Seize the Day
Synopsis
Tommy Wilhelm is a salesman. An honest, hard-working guy who has lost his job, his girlfriend, and left part of his sanity behind as he heads to New York to pick up the pieces of his life. He's always been able to sell, but caught in a downward spiral, he must, in addition, face the father who never really understood him, while trying to balance his newly precarious existence.
Top Cast
Explore Star Directory →
Robin Williams
Tommy Wilhelm
Jerry Stiller
Dr. Tamkin
Joseph Wiseman
Dr. Adler
Glenne Headly
Olive
John Fiedler
Carl
Richard B. Shull
Rojax
Katherine Borowitz
Margaret
Louis Guss
Rubin
William Duell
Joey
Tony Roberts
Bernie Pell
Jo Van Fleet
Mrs. Einhorn
Allen Swift
Maurice Venice
Steve Vinovich
Zeigler
Tom Aldredge
Rappaport
Fyvush Finkel
Shomier
William Hickey
Peris
Carl Low
Rowland
Walt Gorney
Panhandler
Release History & Theatrical Window
Toronto International Film Festival
Festival / Special Debut
Key Information & Fast Facts
- Director
- Fielder Cook
- Screenplay & Story
- Saul Bellow, Ronald Ribman
- Original Score
- Elizabeth Swados
- Original Title
- Seize the Day
- Country of Origin
- United States of America
- Spoken Languages
- English, German
- Runtime
- 1h 33m
- Production Studios
- Learning in Focus
Creative Leadership & Key Crew
Fielder Cook
Saul Bellow, Ronald Ribman
Elizabeth Swados
Eric Van Haren Noman
Sidney Katz
Chiz Schultz, Robert Geller
Department Leadership Roster
Cliff Cudney
Stunt Coordinator
Fielder Cook
Director
Elizabeth Swados
Original Music Composer
Eric Van Haren Noman
Director of Photography
Ronald Ribman
Writer
Sidney Katz
Editor
Chiz Schultz
Producer
John Robert Lloyd
Production Design
Peggy Farrell
Costume Design
Age Classification & Content Advisories
Official viewer rating standards and content warnings across international classification boards.
International Certification Matrix
Production Stills & Gallery
Official cinematic photography and background stills for Seize the Day.
Featured In Curated Collections
Editorial lists, community rankings, and cinematic collections featuring Seize the Day.
Mid Hunting List
A list of mids found by Mid Hunters
Movies
Robin Williams Portfolio - Movies
Curated master portfolio of movies starring Robin Williams Portfolio - Movies. Updated frequently. Last updated September 26, 2026.
MissingMovies
Ush Kino
DVD
my collection
Similar Titles to Seize the Day
Movies sharing stylistic DNA, tone, and thematic storytelling
7.9
7.4
6.3
6.7
7.7
6.2
6.5
7.2
5.6
6.3
7.5
6.5
More Like Seize the Day
Recommended titles matching themes, cast, and genres.
Frequently Asked Questions About Seize the Day
Quick factual answers about cast, synopsis, director, box office, and release information.
What is Seize the Day about?
Tommy Wilhelm is a salesman. An honest, hard-working guy who has lost his job, his girlfriend, and left part of his sanity behind as he heads to New York to pick up the pieces of his life. He's always been able to sell, but caught in a downward spiral, he must, in addition, face the father who never really understood him, while trying to balance his newly precarious existence.
Who directed Seize the Day?
Seize the Day was directed by Fielder Cook.
Who stars in Seize the Day?
The principal cast of Seize the Day includes Robin Williams, Jerry Stiller, Joseph Wiseman, Glenne Headly, John Fiedler.
When was Seize the Day released and how long is it?
Seize the Day was released in 1986 with a total runtime of 1h 33m.
Who composed the musical score for Seize the Day?
The original motion picture soundtrack for Seize the Day was composed by Elizabeth Swados.
Is Seize the Day based on a book or true story?
Seize the Day is adapted from the following source material: Novel: "Saul Bellow".
What is the age rating and content advisory for Seize the Day?
Seize the Day holds official age classifications: CA: 14A.