After young playwright, David Shayne obtains funding for his play from gangster Nick Valenti, Nick's girlfriend Olive miraculously lands the role of a psychiatrist—but not only is she a bimbo who could never pass for a psychiatrist—she's a dreadful actress. David puts up with the leading man who is a compulsive eater, the grand dame who wants her part jazzed up, and Olive's interfering hitman/bodyguard—but, eventually he must decide whether art or life is more important.
John Cusack
as David Shayne
Chazz Palminteri
as Cheech
Dianne Wiest
as Helen Sinclair
Jennifer Tilly
as Olive Neal
Mary-Louise Parker
as Ellen
Tracey Ullman
as Eden Brent
Jim Broadbent
as Warner Purcell
Joe Viterelli
as Nick Valenti
Harvey Fierstein
as Sid Loomis
Rob Reiner
as Sheldon Flender
Jack Warden
as Julian Marx
Tony Sirico
as Rocco
