Tony Award winner Lois Smith has officially joined the cast of Colin West's upcoming feature film, Outside of Cleveland. The veteran actress will portray Marjorie, the grandmother of the protagonist, in a project that blends family drama with a unique temporal narrative.
Smith boasts an extensive career spanning over seven decades. Her first on-screen appearance was in 1955 in East of Eden, opposite James Dean. Since then, she has appeared in acclaimed films such as Five Easy Pieces, Twister, Minority Report, Dead Man Walking, Ladybird, and The French Dispatch. Her television credits include roles in Law & Order: Organized Crime, Ray Donovan, The Americans, and True Blood.
Her stage work has also earned significant recognition. Smith received Tony nominations for her performances in The Grapes of Wrath and Buried Child. She ultimately won the Tony Award for her role in The Inheritance. In 2017, she starred in Michael Almereyda's Marjorie Prime, which led to nominations for both the Gotham Award and the Independent Spirit Award for best supporting actress.
The plot of Outside of Cleveland centers on Max, a jingle writer living in Chicago who feels lost in his life. After his parents sell his childhood home outside of Cleveland, he returns to help them pack. Upon waking up, he finds himself back in the winter of 2009 at the age of 18. In this earlier timeline, he reconnects with his neighbor Ellie, who encourages him to write his own music. Max is left to wonder if he has been sent back to alter his past or simply to say goodbye to it.
West shared that the character of Marjorie was named after his own grandmother, who passed away in 2012. He described her as someone who always told the truth, even when it was uncomfortable, a trait that defines her role in the film. West noted that the character is not there to comfort Max or simplify his struggles, but rather to convey hard truths. He praised Smith for embodying a tough yet warm spirit, stating that her presence on set brought him to tears on multiple occasions.
Producers Dan Erdman, Chad Simpson, Heather Francis, and Drew Johnson issued a joint statement expressing their delight at the casting. They described Marjorie as a character with an immediate familiarity, combining the warmth and wisdom of a grandmother. They emphasized that the role was pivotal to the film's emotional weight and required an actor capable of conveying deep authenticity. The team called Smith a dream choice and expressed their excitement to have her on board.
Casting director Findley Davidson described Smith as an icon, a term she felt was apt given her enduring career. Davidson highlighted that at 95 years old, Smith continues to work tirelessly across theater, television, and film, demonstrating a remarkable dedication to her craft.
The film also features Alex Wolff, Brooklynn Prince, Jim Gaffigan, Sarah Wayne Callies, and Michael Ian Black. West noted a special connection between Smith and Prince, recalling that they were among the oldest and youngest nominees respectively at the 2017 Gotham Awards. West expressed enthusiasm that the two actors have now ended up in the same movie years later.
West discussed the casting process, explaining that the selection of Wolff as Max was immediate due to his musical talent and ability to convey both adult weariness and adolescent energy. He sought actors who could make the family feel lived-in, citing the warmth of Gaffigan and Callies, and the rare honesty and maturity brought by Prince. Smith, he said, was the final key to completing that family dynamic.
The production was selected for the U.S. in Progress co-production forum at Poland's Tauron American Film Festival. It is produced by Brain Scratch Productions, 1515 Films, and Sub_Sequential Pictures. West, whose previous film Linoleum premiered at SXSW, admitted the story is deeply personal. He revealed that his art team asked his parents for items from his own childhood to decorate Max's room. Seeing these actual objects on set in Ohio made the experience feel very close to home, helping him see the Ohio he knows and loves in the final result.
