Summary
Even years after its 2009 release,The Blind Sideis still honored as a classic film, primarily due to its stellar and iconic cast. Based on the book of the same name by Michael Lewis,The Blind Sideis based on the true storyof offensive lineman Michael Oher, who was taken in and educated by the Tuohy family in the early 2000s. In 2023, controversy emerged aroundThe Blind Side’s true story, as the real Mike Oher has spoken out about his contentious relationship with the Tuohy family. Nevertheless,the film still remains an important part of the American sports film canon.
The Blind Siderelies heavily on its relationships and character sympathiesand is often praised for thepowerful and life-changing friendship between the main characters. The high-grossing movie earned $309 million on a $29 million budget and continues to be memorable. With this positive reception,The Blind Sidewas named the Best Sports Movie at the 2010 ESPY Awards and was nominated for Best Picture at the Academy Awards. One of the film’s iconic cast members even won the Academy Award for her performance.
Investigator Granger
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Sandra Bullock as Leigh Anne Tuohy
Date Of Birth: July 19, 2025
Actor:Sandra Bullock’s first feature role was in the 1987 film,Hangmen. Since then she has starred in several action films, includingSpeed,Ocean’s Eight, andGravity. Bullock also has an extensive romantic comedy resume, with roles inWhile You Were Sleepingand, most famously,The Proposal.Many consider her breakout role to be the 1994 film, and subsequent franchise,Speed.
Notable Movies & TV Shows:
Character: Bullock’s touching performance as Leigh Anne Tuohy inThe Blind Sideis widely considered one of her best roles. In the movie, Leigh Anne Tuohy is driven, strong-minded, and inspired to help Mike after recognizing his talent. Though the real Tuohy is now surrounded by controversy over her family’s conservatorship with Mike Oher, Bullock’s performance remains wildly popular.Bullock even won the 2010 Academy Award for Best Actress in a Leading Rolefor her performance inThe Blind Side.
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Quinton Aaron as Michael “Big Mike” Oher
Date Of Birth: August 09, 2025
Actor: Quinton Aaron was first known for the filmBe Kind Rewind, which came out in 2008, just a year beforeThe Blind Side. InThe Blind Side, Aaron’s second feature film and first lead role, he was 24 years old when playing the 17-year-old Michael. SinceThe Blind Side, Aaron has primarily appeared in smaller independent films, likeHalfwayand Vivica A. Fox’sJason’s Letter.Aaron has also had guest roles on several TV shows, includingOne Tree HillandLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit.
Notable Movies & TV Shows
Character:Aaron plays Oher as a lovable but defensive wallflower. He didn’t meet the real Oher until after the film’s release, basing his performance on the book and other accounts.Aaron reacted to the 2023Blind Sidecontroversy, defending his co-star Sandra Bullock and her role as Leigh Anne. In the movie, however, Oher is an empathetic presence – mixing emotional fragility with steely determination.
Tim McGray as Sean Tuohy
Date Of Birth: July 23, 2025
Actor:Tim McGraw has a relatively limited acting resume. He is best known for his singing career, where he is a record-topping Country singer with over fifteen studio albums and three Grammy Awards.McGraw’s first lead feature film role was inFilckain 2006, while his first acting performance dates back to a 1997 episode ofThe Jeff Foxworthy Show.The Blind Sidewas not McGraw’s first acting role in a football-centric film; he also starred in the 2004 sports drama filmFriday Night Lights.He has also appeared in several episodes of the 2018 showYellowstoneand is one of the stars of its prequel series,1883.
Character:InThe Blind Side,McGraw plays Leigh Anne’s husband, Sean. As Michael’s adoptive father, Sean is an important presence in the story, helping provide an emotionally supportive environment. McGraw reportedly had to shave off his signature goatee to play the part to look more like the real Sean Tuohy.McGraw also contributed the song “Southern Voice” toThe Blind Side’s soundtrack.
The Blind Sideis not currently on streaming, but is available to rent and purchase online.
Kathy Bates as Miss Sue
Date Of Birth: July 02, 2025
Actor:Kathy Bates’ first on-screen role was in a minor 1971 film,Taking Off.However,her breakout role wasn’t until Stephen King’sMiseryin 1990, for which she won an Academy Award. Like her co-star McGraw,The Blind Sidewas not Bates’ first football-based movie, as she starred alongside Adam Sandler in the 1998 filmThe Waterboy.Bates also has a prominent stage-acting career, receiving a Tony Award nomination for a 1993 performance off-Broadway.
Character:Bates plays Miss Sue, Oher’s private tutor, who helps him improve his academic performance enough to get a scholarship. The character was based on Oher’s real tutor, “Miss Sue” Mitchell, who reportedly worked with Oher for multiple hours every night. Both outspoken and generous, Miss Sue is a hugely influential presence in Oher’s life.
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Date Of Birth: August 18, 2025
Actor: Head started his career with single-episode television appearancesinHow I Met Your MotherandMad TV. Like his cinematic father, McGraw, Head also appeared in an episode ofYellowstoneand the first season of the television seriesFriday Night Lights. His first film appearance was in the 2008 filmHancock. Since appearing inThe Blind Side, Head has had only a handful of other film roles. S.J. Tuohy is Head’s most notable role to date.
Character:Head played Oher’s adoptive brother Sean “S.J.” Tuohy Jr. Although S.J. is eight years old inThe Blind Side, Head was actually 11 when he began filming. It is S.J.’s initial befriending of Oher that sets the events of the story into motion, effectively acting as an introduction to the family.
Lily Collins as Collins Tuohy
Date Of Birth: June 29, 2025
Actor:The daughter of famous singer Phil Collins,Lily Collins’ first on-screen appearance was at two years old in the BBC showGrowing Pains. At the age of 20,The Blind Sidewas considered Collins’ breakthrough role. Since acting inThe Blind Side, Collins has transitioned into more dramatic roles, such as in the anorexia dramaTo The Boneand the Ted Bundy biopicExtremely Wicked, Shockingly Evil, and Vile.
Character: Collins plays the Tuohy’s other child, aptly named Collins. The role required Collins to act both mature and haughty as she played the 15-year-old. When Oher first joins the household, Collins is crucial in persuading her parents to keep offering their assistance – revealing a softness behind her slightly hostile demeanor.
Ray McKinnon as Coach Burt Cotton
Date Of Birth: July 06, 2025
Actor: Ray McKinnon’s first film appearance was inDriving Miss Daisy, where he was credited as Trooper #1. One of McKinnon’s first significant career successes was writing and directing the short filmThe Accountant, which won the 2002 Academy Award for Best Live Action Short Film. McKinnon’s career is extensive, with roles in many renowned movies and shows, such asO Brother, Where Art Thou?andApollo 13.
Character: McKinnon plays Burt Cotton, the head coach of the Wingate Christian School football team. As a result of this position of authority, he is a hugely influential presence in the direction of Oher’s life. In real life, the Wingate coach during Oher’s time on the team was Hugh Freeze, who has coached at both Auburn University and the University of Mississippi.
The Blind Side’s Supporting Cast And Characters
Kim Dickens as Mrs. Boswell: Dickens plays Mrs. Boswell, one of Oher’s teachers at the high school. Dickens’ other credits includeGone Girland television roles inDeadwood,Fear the Walking Dead, andHouse of Cards.
Adriane Lenox as Denise Oher: Playing Michael’s biological mother inThe Blind Side, thespian Lenox acted in plays likeDoubt, as well as television roles in shows like30 Rock, Daredevil, andThe Blacklist.
IronE Singleton as Alton: Aside from his performance as Alton, the gang leader inThe Blind Side, Singleton has also starred inThe Walking Deadand the 2020 Disney+ football filmSafety.
Sharon Conley as Investigator Granger:InThe Blind Side, Conley acts as the investigator, investigating the connection between the Tuohy family and Oher’s college admissions. In addition to her role inThe Blind Side, Conley is also known for her roles inThe Hunger Gamesand the TV miniseriesCandy.
The Blind Side
Cast
The Blind Side is a biographical sports drama film that follows the life of Michael Oher, a homeless African-American teenager who is adopted by a wealthy white family. Under the guidance of his adoptive mother, played by Sandra Bullock, Oher overcomes personal and academic challenges to become a successful college football player. The film, directed by John Lee Hancock, is based on the real-life story of Oher’s journey.
