Lou Diamond Phillips as Ritchie Valens

Danielle von Zerneck as Donna Ludwig

Elizabeth Peña as Rosie Morales

Rosanna DeSoto as Connie Valenzuela

Esai Morales as Bob Morales

Joe Pantoliano as Bob Keane

Marshall Crenshaw as Buddy Holly

Brian Setzer as Eddie Cochran

Daniel Valdez as Lelo

Howard Huntsberry as Jackie Wilson

Felipe Cantu as Curandero

Eddie Frias as Chino

Mike Moroff as Mexican Ed

Geoffrey Rivas as Rudy

Sam Anderson as Mr. Ludwig

Maggie Gwinn as Mrs. Ludwig

Jeffrey Alan Chandler as Alan Freed

Stephen Lee as Big Bopper

John Quade as Bartender

Lettie Ibarra as Vera

Diane Rodriguez as Ernestine

Katie Valdez as Connie Jr.

Gloria Balcorta as Irma

Ernesto Hernández as Garbage Man

Noble Willingham as Howard

Thom Pintello as Sound Engineer

Stephen F. Schmidt as Tommy Allsup

Rosanna Locke as Sharon Sheeley

Kim Sebastian as Donna's Girlfriend

Dyana Ortelli as Rosalinda

Andy Griggs as Mr. House

Art K. Koustik as Trucker

Tony Genaro as Mr. Caballero

Allison Robinson as Girl at Party

Hunter Payne as Baseball Announcer

Joe Miller as Student

Mary Ann Tanedo as Student

Barb Jittner as Student

Brian Russell as Student

Yolanda Martinez Olivarri as Tall Blonde Girl on Motorcycle

Frank Aragon as Student

Linda Holdahl as Dancer

Thomas Rosales Jr. as Man at Party

Matthew Shields as Dancer

Reynaldo Silva as Student

Connie Valenzuela as Elderly Lady at Party

Rick Dees as Ted Quillin