You’ve probably seen plenty of "disability movies" where a famous Hollywood star sits in a wheelchair for two hours, collects an Oscar, and then walks onto the stage to accept it. Honestly, it’s a tired trope. But the cast of Daruma film is doing something that hasn’t really happened in American cinema history until now. We aren't just talking about a "diverse" cast for the sake of a press release.
This is the first time a U.S. feature film has cast two disabled leads in a story that isn't actually about their disabilities.
The Unfiltered Reality of the Daruma Cast
The movie, which hit theaters and streaming in late 2024, stars Tobias Forrest as Patrick and John W. Lawson as Robert. It’s a road-trip dramedy, kinda like those classic odd-couple stories, but with a lot more grit. Patrick is a bitter wheelchair user who suddenly finds out he has a four-year-old daughter. He realizes he can't exactly handle the "dad" life on his own, so he recruits his neighbor Robert—a double hand amputee—to help him drive the kid across the country to her grandparents.
What makes this cast so different?
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Basically, the creators—director Alexander Yellen and writer Kelli McNeil-Yellen—refused to budge on authenticity. They spent years looking for the right people. Tobias Forrest, who is a C-level quadriplegic in real life, brings a raw, frustrated energy to Patrick. He’s not a "heroic" disabled character. He’s a guy who drinks too much in strip clubs and quits his job. He's human.
Tobias Forrest as Patrick
Tobias is an Iraq veteran in the film, and his performance is honestly magnetic because he isn't playing for sympathy. He’s playing a guy who is genuinely stuck in his own head. Forrest suffered a C5 spinal cord injury years ago in a diving accident at the Grand Canyon, and he’s used that lived experience to inform how Patrick moves, breathes, and interacts with a world that wasn't built for him.
John W. Lawson as Robert
John Lawson is the perfect foil. As a double hand amputee, he plays Robert with a sort of cantankerous charm that balances out Patrick’s bitterness. The chemistry between these two is real because they’re friends in actual life. In fact, Lawson was the one who pushed Forrest to audition for the role of Patrick. Originally, the script wasn't even written for a quadriplegic, but the producers saw what Tobias brought to the table and adapted.
Supporting Players Who Anchor the Story
While the leads get most of the "history-making" headlines, the rest of the cast of Daruma film fills out the emotional landscape of the movie without feeling like background noise.
- Victoria Scott (Camilla): She plays Patrick’s daughter. She’s the heart of the movie, and her "scene-stealing cuteness" (as reviewers have called it) is what makes the road trip stakes feel so high.
- Abigail Hawk (Anna): You might know her from Blue Bloods. Here, she plays a woman who tries to connect with Patrick, offering him a phone number and a chance at something normal, even when he’s being a total "poo-poo head" (Robert’s words, not mine).
- Barry Bostwick (Horace): The Rocky Horror Picture Show legend shows up as the grandfather. It’s a smaller role, but it carries a ton of weight when the road trip finally reaches its destination in Rhode Island.
Why This Specific Cast is Breaking Google
People are searching for the cast of Daruma film because it challenges the "Inspiration Porn" we usually get from Hollywood. The film was executive produced by Peter Farrelly (the guy behind Green Book and Dumb and Dumber), who has a history of trying to integrate disability into his films. But this time, it’s the lead roles.
The production didn't use "green screen" to hide limbs or expensive CGI to make an able-bodied actor look disabled. They just hired actors who knew the role.
It took 15 years to get this movie made. Kelli McNeil-Yellen started the script in 2007. The reason for the delay? It’s hard to get funding when you insist on "authentic casting" for lead roles. Studios often want a "big name" to secure the budget, but the Daruma team bet on the talent of Forrest and Lawson instead.
A Journey from Arizona to Rhode Island
The plot follows the duo from the desert of Arizona all the way to the East Coast. Along the way, we see the logistical realities of their lives—not as a tragedy, but just as part of the day-to-day. Robert helps Patrick with things; Patrick breaks Robert’s windshield with a beer bottle. It’s messy. It’s funny.
Final Insights on the Production
If you’re looking to dive deeper into the world of this film, it’s worth checking out the work of the director, Alexander Yellen. He’s a cinematographer by trade, and you can see that in how he shoots the road trip—using drone footage and tight interior car shots that make you feel like you’re the fourth passenger in that cramped vehicle.
Actionable Steps for Movie Buffs:
- Watch the authentic details: Pay attention to the scenes where the characters are just existing—transferring to cars or navigating rest stops. It’s filmed with a matter-of-factness that you don't see in big-budget films.
- Support the "Metric": As John Lawson mentioned in interviews, the industry looks at streaming numbers. If you want more films with this level of representation, watching it on VOD (it’s often around $5.99) sends a direct message to studios that these stories sell.
- Check the Short Film: If you can find it, the 2018 short version of Daruma shows the seeds of what became this feature film.
The cast of Daruma film has set a new bar. It’s not just about giving someone a job; it’s about the quality of the storytelling that happens when you stop pretending and start casting for real.