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See How The Original 'Meet the Parents' Cast Aged Over 25 Years
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Vote for the Meet the Parents cast members who changed the most.
In 2000, a comedy about meeting your girlfriend's intimidating father became an unexpected cultural phenomenon, grossing over $330 million worldwide and launching an iconic comedic franchise. Meet the Parents introduced us to Greg Focker, a well-meaning nurse whose weekend visit to meet his girlfriend's family spirals into a hilariously awkward disaster, primarily due to her ex-CIA agent father's intense scrutiny.
With a fourth installment officially in development featuring the original cast and director John Hamburg, fans eagerly await the return of the Byrnes-Focker family dynamics. The original film premiered in October 2000, followed by Meet the Fockers and Little Fockers, each expanding the comedic universe with more family members and increasingly complex situations. As this reunion approaches, let's catch up with the original cast that brought these memorable characters to life.
Nicole DeHuff played Debbie Byrnes, Pam's sister who marries her fiancé Dr. Bob at the beginning of Meet the Parents, setting up the pressure for Greg to propose. Her character helped establish the high expectations placed on anyone entering the Byrnes family.
Tragically, DeHuff passed away in 2005 at the age of 30 from pneumonia complications. Before her untimely death, she had appeared in Suspect Zero and made guest appearances on TV shows including CSI: Miami and Without a Trace. Her passing was a significant loss to the acting community and the Meet the Parents family.
- Age: Dec. at 30 (1975-2005)
- Birthplace: Antlers, Oklahoma, USA
Robert De Niro's portrayal of ex-CIA operative and overprotective father Jack Byrnes gave us the unforgettable circle of trust and showcased the legendary actor's comedic talents. His deadpan delivery and suspicious glares provided the perfect foil to Stiller's increasingly desperate Greg.
De Niro has remained one of Hollywood's most prolific actors since the franchise. Balancing dramatic roles with comedies, he appeared in Silver Linings Playbook, The Irishman, and Joker. He received an Oscar nomination for Killers of the Flower Moon and will next be seen in Netflix's thriller series Zero Day. De Niro was confirmed in 2025 to participate with the producing and acting in the fourth Meet the Parents film through his Tribeca Productions company.
- Age: 81
- Birthplace: New York City, USA, New York, Greenwich Village
As Pam Byrnes, Greg's patient and loving girlfriend (later wife), Teri Polo brought warmth and charm to a character caught between her boyfriend and her protective father. Throughout the trilogy, her character evolved from Jack's adored daughter to a mother navigating the complex dynamics between the Byrnes and Focker families.
After the Fockers films, Polo found success on television, most notably in her long-running role as Stef Adams Foster in the Freeform family drama The Fosters and its spinoff Good Trouble. She's appeared in numerous TV movies and series, including The Big Leap and NCIS: Los Angeles. Polo was confirmed to return for the fourth installment of the franchise, reuniting with the original cast.
- Age: 55
- Birthplace: Dover, Delaware, USA
As Kevin Rawley, Pam's impossibly perfect ex-fiancé and Greg's unwitting nemesis, Owen Wilson created a character who was simultaneously likable and infuriating. His wealth, talent, and continued close relationship with the Byrnes family provided a constant source of insecurity for Greg.
Wilson has remained a comedy mainstay since his Meet the Parents role. He reunited with Ben Stiller for Zoolander 2, starred in Wes Anderson films including The French Dispatch and Asteroid City, and joined the Marvel Cinematic Universe as Mobius in the Disney+ series Loki. His distinctive voice has also featured in animated films like Cars and its sequels.
- Age: 56
- Birthplace: Texas, USA, Dallas
Though not appearing until Meet the Fockers, Dustin Hoffman made an indelible impression as Bernie Focker, Greg's free-spirited, sexually liberated former lawyer father. His carefree, emotional parenting style contrasted hilariously with Jack's rigid approach, creating comedic gold whenever the two shared screen time.
Following the Fockers films, Hoffman continued his illustrious career with roles in The Meyerowitz Stories alongside Ben Stiller, voiced Master Shifu in the Kung Fu Panda franchise, and starred in the short-lived HBO series Luck. In 2017, Hoffman faced sexual misconduct allegations dating back to 1985, which he apologized for. He also appeared in the 2022 film As They Made Us, directed by Mayim Bialik.
- Age: 87
- Birthplace: Los Angeles, California, USA
As the well-meaning but perpetually unlucky Greg Focker, Ben Stiller created one of comedy's most relatable protagonists. His desperate attempts to impress his girlfriend's intimidating father led to countless iconic moments, from the infamous lie detector test to the unfortunate champagne cork incident that destroyed a family heirloom urn.
Since the Fockers trilogy, Stiller has balanced acting with an impressive directing career. He starred in and directed Zoolander 2, appeared in Noah Baumbach's The Meyerowitz Stories, and focused on directing the Emmy-winning Apple TV+ series Severance. Stiller returned to acting in the Christmas comedy Nutcrackers and the 2025 film Happy Gilmore 2 alongside Adam Sandler.
- Age: 59
- Birthplace: New York, New York, USA
