Matthew McConaughey Palmer Joss
Jena Malone Young Ellie
Jodie Foster Ellie Arroway
William Fichtner Kent
Peter Jackson Additional Visual Effects
John Hurt S. R. Hadden
Angela Bassett Rachel Constantine
Robert Zemeckis Director, Producer
David Morse Ted Arroway
Max Martini Willie
Valorie Armstrong Woman Senator
James Woods Michael Kitz
Rob Lowe Richard Rank
Delaney Williams Believer #1 (uncredited)
Tom Skerritt David Drumlin
Leo Lee Major Domo
J.A. Preston Senator (uncredited)
Jay Leno Jay Leno
Jake Busey Joseph
Robin Gammell Project Official
Yuji Okumoto Electrical
Carl Sagan Novel, Co-Producer, Story
Neal Matarazzo Kitz's Aide (uncredited)
Henry Strozier Minister
Alan Silvestri Original Music Composer
Geoffrey Blake Fisher
Haynes Brooke Drumlin Aide
Gary Rizzo Sound Re-Recording Mixer, Additional Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Bryant Gumbel Bryant Gumbel
Jennifer Balgobin Dr. Patel
Richardson Morse Mission Doctor
Alex Veadov Russian Cosmonaut
William Jordan Chairman of Joint Chiefs
Marisa Petroro Oval Office Secretary (uncredited)
Catherine Harper Foley Artist
Larry King Larry King
Scott Levy Sound Recordist
Bill Clinton Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Steven Ford Major Russell
Dennis Sands Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Boris Lee Krutonog Astronaut (uncredited)
Steve Boeddeker Sound Effects Editor
Candice T. Cain Supporter (uncredited)
Randy Thom Sound Designer, Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Gary Archer Prosthetics
Catherine Dao Life Support
Christopher Boyer Scientist (uncredited)
Marc Macaulay NASA Technician
Tucker Smallwood Mission Director
Victoria Burrows Casting
Deborah La Mia Denaver Makeup Artist
Don Burgess Director of Photography
Carl Gilliard Controller (uncredited)
William B. Kaplan TV Interviewer (uncredited), Production Sound Mixer
Tom Johnson Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Ian Whitcomb British Anchor
Cellin Gluck Second Assistant Director
Rob Elk Pad Leader
Bud Davis Stunt Coordinator
Thomas Garner Ian Broderick
Alice Kushida Scientist
Geraldo Rivera Geraldo Rivera
Mo Henry Negative Cutter
Jerome Chen CG Supervisor
Vivian McAteer Hairstylist
Charleen Richards-Steeves ADR Mixer
Ming Lo Pod Systems Control (uncredited)
Michael Albala Decryption Hacker
Elaina Erika Davis Philanthropy Bureaucrat (uncredited)
Joanna Johnston Costume Design
Saemi Nakamura Japanese Anchor
Allen Hall Special Effects Supervisor