Richard Dreyfuss as Glenn Holland

Glenne Headly as Iris Holland

Jay Thomas as Bill Meister

Olympia Dukakis as Principal Jacobs

William H. Macy as Vice Principal Gene Wolters

Alicia Witt as Gertrude Lang

Terrence Howard as Louis Russ

Damon Whitaker as Bobby Tidd

Jean Louisa Kelly as Rowena Morgan

Alexandra Boyd as Sarah Olmstead

Nicholas John Renner as Cole at 6 Years Old

Joseph Anderson as Cole at 15 Years Old

Anthony Natale as Cole at 28 Years Old

Joanna Gleason as Gertrude Lang as an adult

Beth Maitland as Deaf School Principal

Patrick Fong as Study Hall Student

Benjamin J. Dixon as Mr. Mims

Kathryn Arnett as Ms. Swedlin

Freeman O. Corbin as Mr. Sullivan

Moira Feeney as Ms. Godfrey

Joshua Minnick as Mr. Shapiro

Ashley Hamrick as Miss Reeves

Janine Shouse as Miss Schumaker

Spencer Riviera as Mr. Hosta

Dan Vhay as Mr. Malone

Sean Bevington as Mr. McMartin

John Henry Redwood as Mr. Russ

Ted Roisum as Dr. Sorenson

Mark Daniels as Ralph

Kaili Carlton as Ms. Wayne

Adam Fitzhugh as Mr. McKenzie

Eric Michael Cole as Boy 2

Joe Campbell as Boy 3

Tomiko Peirano as Girl 2

Kasey Nelson as Girl 3

Zoe McLellan as Girl 4

Kelly M. Casey as Deaf School Teacher

Michael Mendelson as Chaplain

Alex Dudgeon as Auditioner 1

Rachel Wooley as Auditioner 2

Jordan Carlton as Auditioner 3

Aurora Miller as Auditioner 4

Paul Bernard as Auditioner 5

Mary Kay O'Mealy as Auditioner 6

Dieffyd Gilman-Frederick as Auditioner 7

Tara Eng as Auditioner 8

Jay Frank as Auditioner 9

Conan Doherty as Toby Klein

Stacey Siegel as Diner Waitress

Nicolas Sirianni as Football Player 1

Jacob Adams as Football Player 2

Chris Marth as Football Player 3

Brent Archie as Football Player 4

Kevin Calaba as Football Player 5

Keith Swift as Football Player 6

John Boyer as Billy Faraday

Linda Williams Janke as Secretary

David Clegg as Superintendent

Don Burns as City Official

Dennis Biasi as Adult Stadler

Alexander Emmert as 1st Chair Cellist

Cazzey Louis Cereghino as Graduate (uncredited)

Michael R. Ferraro as Auditorium extra (uncredited)

Elizabeth Fournier as Woman in audience (uncredited)

Balthazar Getty as Stadler (uncredited)

Forest Whitaker as Bobby Tidd as an adult (uncredited)