Summary

• The cast of Black Hawk Down featured famous actors at different points in their careers, with stars like Josh Hartnett and Ewan McGregor.
• Many actors played real people in the movie, with even the most famous stars receiving limited screen time due to the large cast.
• Black Hawk Down jump-started the careers of young and international cast members, leading to future success in the American film industry.

The cast of Black Hawk Down featured famous actors at both the beginning and peak of their careers. Black Hawk Down tells the story of Task Force Ranger on the disastrous 1993 mission that spiraled into the Battle of Mogadishu. During a raid against the Somali National Alliance, a Somali militia shot down two Black Hawk helicopters and left members of Task Force Ranger stranded in hostile territory. Ridley Scott’s 2001 urban war movie boasted recognizable stars like Josh Hartnett, Ewan McGregor, and William Fichtner, but it also recruited actors little known in Hollywood at the time.

For its young and international cast members, Black Hawk Down was a debut film that jump-started their careers in the American film industry. Many of the actors played versions of real people, although a few played fictional characters. The challenge of covering so many characters meant that even the most famous actors cast in Black Hawk Down received limited screen time. With so many characters and so little time focused on them, here's a guide to keeping track of every famous actor in the cast of Black Hawk Down.

Josh Hartnett

As Matthew Eversmann

Josh Hartnett played Staff Sergeant Matthew Eversmann, a young soldier from the 75th Ranger Regiment who received his first command right before the mission. Eversmann led his squad through the chaotic 18 hours of the Battle of Mogadishu, and in real life he earned a Bronze Star Medal with Valor device for his actions during the crisis.

Before being cast in Black Hawk Down, Hartnett was already known for teen horror movie roles in Halloween H20 and The Faculty. He also starred in another war movie that helped raise his profile with Michael Bay's Pearl Harbor. Hartnett went on to appear in movies like The Black Dahlia and Lucky Number Slevin before stepping away from high-profile roles. He's had somewhat of a comeback recently, appearing in the cast of Oppenheimer and starring in M. Night Shyamalan's Trap.

Hugh Dancy

As Kurt “Doc” Schmid

Sergeant First Class Kurt Schmid was the medic for Eversmann’s squad in Black Hawk Down, but in real life, he worked with the Delta Force instead of the Rangers. Schmid is part of one of the most harrowing scenes in the movie in which he has to operate on one of his wounded comrades inside a dirty abandoned building with little to no medical supplies. It is a gripping moment that shows the challenges these soldiers faced.

Hugh Dancy was cast as Schmid after starring as David Copperfield in a television film adaptation, serving as his big break. The English actor also starred in a number of other period pieces, including Ella Enchanted and King Arthur. Dancy is best known for playing FBI profiler Will Graham in Hannibal opposite Mads Mikkelsen. Most recently, Dancy can be seen playing ADA Nolan Price in Law & Order.

Eric Bana

As Norm “Hoot” Gibson

Eric Bana joins the cast of Black Hawk Down as Delta Force soldier Sergeant First Class Norm “Hoot” Gibson. Although chafing against authority, Hoot showed his dedication by returning to the battle multiple times to aid his fellow soldiers. Hoot was a fictional character created to represent soldiers John Macejunas, Norm Hooten, Thanh Nguyen, and Matthew Rierson. He gets some of the best standout action hero moments in the movie.

After working as a comedian and sketch comedy performer in Australia, Bana gained recognition in Australian cinema with The Castle and Chopper. Following his breakout Hollywood role in Black Hawk Down, Bana was cast as Bruce Banner in Ang Lee's controversial Hulk movie. He went on to star in Steven Spielberg's Munich, the historical epic Troy, and Judd Apatow's Funny People with Seth Rogen and Adam Sandler.

Ewan McGregor

As John Grimes