S. Epatha Merkerson as Rachel 'Nanny' Crosby

Marcus Carl Franklin as Ruben Santiago Jr.

Yasiin Bey as The Bandleader

Carmen Ejogo as Alean

Louis Gossett Jr. as Ol'lem Taylor

Macy Gray as Pauline

Terrence Howard as Bill Crosby

Ernie Hudson as Dick Barrymore

Rosie Perez as Bertha

Liev Schreiber as Ulysses Ford

Jimmy Smits as Ruben Santiago Sr.

Patricia Wettig as Laura's Mother

Jeffrey Wright as Mr. Paul

Adina Porter as Ricky

Bill Simms Jr. as Self

Ruben Santiago-Hudson as Freddie Cobbs

Charlayne Woodard as Bill's Woman

Omar Benjamin as Ruben, Jr. (Toddler)

Julie Benz as Laura

Robert Bradley as Otis McClanahan

Michael Kenneth Williams as Jimmy

Saul Williams as Lonnie (War Veteran)

Delroy Lindo as Mr. Lucious

Thomas Jefferson Byrd as Numb Finger Pete

Kathleen Chalfant as Mrs. Carmichael

Byanca Godwin as Bill's Woman

Hill Harper as Ruben Jr. (Adult)

Barry Shabaka Henley as Shakey Winfield

Lou Myers as Ol' Po Carl

Julanne Chidi Hill as Jimmy Lee's Woman

Henry Simmons as Jesse

Arista Pemberton as Fish Fry Guest

Ron Kellum as Fish Fry Guest

Muhammad Parks as Fish Fry Guest

Ken Robertson as Fish Fry Guest

Michelle Robinson as Fish Fry Guest

Paula Brown as Fish Fry Guest

Neisha Folkes-LeMelle as Dancer at Maxie's

Stevie Ray Anthony as Dancer at Maxie's

Carmen M. Chavez as Dancer at Maxie's

Ryan Francois as Dancer at Maxie's

Aakomon Jones as Dancer at Maxie's

Autum Perry as Dancer at Maxie's

Greg Poland as Dancer at Maxie's

Indira Taylor as Dancer at Maxie's

Eugene Lee as Nanny's Birthday Party Guest

Ryan Michelle Bathe as Nanny's Birthday Party Guest

Tracey Buckner as Nanny's Birthday Party Guest

Roxanne Mayweather as Nanny's Birthday Party Guest

Amad Jackson as Alean's Boyfriend

Bob Tyrus as Fish Sandwich Man

J.B. Williams as Gambler

Lily Santiago as Laura's Daughter

Trey Santiago-Hudson as Laura's Son

Delandis as Performer

Jana Thompson as Hotel Receptionist in Toronto (uncredited)

Josef Cannon as Headwaiter (uncredited)

Keith Tilque as Fish Fry Guest (uncredited)

Blaise Brooks as Party Guest (uncredited)