The A Real Pain cast features Jesse Eisenberg as David Kaplan, Kieran Culkin as Benji Kaplan and Will Sharpe as James. This info article contains minor spoilers and character details for Jesse Eisenberg’s 2024 movie on Disney+ and Hulu. Check out more streaming guides in Vague Visages’ Know the Cast category.

A Real Pain explores the complicated friendship between two Jewish cousins from America. As David and Benji connect with their familial roots in Poland, they argue about personal and professional issues. The narrative follows the main protagonists as they find common ground while bonding with a World War II tour group. Here’s every actor and character in A Real Pain.

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘A Complete Unknown’

A Real Pain Cast: Jesse Eisenberg as David Kaplan

Character Profile: A digital ad salesman from New York City. He is husband and father who feels exhausted by his cousin and travel partner, Benji. David suffers from OCD and wishes that he could be more outgoing.

Eisenberg’s Resume: Walt Berkman in The Squid and the Whale (2005), Columbus in Zombieland (2009), Mark Zuckerberg in The Social Network (2010), Simon/James in The Double (2013), J. Daniel Atlas in Now You See Me (2013)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Nightbitch’

A Real Pain Cast: Kieran Culkin as Benji Kaplan

Character Profile: David’s cousin from Binghamton, New York. He is a charismatic yet abrasive man who was close with his late grandmother. Benji struggles emotionally after a suicide attempt.

Culkin’s Resume: Fuller in Home Alone (1990), Buster in The Cider House Rules (1999), Igby in Igby Goes Down (2002), Wallace Wells in Scott Pilgrim vs. the World (2010), Roman Roy in Succession (2018-23)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Poor Things’

A Real Pain Cast: Will Sharpe as James

Character Profile: A British tour guide. He is a scholar of Eastern European Studies at Oxford who is fascinated by the Jewish experience. James changes his tour guide approach after receiving blunt yet helpful feedback from Benji.

Sharpe’s Resume: Michael Chung in W1A (2017), Will in Defending the Guilty (2018-19), Shun/Greta in Flowers (2018), Rodney in Giri/Haji (2019), Ethan Spiller in The White Lotus (2022)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Immaculate’

A Real Pain Cast: Jennifer Grey as Marcia

Character Profile: A divorced Brooklyn native whose mother survived a concentration camp. She bonds with Benji during their tour of World War II Poland. Marcia changed her worldview after feeling like she was turning into “a lady who lunches.”

Grey’s Resume: Toni Mason in Red Dawn (1984), Jeanie Bueller in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off (1986), Baby Houseman in Dirty Dancing (1987), Mrs. Kurokawa in The Wind Rises (2013), Judy Rosen/Judy Meyers in Red Oaks (2014-17)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Alien: Romulus’

A Real Pain Cast: Kurt Egyiawan as Eloge

Character Profile: A Judaism convert. He moved to Winnipeg, Canada after surviving the Rwandan genocide. Eloge develops a bond with Benji.

Egyiawan’s Resume: Q’s Assistant in Skyfall (2012), 2nd I-C in Beasts of No Nation (2015), Father Bennett in The Exorcist (2016-17), Grand Maester Orwyle in House of the Dragon (2022-24), Osman in The Agency (2024-25)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Longlegs’

The A Real Pain cast also includes:

• Liza Sadovy as Diane
• Daniel Oreskes as Mark
• Ellora Torchia as Priya
• Banner Eisenberg as Abe
• Marek Kasprzyk as Older Man
• Olha Bosova as Flight Attendant
• Piotr Czarniecki as Conductor
• Krzysztof Jaszczak as Pianist
• Jakub Pruski as Son

Q.V. Hough (@QVHough) is Vague Visages’ founding editor.