Who’s in the cast for The One and Only Ivan, and what else have they been in? The One and Only Ivan is Disney’s adaptation of K. A. Applegate’s eponymous bestselling novel. Originally intended to release in theaters, the movie switched to a Disney+ premiere due to the coronavirus health crisis.
Disney’s family film The One and Only Ivan tells the story of Ivan, an easygoing silverback gorilla who lives in a small circus with other captive animals. They don’t remember how they got there, but they have lived their entire lives as performers. When they meet the abused baby elephant Ruby, Ivan takes the initiative to communicate their discomfort through art.
Click the button below to start this article in quick view.
The movie combines live-action performances with photorealistic animation to bring the animals to life. Both sets of characters are portrayed by a cast full of accomplished actors. The following is the cast of The One and Only Ivan and what else the actors have been in.
Sam Rockwell as Ivan
Ivan is a smart and self-aware silverback. He has spent his whole life in captivity until fate pushed him to fight for his freedom. He’s played by Academy Award winner Sam Rockwell, whose most famous roles include Captain Klenzendorf in JoJo Rabbit and Justin Hammer in Iron Man 2. Before voicing Ivan, he played Hickory in Trolls World Tour.
Angelina Jolie as Stella
Stella is the circus’s wise old elephant, Julia’s mother, and Ivan’s role model. She’s played by another Oscar winner, Angelina Jolie, best known for playing the titular hero in Lara Croft: Tomb Raider and the titular villain in Maleficent. She voiced Master Tigress in the Kung Fu Panda trilogy.
Danny DeVito as Bob
The stray dog Bob is the jokester of the circus animals. He couples his sassy personality with a golden heart, just like his voice actor Danny DeVito, whose turn at running a circus came with the 2019 Dumbo live-action adaptation. Some of his most famous roles are The Penguin in Batman Returns and Harry Wormwood in Matilda.
Helen Mirren as Snickers
The refined poodle is the fanciest animal in the circus. She’s voiced by the cast’s third Oscar winner, the veteran actress Helen Mirren. Some of her notable credits include Queen Elizabeth II in The Queen and Alma Reville in Hitchcock. She voiced Dean Hardscrabble in Monsters University.
Brooklynn Prince as Ruby
Ruby is the latest addition to the circus. She’s a baby elephant who makes up for her lack of theatrical experience with her adorable innocence. Her voice actress is Brooklynn Prince, who rose to popularity after starring in The Florida Project, The Turning, and Home Before Dark. She also voiced the hatchling Zoe in The Angry Birds Movie 2.
Chaka Khan as Henrietta
The R&B singer Chaka Khan, known as “The Queen of Funk,” voices the extroverted Henrietta, a wisecracking chicken.
Ron Funches as Murphy
The mischievous bowtie-wearing Murphy is a white rabbit who rides a toy fire truck around the circus. He’s played by actor and comedian Ron Funches, who voices King Shark in Harley Quinn and played Cooper in Trolls and Trolls World Tour.
Phillipa Soo as Thelma
Broadway actress Phillipa Soo is best known for playing Eliza Hamilton in the musical Hamilton and the titular character in the theater adaptation of Amélie. She voices the parrot Thelma.
Actor, writer, and producer Mike White is known for penning the comedies School of Rock and Nacho Libre. He portrays Frankie, the circus’s cheerful, laughter-prone seal.
The One & Only Ivan’s Live-Action Cast
Bryan Cranston as Mack: Famously known as Walter White in Breaking Bad and Hal Wilkerson in Malcolm in The Middle, Bryan Cranston plays the weary but loving circus owner who adopts and raises Ivan.
Ramon Rodriguez as George: The kindhearted mall custodian is portrayed by Ramon Rodriguez, who played Leo Spitz in Transformers: Revenge of The Fallen and the ninja Bakuto in both Iron Fist and The Defenders.
Ariana Greenblatt as Julia: After portraying young Gamora in Avengers: Infinity War and voicing young Velma in Scoob! Arianna Greenblatt plays George’s daughter, the girl that encourages Ivan to use art as a form of communication.