s top antiques expert and appraiser. You’ve also seen him in “Apocalypse Now,” “The American President” and “Grace and Frankie.”
Liza Weil (Sophie Mathers): Weil played the fast-talking, overachieving Paris Geller on seven seasons of “Gilmore Girls.” Here, she’s an East Side socialite convinced her Roman statue is worth something.
Santino Fontana (Gary Lucarelli): The Tony Award-winning star of the Broadway musical “Tootsie” and the voice of Prince Hans in Disney’s “Frozen” appears as a Case Western Reserve University professor looking to unload an embarrassing — and possibly racist — collection. Stand-up comedian Esther Povitsky, Fontana’s former co-star on “Crazy Ex-Girlfriend,” plays his wife.
Mark L. Walberg (Host Tom L. Hanks): The longtime TV host of “Antiques Roadshow” — the program that inspired the film — fills the same role on “Lost & Found,” the fictional appraisal show that brings everyone together.
Dot-Marie Jones (Sharon Weymouth): Nominated three times for an Emmy for her role as Coach Beiste on “Glee,” Jones is Sharon, the exasperated producer of “Lost & Found.”
Jon Lovitz (Mayor of Cleveland): The “Saturday Night Live” alum and “A League of Their Own” scene-stealer does it again in a cameo as the city’s mayor.
Benjamin Steinhauser (Charlie Toddy): The novice actor plays a precocious kid who comes to the antiques appraisal show with a letter that could tie him to a former president. Steinhauser was 8 years old when he competed in season 10 of Food Network’s “Kids Baking Championship.”
Yvette Yates Redick (Maria Toddy): The actress, who plays Charlie’s supportive mom, has appeared in several films, including “El Gringo,” “Bloodsucking Bastards” and “In the Blood.”
Rory O’Malley (Hugh Robinson): The Cleveland native has performed on Broadway in “Hamilton” and “The Book of Mormon,” on TV in “American Princess” and on the big screen in “Dreamgirls.” He plays an antiques appraiser in this film.
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Dennis Haysbert returns to the city that made him an icon in ‘Lost & Found in Cleveland’
“Lost & Found in Cleveland” is rated PG-13 and has a runtime of 2 hours, 3 minutes. The film is now playing in theaters.
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