Meryl Streep as Karen Silkwood

Kurt Russell as Drew Stephens

Cher as Dolly Pelliker

Craig T. Nelson as Winston

Fred Ward as Morgan

Diana Scarwid as Angela

Ron Silver as Paul Stone

Charles Hallahan as Earl Lapin

Josef Sommer as Max Richter

Sudie Bond as Thelma Rice

Henderson Forsythe as Quincy Bissell

E. Katherine Kerr as Gilda Schultz

Bruce McGill as Mace Hurley

David Strathairn as Wesley

J.C. Quinn as Curtis Schultz

Kent Broadhurst as Carl

Richard Hamilton as Georgie

Les Lannom as Jimmy

M. Emmet Walsh as Walt Yarborough

Graham Jarvis as Doctor at Union Meeting

James Rebhorn as Los Alamos Doctor

Bill Cobbs as Man in Lunchroom

Ray Baker as Pete Dawson

Will Patton as Joe

Tom Stovall as 3rd Los Alamos Doctor

Drew Stephens as Waiter (uncredited)

Tess Harper as Linda Dawson

Anthony Heald as 2nd Doctor at Union Meeting

Gary Grubbs as Randy Fox