Laura Dern as Miss Riley

Jake Gyllenhaal as Homer Hickam

Chris Owen as Quentin Wilson

Chris Cooper as John Hickam

William Lee Scott as Roy Lee

Chad Lindberg as O'Dell

Natalie Canerday as Elsie Hickam

Ilya Baskin as Ike Bykovsky

Chris Ellis as Principal Turner

Scott Thomas as Jim Hickam

Randy Stripling as Leon Bolden

Courtney Cole-Fendley as Dorothy Platt

David Dwyer as Jake Mosby

Terry Loughlin as Mr. Dantzler

Kaili Hollister as Valentine Carmina

David Copeland as Coach Gainer

Don Henderson Baker as Jensen

Tom Kagy as Lenny

Donald Thorne as Trooper One

Justin Whitsett as Kid

Larry Rue as Neighbor

Neva Howell as Neighbor

Terry Nienhuis as Neighbor

Brady Coleman as Anderson

Rick Forrester as Roper

Terrence Gibney as Basil Thorpe

Doug Swander as Corvette Guy

Keeli Hale Kimbro as Corvette Girl

Mark Jeffrey Miller as Vernon

Blaque Fowler as Reverend

Don Tilley as Rescue Worker

Rockford Davis as Chemistry Teacher

John Bennes as Doctor

Jonathan Fawbush as Barney

Larry Black as Fred Smith

Frank Schuler as Moonshiner

Tommy Smeltzer as Man at Mine

Charles Lawlor as Miner

Tom Turbiville as Miner

Ida Ginn as Quentin's Mom

Richard Lumpkin as Judge at Welch

Mark W. Johnson as Union Official

Don Taylor as Union Official

Don G. Campbell as Mr. Morris

Liz Byler as Ivy League Girl

Bradford Ryan Lund as Ivy League Boy

Frank Hoyt Taylor as Judge at Indy

Dave Hager as Head Judge

Ray Elder as Tom Webster

Andy Stahl as Jack Palmer

Joe Digaetano as Wernher Von Braun

Thomas Taylor as Miner in Elevator

David Ducey as Man in Crowd

Jenny Patterson as Nurse

O. Winston Link as Locomotive Engineer