Kris Kristofferson as James Averill

Christopher Walken as Nathan D. Champion

John Hurt as Billy Irvine

Sam Waterston as Frank Canton

Brad Dourif as Mr. Eggleston

Isabelle Huppert as Ella Watson

Joseph Cotten as The Reverend Doctor

Jeff Bridges as John L. Bridges

Ronnie Hawkins as Major Wolcott

Paul Koslo as Mayor Charlie Lezak

Geoffrey Lewis as Trapper Fred

Richard Masur as Cully

Rosie Vela as Beautiful girl

Mary Catherine Wright as Nell

Nicholas Woodeson as Small man

Stefan Shcherby as Big man

Waldemar Kalinowski as Photographer

Terry O'Quinn as Captain Minardi

Jack Conley as Morrison

Margaret Benczk as Mrs. Eggleston

Jim Knobeloch as George Kopestonsky

Erika Petersen as Mrs. Kopestonsky

Robin Bartlett as Mrs. Lezak

Tom Noonan as Jake

Marat Yusim as Russian Merchant

Aivars Smits as Michael Kovach

Gordana Rashovich as Mrs. Kovach

Jarlath Conroy as Mercenary in new suit

Allen Keller as Dudley

Caroline Kava as Stefka

Mady Kaplan as Kathia

Anna Thomson as Little Dot

Mickey Rourke as Nick Ray

T Bone Burnett as Heaven's Gate Band

Patricia Hodges as Jessie

Kevin McClarnon as Arapaho Brown

Kai Wulff as German Merchant

Steven Majstorovic as Czech Merchant

Gabriel Walsh as Zindel's Clerk

Norton Buffalo as Private

Jack Blessing as Emigrant Boy

Jerry Sullivan as Governor of Wyoming

Jerry McGee as Heaven's Gate Band

Cleve Dupin as Heaven's Gate Band

Stephen Bruton as Heaven's Gate Band

Sean Hopper as Heaven's Gate Band

David Mansfield as John DeCory - Skating Violinist

David S. Cass Sr. as Moustached Mercenary

Paul D'Amato as Bearded Mercenary

Peter Osusky as Peter

Ivan Kormanik as Ivan

Michael Christensen as Robert Steingart - Juggler

Anatoli Davydov as Fighting Bulgarian Emigrant

Nina Gaidarova as Bulgarian Emigrant's Wife

Wally McCleskey as Chicken Fighter

Gary Vezane as Canton's Bodyguard

H.P. Evetts as Wolcott's Bodyguard

Bruce Morgan as Miner - Mercenary

Bobby Faber as Class Marshal - Harvard

Judi Trott as Irvine's Girlfriend

Willem Dafoe as Willy (uncredited)

Loyd Catlett as Morrison's Sentry (uncredited)

Juli Erickson as Refugee (uncredited)

Barrie Holland as Policeman (uncredited)