The 2001 movie Joe Dirt is a comedy written by David Spade and Fred Wolf. It follows the retelling of Joe Dirt's life on a radio show as he explains how he was abandoned by his parents as a child. He eventually sets off on a cross-country journey to try and find his family, leading him to a series of chaotic adventures and unexpected friendships.
The film is a love-it-or-hate-it type of comedy, which is clear by the 63% rating on Rotten Tomatoes. Still, this movie has grown a cult following for its humor, casting, and the overall likability of the main character.
Joe Dirt has been out for 22 years as of 2023, though there was a sequel released in 2015. Here's a guide to the Joe Dirt cast and what the actors are up to today.
David Spade as Joe Dirt
The mullet-wearing main character in Joe Dirt is played by David Spade. Joe Dirt is someone often described as a loser who grew up bouncing through foster homes after being abandoned by his family at the Grand Canyon.
This leads him on a journey across the country, where he encounters people from all walks of life, even a serial killer named Buffalo Bob. But even with his chaotic antics, Joe is a charismatic, positive person who captivates the hearts of people by sharing his story on Zander Kelly's radio show.
Spade became a staple in the comedy world after landing his first role in the fourth installment of the Police Academy franchise and went on to join the Saturday Night Live cast for six years. Since then, he's appeared in numerous movies and television series like Tommy Boy alongside Chris Farley, Dickie Roberts: Former Child Star, and Rules of Engagement.
Some of his most recent projects include hosting his own late-night show, Lights Out With David Spade, in 2019 and headlining his 2022 stand-up special Nothing Personal.
Dennis Miller as Zander Kelly
Zander Kelly is the radio host who brings Joe on his show to share his life story. Joe works as a custodian at the radio station and piques the interest of the sarcastic and somewhat rude Zander.
The talk radio host invites Joe on his show to tell viewers about his past in an effort to humiliate him, but after learning more about Joe as a person, both he and his audience have a change of heart. Zander and his audience help shoot Joe to fame but also reveal the dark secrets of his parents and his abandonment.
Zander Kelly is played by Dennis Miller, a comedian and talk show host best known for his work on Saturday Night Live and The Net. Some of Miller's most recent projects include two comedy TV specials titled Dennis Miller: Fake News, Real Jokes and Dennis Miller: The Big Speech, where he tackles politics and social issues.
Brittany Daniel as Brandy
Brandy is a complex character in Joe's life, as she's one of the few people to ever show him kindness but also lies about his parents. Early in their relationship, Brandy's alcoholic father kills her dog, which is what leads Joe to leave on a trip to find his family.
After not being able to find them, he returns to their town to find Brandy engaged to Robby, one of Joe's relentless bullies. The two end up reconciling at the end and carry their relationship on to the sequel Joe Dirt 2: Beautiful Loser.
Brittany Daniel plays Brandy, an actress who first started acting with her twin sister in 1989 on the series The New Leave It to Beaver. Since then, she's appeared in series like That '70s Show and Black-ish, as well as her role in the comedy White Chicks.
Her most recent role was in 2022 when Daniel started in the comedy Cheaper by the Dozen as Melanie.
Adam Beach as Kicking Wing
During Joe's travels, he meets a fireworks salesman named Kicking Wing. The only problem is that Kicking Wing doesn't have any fireworks at his stand, only snakes and sparklers. The two end up becoming friends, and Joe takes him out to shoot Roman candles at an atom bomb, which is only one of their adventures together.
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Kicking Wing is played by actor Adam Beach. Beach has appeared in films like Windtalkers, Bury My Heart at Wounded Knee, and Flags of Our Fathers. Some of his most recent work includes hosting the Canadian reality show A Cut Above and appearing as Adam in the mockumentary Hey, Viktor!.
Christopher Walken as Clem Doore
Clem Doore is a character Joe meets in Louisiana while working as a school custodian. Clem is a mobster living in the witness protection program whose name was Anthony Benedetti. Things go south for Clem when Joe brings him up on television, but things work out for their friendship in the end when he stands up to Robby for Joe.
Christopher Walken stars in the Joe Dirt cast as Clem Doore. Walken is one of the most iconic actors of our time and the perfect addition to the humor in Joe Dirt. Walken has put on incredible performances in movies like The Deer Hunter, King of New York, The Funeral, and countless others. His most recent work includes the series The Outlaws and Severance.
Kid Rock as Robby
Robby is a bully in Silvertown who goes out of his way to antagonize Joe and eventually ends up getting engaged to Brandy while he is off trying to find his parents. His role is one of the smaller ones, but the scene where he reads the letter to Joe remains one of the funniest (and heartbreaking) in the movie. Robby ends up alone with a cracked windshield at the end, which seems appropriate for how mean he is to Joe.
Robby is played by Kid Rock, the controversial singer, actor, and rapper from Michigan. His filmography is quite limited and includes a voice role in the 2001 movie Osmosis Jones, Biker Boyz, and Larry the Cable Guy: Health Inspector. Most recently, he embarked on his Bad Reputation tour in 2022.
Jaime Pressly as Jill
Joe works at a carnival while on the journey to find his parents, which is where he ends up meeting Jill. The two go on a date at the carnival later that night, where she reveals she once had a brother before her parents abandoned her on the side of the road in California. This leads Joe to believe she must be his sister, but that doesn't stop him from pursuing her. He later learns she isn't his sister, much to the relief of the radio show audience.
Jaime Pressly appears as Jill in Joe Dirt. Pressly has starred in several comedies from the '90s, including Ringmaster and Not Another Teen Movie. She's won awards for her work on the series My Name Is Earl, and her most recent role was a small appearance in The Conners.
Fred Ward and Caroline Aaron as Joe's Parents
Joe's parents abandoning their eight-year-old son at the Grand Canyon is what sets the plot for the entire movie. Unfortunately, once Joe finds them, he realizes that they left him there on purpose and never put in an effort to try and locate him. It's a heartbreaking realization for Joe as he breaks ties with the pair for a second time, though their behavior and motives towards him shine a light on their true colors.
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Fred Ward stars in the Joe Dirt cast as his dad, and Caroline Aaron appears as his mom. Ward was an actor best known for his work in Escape from Alcatraz and the Tremors franchise. His last appearance was on the show True Detective before his death in 2022. Aaron is also an accomplished actress who recently starred in the shows The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and Ghosts.
Megan Harvey as Joe's Sister
While Joe's little sister has few appearances in the movie, her part plays a significant role in discovering his true identity. After trying to wrangle an alligator, Joe has a flashback to riding in the car next to his sister. This is when she tells him that his last name is Dirt while her last name is Nunamaker. It's a quotable scene and one that helps Joe on his journey to find his family.
Megan Harvey appears as Joe's sister in Joe Dirt. She also had a part in the 2009 film Etienne! as Elodie, though most of her credits are for voice acting in various anime productions and video games. Harvey's most recent roles include a voice role in LBX Girls and Summer Ghost.
