Glen Powell has moved from minor roles to full-on A-lister status, and he still loves involving his parents in his projects. One of the cutest recent examples is how his mom had to learn to “moan” for a cameo in the Hulu series Chad Powers.
In Chad Powers, Glen Powell Sr. appears as an assistant coach on the sidelines, a part that echoes his background as an executive coach. Cyndy Powell plays a “moaning woman” in the ER, sitting next to Glen’s character Russ Holliday/Chad Powers with no clear injury besides her constant moaning.
Cyndy Powell did not have professional experience with this type of performance, so she actually practiced moaning specifically for the role. Her singer daughter Leslie coached her around ten minutes a day to help her get the sound right for the camera.
After all that practice, Glen Powell Sr. delivered a joke that instantly became part of the story. He said that when he came out in the morning after his wife’s moan rehearsal sessions, the male neighbors were greeting him with approving “Attaboy!” comments.
Glen Powell often casts his parents as extras or side characters in his work, showing how close-knit the family is. He has said that having them on set brings him joy, and they happily join in, even when the roles are a bit unconventional, like a moaning ER patient.
The Powell parents show up in several of Glen’s projects beyond Chad Powers. They had cameo appearances in the rom-com Anyone But You, the disaster film Twisters (including a rodeo scene), as well as earlier roles in The Expendables 3, Everybody Wants Some!! and Hidden Figures.
Off-screen, Glen’s parents are just as playful and supportive. They have been seen at events like the Hit Man and Twisters red carpets, holding humorous signs that tease their son, including notes about changing his diapers and other lighthearted jabs.
For Powell, including his family in the moviemaking and promotion process is part of the fun. He has remarked that friends and family naturally want to be part of the experience, and he has no plans to stop inviting his parents to participate.
Cyndy Powell’s dedicated moan practice and her husband’s mischievous neighbor joke turned a tiny role into a memorable story. The whole situation underlines how much Glen relies on his family’s enthusiasm and humor to make his projects even more personal.
“My mom is across the aisle and gets the ‘I’ll have what she’s having’ ‘When Harry Met Sally’ moment. She gets an iconic look in that scene.”
A-list star Glen Powell turns a quirky “moaning” cameo for his mom and a cheeky joke from his dad into a heartfelt example of how closely his family shares his Hollywood journey.