Almost Famous is a classic film that stars many heavy-hitting Hollywood actors, and although Pauley Perrette’s performance tends to be overlooked, she nailed her two-minute character with ease. Before Perrette was cast in Cameron Crowe’s comedy-drama, she had four small film credits to her name. She was already a television veteran by the turn of the 21st century, however. Between 1994 and 1999, Perrette secured roles in several successful TV series, including Frasier (1996), The Drew Carey Show (1998), and Time of Your Life (1999-2000), in which she portrayed the main character, Cecilia Wiznarksi.
Aside from Perrette, Almost Famous is composed of an A-list ensemble cast including Billy Crudup, Kate Hudson, Frances McDormand, Anna Paquin, Zooey Deschanel, Rainn Wilson, Jay Baruchel, Jimmy Fallon, and the late Philip Seymour Hoffman. Almost Famous, which follows the adventures of a teenage aspiring journalist, William Miller (Patrick Fugit), has only seemed to continue to grow in popularity throughout the last 25 years. No matter how much time has passed, the movie remains an essential entry on anyone’s watchlist.
Pauley Perrette Portrayed Abby Sciuto on NCIS
Pauley Perrette Retired from Acting in 2020
Pauley Perrette became a household name in the early 2000s when she was cast as Abigail “Abby” Sciuto on NCIS, an American police crime drama TV series The show, which aired its 24th season in October 2024 through May 2025, revolves around a large group of special agents working for the Naval Criminal Investigative Service, a branch of the real U.S. Department of the Navy. Sciuto, a forensic specialist for NCIS, is portrayed as a happy and enthusiastic employee, whose goth appearance sticks out and serves as a contrast to her personality. Perrette was nominated for three People’s Choice Awards during her tenure as Sciuto.
Perrette announced that she had decided to leave NCIS in 2017, and Scuito was subsequently written out of the TV series during Season 15. In 2019, Perrette alleged that she quit NCIS because of a combination of being physically assaulted, being bitten by a dog on-set, and problems with her co-star, Mark Harmon, who has portrayed Leroy Jethro Gibbs since 2003. Perrette ultimately retired from acting in 2020 and is now primarily involved in a number of social causes.
Alice Wisdom Packs a Punch in Almost Famous
Alice Wisdom Was Named After Cameron Crowe’s Mother
In Almost Famous, Perrette portrayed Alice Wisdom, a radio DJ who briefly shares a scene with Lester Bangs (Hoffman). Lester was in the middle of a discussion with Alice about good music when William stumbled across the pair through a window. Alice defended The Doors and Jim Morrison, while Lester called the rock singer a “drunken baffoon,” although Lester then labeled The Doors as “poetic.” Perrett’s short scene in Almost Famous ended with a nod to Iggy Pop, and although Hoffman was the ultimate scene-stealer, Perrette held her own.
Cameron Crowe, who directed, wrote, and co-produced the film, named Perrette’s character after his mother, Alice Crowe. Alice was a teacher, activist, and psychology professor who also engaged in peaceful protests. Besides the subtle nod to his mother, Crowe based the character of Alice Wisdom on Gabriel Wisdom, a former DJ for KPRI-FM. Crow and Wisdom met in 1972 and have remained friends for over 50 years.
Almost Famous Is a Fun Coming-Of-Age Story
William’s Adventures are Fueled by Nostalgia, Music, and Humor
Almost Famous has continued to stand the test of time since its release in 2000. The film’s strong ensemble cast aside, Crowe’s characters were well-written and appropriately fleshed out. While some characters (like Crudup’s Russell Hammond) are less likable than others, almost everyone presents at least one redeemable quality that makes them worth rooting for. Hudson’s portrayal of Penny Lane, for instance, is both entertaining and emotional. William’s experiences with the band Stillwater are peppered with humorous moments that highlight his over-the-top journey. Still, when reminded that William is just 15 years old, the story becomes more heartwarming.
What makes Almost Famous more sentimental than anything, however, is its strong reminiscence of the music scene in the early 1970s. Crowe’s comedy-drama film oozes nostalgia from the first scene to the end credits. The music featured perfectly encapsulates the time (see Lester and Alice’s music discussion) and creates a great film soundtrack. The style choices for each character are on par, and the dialogue feels fresh as well, despite the film being set 30 years in the past.
Almost Famous Is a Semi-Autobiographical Film
Cameron Crowe was a Journalist Before He Became a Director
Almost Famous is a work of fiction, but it was inspired by reality. Crowe borrowed from his experiences in the 1970s to write the screenplay for the comedy-drama film, making it a semi-autobiographical piece. Stillwater was crafted from several real bands with which Crowe was familiar, although there was a band called Stillwater signed to Capricorn Records between 1973 and 1984. Crowe and his ex-wife, Nancy Wilson (from the rock band Heart), wrote three songs for Almost Famous. In addition, several characters were based on real-life people; for example, Penny Lane was inspired by Pennie Lane Trumbull, a former groupie who followed rock bands throughout the early 1970s.
Crowe’s biggest connection to Almost Famous is through William’s character, however. In 1973, Crowe secured a position at Rolling Stone as a writer and editor; Crowe was 16 years old at the time. Like William, Crowe began to write at 13 and soon got in contact with the real Lester Bangs, who was an editor at the rock magazines Creem and Circus. Crowe continued to travel with rock bands and write features for Rolling Stone throughout the 1970s, until he released the book Fast Times at Ridgemont High in 1981. That film is now considered one of the best teen comedies of all time. From then on, Crowe was involved in the film industry.
Almost Famous Is Remembered as a Cult Classic
Despite Its Critical Success, Almost Famous Was a Box Office Bomb
Almost Famous was a hit among viewers and critics upon its release. Film critic Roger Ebert, who collaborated with Gene Siskel for 30 years, praised Crowe’s film and named Almost Famous the best film of 2000. Peter Travers of Rolling Stone also complimented Crowe’s direction and vision at the time. Almost Famous has continued to age like fine wine over the years. In 2021, Rolling Stone even published William’s cover story about Stillwater. With a date of August 30, 1973, William’s article can be read for free and is titled, “Stillwater Runs Deep!”
Despite its mark on pop culture, however, Almost Famous had a poor theatrical release. When the film was released on September 22, 2000, it only grossed $47.4 million from box office sales worldwide. With a budget of $60 million, Crowe’s comedy-drama surprisingly underperformed. The film didn’t make much money, but Almost Famous was nominated for three Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Crowe took home an Academy Award for Best Original Screenplay and co-won a Grammy with Danny Bramson for the film’s soundtrack.
