John Wayne as J.B. Books

Lauren Bacall as Bond Rogers

Ron Howard as Gillom Rogers

James Stewart as Dr. Hostetler

Richard Boone as Mike Sweeney

Hugh O'Brian as Jack Pulford

Bill McKinney as Jay Cobb

Harry Morgan as Marshall Thibido

John Carradine as Beckum

Sheree North as Serepta

Rick Lenz as Dobkins

Scatman Crothers as Moses

Gregg Palmer as Burly Man

Alfred Dennis as Barber

Dick Winslow as Streetcar Driver

Melody Thomas Scott as Girl on Streetcar

Kathleen O'Malley as School Teacher

Jack Berle as Man Outside Metropole (uncredited)

Johnny Crawford as Books' Victim in Flashback (archive footage / uncredited)

Chuck Dawson as Extra (uncredited)

George Dunn as Man Delivering Headstone (uncredited)

Duke Fishman as Barfly (uncredited)

Christopher George as Books' Victim in Flashback (archive footage / uncredited)

Jonathan Goldsmith as Books' Victim (uncredited)

Leo Gordon as Books' Victim in Flashback (archive footage / uncredited)

Charles G. Martin as Murray the Bartender (uncredited)

Jim Michael as Barfly (uncredited)

Ernesto Molinari as Barfly (uncredited)

Darren Patrick Moloney as Paper Boy (uncredited)

Ricky Nelson as Books' Fellow Lawman in Flashback (archive footage / uncredited)

James Nolan as Gambler (uncredited)

Nick Raymond as Barfly (uncredited)

Henry Slate as Pulford Confidant (uncredited)

Bob Steele as Books' Victim in Flashback (archive footage / uncredited)

Ralph Volkie as White-Haired Bartender (uncredited)

John Zimeas as Barfly (uncredited)