The American Hustle cast includes some of the best actors of the 2010s with all its lead stars having either won an Oscar or secured multiple nominations. Directed by David O Russell, American Hustle is inspired by the FBI Abscam scandal of the 1970s and the 1980s. The narrative begins with the exploits of two con artists, who are eventually hired by the FBI to bring down several corrupt politicians through elaborate sting operations. Garnering ten nominations at the 2014 Oscars, Russell relied on many frequent collaborators like Jennifer Lawrence, Christian Bale and Bradley Cooper to helm his period piece.
Even though American Hustle dramatizes the true events, the lead actors are not playing real-like figures (at least by name). The original draft, an unproduced screenplay by Eric Warren Singer, retained the actual names of the people involved in the Abscam scandal. But in his rewrites, Russell replaced the real figures with their caricatures. For instance, con artists and government informants Mel Weinberg and Evelyn Knight are reinterpreted as Irving Rosenfeld and Sydney Prosser. Similarly, the disgraced Mayor Angelo Errichetti is replaced by a certain Mayor Carmine Polito. Such historical reinterpretations and even the American Hustle soundtrack manage to stylishly recreate the '70s and '80s.
Christian Bale As Irving Rosenfeld
Christian Bale leads the American Hustle cast as Irving Rosenfeld, a charming con artist who devises scams with his mistress Sydney Prosser. Irving is very skilled at understanding human behavior (which can be seen from his friendships with the people he dupes). When he is roped in on an FBI scandal, Irving proves that he can be cool-headed even in unpredictable situations.
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While this role continued to show the best of Bale's abilities, the actor also gained notoriety for playing characters like complex villain Patrick Bateman in American Psycho and vigilante superhero Batman in The Dark Knight trilogy. He has also played insomniac factory worker Trevor in The Machinist and won an Oscar for playing Dicky Eklund in The Fighter (which was his first collaboration with David O Russell). Bale has also played Dick Cheney in Vice, race car driver Ken Miles in Ford v Ferrari and Gorr the God Butcher in Thor: Love & Thunder.
Amy Adams As Sydney Prosser
Amy Adams joins the American Hustle cast as Sydney Prosser, Irving’s colleague and romantic partner. Posing as an aristocrat named Lady Edith Greensly, the character takes advantage of her mysterious personality and succeeds at manipulating others. Adams was nominated for an Oscar for American Hustle, marking one of her many nominations. Adams had previously collaborated with Russell as Charlene Fleming in The Fighter. She later reunited with her American Hustle and The Fighter co-star, Christian Bale, in Vice in which she portrayed author and Dick Cheney's wife Lynne Cheney. Adams has also dabbled in blockbusters like the DCU movies, where she starred as reporter Lois Lane.
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Adams’ character in American Hustle was inspired by real-life FBI informant Evelyn Knight. The actor has similarly played many real-life characters in her career such as painter Margaret Keane in Big Eyes, author-food blogger Julie Powell in Julie & Julia and even a wax figure version of aviator Amelia Earhart in Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian. Her filmography also includes the sci-fi and fantasy genres, with Adams playing linguist Louise Banks in Arrival and Giselle in Disney's Enchanted franchise. She’s also a mainstay in the thriller genre, portraying crime reporter Camille Preaker in Sharp Objects and art curator Susan Morrow in Nocturnal Animals.
Bradley Cooper As Richie DiMaso
The American Hustle cast also boasts Bradley Cooper, who had also starred in Russell’s comedy-drama Silver Linings Playbook. The actor portrays FBI Agent Richie DiMaso, a composite character created for the film to show the Agency’s involvement in the Abscam scandal. Richie can be as manipulative and opportunistic as the con artists he gets involved with. But there are moments when even they can test his mental limits with Cooper channeling his dramatic prowess to capture Richie’s rage and frustration. While Cooper had found earlier success as a comedic actor playing Phil in the Hangover trilogy, films like American Hustle bore testimony to his versatility.
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Before American Hustle, Cooper drew critical praise as the divorcee Pat Solitano Jr in Silver Linings Playbook. Given his character’s struggles with mental health, the role required an emotional nuance that earned the actor his career-first Oscar. Cooper went on to find further fame as former Navy SEAL Chris Kyle in American Sniper, Rocket Raccoon in Guardians of the Galaxy movies and singer Jack Maine in his directorial debut A Star Is Born. Cooper is also a notable producer, sharing credits for the Oscar-nominated movies Joker and Nightmare Alley. After American Hustle, Cooper collaborated with Russell again to play TV network executive Neil Walker in Joy.
Jennifer Lawrence As Rosalyn Rosenfeld
Silver Linings Playbook star, Jennifer Lawrence, collaborated with Russell again to join the American Hustle cast as Irving’s wife Rosalyn Rosenfeld. Rosalyn is one of the standout characters of American Hustle, thanks to her unpredictable nature and rage-fueled outbursts that lead to some hilariously chaotic moments.
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Lawrence first broke out as an impoverished teenager Reel in Winter’s Bone but got introduced to mainstream audiences ever since she played the rebel Katniss Everdeen in the Hunger Games movies and the mutant Mystique in the X-Men franchise. Her work with Russell includes an Oscar-winning performance as the widow Tiffany in Silver Linings Playbook and playing real-life inventor Joy Mangano in Joy.
Jeremy Renner As Mayor Carmine Polito
Mayor Carmine Polito has some questionable and illegal connections but he’s largely naïve in front of the informants and federal agents after him. He harbors a deep sense of duty for his townsfolk as he tries to promote gambling to revitalize the economy.
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The gentlemanly Mayor is played by Jeremy Renner who Marvel Cinematic Universe fans remember as Hawkeye. Renner’s career highlights include starring in The Hurt Locker as explosive disposal expert Sgt First Class William James and playing another “mayor” (although an unofficial one) Mike McLusky in Mayor of Kingstown. Other popular credits include The Town, The Bourne Legacy, Arrival and Wind River.
Robert De Niro As Victor Tellegio
The American Hustle cast also includes Hollywood veteran Robert De Niro, who has a brief yet integral presence as Mafia boss Victor Tellegio. The gangster unexpectedly gets drawn into an FBI operation and comes off as a largely intimidating and suspicious man.
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De Niro is, of course, no stranger to playing tough guys thanks to his memorable turn as a young Vito Corleone in The Godfather II and as various mobsters in Martin Scorsese films like Goodfellas, Casino and The Irishman. De Niro is also renowned for playing boxer Jake LaMotta in Raging Bull, the titular antihero Travis Bickle in Taxi Driver along with numerous other acclaimed roles.
American Hustle Supporting Cast And Characters
Jack Huston as Pete Musane – Rosalyn briefly has an affair with a mobster named Pete Musane; the guy who she ends up spilling a few secrets about her husband’s secretive operations. The mobster is played by Jack Huston who is known for playing contract killer Richard Harrow in Boardwalk Empire and the eponymous hero in the 2016 remake of Ben-Hur.
Michael Peña as Paco Hernandez / Sheikh Abdullah – FBI Agent Paco Hernandez also poses as an Emirati Sheikh to dupe a few mobsters in a scam operation. The character is played by Michael Peña who is popularly known as the fast-talking storyteller Luis in the Ant-Man movies. The actor also gained acclaim for playing DEA Agent Kiki Camarena in Narcos and LAPD officer Miguel Zavala in End of Watch.
Shea Whigham as Carl Elway – Another Silver Linings Playbook and Vice actor joined the American Hustle cast with Shea Whigham playing Carl Elway, one of Irving’s partners in crime. The character actor has had supporting appearances in Joker, the Fast & Furious franchise, The Wolf of Wall Street and Kong: Skull Island.
Alessandro Nivola as Anthony Amado – A senior FBI agent with supervision over Richie, Anthony Amado is played by Alessandro Nivola who played mobster Dickie Moltisanti in the Sopranos prequel The Many Saints of Newark and Nicolas Cage’s on-screen brother in Face-Off.
Saïd Taghmaoui as Irv’s Sheikh Plant – Saïd Taghmaoui plays one of Irving’s friends who acts as a wealthy sheik to lure in potential investors. The actor initially broke out as Saïd in the French political thriller La Haine. He also appeared as Sameer in Wonder Woman and The Elder in John Wick: Chapter 3: Parabellum.
Paul Herman as Alfonse Simone – A lawyer working for Victor Tellegio, Alfonse Simone is portrayed by Paul Herman. The late actor’s popular roles included Randy in Silver Linings Playbook and Whispers DiTullio in The Irishman.
Colleen Camp as Brenda – Brenda is a woman who is fooled by Sydney to wire $2 million to the fake sheik’s account. The character is played by Colleen Camp. The American Hustle cast member has appeared in the Police Academy franchise, Apocalypse Now, Clue and Die Hard with a Vengeance.
Louis CK as Stoddard Thorsen – Richie’s boss at the FBI Stoddard Thorsen is portrayed by comedian Louis CK. Before joining the American Hustle cast, he previously starred in the sitcom Louie and standup specials like Shameless and Chewed Up.