After discovering he's not really black like the rest of his family, likable dimwit Navin Johnson sets off on a hilarious misadventure that takes him from rags to riches and back again. The slaphappy jerk strikes it rich, but life in the fast lane isn't all it's cracked up to be and, in the end, all that really matters to Johnson is his true love.
The Jerk
“A rags to riches to rags story.”
Overview
After discovering he's not really black like the rest of his family, likable dimwit Navin Johnson sets off on a hilarious misadventure that takes him from rags to riches and back again. The slaphappy jerk strikes it rich, but life in the fast lane isn't all it's cracked up to be and, in the end, all that really matters to Johnson is his true love.
Director
Carl Reiner
Budget
4.0M
Revenue
100.0M
Status
Released
Production
Universal Pictures, Aspen Film Society
Cast
Steve Martin
Navin R. Johnson
Bernadette Peters
Marie Kimble Johnson
Catlin Adams
Patty Bernstein
Mabel King
Mother
Richard Ward
Father
Carl Gottlieb
Iron Balls McGinty
Dick Anthony Williams
Taj
Bill Macy
Stan Fox
M. Emmet Walsh
Madman
Dick O'Neill
Frosty
Maurice Evans
Hobart
Helena Carroll
Hester
Ren Woods
Elvira
Pepe Serna
Punk #1
Sonny Terry
Blues Singer
Brownie McGhee
Blues Singer
Jackie Mason
Harry Hartounian
Sharon Johansen
Lenore Hartounian
Gene LeBell
Con Man
Carl Reiner
Carl Reiner the Celebrity
Larry Hankin
Circus Hand (uncredited)
Howard Hesseman
Carnival Worker (uncredited)
Rob Reiner
Truck Driver Picking Up Navin (uncredited)
Gailard Sartain
Guy with Cracked Airplane Seats (uncredited)
Lenny Montana
Con Man
William Schallert
Judge M.A. Loring
David Landsberg
Bank Manager
Domingo Ambriz
Father De Cordoba
Richard Foronjy
Con Man
Clete Roberts
Announcer
Frances E. Williams
Grandma Johnson
Lydia McGhee
Cleotis Johnson
Niko Denise Holmes
Satch Johnson
Shawn Harris
Pierre Johnson
Nyles Harris
Leroy Johnson (as Niles Harris)
Susan Denise Harrison
Lisa Johnson
Douglas S. Close
Fireman
Trinidad Silva
Punk
Alston Ahern
Bride
Lawrence Green
Father of the Bride
Ken Magee
Carnival Rube
Tom J. Delaney
Tourist
Alfred Dennis
Irving
Marc Loge
Farm Boy
Jon Leichter
Billy
Lillian Adams
Tillie
Joe Lynn
Voodoo Dancer
Maurice Marsac
French Waiter
Fred Lerner
Con Man
Jerry G. Velasco
Man in Garden
Kimberly Cameron
Disco Party
Elizabeth Macey
Disco Party
Richie Reiner
Disco Party
Daniel Trevor
Disco Party
Benjie Bancroft
Bailiff (uncredited)
Video Gallery
Steve Martin Talks About THE JERK
Trailer
