Where is the “High Fidelity ”cast now? See John Cusack, Jack Black, and more stars over 25 years later
Where is the “High Fidelity ”cast now? See John Cusack, Jack Black, and more stars over 25 years later
Will Harris, Kevin JacobsenSat, March 28, 2026 at 3:00 PM UTC
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Todd Louiso as Dick, John Cusack as Rob Gordon, and Jack Black as Barry Judd in 'High Fidelity'Credit: Buena Vista/Courtesy Everett
When High Fidelity was released in 2000, John Cusack starred as Rob, a record store owner hung up on the past after a bad breakup with Laura (Iben Hjejle), whom he thought was the love of his life. When he and his employees aren't making fun of customers whose music taste they deem inferior, Rob seeks out old girlfriends, tries to reconnect with Laura, and ultimately finds he has a lot of maturing to do.
Now, with the resurgence of vinyl, the hangout vibes of High Fidelity feel fresh again. The fourth-wall-breaking film, which spawned a TV show remake in 2020, still rings true in its depiction of the messiness of modern relationships, ably performed by its all-star cast. Alongside Cusack and Hjejle, the film also features Catherine Zeta-Jones, Tim Robbins, Lisa Bonet, Joan Cusack, and Jack Black in his breakout performance.
Ahead, we're looking at the cast of High Fidelity 26 years after its release in theaters, and diving into where they are now.
01 of 10
John Cusack (Rob Gordon)
John Cusack as Rob Gordon in 'High Fidelity'; John Cusack at the Royal George Theater on Oct. 25, 2019, in Chicago, Ill.Credit: Buena Vista Pictures; Paul Natkin/Getty
John Cusack is neurotic, overly introspective record-store owner Rob Gordon, whose breakup with his girlfriend spurs a deep dive into his past relationships — and their connection to pop music.
Having reached the point of playing characters old enough to question their life choices, Cusack was perfect for Rob. That so many of his past roles were defined by their love of music was the cherry on top. The actor helped adapt Hornby’s novel into a screenplay, changing the setting from London to somewhere closer to home.
“I read the book and I immediately thought, ‘Yeah, I could set it in Chicago,’” Cusack told EW in 2020 as part of the film's oral history. “I knew the record stores and I knew the exact scene from growing up — except in the book the Brits were more interested in R&B and soul music like James Carr, Wilson Pickett, the Muscle Shoals sound. And my generation, we loved all that music too, but we were very obsessed with like, the British punk new wave sounds, right? We wanted to listen to the Bowie records or read the liner notes on the Gang of Four, the Jam, the Clash, and all that. But once you sort of switched those around and took away the British accents, they were the same.”
After earning a Golden Globe nomination for High Fidelity, Cusack bounced from rom-coms like Serendipity (2001) to dark thrillers like Identity (2003) and The Ice Harvest (2005). He found another comedy success in the raunchy hit Hot Tub Time Machine (2010), but his recent work has largely been in low-budget films. He led Amazon Prime Video’s one-season thriller series, Utopia, in 2020.
02 of 10
Iben Hjejle (Laura)
Iben Hjejle as Laura in 'High Fidelity'; Iben Hjejle on her Sitter Podcast Instagram account on Sept. 5, 2023Credit: Buena Vista Pictures; SitterPodcast/Instagram
Danish actress Iben Hjejle plays Rob’s girlfriend, Laura. It’s their breakup that sets the movie in motion. High Fidelity was most Americans’ introduction to Hjejle. The actress crossed paths with director Stephen Frears at a party and got the ball rolling — which led to a phone call with John Cusack.
“We had a lovely conversation and he said, ‘I’d love to come and meet you,’” Hjejle told EW in 2020. “I knew he was like one of those, what do you call it, teenage heartthrobs? And I loved Say Anything, which I thought was wonderful, and he was gorgeous. But the terrible thing is, I said, ‘Are you the guy from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off?’ And he said, ‘Oh, please don’t worry, I’ve had that happen to me so many times.’ He was so nice about it.”
Hjejle hasn’t been a major presence in Hollywood, but she’s appeared in some films that found an international audience, namely the WWII epic Defiance (2008), starring Daniel Craig, and a reunion with Frears, Chéri (2009), opposite Michelle Pfeiffer.
The veteran actress continues to work regularly in Denmark, most notably as the reporter protagonist on the TV series Dicte. In 2024, she won a Reumert Award (the Danish equivalent of a Tony) for the play Lægen.
03 of 10
Jack Black (Barry Judd)
Jack Black as Barry Judd in 'High Fidelity'; Jack Black attends 'Borderlands' special Los Angeles fan event at TCL Chinese Theatre on Aug. 6, 2024, in Hollywood, Calif.Credit: Buena Vista Pictures; Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/FilmMagic
Jack Black found his big-screen breakthrough as Barry, the high-strung music snob who tends to alienate the shop’s less hip clientele.
Black initially declined the role of Barry, telling Consequence he was “terrified of failing. I was terrified of being bad in this movie and also terrified of working with Stephen Frears.” The director wouldn’t take no for an answer and requested that Black meet with him anyway.
“I told him about my fears, and he just thought it was funny that I was passing,” Black said. “It was obvious to him and to anyone in my life that this was a no-brainer and it would be a huge mistake to bail on it for any reason other than I just didn’t like it. And that was not the case. I loved the script and I loved Stephen and I realized that I was just passing on it out of fear. And that was not a good reason.”
Black took the role and ran with it, making the jump from supporting player to leading man with Shallow Hal (2001). But it was Richard Linklater’s School of Rock (2003) that truly made him a bankable star — and a Golden Globe nominee. He began expanding beyond straightforward comedy, from the epic King Kong (2005) to the rom-com The Holiday (2006) to Noah Baumbach’s drama Margot at the Wedding (2007). He also reunited with Linklater to tell a bizarre true crime tale in Bernie (2011).
For the most part, however, he’s been busy making people laugh, from hit films like Tropic Thunder (2008) to major franchises, including Kung Fu Panda, Goosebumps, Jumanji, Minecraft, and Anaconda.
Black, who has been leading his band Tenacious D since 1994, married fellow musician Tanya Haden in 2006. They have two sons.
04 of 10
Todd Louiso (Dick)
Todd Louiso as Dick in 'High Fidelity'; Todd Louiso as Lyle Waznicki on 'NCIS'Credit: Buena Vista Pictures; Sonja Flemming/CBS via Getty
Alongside Jack Black’s boisterous Barry is Todd Louiso as the quiet, timid (but no less musically passionate) Dick.
“When I read the script I was just like, ‘Oh my God, this part’s totally for me.’” Louiso told EW in 2020. “They offered it to David Arquette first and he passed on it, so I owe it all to David Arquette! But that’s usually the case with any break as an actor — somebody’s passed, someone who’s a name.”
Louiso has since appeared in Thank You for Smoking (2005), Snakes on a Plane (2006), School for Scoundrels (2006), and Raymond & Ray (2022). He has also shifted to the other side of the camera, directing the Philip Seymour Hoffman-led Love Liza (2002) and Hello I Must Be Going (2012), starring Melanie Lynskey. A screenwriter as well, his projects include co-writing the Shakespeare epic Macbeth (2015), featuring Michael Fassbender and Marion Cotillard.
Louiso is married to writer Sarah Koskoff.
05 of 10
Catherine Zeta-Jones (Charlie Nicholson)
Catherine Zeta-Jones as Charlie Nicholson in 'High Fidelity'; Catherine Zeta-Jones attends the Women In Cinema event during the 2024 Red Sea International Film FestivalCredit: Buena Vista Pictures; Arnold Jerocki/Getty
Catherine Zeta-Jones doesn’t just play any ex-girlfriend. Of all the ones that got away in Rob’s mind, her Charlie Nicholson is the one that got away.
When she joined the High Fidelity cast, Zeta-Jones had just surged to stardom thanks to her breakthrough in The Mask of Zorro (1998) and roles in Entrapment (1999) and The Haunting (1999). Securing her for a small supporting part was a big coup for High Fidelity. In the EW oral history of the film, Cusack credited production company Working Title for thinking to reach out to her.
The Welsh actress went straight from High Fidelity to Steven Soderbergh’s ensemble drama Traffic (2001), which earned her a Golden Globe nomination and set the stage for her Academy Award-winning performance in the hit musical Chicago (2002).
In addition to reprising her star-making role in the swashbuckling sequel The Legend of Zorro (2005), Zeta-Jones reunited with Soderbergh for the caper Ocean’s Twelve (2004) and the twisted thriller Side Effects (2013), alongside Jude Law, Rooney Mara, and Channing Tatum.
Since then, however, the actress has stepped back from cinema and put together a TV résumé that includes Feud: Bette and Joan — playing fellow Oscar winner Olivia de Havilland — and National Treasure: Edge of History. She now stars as Morticia Addams on Wednesday.
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Zeta-Jones has been married to actor Michael Douglas since 2000. They share two children.
06 of 10
Lisa Bonet (Marie DeSalle)
Lisa Bonet as Marie DeSalle in 'High Fidelity'; Lisa Bonet attends the VIP North American premiere of Sebatiao Salgado's 'Amazonia' exhibition presented by Wallis Annenberg and the Annenberg Foundation at California Science Center on Oct. 19, 2022, in Los Angeles, Calif.Credit: Buena Vista Pictures; Rodin Eckenroth/Getty
Lisa Bonet plays Marie DeSalle, an indie rock star who stumbles into Rob’s record store (and into his bed).
Bonet, who rose to fame as Denise Huxtable on The Cosby Show, had stepped out of the spotlight in later years with only occasional roles. Thankfully, she said yes to Enemy of the State (1998) with Will Smith — that’s where Stephen Frears spotted her, inspiring him to call her in to audition.
Bonet returned to TV with a five-episode arc on Life on Mars, guest appearances on Girls, and a recurring role on Ray Donovan. We would be remiss if we didn’t mention one unique bit of trivia: When High Fidelity was adapted into a series, producers gender-swapped the lead character. The star was Bonet’s daughter, Zoë Kravitz, from her marriage to rock star Lenny Kravitz.
Bonet was later in a long-term relationship with actor Jason Momoa. The two wed in 2017 and divorced in 2024. They share two children.
07 of 10
Sara Gilbert (Anaugh Moss)
Sara Gilbert as Anaugh Moss in 'High Fidelity'; Sara Gilbert at Wiltern Theatre on Jan. 15, 2020, in Los Angeles, Calif.Credit: Buena Vista Pictures; Rich Fury/Getty
Sometimes an encyclopedic knowledge of music comes in handy. For Dick, it’s his recommendation of punk band the Stiff Little Fingers that breaks the ice with Anaugh, played by Roseanne alum Sara Gilbert.
“Stephen Frears saw me in something else, so he cast me,” Gilbert told EW in 2020. “I was, like, ‘That is so bizarre that this huge director wants to cast me.’ He had no idea what Roseanne was or didn't recognize me from that at all. I remember being excited that someone liked something else that I did because I was mainly known for Roseanne."
The actress stuck around on scripted TV for a few years — including recurring parts on ER and The Big Bang Theory — but her biggest small-screen achievement post-Roseanne was co-creating and co-hosting The Talk. Meanwhile, Roseanne got a revival in 2018 before transitioning into The Conners when its titular star was fired. Gilbert starred on all seven seasons from 2018 to 2025, reprising her role of Darlene Conner.
Gilbert shares one child with her ex-wife, musician Linda Perry, and two kids from a prior relationship with TV producer Ali Adler.
08 of 10
Lili Taylor (Sarah Kendrew)
Lili Taylor as Sarah Kendrew in 'High Fidelity'; Lili Taylor attends Deadline Contenders Television at Paramount Studios on April 9, 2022, in Los Angeles, Calif.Credit: Buena Vista Pictures; Amy Sussman/Getty
Cusack’s old Chicago pal Lili Taylor is Rob’s post-Charlie rebound fling, Sarah.
“I think John [Cusack] or Steve [Pink] called,” Taylor told The A.V. Club in 2010. “They were like, ‘Hey, you gotta come back and do this!’ I thought, ‘What the hell,’ because a lot of my family is still there, so I said, ‘Totally.’ It just felt like the right thing to do.”
The actress has continued to thrive, with a key part in the franchise-launching hit The Conjuring (2013) while finding a second home on television. Her multi-year arc on Six Feet Under led to one of three career Emmy nominations, and she’s had regular stints on American Crime, Perry Mason, and Outer Range. She starred as Mary Todd Lincoln in the 2024 Apple TV miniseries Manhunt and reprised her Conjuring role in 2025’s The Conjuring: Last Rites.
Taylor has been married to writer Nick Flynn since 2009. She appeared in Being Flynn (2012), the film adaptation of his memoir.
09 of 10
Joan Cusack (Liz)
Joan Cusack as Liz in 'High Fidelity'; Joan Cusack at Sunset Tower Hotel on Sept. 19, 2015, in Los Angeles, Calif.
It would hardly be a John Cusack movie without Joan Cusack. Indeed, she makes her presence known as Laura’s brutally honest pal, Liz.
The siblings have appeared in movies together for decades, dating back to Class (1983). After portraying his assistant in Grosse Pointe Blank, he helped cast her as his girlfriend’s bestie in High Fidelity.
“That scene with Liz in the record store? I thought, I can just tell my sister, ‘Okay just walk in, call me a f---in’ a--hole, and leave,’” John told EW in 2020. “Yeah, I knew that would be a fine idea.”
Of course, Joan has built a formidable career in her own right. She’s a two-time Oscar nominee, for Working Girl (1988) and In & Out (1997), and has stolen scenes in everything from Broadcast News (1987) to Addams Family Values (1993) to Runaway Bride (1999). She later reunited with Jack Black as the memorably stressed-out principal in School of Rock. Joan also continues to voice Jessie in the ongoing Toy Story franchise.
On the small screen, Joan stayed home in Chicago for an Emmy-winning recurring role on Shameless, and had a notable appearance in the series finale of The Office as Erin’s biological mother.
Cusack has been married to lawyer Richard Burke since 1996. They have two children.
10 of 10
Tim Robbins (Ian “Ray” Raymond)
Tim Robbins as Ian 'Ray' Raymond in 'High Fidelity'; Tim Robbins attends the 'Silo' season 2 world premiere at Picturehouse Central on Oct. 29, 2024, in London, EnglandCredit: Buena Vista Pictures; Karwai Tang/WireImage
As Ray — Rob’s odious, neo-hippie former neighbor and Laura’s pretentious new boyfriend — Tim Robbins makes the most of his minimal screen time.
Saying yes to High Fidelity’s bit part was a no-brainer. “John I knew since he was 17,” Robbins told EW in 2019. “He asked me to do this part, and I said, ‘I’d love to, but I’ve got one request: I need a wig.’ Because I wanted to look like Steven Seagal.”
According to Louiso from EW's 2020 oral history, Robbins contributed a key laugh to the record store fight sequence: “Tim was the one who came up with his teeth flying out. I don’t know what they were, probably Chiclets? Just grab some candy from a craft services table.”
A few years later, Robbins won an Oscar for Clint Eastwood’s Mystic River (2003). He has since appeared in War of the Worlds (2005), Green Lantern (2011), and Dark Waters (2019), while establishing himself on the small screen. Since The Brink (2015) and Castle Rock (2019), he has served as the villain on Apple TV's dystopian hit Silo.
Robbins has also made his name behind the camera, directing Bob Roberts (1992), Cradle Will Rock (1999), and the Oscar-winning Dead Man Walking (1995).
He and Susan Sarandon were married from 1988 to 2009. They have two sons.
on Entertainment Weekly
Source: “AOL Entertainment”
