- Matthew Broderick
- Col. Robert Gould Shaw
- Denzel Washington
- Pvt. Trip
- Morgan Freeman
- Sgt. Maj. John Rawlins
- Cary Elwes
- Maj. Cabot Forbes
- Jihmi Kennedy
- Pvt. Jupiter Sharts
- Andre Braugher
- Cpl. Thomas Searles
- John Finn
- Sgt. Maj. Mulcahy
- Alan North
- Gov. John Albion Andrew
- Bob Gunton
- Gen. Harker
- Cliff DeYoung
- Col. James M. Montgomery
- Christian Baskous
- Edward L. Pierce
- Jay O. Sanders
- Gen. George Crockett Strong
- Richard Riehle
- Kendric, quatermaster
- Mark A. Levy
- Bigoted soldier
- Jane Alexander
- Sarah Blake Sturgis Shaw (uncredited)
- Raymond St. Jacques
- Frederick Douglass (uncredited)
- Edward Zwick
- Director
- Freddie Fields
- Producer
- James Horner
- Original Music
- Fred Francis
- Cinematographer
- Steven Rosenblum
- Film Editing
- Mary Colquhoun
- Casting
- Norman Garwood
- Production Design
- Dan Webster
- Art Director
- Skip Cosper
- First Assistant Director
- Kevin Jarre
- Screenwriter
- Garrett Lewis
- Set Decoration
- Francine Jamison-Tanchuck
- Costume Design
