The Jerk

The Jerk

1979
1h 34min

After discovering he's not really black like the rest of his family, likable dimwit Navin Johnson sets off on a hilarious misadventure that takes him from rags to riches and back again. The slaphappy jerk strikes it rich, but life in the fast lane isn't all it's cracked up to be and, in the end, all that really matters to Johnson is his true love.

The Jerk

Storyline

After discovering he's not really black like the rest of his family, likable dimwit Navin Johnson sets off on a hilarious misadventure that takes him from rags to riches and back again. The slaphappy jerk strikes it rich, but life in the fast lane isn't all it's cracked up to be and, in the end, all that really matters to Johnson is his true love.
    Released
    14 December 1979
    Runtime
    1h 34min
    Director
    Budget
    $4,000,000
    Revenue
    $100,000,000
    Genre
    Status
    Released
    Language
    English
    Production
    Universal Pictures, Aspen Film Society
Cast
Steve Martin
Steve Martin
Navin R. Johnson
Bernadette Peters
Bernadette Peters
Marie Kimble Johnson
Catlin Adams
Catlin Adams
Patty Bernstein
Mabel King
Mabel King
Mother
Richard Ward
Richard Ward
Father
Carl Gottlieb
Carl Gottlieb
Iron Balls McGinty
Dick Anthony Williams
Dick Anthony Williams
Taj
Bill Macy
Bill Macy
Stan Fox
M. Emmet Walsh
M. Emmet Walsh
Madman
Dick O'Neill
Dick O'Neill
Frosty
Maurice Evans
Maurice Evans
Hobart
Helena Carroll
Helena Carroll
Hester
Ren Woods
Ren Woods
Elvira
Pepe Serna
Pepe Serna
Punk #1
Sonny Terry
Sonny Terry
Blues Singer
Brownie McGhee
Brownie McGhee
Blues Singer
Jackie Mason
Jackie Mason
Harry Hartounian
Sharon Johansen
Lenore Hartounian
Gene LeBell
Gene LeBell
Con Man
Carl Reiner
Carl Reiner
Carl Reiner the Celebrity
Larry Hankin
Larry Hankin
Circus Hand (uncredited)
Howard Hesseman
Howard Hesseman
Carnival Worker (uncredited)
Rob Reiner
Rob Reiner
Truck Driver Picking Up Navin (uncredited)
Gailard Sartain
Gailard Sartain
Guy with Cracked Airplane Seats (uncredited)
Lenny Montana
Lenny Montana
Con Man
William Schallert
William Schallert
Judge M.A. Loring
David Landsberg
David Landsberg
Bank Manager
Domingo Ambriz
Domingo Ambriz
Father De Cordoba
Richard Foronjy
Richard Foronjy
Con Man
Clete Roberts
Announcer
Frances E. Williams
Frances E. Williams
Grandma Johnson
Lydia McGhee
Cleotis Johnson
Niko Denise Holmes
Satch Johnson
Shawn Harris
Pierre Johnson
Nyles Harris
Leroy Johnson (as Niles Harris)
Susan Denise Harrison
Lisa Johnson
Douglas S. Close
Fireman
Trinidad Silva
Trinidad Silva
Punk
Alston Ahern
Bride
Lawrence Green
Father of the Bride
Ken Magee
Ken Magee
Carnival Rube
Tom J. Delaney
Tourist
Alfred Dennis
Alfred Dennis
Irving
Marc Loge
Farm Boy
Jon Leichter
Billy
Lillian Adams
Lillian Adams
Tillie
Joe Lynn
Voodoo Dancer
Maurice Marsac
Maurice Marsac
French Waiter
Fred Lerner
Fred Lerner
Con Man
Jerry G. Velasco
Man in Garden
Kimberly Cameron
Disco Party
Elizabeth Macey
Disco Party
Richie Reiner
Disco Party
Daniel Trevor
Disco Party
Benjie Bancroft
Bailiff (uncredited)
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