Beau is Afraid sees Joaquin Phoenix portraying the titular character at different stages in his life, and he’s joined by a fantastic cast to bring the story to life. Written and directed by Ari Aster, the filmmaker who brought audiences Hereditary and Midsommar, Beau is Afraid is quite an interesting and wild journey, one that will take multiple viewings to parse its many themes.

Aster’s latest, and perhaps his weirdest movie yet, isn’t exactly a horror in the same way its predecessors are, but there is still a sense of unease that permeates Beau is Afraid. The film follows Beau Wasserman, an anxious, fearful man who has a complicated relationship with his mother Mona. After her death, Beau goes on a journey of self-discovery and realizations as he attempts to get home in time for her funeral. Aster takes Beau down an intriguing, strange, and complex path. Phoenix leads a small, talented cast, with each of their characters playing a crucial role throughout Beau’s odyssey.

Joaquin Phoenix as Beau Wassermann

Beau Wasserman is the main character of Beau is Afraid and, like the title suggests, is always afraid, primarily of his mother. After having to cancel a trip to see his mother, Beau goes on a journey he didn’t see coming. Beau is portrayed by Joaquin Phoenix, who is best known for his roles in Joker, which is getting a sequel, Walk the Line, Gladiator, Her, Signs, Inherent Vice, and The Master.

Armen Nahapetian as Teen Beau

Armen Nahapetian stars as a teenage Beau, who is shown in flashbacks. Aside from playing Beau, Nahapetian is best known for guest starring on the TV series Here and Now and The Orville.

Zoe Lister-Jones as young Mona

Zoe Lister-Jones plays the younger version of Mona, who appears in flashbacks alongside teen Beau. Including the portrayal of Mona, Lister-Jones is an accomplished writer-director who is best known for her roles in Band Aid, Life in Pieces, How it Ends, Consumed, Salt and a recurring role on New Girl.

Amy Ryan as Grace

Grace becomes an acquaintance of Beau’s following an incident who cares for him. Grace is portrayed by Amy Ryan, who is best known for her roles in the hit TV series The Office, Only Murders in the Building, Gone Baby Gone, Birdman or (The Unexpected Virtue of Ignorance), the comedy Central Intelligence, and HBO’s The Wire.

Nathan Lane as Roger

Roger is a surgeon and Grace’s husband who also cares for Beau in a time of need. Roger is portrayed by Nathan Lane, who is best known for The Birdcage, The Producers, voicing Timon in the animated The Lion King, Only Murders in the Building, Penny Dreadful: City of Angels, Modern Family, American Crime Story, and The Good Wife, among other films and TV shows.

Beau Is Afraid Supporting Cast & Characters

Patti LuPone as Mona Wassermann - Mona Wasserman is a successful businesswoman and Beau’s mother, someone who is typically disappointed by her son. Mona is portrayed by Patti LuPone, who is best known for her roles in American Horror Story, The School for Good and Evil, Netflix’s Hollywood, Heist, Witness, Life Goes On, Penny Dreadful, and the TV series Pose.

Kylie Rogers as Toni - Toni is Grace and Roger’s teenage daughter who has many thoughts regarding Beau staying over. Toni is played by Kylie Rogers, who has appeared in Yellowstone, the Sundance film Landscape with Invisible Hand, the 2002 remake of Cheaper by the Dozen, and Collateral Beauty.

Denis Ménochet as Jeeves - Jeeves was a friend of Grace and Roger’s son. Denis Ménochet has appeared in Inglourious Basterds, Hannibal Rising, and The Beasts.

Parker Posey as Elaine Bray - Elaine Bray is a woman Beau has romantic feelings for. Aside from playing Elaine, Parker Posey is best known for Blade: Trinity, Superman Returns, Lost in Space, Josie and the Pussycats, and Dazed and Confused.

Julia Antonelli as teen Elaine - Julia Antonelli plays teen Elaine, who appears alongside teen Beau in a flashback to a vacation with his mother. Antonelli is best known for Netflix’s Outer Banks, WITS Academy, and the series Every Witch Way.

Stephen McKinley Henderson as the therapist - Stephen McKinley Henderson portrays Beau’s therapist, who listens to him often speak about his relationship with his mother. Besides Beau is Afraid, Henderson has also appeared in Causeway, Lady Bird, Fences, Lincoln, Dune, and Halle Berry’s Bruised.

Richard Kind as Dr. Cohen - Dr. Cohen is Mona’s lawyer. Richard Kind is best known for his roles in Argo, Disney Pixar’s Inside Out, A Bug’s Life, and Mad About You.

Hayley Squires as Penelope - Penelope is a woman Beau meets along his journey. Hayley Squires has appeared in The Electrical Life of Louis Wain, and I, Daniel Blake.

Michael Gandolfini as Beau’s son - Michael Gandolfini portrays Beau’s adult son. Gandolfini is best known for The Many Saints of Newark, Cherry, and Landscape with Invisible Hand.

Théodore Pellerin as Beau’s son - Théodore Pellerin also plays Beau’s son. The actor has appeared in Never Rarely Sometimes Always, On Being a God in Central Florida, and Boy Erased.

Mike Taylor as Beau's son - Mike Taylor portrays Beau’s third son. Besides Beau is Afraid, Taylor has also been in the DCTV series Titans, Cardinal, and Schitt’s Creek.