Icon Movies

Michael Dorsey is an unemployed actor with an impossible reputation. In order to find work and fund his friend's play he dresses as a woman, Dorothy Michaels, and lands the part in a daytime drama. Dorsey loses himself in this woman role and essentially becomes Dorothy Michaels, captivating women all around the city and inspiring them to break free from the control of men and become more like Dorsey's initial identity. This newfound role, however, lands Dorsey in a hot spot between a female friend/'lover,' a female co-star he falls in love with, that co-star's father who falls in love with him, and a male co-star who yearns for his affection.

What do you get when you cross a hopelessly straight starving actor with a dynamite red sequined dress? You get America's hottest new actress.

Genres: Comedy, Romance

Starring: Dustin Hoffman, Jessica Lange, Teri Garr

Released: December 16, 1982

Runtime: 116.0

Popularity Rating: 8.451

Columbia Pictures Corporation, Delphi Films, Mirage Enterprises, Punch Productions, The Criterion Collection

United States of America

Michael Dorsey / Dorothy Michaels Dustin Hoffman
Julie Nichols Jessica Lange
Sandy Teri Garr
Ron Carlisle Dabney Coleman
Les Nichols Charles Durning
Jeff Slater Bill Murray
George Fields Sydney Pollack
John Van Horn George Gaynes
April Geena Davis
Rita Doris Belack
Jacqui Ellen Foley
Rick Peter Gatto
Jo Lynne Thigpen
Phil Weintraub Ronald L. Schwary
Mrs. Mallory Debra Mooney
Amy Amy Lawrence
Boy Kenny Sinclair
Page Susan Merson
Stage Hand Robert D. Wilson
Middle-Aged Man James Carruthers
Middle-Aged Woman Estelle Getty
Linda Christine Ebersole
Actor #1 Bernie Pollack
Actor #2 Sam Stoneburner
Salesgirl Marjorie Lovett
Billie Barbara Spiegel
Party girl Suzanne von Schaack
Mrs. Crawley Anne Shropshire
Party guest Murray Schisgal
Priest Richard Whiting
Stage Manager #2 Jim Jansen
Stage Manager Tom Mardirosian
Director Gavin Reed
Autograph Hound Annie Korzen
Autograph Hound Ibbits Warriner
Autograph Hound Lois de Banzie
Autograph Hound Stephen Prutting
Waiter (uncredited) Tobin Bell
(uncredited) Phillip Borsos
Acting Student (uncredited) Jim Dratfield
Actor at Party (uncredited) John Kapelos
Shocked Bystander as Dorothy Grabs a Cab (uncredited) Joyce Worsley
Himself (uncredited) Andy Warhol
Secretary Pamela Lincoln
Middle-Aged Man Michael M. Ryan

Art — Production Design: Peter S. Larkin
Art — Set Decoration: Thomas C. Tonery
Camera — Director of Photography: Owen Roizman
Costume & Make-Up — Costume Design: Ruth Morley
Costume & Make-Up — Costume Supervisor: Bernie Pollack
Crew — Driver: Patrick Hogan
Crew — Property Master: Jimmy Raitt
Crew — Sound Recordist: Philip Rogers
Crew — Title Graphics: Wayne Fitzgerald
Directing — Assistant Director: David McGiffert
Directing — Assistant Director: Joseph P. Reidy
Directing — Director: Sydney Pollack
Directing — Script Supervisor: Renee Bodner
Editing — Assistant Editor: Don Brochu
Editing — Assistant Editor: Jill Savitt
Editing — Editor: Fredric Steinkamp
Editing — Editor: William Steinkamp
Production — Casting: Lynn Stalmaster
Production — Casting: Sylvia Fay
Production — Executive Producer: Charles Evans
Production — Producer: Dick Richards
Production — Producer: Ronald L. Schwary
Production — Producer: Sydney Pollack
Production — Unit Production Manager: Gerald R. Molen
Sound — Music: George Doering
Sound — Music Editor: Else Blangsted
Sound — Original Music Composer: Dave Grusin
Writing — Screenplay: Barry Levinson
Writing — Screenplay: Don McGuire
Writing — Screenplay: Elaine May
Writing — Screenplay: Larry Gelbart
Writing — Screenplay: Murray Schisgal
Writing — Screenplay: Robert Garland