The Hillbilly Elegy Cast: Where Are Ron Howard's Stars Now, And Who Earned An Oscar Nod?

The Hillbilly Elegy movie cast, led by Hollywood heavyweights Amy Adams and Glenn Close, remains a topic of intense curiosity, not only for the powerhouse performances but for the surprising career trajectory of its lead, Gabriel Basso. Released in 2020 as a Netflix drama directed by Ron Howard, the film is an adaptation of J.D. Vance’s controversial 2016 memoir, which chronicles three generations of an Appalachian family’s struggles and triumphs in rural Ohio. While the film’s critical reception was mixed, the transformations of its main actors into the Vance family—particularly Adams as the struggling mother Bev and Close as the formidable matriarch Mamaw—solidified the movie's place as a notable awards-season contender, even years after its debut. The core cast’s recent projects, especially in late 2024 and 2025, offer a fresh look at the talent behind this polarizing story.

The film delves into the life of J.D. Vance, a Yale Law student who is called back to his Ohio hometown to deal with a family crisis, forcing him to reflect on his turbulent Appalachian upbringing and the complex relationship with his mother and grandmother. This deep dive into the "hillbilly" culture and the challenges of the working-class provided a dramatic canvas for the cast. As of December 2025, the careers of the main actors, especially Gabriel Basso, have seen significant new developments, making a review of the full cast and their current standing essential for fans of the film and its source material.

Gabriel Basso: The Man Behind J.D. Vance and His Explosive Post-Elegy Career

The central figure of Hillbilly Elegy is J.D. Vance, played by two actors: Gabriel Basso as the adult Yale Law student and Owen Asztalos as the younger version. Basso’s portrayal of the former Marine grappling with his past was a breakout moment, but his career since the 2020 Netflix release has truly taken off. To understand the actor who brought the memoir's author to life, here is a look at his profile and recent work.

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• Full Name: Louis Gabriel Basso III
• Date of Birth: December 11, 1994
• Birth Place: St. Louis, Missouri, U.S.
• Career Highlights: Basso began his career as a child actor, with notable early roles in the Showtime series The Big C as Adam Jamison (2010–2013) and the 2011 film *Super 8*.
• Breakout Role: J.D. Vance in *Hillbilly Elegy* (2020).
• Current Status (2024/2025): Basso has transitioned to a major leading man, most notably as the star of the highly successful Netflix action-thriller series *The Night Agent*, which premiered in 2023 and has been renewed for a second season.
• Upcoming Projects: His 2024 and 2025 film slate includes major roles in *The Strangers: Chapter 1*, the action film *Trigger Warning*, and Clint Eastwood's final film, *Juror #2*.

Basso’s intense and nuanced performance as J.D. Vance—a character balancing a desire for success with the pull of his Appalachian roots—was widely praised, setting the stage for his current action-star status in *The Night Agent*.

The Matriarchs: Amy Adams and Glenn Close’s Oscar-Bait Performances

The emotional core of Ron Howard's adaptation rests entirely on the shoulders of two of Hollywood's most decorated actresses: Amy Adams and Glenn Close. Their roles as mother and grandmother, Bev Vance and Bonnie "Mamaw" Vance, respectively, are the driving force behind J.D.'s journey and the most talked-about aspect of the film.

Glenn Close as Bonnie "Mamaw" Vance

Glenn Close, a legendary actress, took on the role of Mamaw, the tough-as-nails, no-nonsense matriarch who ultimately saves J.D. from his chaotic childhood. Her physical transformation and performance were immediately recognized as "Oscar bait," and her efforts were rewarded with significant nominations.

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• Character Role: Bonnie "Mamaw" Vance, the grandmother who provided stability for J.D.
• Awards Recognition: Close received her eighth Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actress for this role, though she did not win. She also earned nominations from the Golden Globes and the Screen Actors Guild Awards (SAG).
• Performance Reception: Critics, even those who disliked the film as a whole, largely singled out Close's performance as a highlight, describing her as "incredible" and "strong."
• Post-Elegy Career: Close continues to work in high-profile projects, including the Apple TV+ series *Tehran* and the film *Brothers*.

Amy Adams as Beverly "Bev" Vance

Amy Adams, playing J.D.'s highly intelligent but drug-addicted mother, Bev, delivered a raw and volatile performance. Bev’s struggles with poverty and addiction are central to the film's drama, showcasing Adams’ range.

• Character Role: Beverly "Bev" Vance, J.D.'s mother, who battles addiction and mental health issues.
• Awards Recognition: Adams received a Screen Actors Guild Award nomination for Outstanding Performance by a Female Actor in a Leading Role, as well as a Golden Globe nomination for Best Actress.
• Performance Reception: Her commitment to the role of a woman trapped by her circumstances was praised for making the film "watchable."
• Post-Elegy Career: Adams has focused on producing and starring in new projects, including the Netflix limited series *The Woman in the Window* and the upcoming film *Nightbitch*.

The Complete Hillbilly Elegy Cast and Key Entities

The success of the film, despite its polarizing reviews, relied on a deep ensemble cast and a strong creative team. The film is a complex family drama, and its topical authority is built on the numerous real-life entities and locations mentioned, from the J.D. Vance memoir to the Appalachian setting. Below is a comprehensive list of the main and supporting cast, along with the key creative entities that brought the story to the screen.

Main and Supporting Cast

The cast is filled with talented actors who portrayed the Vance family across different timelines, including the younger versions of the main characters and key family members.

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• Gabriel Basso: J.D. Vance (Adult)
• Amy Adams: Beverly "Bev" Vance (J.D.'s Mother)
• Glenn Close: Bonnie "Mamaw" Vance (J.D.'s Grandmother)
• Owen Asztalos: Young J.D. Vance (The central protagonist as a child)
• Haley Bennett: Lindsay Vance (J.D.'s Sister)
• Freida Pinto: Usha (J.D.'s Girlfriend, later his wife)
• Bo Hopkins: Papaw (Mamaw's Husband, J.D.'s Grandfather)
• Sunny Mabrey: Bonnie - Mamaw (30s)
• Jesse C. Boyd: Matt (Supporting role)
• Dylan Gage: Kameron (Supporting role)

Key Creative Team and Entities

The people and concepts behind the production are essential to understanding the film’s context and its impact on pop culture and politics.

• Director: Ron Howard (An Academy Award-winning filmmaker known for *A Beautiful Mind* and *Apollo 13*).
• Screenwriter: Vanessa Taylor (Known for her work on *The Shape of Water* and *Game of Thrones*).
• Source Material: *Hillbilly Elegy: A Memoir of a Family and Culture in Crisis* (2016 memoir by J.D. Vance).
• Setting Entities: Appalachia and Middletown, Ohio (The geographic and cultural backdrop of the Vance family story).
• Academic Entity: Yale Law School (The prestigious institution J.D. Vance attends, symbolizing his escape from poverty).
• Producer: Brian Grazer (Long-time producing partner of Ron Howard).
• Distribution: Netflix (The streaming platform that released the drama globally).

The film’s focus on the challenges of the white working class and the themes of poverty, addiction, and the American Dream sparked a national conversation, making the J.D. Vance memoir a cultural touchstone. Ron Howard's decision to adapt the book for Netflix brought these issues to a massive global audience, further cementing the cast's high-profile status. The ensemble, particularly the central trio of Basso, Adams, and Close, managed to deliver powerful, memorable performances despite the divisive nature of the source material and the film's mixed critical reception. The ongoing success of Gabriel Basso in major 2024 and 2025 projects ensures that the hillbilly elegy movie cast remains highly relevant in the current cinematic landscape.