Matthew McConaughey Palmer Joss
Jodie Foster Ellie Arroway
Jena Malone Young Ellie
Angela Bassett Rachel Constantine
Max Martini Willie
David Morse Ted Arroway
William Fichtner Kent
Tom Skerritt David Drumlin
Peter Jackson Additional Visual Effects
Robert Zemeckis Director, Producer
John Hurt S. R. Hadden
James Woods Michael Kitz
Rob Lowe Richard Rank
Jay Leno Jay Leno
Carl Gilliard Controller (uncredited)
Valorie Armstrong Woman Senator
Jake Busey Joseph
Delaney Williams Believer #1 (uncredited)
Bill Clinton Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Leo Lee Major Domo
Gary Rizzo Sound Re-Recording Mixer, Additional Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Yuji Okumoto Electrical
J.A. Preston Senator (uncredited)
Michael Silvers Dialogue Editor
Randy Thom Sound Designer, Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Robin Gammell Project Official
Geoffrey Blake Fisher
Marc Macaulay NASA Technician
Alex Veadov Russian Cosmonaut
Michael Goldenberg Screenplay
Carl Sagan Novel, Co-Producer, Story
Alan Silvestri Original Music Composer
Neal Matarazzo Kitz's Aide (uncredited)
Henry Strozier Minister
Joanna Johnston Costume Design
Lynda Obst Executive Producer
Saemi Nakamura Japanese Anchor
Haynes Brooke Drumlin Aide
Steve Boeddeker Sound Effects Editor
Gary Archer Prosthetics
Bryant Gumbel Bryant Gumbel
Jennifer Balgobin Dr. Patel
Tom Johnson Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Richardson Morse Mission Doctor
Kristoffer Ryan Winters Dynamics #2
Steven Ford Major Russell
Marisa Petroro Oval Office Secretary (uncredited)
Ken Ralston Senior Visual Effects Supervisor
William Jordan Chairman of Joint Chiefs
Larry King Larry King
Tucker Smallwood Mission Director
James V. Hart Screenplay
Bruce Lacey Foley Editor
Scott Levy Sound Recordist
Mo Henry Negative Cutter
Don Burgess Director of Photography
Bernard Shaw Bernard Shaw
Bruce Moriarty First Assistant Director
Boris Lee Krutonog Astronaut (uncredited)
Bud Davis Stunt Coordinator
Josh Lusby Set Designer
Candice T. Cain Supporter (uncredited)
Jerome Chen CG Supervisor
Kee-Suk 'Ken' Hahn Sequence Supervisor
Charleen Richards-Steeves ADR Mixer
Teresa Eckton Sound Effects Editor
Catherine Dao Life Support
William B. Kaplan TV Interviewer (uncredited), Production Sound Mixer
Ming Lo Pod Systems Control (uncredited)
Jeffery Thomas Johnson Mechanical
David St. James Joint Chief
Steve Starkey Producer, Second Unit Director