Mason Gamble as Dennis Mitchell, a mischievous 5 - year - old boy Walter Matthau as George Wilson, a neighbor and Martha 's husband Joan Plowright as Martha Wilson, George 's wife Christopher Lloyd as Switchblade Sam, a burglar Robert Stanton as Henry Mitchell, Alice 's husband and Dennis ' father Lea Thompson as Alice Mitchell, Henry 's wife and Dennis ' mother Amy Sakasitz as Margaret Wade, Dennis ' friend Kellen Hathaway as Joey McDonald, Dennis ' friend Paul Winfield as Chief of Police Ben Stein as Boss (only as a cameo shot at a meeting) Natasha Lyonne as Polly Devin Ratray as Mickey Hank Johnston as Gunther Beckman Melinda Mullins as Andrea Billie Bird as Edith Butterwell Bill Erwin as Edward Little Arnold Stang as the Photographer Jeannie Russell as Neighbor
who played mrs wilson in dennis the menace movie
Joan Plowright