Forest Whitaker as Charlie 'Bird' Parker

Diane Venora as Chan Parker

Michael Zelniker as Red Rodney

Samuel E. Wright as Dizzy Gillespie

Keith David as Buster Franklin

Michael McGuire as Brewster

James Handy as Esteves

Damon Whitaker as Young Bird

Morgan Nagler as Kim

Arlen Dean Snyder as Dr. Heath

Sam Robards as Moscowitz

Glenn Wright as Alcoholic Patient

George Orrison as Patient with Checkers

Bill Cobbs as Dr. Caulfield

Hamilton Camp as Mayor of 52nd Street

Chris Bosley as First Doorman

George T. Bruce as Second Doorman

Joey Green as Gene

John Witherspoon as Sid

Tony Todd as Frog

Jo De Winter as Mildred Berg

Richard Zavaglia as Ralph the Narc

Anna Thomson as Audrey

Al Pugliese as Owner - Three Deuces

Hubert Kelly as Wilson

Billy J. Mitchell as Prince

Karl Vincent as Stratton

Lou Cutell as Bride's Father

Roger Etienne as Parisian Emcee

Jason Bernard as Benny Tate

Gretchen Oehler as Southern Nurse

Richard McKenzie as Southern Doctor

Tony Cox as Pee Wee Marquette

Diane Salinger as Baroness Nica

Penelope Windust as Bellevue Nurse

Ann Weldon as Violet Wells