Jake Busey Joseph
Matthew McConaughey Palmer Joss
Jodie Foster Ellie Arroway
Tom Skerritt David Drumlin
William Fichtner Kent
David Morse Ted Arroway
Jena Malone Young Ellie
John Hurt S. R. Hadden
Rob Lowe Richard Rank
Angela Bassett Rachel Constantine
James Woods Michael Kitz
Peter Jackson Additional Visual Effects
Delaney Williams Believer #1 (uncredited)
Leo Lee Major Domo
Ming Lo Pod Systems Control (uncredited)
Jay Leno Jay Leno
J.A. Preston Senator (uncredited)
Robin Gammell Project Official
Robert Zemeckis Director, Producer
Max Martini Willie
Kristoffer Ryan Winters Dynamics #2
Gary Archer Prosthetics
Michael Goldenberg Screenplay
Yuji Okumoto Electrical
Tony Rivetti Sr. First Assistant Camera
Carl Sagan Novel, Co-Producer, Story
Neal Matarazzo Kitz's Aide (uncredited)
Michael Albala Decryption Hacker
Henry Strozier Minister
Alex Veadov Russian Cosmonaut
Haynes Brooke Drumlin Aide
Bryant Gumbel Bryant Gumbel
Larry King Larry King
Jennifer Balgobin Dr. Patel
Richardson Morse Mission Doctor
Catherine Harper Foley Artist
Keith VanderLaan Prosthetic Makeup Artist
Bill Clinton Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
Joan Bradshaw Executive Producer, Unit Production Manager
William Jordan Chairman of Joint Chiefs
Mark O'Kane Steadicam Operator
Frank D. Parrish Second Assistant Camera
Alan Silvestri Original Music Composer
Steven Ford Major Russell
Harry Keramidas Additional Editing
Todd Thompson News Reporter (uncredited)
Boris Lee Krutonog Astronaut (uncredited)
Jay Caputo Stunts
Peggy Names Cableman
Kenneth Jones Visual Effects Supervisor
Candice T. Cain Supporter (uncredited)
Saemi Nakamura Japanese Anchor
Tucker Smallwood Mission Director
Ray Buffer Press Reporter (uncredited)
Catherine Dao Life Support
Ines Mongil-Echandi Production Office Coordinator
Ewa Sztompke Dialogue Editor
John B. Josselyn Art Department Assistant
Michael Diersing Construction Coordinator
Earl Sampson Boom Operator
John Nicolard Digital Color Timer
Roland Blancaflor Special Effects Technician
Tony Eckert Foley Mixer
Paul L. Nolan Ellie's Attorney (uncredited)
Geoffrey Blake Fisher
Valorie Armstrong Woman Senator
Alison C. Rosa Second Second Assistant Director
Allen Hall Special Effects Supervisor
Bud Davis Stunt Coordinator
John P. Cazin Pyrotechnician
Ian Whitcomb British Anchor
Cellin Gluck Second Assistant Director