Ghost Dad (1990): Cast, Box Office & Plot
Ghost Dad is a 1990 family comedy directed by Sidney Poitier, starring Bill Cosby as Elliot Hopper, Kimberly Russell and Salim Grant. It runs 1 hour 24 minutes and earned $25.4 million worldwide.
- Released
- Runtime
- 1h 24m (84 min)
- Director
- Sidney Poitier
- Original language
-
English - Studio
- SAH Productions
- After the credits
- No No extra scene
What Is Ghost Dad About?
The premise of Ghost Dad without spoilers. The whole story is in the plot summary further down.
After a widower, Elliot Hopper, is killed in a taxi accident while trying to secure a business deal to lift his family out of financial hardship, he finds himself lingering as a ghost. With the help of a paranormal researcher, he learns to move through doors and floors, using his spectral abilities to complete the deal and protect his three children, ensuring they are provided for.
Ghost Dad Themes & Keywords
· 50 tags- father daughter relationship
- ghost
- teenage girl
- teen angst
- coma
- brother sister relationship
- paranormal investigator
- teenage boy
- sister sister relationship
- business executive
- widower
- taxi driver
+38 more Show fewer
- afterlife
- death
- single father
- father son relationship
- two word title
- african american
- tape recorder
- bedtime story
- scientist
- bare chested male
- bridge
- roller skates
- englishman
- waking up from a coma
- levitation
- magic trick
- urine sample
- urination
- medical examination
- father dislikes daughter's boyfriend
- man wears eyeglasses
- locked in a trunk
- aspiring magician
- car falls off a bridge
- blackmail
- girl
- throwing someone out of a moving car
- neighbor
- boy
- car falls into a river
- father daughter conflict
- fear
- classroom
- fired from a job
- falling down stairs
- accident
- telephone call
- spirit
Ghost Dad Cast & Characters
Bill Cosby leads the cast as Elliot Hopper, with Kimberly Russell as Diane Hopper and Salim Grant as Danny Hopper. Directed by Sidney Poitier; 65 actors are credited in all.
-
Director Sidney Poitier
- Bill Cosby as Elliot Hopper
- Kimberly Russell as Diane Hopper
- Salim Grant as Danny Hopper
- Brooke Fontaine as Amanda Hopper
Also Starring in Ghost Dad
· 61 more- Raynor Scheine Curtis Burch (The Cabbie)
- Ian Bannen Sir Edith Moser
- Barry Corbin Mr. Emery Collins
- Denise Nicholas Joan
- Dakin Matthews Mr. Seymour
- Dana Ashbrook Tony Ricker
- Christine Ebersole Carol
- Omar Gooding Stuart
- Barbara Harris
- Arnold Stang Mr. Cohen
- Patrika Darbo Nurse #2
- Amy Hill Nurse #1
- Brian Stokes Mitchell Mr. Turner
- Donzaleigh Abernathy E.R. Nurse
- Greg Finley
- Robin Pearson Rose Hospital Administrator
Show all 65 cast members Show fewer cast members
- Jeanne Mori I.C.U. Nurse #2
- Robert Covarrubias Man In Waiting Room
- Kevin Lee Student #2
- Norman Merrill Executive #2
- Cathy Cavadini
- Frank Biro Executive #5
- Jonathan Brandis
- Cynthia L. James E.R. Doctor
- Eric Menyuk Clinic Doctor
- David McCharen
- Cedric Scott Announcer
- Mary Munday Executive #1
- Ted Hayden Executive #3
- James McIntire Sheriff
- Josef Hajduk Student #1
- J.D. Hall
- John C. McDonnell Patient (Uncredited)
- Doris Hess
- Trenton Teigen Student #5
- Pamela Poitier Nurse Satler
- Bryan Scott
- Kenny Ford Jr. Buddy #1
- Carol King
- Ivonne Perez Montijo Pregnant Woman (Uncredited)
- Douglas Johnson Lab Technician
- Kyle Pittman Kid (Uncredited)
- Suzanne Stone
- Joseph Chapman
- Lisa Mené Nemacheck Jonelle
- George Ganz Mr. Nero
- Becky Katzen Student #3
- Bryant Edwards Student #4
- Raymond E. Foti Executive #4
- Adam Jeffries Buddy #2
- Austin Garrett Buddy #3
- Rita Vassallo I.C.U. Nurse #1
- Jizelle Morris Screaming Girl
- Becky Sweet Classmate
- Meredith Gordon Woman In Taxi
- Rocky Krakoff
- Ryan McWhorter
- Kaleena Kiff
- LaGloria Scott
- Kerry Gutierrez
- David J. Randolph
More from Sidney Poitier
More films directed by Sidney Poitier: Fast Forward and Hanky Panky.
Ghost Dad Plot Summary
What happens in Ghost Dad from start to finish, spoilers included, with a timeline of 13 key events. The opening is below; the full summary is a 3-minute read.
Spoilers ahead
Elliot Hopper, Bill Cosby is a workaholic widower on the verge of clinching a career-changing deal that could earn him a promotion and a brand-new company car. After he forgets his daughter Diane’s birthday, he promises that she can have his car once the deal closes on Thursday. When his coworkers urge him to seal the deal now, he agrees to give the car early and hails a taxi from the office, the ride led by Raynor Scheine as Curtis Burch, a driver whose reckless, erratic style hints at trouble. In a panic to stop the cab, Elliot blurts out that he is Satan and tries to hand over his wallet, but Burch floors it and plunges off a bridge into the river.
Full summary
The whole story of Ghost Dad, scene by scene
Ghost Dad Box Office
Ghost Dad grossed $25.4 million worldwide. $24.7 million came from the US and Canada and $714,000 (3%) from the rest of the world.
Worldwide gross
$25.4M
- US & Canada
- $24.7M
- International
- $714K
Ghost Dad Trailers & Videos
2 videos: 2 trailers.
- Trailer Ghost Dad (1990) Original Trailer [HD]
How Well Do You Know Ghost Dad?
10 questions about the story, each with a hint if you get stuck. Pick an answer to see whether you were right.
Question 1 of 10
- Question 1: not answered
- Question 2: not answered
- Question 3: not answered
- Question 4: not answered
- Question 5: not answered
- Question 6: not answered
- Question 7: not answered
- Question 8: not answered
- Question 9: not answered
- Question 10: not answered
Who portrays the character Elliot Hopper in the film?
Cars in Ghost Dad
47 cars on screen, including the 1984 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser and the 1963 Checker Taxicab.
-
1984 Oldsmobile Custom Cruiser Main role -
1963 Checker Taxicab Important role -
1979 Ford Econoline Minor role -
1987 Ford F-350 Minor role
Ghost Dad Also Known As
20 alternative titles, including “Ghost Dad - Nachrichten von Dad” and “Papà è un fantasma”.
- Also known as
-
- Ghost Dad - Nachrichten von Dad
- Papà è un fantasma
- Ghost Dad – Nachricht von Papa
- Bill Cosby: Unser Papa ist ein Geist
- Ghost Dad - Unser Papa ist ein Geist
- Ghost Dad - Papà è un fantasma
- Папа-призрак
- Papá fantasma
- אבא חלומי
- Túlvilági papa
- Papa fantôme
- Tata duch
+8 more Show fewer
- Můj táta je duch
- El fantasma de papá
- Papai Fantasma
- 유령 아빠
- Titta han spökar
- Otec je duch
- Babam Hayalet
- 鬼爸爸
Seen Ghost Dad?
Movies Like Ghost Dad
Films with a similar story, tone or audience, including Ghost with Driver, Charlie’s Ghost Story and Ghost.
Ghost Dad FAQ: Cast, Box Office & Runtime
Runtime, release date, director, cast, box office and post-credit scenes of Ghost Dad, each answered in a sentence.
How long is Ghost Dad?
Ghost Dad runs 1 hour 24 minutes (84 minutes).
When was Ghost Dad released?
Ghost Dad was released on June 29, 1990.
Who directed Ghost Dad?
Ghost Dad was directed by Sidney Poitier.
More films by Sidney Poitier Who is in the cast of Ghost Dad?
Ghost Dad stars Bill Cosby as Elliot Hopper, Kimberly Russell as Diane Hopper and Salim Grant as Danny Hopper, among 65 credited actors.
How much did Ghost Dad make at the box office?
Ghost Dad grossed $25.4 million worldwide ($24.7 million domestic, $714,000 international).
Does Ghost Dad have a post-credit scene?
No. Ghost Dad has no extra scene during or after the credits.
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