It’s 1978. A beat-up 1964 Chevy Impala is crawling along the California coast, and the interior is so thick with smoke you can barely see the upholstery. This wasn't just a scene; it was a cultural shift. When people talk about the Cheech and Chong Up in Smoke cast, they usually stop at the two guys on the poster. But honestly? The movie’s lasting power comes from the weird, eclectic, and occasionally high-brow group of actors surrounding the central duo.
You’ve got Cheech Marin playing Pedro De Pacas, the quintessential East L.A. chicano, and Tommy Chong as Anthony "Man" Stoner, the world’s most oblivious drummer. They were already huge in the comedy world, but Up in Smoke was a gamble. It was a low-budget indie that shouldn't have worked. It did. And while the chemistry between the leads is legendary, the supporting players provided the friction that made the comedy burn.
The Anchor of the Chaos: Tom Skerritt
Most people forget that a legitimate Hollywood heavyweight was in the middle of this madness. Tom Skerritt played Strawberry. Yeah, the guy from Top Gun and Alien. In 1978, Skerritt wasn't necessarily looking to be in a "stoner flick," but his portrayal of the high-strung, shell-shocked Vietnam vet provided one of the film’s best segments.
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Strawberry is a tragicomic masterpiece. When he gets paranoid about the police and starts yelling about "the narcs," he’s not just a caricature. Skerritt brought a genuine, frantic energy that made the stakes feel real, even when the plot was ridiculous. It’s that contrast—a serious actor playing a total mess—that gives the movie its edge. He wasn't just "in" the Cheech and Chong Up in Smoke cast; he was the guy who proved the movie had actual acting chops behind the haze.
The Antagonists We Loved to Hate
You can't have a road movie without the law. Stacy Keach is the secret weapon here. As Sergeant Stedenko, Keach created the blueprint for every bumbling, over-intense cop in comedy history. He’s obsessed. He’s incompetent. He’s wearing a hairpiece that seems to have a life of its own.
Keach was already an established dramatic actor, known for gritty roles. Seeing him lean into the absurdity of Stedenko was a revelation. He didn't play it for laughs; he played it straight, which made it ten times funnier. Alongside him were the "investigative" team:
- Karl Johnson as Reed
- Rick Kasmer as Casmer
They followed him into the literal bushes, disguised as shrubbery, trying to bust a van made entirely of fiberweed. It’s the kind of physical comedy that feels dated until you actually watch Keach’s facial expressions. He’s miserable. You can feel the character’s frustration with the world shifting around him.
The Domestic Disaster: Edie Adams and Strother Martin
The movie starts with a family dynamic that feels like a twisted version of a 1950s sitcom. Strother Martin, an iconic character actor often found in Westerns like Cool Hand Luke, plays Arnold Stoner, Anthony’s father. He’s fed up. He wants his son to go to military school or get a job.
Edie Adams plays Mrs. Stoner. She was a massive star in her own right, a Tony Award winner and a frequent collaborator with Ernie Kovacs. Seeing her in this world is surreal. She represents the "square" establishment that Anthony is trying to escape. When they threaten to send him to military school, it sets the whole plot in motion. Without that domestic tension, the movie is just two guys driving around. It needs the stakes.
The Weird and Wonderful Cameos
One of the coolest things about the Cheech and Chong Up in Smoke cast is how it utilized the Los Angeles comedy and music scene of the late 70s.
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Ever notice the girl who snorts the "cleanser" at the party? That’s June Fairchild. She was a staple of the era and brought a frantic, slightly dark energy to her brief screen time. Then you have Zane Buzby as Jade East. Her performance during the "Rock Fight" climax at the Roxy is peak 70s performance art.
And we have to talk about the music. Lou Adler didn't just direct the film; he infused it with his connections as a legendary record producer. The Battle of the Bands at the end of the film featured real musicians and performers who were part of the Sunset Strip scene. It gave the movie an authenticity that a studio-produced film would have completely missed.
Why This Specific Cast Worked
Comedy ensembles are fragile. If everyone is trying to be the "funny one," the movie collapses. Up in Smoke worked because Cheech and Chong were the only ones playing it as a broad comedy. Everyone else—the cops, the parents, the veterans—played it like they were in a gritty drama.
That’s the secret sauce.
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When Pedro and Man are freaking out about a "fiberweed" van, and Stedenko is treating it like a high-stakes terrorism bust, the gap between those two realities is where the humor lives. If Keach had winked at the camera, the movie would have been a flop. Because he stayed in character, the Cheech and Chong Up in Smoke cast became legendary.
The Legacy of the Performers
Sadly, many of the people who made this film what it was are no longer with us. Strother Martin passed away just a few years after the film's release. June Fairchild had a difficult life after her brush with fame. But their work in 1978 remains a time capsule.
The film was shot for roughly $2 million and grossed over $100 million. That doesn't happen just because people like weed jokes. It happens because the characters are memorable. You remember the way Strawberry looks at his motorcycle. You remember the way Stedenko says "Dope!"
Actionable Takeaways for Film Fans
If you’re revisiting the film or researching the Cheech and Chong Up in Smoke cast for a project, look beyond the surface:
- Watch for the Background Actors: Many of the people in the Roxy scene were actual L.A. locals and friends of the production, giving it a documentary-like feel.
- Study the Deadpan: Pay close attention to Stacy Keach. His performance is a masterclass in how to be the "straight man" in an absurd universe.
- Notice the Improv: While there was a script, much of the dialogue between Cheech and Tommy was refined through years of stand-up. The supporting cast had to be incredibly flexible to keep up with that rhythm.
- Check the Credits: Look for Lou Adler’s influence. As the director and a music mogul, he was the glue that brought these disparate actors together.
To truly appreciate the film, try watching it once while ignoring Cheech and Chong. Just watch the reactions of the people around them. The horror on the faces of the bystanders, the intense focus of the police, and the utter exhaustion of the parents. That is where the real movie is.
Next Steps for Deep Diving into 70s Cinema
Start by looking up the filmography of Strother Martin. If you only know him from this movie, you’re missing out on some of the best character work in the history of the Western genre. His role in Cool Hand Luke is the perfect mirror to his role here.
Also, track down the soundtrack. The music wasn't just background noise; it was performed by many of the people you see on screen, including the band "Alice Bowie." Understanding the intersection of the L.A. comedy scene and the music industry in 1978 explains exactly how a movie this weird got made in the first place.