Tom Skerritt David Drumlin
Matthew McConaughey Palmer Joss
Jena Malone Young Ellie
John Hurt S. R. Hadden
Max Martini Willie
Angela Bassett Rachel Constantine
Robert Zemeckis Director, Producer
Peter Jackson Additional Visual Effects
William Fichtner Kent
Rob Lowe Richard Rank
David Morse Ted Arroway
Jodie Foster Ellie Arroway
James Woods Michael Kitz
Jake Busey Joseph
Jay Leno Jay Leno
Yuji Okumoto Electrical
Boris Lee Krutonog Astronaut (uncredited)
Bill Clinton Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Carl Sagan Original Story, Novel, Co-Producer
Alan Silvestri Original Music Composer
Delaney Williams Believer #1 (uncredited)
J.A. Preston Senator (uncredited)
Geraldo Rivera Geraldo Rivera
Larry King Larry King
Kim Robert Koscki Stunts
Jerome Chen CG Supervisor
Jennifer Balgobin Dr. Patel
Steven Ford Major Russell
Marc Macaulay NASA Technician
James V. Hart Screenplay
Lynda Obst Executive Producer
Tim Monich Dialect Coach
Leo Lee Major Domo
François Duhamel Still Photographer
Deborah La Mia Denaver Makeup Artist
Hope Slepak Costumer
Marisa Petroro Oval Office Secretary (uncredited)
Ming Lo Pod Systems Control (uncredited)
Catherine Harper Foley Artist
Catherine Dao Life Support
Michael Goldenberg Screenplay
Janice Alexander Hairstylist
Carl Gilliard Controller (uncredited)
Saemi Nakamura Japanese Anchor
Scott Levy Sound Recordist
Victoria Burrows Casting
Steve Starkey Second Unit Director, Producer
Geoffrey Blake Fisher
Ken Ralston Senior Visual Effects Supervisor
Teresa Eckton Sound Effects Editor
Bruce Lacey Foley Editor
John A. Taylor Senate Hearing Attendee (uncredited)
Michael Albala Decryption Hacker
Michael Silvers Dialogue Editor
Bud Davis Stunt Coordinator
Robin Gammell Project Official
Thomas Garner Ian Broderick
William Jordan Chairman of Joint Chiefs
Todd Thompson News Reporter (uncredited)
Alex Veadov Russian Cosmonaut
Bruce Moriarty First Assistant Director
Tucker Smallwood Mission Director
Steve Boeddeker Sound Effects Editor
Gary Archer Prosthetics
Christopher Boyer Scientist (uncredited)
Dennis Sands Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Sami Chester Vernon
Cenk Uygur Reporter (uncredited)
Cellin Gluck Second Assistant Director
Candice T. Cain Supporter (uncredited)
David St. James Joint Chief
Henry Strozier Minister