Denzel Washington as Malcolm X

Angela Bassett as Betty Shabazz

Albert Hall as Baines

Al Freeman Jr. as Elijah Muhammad

Delroy Lindo as West Indian Archie

Spike Lee as Shorty

Theresa Randle as Laura

Kate Vernon as Sophia

Lonette McKee as Louise Little

Tommy Hollis as Earl Little

James McDaniel as Brother Earl

Ernest Lee Thomas as Sidney

Jean-Claude La Marre as Benjamin 2X

O.L. Duke as Pete

Larry McCoy as Sammy

Maurice Sneed as Cadillac

Debi Mazar as Peg

Phyllis Yvonne Stickney as Honey

Scot Anthony Robinson as Daniel

Sonny Jim Gaines as Cholly

Joe Seneca as Toomer

LaTanya Richardson Jackson as Lorraine

Wendell Pierce as Ben Thomas

Michael Guess as William X

Leland Gantt as Wilbur Kinley

Giancarlo Esposito as Thomas Hayer

Leonard L. Thomas as Leon Davis

Roger Guenveur Smith as Rudy

Craig Wasson as TV Host

Graham Brown as Dr. Payson

Gerica Cox as Eva Marie

Kristan Rai Segure as Saudi

Lauren Padick as Lisha

Danielle Fletcher as Attalah

Frank Adu as Chuck

Aleta Mitchell as Sister Robin

Curt Williams as Mr. Cooper

John Ottavino as Blades

John Reidy as Simmons

Frances Foster as Woman Outside Audubon Ballroom

Reggie Montgomery as Dick Jones

David Patrick Kelly as Mr. Ostrowski

Gary L. Catus as Doctor

Sharon Washington as Augusta

Shirley Stoler as Mrs. Swerlin

Oran "Juice" Jones as Hustler

Ricky Gordon as Lionel Hampton

George Lee Miles as Preacher

Raye Dowell as Sister Evelyn Williams

Veronica Webb as Sister Lucille Rosary

Abdul Salaam El Razzac as Fox

Keith Randolph Smith as Brother Gene

George Guidall as Mr. Holway

James L. Swain as Conductor

Peewee Love as Speedy

Lawrence James as Tully

Steve White as Brother Johnson

K. Smith as Roderick

Christopher Rubin as Sophia's Husband

Matthew Harris as Malcolm, 5 Years Old

Zakee Howze as Young Malcolm

Cytia Fontenette as Hilda, 3 Years Old

Marlaine Bass as Hilda, 8 Years Old

Benjamin Atwell as Philbert, 1 Years Old

Peter Dunn as Philbert, 6 Years Old

Dion Smack Jr. as Reginald, 2 Years Old

Darnell Smith as Elijah Muhammad's Grandson

TaiNesha Scott as Elijah Muhammad's Granddaughter

Chelsea Counts as Yvonne, 6 Months Old

Chela Counts as Yvonne, 6 Months Old

Natalie Clanton as Yvonne, 1 Year Old

Jessica Givens as Attalah

LaToyah Bigelow as Qubillah, 3 Years Old

Martaleah Jackson as Ilyasah, 2 and 3 Years Old

Tamaraleah Jackson as Ilyasah, 2 and 3 Years Old

Jasmine Smith as Ilyasah, 2 and 3 Years Old

Valentino Smith as Wilfred, 4 Years Old

David Thomas Jr. as Wilfred, 8 Years Old

Simon Do-Ley as Son of Elijah Muhammad and Secretary Evelyn Williams

Bill Goldberg as The "John"

Jonathan Peck as Phone Voice (voice)

Leonard Parker as Jason

Lennis Washington as Mrs. Johnson

Dyan Humes as Maid at Open Air Market

Lizbeth MacKay as White Woman at Market

Terry Layman as CIA Agent

Terry Sumter as CIA Agent

Jasper McGruder as Hotel Clerk

Mary Alice as School Teacher

Wyatt Tee Walker as Hospital Spokesperson

Hazel Medina as Cashier Person

Wendy E. Taylor as Numbers Woman

Ed Herlihy as Joe Louis Announcer

Ralph Cooper Sr. as Radio Announcer

Christian J. Dacosta as Passerby

Karen Duffy as Sophia’s Friend

Walter Jones as Barber's Customer

Marc Phillips as Photographer

Showman Uneke as Hustler at Grand Central Station

Theara Ward as Moviegoer

Larry M. Cherry as Prison Barber

Clebert Ford as Barber

Grafton Trew as Barber

Rogers Simon as Barber

George T. Odom as Barber

Vincent Moscaritola as Prison Guard

Larry Attile as Guard Baines

Brendan Kelly as Guard Cone

John Griesemer as Guard Wilkins

Fia Porter as Coed

Billy J. Mitchell as Man #1

Kent C. Jackman as Man #2

Beatrice Winde as Elderly Woman

Fracaswell Hyman as Bartender

Rion Johnson as Shoeshine Boy

Charles Weldon as Follower at Temple #7

Mike Hodge as Follower at Temple #7

Iris Little Thomas as Follower at Temple #7

Ilyasah Shabazz as Follower at Temple #7

Bahni Turpin as Follower at Temple #7

Aaron Blackshear as Student in Harlem Classroom

Nilyne Fields as Student in Harlem Classroom

John David Washington as Student in Harlem Classroom

Rudi Bascomb as Student in Harlem Classroom

Muhammad Parks as Student in Harlem Classroom

Chinere Parry as Student in Harlem Classroom

Ian Quiles as Student in Harlem Classroom

Sharmeek Martinez as Student in Harlem Classroom

Chuck Cooper as Customer

Damon Chandler as Customer

Shellye Broughton as Customer

Nicholas Barnwell as Customer

Sam Dixon as Customer

Barbara Smith as Customer

Rome Neal as Prisoner

Earl Whitted as Prisoner

Michael C. Mahon as Prisoner

Addison Cook as Prisoner

Byron Utley as Prisoner

George Rafferty as Prisoner

Maxwell Sinovoi as Prisoner

Eric Sharp as Prisoner

Stewart J. Zully as TV Reporter

Colleen Cowan as TV Reporter

Armand Schultz as TV Reporter

Reade Kelly as TV Reporter

Janet Zarish as TV Reporter

Annie Corley as TV Reporter

Stephen James as TV Reporter

Steven Randazzo as TV Reporter

Chris Skutch as TV Reporter

William Swinton as TV Reporter

Marcus Naylor as TV Reporter

Anthony Nocerino as TV Reporter

Gareth Williams as JFK Reporter

Stephen Hanan as JFK Reporter

Richard Schiff as JFK Reporter

David Berman as JFK Reporter

Michael Imperioli as Reporter at Fire Bombing

Steve Stapenhorst as Reporter at Fire Bombing

Arthur French as Pullman Porter

Lex Monson as Pullman Porter

Judd Jones as Pullman Porter

C.E. Smith as Fountain Waiter

Erika Smith-Brown as Waitress

Raymond Anthony Thomas as Crowd Member

Delilah Picart as Crowd Member

Michael Ralph as Crowd Member

Monique Cintron as Hooker

Jake-Ann Jones as Hooker

Sharon Ferguson as Hooker / Roseland Dancer

Amelia Mimi Walker as Hooker

Neisha Folkes-LeMelle as Hooker

Karen Michaels as Hooker

Lenore Pemberton as Hooker

Elise Neal as Hooker

Felicia Wilson as Hooker

Yvette Brooks as Hooker

Teresa Yvon Farley as Young Hooker

John Sayles as FBI Agent

Martin Donovan as FBI Agent

Jay Charbonneau as Cop at Audubon

Joe Pentangelo as Mounted Police

Mike Farley as Mounted Police

Nick Muglia as Mounted Police

David Reilly as Mounted Police

Nicholas Turturro as Boston Cop

James Murtaugh as Cop at Harlem Station

William Fichtner as Cop at Harlem Station

Tim Kelleher as Cop at Harlem Station

Michael Cullen as Desk Sergeant

James MacDonald as Lieutenant

Steve Aronson as Black Legion Leader

Bill Anagnos as Black Legion Member

Don Hewitt Sr. as Black Legion Member

Jery Hewitt as Black Legion Member

Joe Fitos as KKK Member

Manny Siverio as KKK Member

John Patrick McLaughlin as KKK Member

Shawn O'Neil as KKK Member

Andy Duppin as KKK Member

Elmer Licciardello as KKK Member

Matthew Underwood as DJ at the Harlem 'Y' Dance

Renton Kirk as DJ at the Harlem 'Y' Dance

Tim Hutchinson as Fruit of Islam

Andre Blair as Fruit of Islam

Abdul Hakeem Hijrah as Fruit of Islam

Rony Clanton as Fruit of Islam

Scott Whitehurst as Malcolm's FOI

Eric Payne as Malcolm's FOI

Ali A. Wahhab as Malcolm's FOI

Terry Hodges as Malcolm's FOI

Kevan Gibbs as Malcolm's FOI

Dana S. Hubbard as Malcolm's FOI

David Reivers as Elijah Muhammad's FOI

Robert Jason as Elijah Muhammad's FOI

Kevin Rock as Elijah Muhammad's FOI

Mansoor Najee-Ullah as Elijah Muhammad's FOI

Dion Graham as Elijah Muhammad's FOI

Zaahir Muhammad as Elijah Muhammad's FOI

Gregory Bargeman as Elijah Muhammad's FOI

Lee Summers as Elijah Muhammad's FOI

Rich Gordon as Elijah Muhammad's FOI

Larry Rushing as Elijah Muhammad's FOI

Monty Ross as MC - Roseland

Eddie Davis as Lionel Hampton Band - Trumpet

Reggie Pittman as Lionel Hampton Band - Trumpet

Patrick Rickman as Lionel Hampton Band - Trumpet

Gerald Brazel as Lionel Hampton Band - Trumpet

Clack Gaton as Lionel Hampton Band - Trombone

Richard Owens as Lionel Hampton Band - Trombone

Douglas Purviance as Lionel Hampton Band - Trombone

Mark Gross as Lionel Hampton Band - Alto Saxophone

Cleave Guyton Jr. as Lionel Hampton Band - Alto Saxophone

Javon Jackson as Lionel Hampton Band - Tenor Saxophone

Lance Bryant as Lionel Hampton Band - Tenor Saxophone

Daniel Lemelle as Lionel Hampton Band - Baritone Saxophone

David Fludd as Lionel Hampton Band - Piano

Marcus Lauper as Lionel Hampton Band - Bass

Dwayne Cook Broadnax as Lionel Hampton Band - Drums

Preston Vismale as Lionel Hampton Band - Music Assistant

Miki Howard as Billie Holiday Quartet - Billie Holiday

Terence Blanchard as Billie Holiday Quartet - Trumpet

Bruce David Barth as Billie Holiday Quartet - Piano

Rodney Whitaker as Billie Holiday Quartet - Bass

William E. Kilson as Billie Holiday Quartet - Drums

Sonny Allen as Roseland Dancer

Vanessa Benton as Roseland Dancer

Cheryl Burr as Roseland Dancer

Leslie Dockery as Roseland Dancer

Cisco Drayton as Roseland Dancer

Byron Easley as Roseland Dancer

John Elejaide as Roseland Dancer

Debra Elkins as Roseland Dancer

Gina Ellis as Roseland Dancer

John Festa as Roseland Dancer

Robert H. Fowler III as Roseland Dancer

Ryan Francois as Roseland Dancer

Phillip Gilmore as Roseland Dancer

Jauquette Green as Roseland Dancer

Wendy King as Roseland Dancer

Jerome Jamal Hardeman as Roseland Dancer

Dawn Hampton as Roseland Dancer

Monique Harcum as Roseland Dancer

Raymond Harris as Roseland Dancer

Delphine T. Mantz as Roseland Dancer

Bernard Marsh as Roseland Dancer

Greta Martin as Roseland Dancer

Norma Miller as Roseland Dancer

Frances Morgan as Roseland Dancer

John Parks as Roseland Dancer

Greg Poland as Roseland Dancer

Judine Hawkins Richard as Roseland Dancer

Eartha Robinson as Roseland Dancer

Michelle Robinson as Roseland Dancer

Tracy Robinson as Roseland Dancer

Ken Leigh Rogers as Roseland Dancer

Eddie Sanabria as Roseland Dancer

Eddie Shellman as Roseland Dancer

Lynn Sterling as Roseland Dancer

Keith Thomas as Roseland Dancer

Debbie Williams as Roseland Dancer

Charles Young as Roseland Dancer

Anthony Dewitt as Roseland Dancer

Cynthia Thomas as Shorty's Dance Partner

Sharon Brooks as Skeleton Crew Dancer

Laurieann Gibson as Skeleton Crew Dancer

El Tahara Ibrahim as Skeleton Crew Dancer

Keith Lewis as Skeleton Crew Dancer

Dereque Whithurs as Skeleton Crew Dancer

Kiki Della Vecchia as Teenage Whore

Bobby Seale as Speaker #1

Al Sharpton as Speaker #2

Christopher Plummer as Chaplain Gill

Karen Allen as Miss Dunne

Peter Boyle as Captain Green

William Kunstler as The Judge

Nelson Mandela as Soweto Teacher

Ossie Davis as Eulogy Performer (voice)

Michael Albanese as Harvard Law Student (uncredited)

Ashanti as Student in Harlem Classroom (uncredited)

Dan Gifford as Prison Guard (uncredited)

Mark Gorham as Police Chief's Driver (uncredited)

Ralph Hughes as FOI Member (uncredited)

Eddie Kehler as Harlem Cop (uncredited)

Frankie Manning as Roseland Dancer (uncredited)

Charles Mitchell as Prison Inmate (uncredited)

Sonya Wallace as Crowd Member (uncredited)