It has nearly been 20 years since Spielberg's Catch Me If You Can (2002) debuted across the world and it is still as fascinating as ever. Based on the biographical book with the same name, the film follows the life of Frank Abagnale Jr. (Leonardo DiCaprio); he is a former con artist who was found guilty of check fraud.
Abagnale spends the majority of the film running from FBI agent, Carl Hanratty (Tom Hanks), after his checks raise suspicion among the banks. However, whilst we are all engrossed in the suspenseful plot we may have failed to recognize other stars who are now hugely successful. Here are 10 actors you may not have noticed.
Kaitlin Doubleday
Doubleday has recently risen to fame after cementing her place in several recurring roles. From 2015-2018, she played the ruthless Rhonda Lynn on Empire. She then starred as Jessica Caine in Nashville from 2017-2018. Doubleday has also earned a guest appearance on CSI: Miami ("Tunnel Vision").
Some fans of the actress may not be aware of the minor role she had in Catch Me If You Can. She plays DiCaprio's first love interest Joanna, the high school student who Abagnale is meant to take to junior prom. She appears in the scene when Joanna tries to hand a fake doctor's note in so she can skip school.
Amy Acker
Amy Acker is known best for her role as Winifred Burkle on television series Angel and villainess Kelly Payton on Alias. She has also recently made a guest appearance on Grey's Anatomy as Amelia's sister, Kathleen Shepherd ("The Good Shepherd"). But before all this, Acker made a minor appearance in Spielberg's film.
She is credited as "Miggy Acker", who is an air hostess that unwittingly helps Abagnale escape. She can be first seen when Abagnale announces the candidates for the recruiting program, hugging another woman when she is selected.
James Brolin
James Brolin is an actor and producer who is best known for his roles in Westworld (1973) and Traffic (2000). He has also won two Golden Globes and an Emmy award for his role as Dr. Steven Kiley on Marcus Welby, M.D.
Brolin was cast as James Barnes, a lawyer and family friend who eventually ends up being Abagnale's step-father. Surprisingly, Brolin does not have a central role in the film, appearing briefly at the beginning and the end. He is last seen standing on the family's porch, watching as Abagnale is arrested.
Sarah Lancaster
Sarah Lancaster first made her tv debut playing Rachel Meyers on Saved by the Bell: The New Class. Yet, some may recognize her more for her portrayal of Madison Kellner on Everwood and Ellie Bartowski on hit spy-comedy Chuck.
Sarah can also be seen to make a cameo appearance in Catch Me If You Can. However, this is one of those blink-and- you-miss-it types of roles as she has 30 seconds of screen time. Although she is credited as a "Riverbend Girl", Lancaster plays Abagnale's friend Melanie and can be seen eating fondue in the house party he hosts.
Amy Adams
The six-time Oscar nominee has proven to have quite a successful career over the last decade, rising to fame with her breakout roles in Junebug (2005) and Enchanted (2007). Yet, her first high-profile film was Spielberg's Catch Me If You Can.
Adams' played Abagnale's fiancée, Brenda Strong. She was a nurse who fell in love with Abagnale whilst he was impersonating a doctor. She unwittingly takes him home to meet her family, where he then proceeds to practice law to impress her father.
Martin Sheen
Martin Sheen was probably one of the most successful actors at the time of the film's release. With films such as Apocalypse Now (1979) and JFK (1991) under his belt, along with his role in political tv drama The West Wing: Sheen was in high demand.
Sheen was cast as Roger Strong, a professional lawyer, and Brenda's father. He first makes an appearance after Abagnale helps mend the rift between father and daughter. In turn, Roger then helps him with the Louisiana State Bar exam. The audience does not see it, but it is implied that he discovers the truth after Brenda finds out.
Nancy Lenehan
Many people may recognize Nancy Lenehan for her roles in several comedy shows. Some may know her best from My Name Is Earl, where she played the title character's mother Kay Hickey. Others may recognize her from the hit comedy show Veep, where she made several appearances as Jonah's mother, Nancy.
Lenehan had a minor role in the film as she was cast as Carol Strong. This was the mother of Abagnale's fiancée, who disowned her daughter after she got an abortion. She makes her first appearance at the family dinner after Abagnale was able to mend the rift between the family.
Elizabeth Banks
The Hollywood actress is best known for playing Effie Trinket in The Hunger Games franchise and Gail Abernathy-McKadden in the Pitch Perfect. She is also known for playing Jameson's secretary, Betty Brant, in the Spider-Man trilogy (2002-2007). However, one of her first high profile films was Catch Me If You Can.
Banks was cast in the role of Lucy Forrest, a bank teller who Abagnale tries to seduce to get information on how a check is processed. Since Banks doesn't make another appearance, it is implied that Abagnale had no other interest in her other than to carry on with his scams
Jennifer Garner
At the time of the film's release, Jennifer Garner was becoming one of Hollywood's top actresses. She had the lead role in spy-action thriller Alias where she played CIA operative Sydney Bristow and had a supporting role in Michael Bay's Pearl Harbor (2001). Spielberg had allegedly sought Garner out, asking her to make a small cameo.
Garner played a call girl who targets Abagnale after believing him to be a wealthy businessman. She ends up getting conned by DiCaprio's character after taking one of his fraudulent checks as payment and giving him $400.
Ellen Pompeo
Ellen Pompeo is known best for playing Grey's Anatomy's hit surgeon Meredith Grey. However, before she had gained the iconic role she was cast as Karen Page in Daredevil (2003) and appeared in the sitcom F.R.I.E.N.D.S. Fans of the actress will be completely shocked to have missed Pompeo's role in the film as it was glaringly obvious.
Pompeo made a cameo appearance as the air hostess Marci. Marci was Abagnale's first woman to be seduced and had a brief liaison with the con man whilst he was impersonating an airline pilot. They have just the one date as she doesn't make another appearance after this.