The real-life Gilbreth family has seen two film adaptations of their family memoir, which humorously recalled what it was like to grow up in a family with twelve children. The 1950 film, directed byWalter Lang, featuredClifton WebbandMyrna Loyas the Gilbreth parents and stars likeJeanne CrainandBarbara Batesportraying the twelve kids. Then theShawn Levy-directed 2003 remake broughtSteve MartinandBonnie Huntto the screen as Mr. and Mrs. Baker with their twelve children, some of whom were played by early 2000s favorites likeHilary Duff,Alyson Stoner, andPiper Perabo.
Now Disney+ has released its reboot,Cheaper by the Dozen, on July 10, 2025. This remake features new faces and family dynamics, recreating the classic Baker (once Gilbreth) family.
Related:‘Cheaper by the Dozen’ Trailer Showcases More Baker Family Antics
Zach Braff as Paul Baker
Zach Braffplays Paul Baker, the father and stepfather to the Baker children and husband of Zoe Baker. Braff, a Jewish American actor, is well-versed in the comedy genre. He is most well known for playing the lead role in the nine-season comedy-drama show,Scrubs. In that television series, he was interning doctor J. D. Dorian, a skilled physician whose habit for daydreaming made him endearing. Braff saw one Primetime Emmy Award nomination and three Golden Globe nominations for his part in this series.
Braff has starred in other various comedies through film and television. InThe Last Kiss, directed byTony Goldwyn, he led the romantic comedy movie as Michael, a 30-year-old man with relationship problems and commitment issues. Braff also led the ABC sitcomAlex, Inc.as Alex Schuman, a husband and father with a midlife crisis who quits his job to start a podcast. He took lead on the comedyThe Ex, directed byJesse Peretz, as Tom Reilly, a struggling businessman who finds himself fighting for his job and his wife.
Braff’s talent extends to his voice acting. He voiced the young and unexpected avian hero inChicken Little, the 2005 Disney comedy directed byMark Dindal. Braff lent his voice to the 2013Oz the Great and Powerful, directed bySami Raimi, in playing the devoted winged monkey, Finley.
Braff has also has experience in directing.Wish I Was Here, which he directed and co-wrote with brotherAdam Braff, tells the story of Aidan Bloom (Zach Braff). Bloom is an actor who is failing to find his purpose until he decides to homeschool his children. Braff also directed and starred inGarden State, the comedy that won a Grammy Award for its music, which Braff picked out himself.
With Braff’s extensive experience with comedy, both directing and starring in it, and his history of playing dysfunctional middle-aged men,Cheaper By the Dozenis guaranteed to be humorous with his depiction of the awkward and lovable Paul Baker.
Gabrielle Union is Zoey Baker
Gabrielle Unionplays Zoey Baker, the matriarch of the Baker family and wife to Paul Baker. Like Braff, Union has seen her fair share of comedic film and television roles. She played supporting roles in the romantic comedies10 Things I Hate About You,She’s All That, and the dramaLove & Basketball. These roles preceded her big break as Isis, the captain of the East Compton Clovers cheerleading team, in the comedyBring It Ondirected byPeyton Reed. This role in a cult classic launched Union into her acting career.
Union starred as lead Evangeline “Eva” Dandridge in the 2003 romantic comedy directed byGary Hardwick,Deliver Us From Eva. She played a prominent role inBad Boys II, directed byMichael Bay, as DEA Special Agent Sydney “Syd” Burnet andWill Smith’s character’s love interest. Union’s part inBad Boys IIset her up for a two-season series,L.A.’s Finest, where Syd now works with the Los Angeles Police Department and is a partner to Detective Nancy McKenna (Jessica Alba).
Union’s other lead roles include her part as a psychiatric patient, Rachael, in the indie dramaNeo Ned, directed byVan Fischer. She scored the main love interest role inTyler Perry’sDaddy’s Little Girlsas an attorney hired to help Monty James (Idris Elba) win custody of his three daughters. Union held supporting roles in various films, such as the 2004 comedyBreaking All the Rulesand the moving historical drama,Something the Lord Made. She worked with Tyler Perryagain in his 2012 filmGood Deeds, co-starring as his fiance, and as “The Girl Who Wants the Ring” inSteve Harvey’sThink Like A Man.
In 2013, Union started leading her own show, created byMara Brock Akil, calledBeing Mary Jane. The show ran for four full seasons and concluded with a one-episode final season. Union’s character, Mary Jane, is a TV news anchor, and the series follows her personal journey with family and romance and her professional career in news television.
Compared to Braff, Union’s screen experience has included more drama and romance, diversifying the genres she has worked within. Yet there’s no doubt as to her acting abilities and understanding of comedy, considering her list of films and television work. This reimagining of Mrs. Baker is new, exciting, and different with Union’s personal touch as a Black woman adding a new dimension to the story.
Related:Gabrielle Union on ‘Cheaper By the Dozen,’ How It’s Relatable, and Controlling On-Set Mayhem
Journee Brown is Deja Baker
First up in our list of the Baker children is Deja Baker, played byJournee Brown.Cheaper By the Dozenmarks what will be her biggest movie role thus far. She previously played a supporting character, Lena, in the 2018 dramaNight Comes On, directed byJordana Spiro. She also portrayed a younger version of Janae (Vicky Jeudy) in two episodes ofOrange Is the New Black.
Kylie Rogers is Ella Baker
Kylie Rogersplays Ella Baker, bringing her more extensive film experience to the family. Rogers has worked on numerous TV movies,The List,The Gates, and the 2014 horrorFinders Keepers, to name a few. She has done brief, one-episode roles in television shows likeDays of Our Lives,CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, andDeadtime Stories. She played the recurring role of Millie inOnce Upon a Time in Wonderlandand as Minx Lawrence for all 13 episodes ofThe Whispers.
One of Rogers’s most notable roles is in the 2016Miracles from Heaven, directed byPatricia Riggenand based on a true story, where Rogers played the miracle child, Anna Beam. More recently, Rogers has starred as a younger Beth inYellowstoneand as Izzy Lisko inHome Before Dark.
Andre Christopher Robinson is DJ Baker
Playing DJ Baker isAndre Christopher Robinson, who is mostly known for his work in voice acting. Like Rogers, he’s been featured in singular episodes on multiple TV series, includingDragons: Race to the Edge,Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir, andStillwater.
Robinson has held bigger roles in voice acting projects as well. He voiced the long-term role of Donny McStuffins in the Disney Junior showDoc McStuffinsand Cutter in the Netflix Original Series,Dragons: Rescue Riders, and the Peacock Original series,Dragons Rescue Riders: Heroes of the Sky. He scored a leading voice acting role in Netflix’sA Tale Dark and Grimmas Hansel, co-starring alongside Disney starRaini Rodriguez, who voiced Gretel. Additionally, Robinson led the Amazon Prime Original series,Niko and the Sword of Light, voicing the titular character, Niko. He also voiced the recurring role of Clyde in the five-season Nickelodeon show,The Loud House. Fans of these cartoons are in for an interesting treat as they see the versatile voice actor step in front of the camera forCheaper By the Dozen.
Caylee Blosenski is Harley Baker
Newer actressCaylee Blosenskiplays Harley Baker. Blosenski previously worked on the thriller podcast series,Last Known Position, voicing the role of Marty/Martty Cavanaugh. According to IMDB,Cheaper By the Dozenis her first film.
Related:Zach Braff on ‘Cheaper By the Dozen,’ Florence Pugh in ‘A Good Person,’ and Directing ‘Ted Lasso’
Aryan Simhadri is Haresh Baker
Disney Channel actorAryan Simhadriplays Haresh Baker in the Disney+ reboot. Like other child actors on this list, he began his acting career with small roles in episodes of TV shows, making features inSEAL Team,The Unicorn, andWill & Grace. He gained experience and greater prominence through working with Disney Channel, Disney Junior, and Nickelodeon.
Simhadri had the recurring role of Norvin in the Disney Channel interactive TV show,Just Roll With It. In the 2021 Disney Channel Original MovieSpin, directed byManjari Makijany, he played the supporting role of Rohan, Rhea’s (Avantika Vandanapu) brother.
Simhadri has had two recent voice-acting roles. In the Disney Junior showMira, Royal Detective, he voiced the recurring role of Dhruv, and he voiced Banky in the Nickelodeon and Paramount+ Original TV series,Adventures in Wonder Park.
With his significant experience in working with Disney, Simhadri is well-prepared for his role inCheaper By the Dozen.
Leo Abelo Perry and Mykal-Michelle Harris are Luca Baker and Luna Baker
One of the younger Bakers, Luca, is played by child actorLeo Abelo Perry. According to IMDB, Perry’s first role was inBlack-ish, where he played a young Justin in one episode. He had another one-episode role in the FOX TV show,The Big Leap. Playing Luca Baker inCheaper By the Dozenis Perry’s first casting in a major film.
Mykal-Michelle Harrisis Luna Baker in this film. Aside from minor appearances in shows and short films, Harris found her place inBig Little Liesas the child version of Bonnie. She also played Madeline in three episodes of the Golden Globe-winning show,The Affair. Harris’s most recent, long-standing role was that of Santamonica Johnson inMixed-ish, the TV series prequel toBlack-ish. Harris comes with a recognizable experience in family comedy, fully equipped for her part inCheaper By the Dozen.
Related:‘Cheaper By the Dozen’: Director Gail Lerner on Her Collaboration With Kenya Barris and the Film’s Emotional Impact
Christian Cote and Sebastian Cote are Bailey Baker and Bronx Baker
Christian Coteplays Bailey Baker. Previous to this role, he starred in one episode of the Hulu horror anthology seriesMonsterlandas George Keller.Cheaper By the Dozenis his film debut.Sebastian Cotetakes on the part of Bronx Baker. Like his brother Christian Cote, Sebastian’s acting career has been fairly brief, limited to his starring inMonsterlandin the same role of George Keller.Cheaper By the Dozenis his film debut.
Luke Prael is Seth Baker
Luke Praelis Seth Baker and the final Baker child on this cast list. Prael began his work on-screen with the short film,Boy in a Backpack. He went on to play Aiden, the love interest of Kayla Day (Elsie Fisher), inBo Burnham’s filmEighth Grade. Prael took the lead role in the 2018 horrorBoarding School, directed byBoaz Yakin, as the troubled and tormented boy, Jacob Rathbone.Cheaper By the Dozenis his third full-length feature film.
