The Tender Bar cast and character guide. Directed by George Clooney from a screenplay by William Monahan, The Tender Bar is based on the memoir by J.R. Moehringer, a novelist who wrote about his life growing up in New York. Clooney assembled a strong and notable cast, including Ben Affleck to play a key figure in young J.R.’s life.
Set in the 1970s, The Tender Bar follows the story of J.R. Moehringer, a young boy whose father left before he really got to know him. J.R.’s mother moves the pair of them back into her father’s house in Manhasset, Long Island, where J.R. spends his time hanging out with his Uncle Charlie at his bar, The Dickens. At the bar, he learns lessons about life, love, and how to be far better than his dad. It was a place J.R. felt safe and where he could go and be around the people who truly helped raise him aside from his mother. And it’s at The Dickens that he realizes he’s got a penchant for writing, which is something he tries to pursue for himself and in a bid to make his mother proud.
The Tender Bar’s main cast of characters is relatively small when compared with other, bigger ensemble movies. It’s a deeper, more intimate story, however, so the smaller, tight-knit cast certainly works. The supporting cast is much bigger and it adds to the familial, community atmosphere of the film. Here is your guide to the characters in The Tender Bar, who plays the real-life people in Moehringer's memoir, and in which other projects you’ve seen the actors before.
Tye Sheridan As J.R. Moehringer
J.R. Moehringer is the main character who goes on to write the memoir about his life, picking up advice and life lessons from his uncle and the bar’s patrons. He’s played by different actors at various ages. During his late high school/college years, J.R. is portrayed by Tye Sheridan, who is known for his roles in Ready Player One, Mud, X-Men: Apocalypse, The Card Counter, The Stanford Prison Experiment, and the TV series Wireless.
Daniel Ranieri As Young J.R. Moehringer
Young J.R. looks up to his uncle a lot and realizes that his dad isn’t exactly what he’d imagined in his mind. The younger version of the character is played by Daniel Ranieri, who is a newcomer. The Tender Bar is officially his first acting credit.
Lily Rabe As Dorothy
Dorothy is J.R.’s mom. She’s heartbroken after leaving her old life behind and isn’t thrilled with having to move back in with her parents. Dorothy is portrayed by Lily Rabe, who is best known for American Horror Story, Tell Me Your Secrets, the TV miniseries The Undoing, Vice, Miss Stevens, and the Amazon series The Underground Railroad.
Ben Affleck As Uncle Charlie
Charlie is J.R.’s maternal uncle who also lives at home with his parents. He also owns and runs the Dickens bar where J.R. hangs out. Uncle Charlie is played by Ben Affleck, who is best known for his roles in Good Will Hunting, Argo, The Town, Gone Girl, The Last Duel, Zack Snyder’s Justice League, Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice, Daredevil, Armageddon, and He’s Just Not That Into You.
Christopher Lloyd As Grandpa
Christopher Lloyd plays J.R.’s grandfather, who’s a bit of a curmudgeon because everyone lives with him. Lloyd is best known for playing Dr. Emmett Brown in the Back to the Future franchise. He’s also been in Who Framed Roger Rabbit, Clue, Addams Family Values, Call of the Wild, Baby Geniuses, Anastasia, and Angels in the Outfield.
The Tender Bar Supporting Cast & Characters
Max Martini as Johnny "The Voice" Michaels - Max Martini plays J.R.’s father, the radio DJ Johnny Michaels, who split up from J.R.’s mom at a young age and was never really a part of his son’s life. Max Martini has appeared in The Purge TV show, Fifty Shades of Grey and its sequels, Fifty Shades Darker and Fifty Shades Freed. Martini’s also guest starred in the series Revenge, NCIS: Los Angeles, The Order, and Doom Patrol.
Rhenzy Feliz as Wesley - Wesley is one of J.R.’s college friends and with whom he’s very close. Rhenzy Feliz previously starred in the Marvel Hulu series Runaways. He’s also voiced the character of Camilo in Encanto, and has appeared in the series Teen Wolf and Casual.
Briana Middleton as Sidney - Sidney is J.R.’s college girlfriend and their relationship faces plenty of complications throughout The Tender Bar. Briana Middleton has been in Augustus and several short films, including 3:35 to Boston, Multiple Choice, and Lizard.
Sondra James as Grandma Moehringer - Sondra James plays J.R.’s grandmother and the mother of Charlie and Dorothy. Sondra James has been in Joker, Don’t Think Twice, The Climb, and has guest starred in episodes of Law & Order.
Ron Livingston as J.R. Moehringer - Ron Livingston plays the future version of J.R. Moehringer, now a full-fledged adult. The actor appears rather briefly in The Tender Bar, but he’s been in a plethora of movies and TV shows, including Office Space, Swingers, The Conjuring, Sex and the City, A Million Little Things, Search Party, Boardwalk Empire, and The Time Traveler’s Wife.
Michael Braun as Bobo - Bobo is one of the regular patrons at Charlie’s bar. He’s portrayed by Michael Braun, who has guest starred in TV series like The Affair, Succession, The Night Of, and Dickinson.
Matthew Delamater as Joey D - Joey D is one of the bar patrons in the film. Matthew Delamater has been in Daddy’s Home 2, Downeast, and has had guest starring roles in Hulu’s Castle Rock, and American Odyssey.
Max Casella as Chief - Chief is also one of the local bar patrons who frequents Dickens. In The Tender Bar, he is portrayed by Max Casella, who has appeared in Jackie, Inside Llewyn Davis, Blue Jasmine, and in episodes of The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, The Detour, and Ray Donovan.
Ivan Leung as Jimmy - Jimmy is one of J.R.’s friends from college. Ivan Leung has appeared in episodes of Grey’s Anatomy, All American, the NBC sitcom Superstore, Criminal Minds, and was most recently in the film The Disappearance of Mrs. Wu.