Chris Cooper as Sam Deeds

Elizabeth Peña as Pilar Cruz

Kris Kristofferson as Charlie Wade

Clifton James as Hollis Pogue

Miriam Colon as Mercedes Cruz

Ron Canada as Otis Payne

Joe Morton as Delmore "Del" Payne

Matthew McConaughey as Buddy Deeds

Jeff Monahan as Young Hollis

Gabriel Casseus as Young Otis

Frances McDormand as Bunny

LaTanya Richardson Jackson as Priscilla Worth

Tony Plana as Ray

Stephen J. Lang as Mikey

Jesse Borrego as Danny

Richard Coca as Enrique

Carmen De Lavallade as Carolyn

Stephen Mendillo as Cliff

Gordon Tootoosis as Wesley Birdsong

Beatrice Winde as Minnie Bledsoe

Oni Faida Lampley as Celie

Eleese Lester as Molly

Joe Stevens as Deputy Travis

Gonzalo Castillo as Amado

Tony Frank as Fenton

Eddie Robinson as Chet

Chandra Wilson as Athena

Damon Guy as Shadow

Dee Macaluso as Anglo Mother

Luis Cobo as Mexican-American Father

Marco Perella as Anglo Father

Don Phillips, Jr. as Principal

Mary Jane R. Hernandez as Mexican-American Mother

Carina Martinez as Paloma

Richard Andrew Jones as Ben Wetzel

Randy Stripling as Roderick

Richard Reyes as Jorge

Olga Luna as Waitress

Juan Vega III as Cook

Lizzie Curry Martinez as Girl

Leo Burmester as Cody

Vanessa Martinez as Young Pilar

Tay Strathairn as Young Sam

Sam Vlahos as Pete

Maricela Gonzalez as Anselma

Tony Amendola as Chucho Montoya

Gilbert R. Cuellar Jr. as Eladio

James Borrego as Young Chucho

Lisa Suarez as Marisol

Jesús Ramirez as Driver

John Griesemer as Football Announcer (voice)

Eduardo Martínez as Jaime

Azalea Mendez as Young Mercedes