Yves Montand as Z

Irene Papas as Hélène

Jean-Louis Trintignant as Examining Magistrate

Jacques Perrin as Photojournalist

Charles Denner as Manuel

François Périer as Public Prosecutor

Bernard Fresson as Matt

Pierre Dux as Gendarmerie General Missou

Georges Géret as Nick

Magali Noël as Nick's Sister

Marcel Bozzuffi as Vago

Julien Guiomar as Gendarmerie Colonel

Renato Salvatori as Yago

Jean Bouise as Deputy Georges Pirou

Clotilde Joano as Shoula

Maurice Baquet as Heroic Bricklayer

Habib Reda as Deputy Public Prosecutor

Hassan El-Hassani as General's Chauffeur

Gérard Darrieu as Barone

Jean-Pierre Miquel as Pierre

Sid Ahmed Agoumi as Gendarmerie Officer

Jean Dasté as Illya Coste

Van Doude as Hospital Director

Jean-François Gobbi as Jimmy

Guy Mairesse as Dumas aka The Russian

Andrée Tainsy as Nick's Mother

Eva Simonet as Niki

François Chaumette as (voice)

Allel El Mouhib as

José Artur as Editor-in-Chief of the Newspaper (uncredited)

Raoul Coutard as English Surgeon (uncredited)

Steve Gadler as English Photographer (uncredited)

Gabriel Jabbour as Bozzini (uncredited)

Georges Rouquier as Attorney General (uncredited)