‘Accepted’ Cast: Where Are They Now? Justin Long, Jonah Hill and More

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'Accepted' Cast: Where Are They Now? Justin Long, Jonah Hill and More

Never stop learning! The movie Accepted wasn't a massive hit when it was released in 2006, but it helped kick off the careers of several actors who became huge stars. Directed by Steve Pink, the comedy follows a mischievous high school senior named Bartleby Gaines (Justin Long) who decides to create a fake college after all the real ones he applied to reject him. The prank balloons out of control after Bartleby's friends get involved, with Sherman Schrader III (Jonah Hill) creating a functional website for the school that actually accepts applicants. Bartleby also leases an abandoned psychiatric hospital near his town's real college and renovates it to look like his made-up school: the South Harmon Institute of Technology. When Long first read the script, he was surprised that the writers were aiming for a PG-13 rating rather than R, especially given the involvement of Lewis Black. The comedian played Sherman's uncle Dr. Ben Lewis, who the boys recruit as the "dean" of their fake college. [jwplayer ht2EympO-zhNYySv2] "In my college experience, just personally, to say it was R-rated would be sugarcoating it," the Going the Distance actor told Radio Free Entertainment in July 2006. "It was NC-17. If you're making an accurate, realistic college film, I felt it was sort of necessary, not only because of the sexual stuff, but just the ease with which college kids say the F-word." After he saw the final cut, however, he was relieved that producers stuck to a PG-13 script because it made the movie accessible to a wider audience. "More people can watch and it has more the tone of, like, an '80s comedy, like a John Cusack or Michael J. Fox movie," he explained. "Those were movies that I grew up with, and I loved, that inspired me." The Dodgeball star later said that working with Hill was one of his favorite parts of doing Accepted, but the Superbad actor almost didn't get the part. After Long was cast as the lead, he pushed the studio to bring Hill back in for another audition — and the Oscar nominee nailed it. "I remember when he left that audition, everyone was like, 'Well, he's definitely in the movie somewhere,'" the Ed alum recalled in a September 2021 interview with CBS News. "We laughed a lot making that movie." Keep scrolling to see what the cast of Accepted has been up to since the film's release.

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Justin Long

After Accepted, Long went on to star in films including Idiocracy, Live Free or Die Hard, Zack and Miri Make a Porno, Drag Me to Hell, Yoga Hosers and The Wave. In 2021, he made his directorial debut with Lady of the Manor, which he cowrote and codirected with his brother Christian Long. He also hosts a podcast titled "Life Is Short With Justin Long."

The Drunk History alum dated his Going the Distance costar Drew Barrymore off and on from 2007 to 2010 after they met on the set of He's Just Not That Into You. Long was later linked to Amanda Seyfried. He has been dating Kate Bosworth since 2021. In April 2023, Long confirmed that he and Bosworth are engaged. One month later, he referred to the actress as his "now-wife" on an episode of his podcast. 

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Jonah Hill

The Evan Almighty actor later appeared in films including Superbad, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, 21 Jump Street, This Is the End and Don't Look Up. In 2011, he earned his first Oscar nomination for his work in Moneyball. Two years later, he earned another nod for his performance in The Wolf of Wall Street. Hill made his directorial debut in 2018 with the coming-of-age film Mid90s.

The War Dogs star has been linked to Jordan Klein, Isabelle McNally and Sarah Brady. Hill has been dating Olivia Millar since mid-2022. Hill's rep confirmed in June 2023 that the pair had secretly welcomed their first child. 

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Lewis Black

The Daily Show contributor went on to star in Man of the Year, Farce of the Penguins and Peep World, and provided the voice of Anger in 2015's Inside Out. In 2008, he released his second book, Me of Little Faith. He's also released several comedy albums and specials, most recently Thanks for Risking Your Life in 2020.

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Blake Lively

Lively played Monica Moreland, Bartleby's love interest and the ex-girlfriend of his enemy, Hoyt Ambrose. Shortly after Accepted, the California native landed the role of Serena van der Woodsen in Gossip Girl, which aired on The CW from 2007 to 2012. Her later film roles include The Age of Adaline, The Town, Green Lantern, A Simple Favor and The Shallows.

Before tying the knot with husband Ryan Reynolds in 2012, Lively dated Penn Badgley and Leonardo DiCaprio. The Simon Says actress and the Deadpool star are parents to three daughters: James (born December 2014), Inez (born September 2016) and Betty (born October 2019). In February 2023, the twosome welcomed their fourth baby. 

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Columbus Short

Short appeared as Darryl "Hands" Holloway, who wants to go to Bartleby's fake school because he lost his athletic scholarship after an injury. He went on to star in Cadillac Records, Stomp the Yard, American Violence and Scott Free. From 2012 to 2014, he played Harrison Wright on ABC's Scandal.

The Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip alum shares a son with ex-wife Brandi Short, whom he divorced in 2003. He and ex-wife Tanee McCall, who split in 2013, share daughter Ayala. Columbus has been married to Aida Abramyan since December 2016. The duo share two sons.

In February 2022, Short was arrested for alleged domestic violence and was charged with two misdemeanors. The That's So Raven alum denied the allegations in a since-deleted Instagram post. Short was previously arrested on felony assault charges in 2014 after his alleged involvement in a restaurant brawl. He later pleaded no contest to a misdemeanor domestic violence charge and served three years probation. 

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Maria Thayer

The Strangers With Candy alum played Rory, another college reject who joins up with Bartleby's crew. The Hitch star went on to appear in TV shows including 30 Rock, New Girl, Portlandia, Arrested Development and Superstore. She also reunited with her Accepted costar Hill in Forgetting Sarah Marshall.

Thayer dated David Harbour from 2009 to 2011.

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Adam Herschman

Herschman appeared as Glen, another potential South Harmon Institute of Technology student who failed his SAT. He went on to star in Harold & Kumar Escape From Guantanamo Bay, Hot Tub Time Machine 2 and Disjointed. He also reunited with Accepted costar Long in 2007's Walk Hard: The Dewey Cox Story.

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Travis Van Winkle

Van Winkle played Hoyt Ambrose, who tries to unmask Bartleby's entire fake college plan. He later appeared in Friday the 13th, Bloodwork, Veronica Mars and The Last Ship. In 2021, he starred in season 3 of You as Cary Conrad.