James Dean as Cal Trask

Julie Harris as Abra Bacon

Raymond Massey as Adam Trask

Richard Davalos as Aron Trask

Jo Van Fleet as Kate Trask

Burl Ives as Sam the Sheriff

Albert Dekker as Will Hamilton

Lois Smith as Anne

Harold Gordon as Gustav Albrecht

Nick Dennis as Rantani

Abdullah Abbas as Townsman at Carnival (uncredited)

John Alban as Townsman (uncredited)

Rose Allen as Townswoman at Carnival (uncredited)

Frank Baker as Townsman (uncredited)

Barbara Baxley as Nurse (uncredited)

John Beradino as Coalman at Lettuce Field (uncredited)

Joe Brooks as Townsman at Carnival (uncredited)

Nora Bush as Townswoman at Carnival (uncredited)

Timothy Carey as Joe (uncredited)

Jack Carr as Charlie (Townsman at Carnival) (uncredited)

Wheaton Chambers as Townsman at Carnival (uncredited)

Lonny Chapman as Roy Turner (Automobile Mechanic) (uncredited)

Edward Clark as Draft Board Member (uncredited)

Harry Cording as Bouncer (uncredited)

Roger Creed as Townsman at Carnival (uncredited)

Bryn Davis as Townswoman at Carnival (uncredited)

Ray Dawe as Workman (uncredited)

Anna Dewey as Townswoman at Carnival (uncredited)

Lester Dorr as City Official at Parade (uncredited)

Joe Dougherty as Townsman at Carnival (uncredited)

Darren Dublin as Student (uncredited)

Franklyn Farnum as Townsman at Carnival (uncredited)

Al Ferguson as Townsman at Carnival (uncredited)

Cliff Fields as Student (uncredited)

Lloyd Ford as Townsman at Carnival (uncredited)

Robert Foulk as Man at Boxcar (uncredited)

Curt Furberg as Townsman (uncredited)

Robert Gardett as Townsman at Carnival (uncredited)

Richard Garrick as Dr. Edwards (uncredited)

John George as Townsman at Carnival (uncredited)

Leonard George as Townsman at Carnival (uncredited)

Ruth Gillis as Woman (uncredited)

John Halloran as City Official at Parade (uncredited)

Sam Harris as Official at Parade (uncredited)

Jonathan Haze as Piscora's Son (uncredited)

Ramsay Hill as English Officer (uncredited)

Earle Hodgins as Shooting Gallery Concessionaire (uncredited)

Tex Holden as Townsman (uncredited)

Diane Howe as Student (uncredited)

Charles Anthony Hughes as City Official at Parade (uncredited)

Gail Kobe as Student (uncredited)

Effie Laird as Townswoman at Carnival (uncredited)

Billy Mahan as Townsman at Carnival (uncredited)

Mike Marienthal as Townsman at Carnival (uncredited)

Frank Mazzola as Student (uncredited)

Philo McCullough as Deputy Sheriff (uncredited)

Edward McNally as Soldier (uncredited)

Ken Miller as Student (uncredited)

Tex Mooney as Bartender (uncredited)

Ralph Moratz as Soldier on Train (uncredited)

Robert Morris as Student (uncredited)

Paul Nichols as Townsman at Carnival (uncredited)

Artie Ortego as Townsman (uncredited)

Gil Perkins as Lettuce Truck Worker (uncredited)

William Phillips as Coalman at Lettuce Fields / Man at Exercise Class (uncredited)

Rose Plumer as Rose (Townswoman at Carnival) (uncredited)

Patricia Prest as Student (uncredited)

Julian Rivero as Prisoner (uncredited)

Mickey Roth as Student (uncredited)

Henry Rowland as Helper at Boxcar (uncredited)

Loretta Rush as Card Dealer (uncredited)

Scott Seaton as Townsman (uncredited)

Sammy Shack as Townsman (uncredited)

Charles Sherlock as Milk Bottle Concessionaire at Carnival (uncredited)

Mario Siletti as Mr. Piscora (uncredited)

Hal Taggart as City Official at Parade (uncredited)

Bette Treadville as Madame (uncredited)

Sid Troy as Townsman at Carnival (uncredited)

Sailor Vincent as Townsman in Parade / Townsman at Carnival (uncredited)

Max Wagner as Workman (uncredited)

Lillian West as Townswoman at Carnival (uncredited)

Chalky Williams as Townsman at Carnival (uncredited)

Diana Deane as Woman (uncredited)