James Cagney as Lon Chaney

Dorothy Malone as Cleva Creighton Chaney

Jane Greer as Hazel Bennet Chaney

Marjorie Rambeau as Gert

Jim Backus as Clarence Locan

Robert Evans as Irving Thalberg

Celia Lovsky as Mrs. Chaney

Jeanne Cagney as Carrie Chaney

Jack Albertson as Dr. J. Wilson Shiels

Roger Smith as Creighton Chaney (at 21)

Robert Lyden as Creighton Chaney (at 13)

Rickie Sorensen as Creighton Chaney (at 8)

Dennis Rush as Creighton Chaney (at 4)

Nolan Leary as Pa Chaney

Simon Scott as Carl Hastings

Clarence Kolb as Clarence Kolb

Danny Beck as Max Dill

Philip Van Zandt as George Loane Tucker

Hank Mann as Comedy Waiter #1

Harry 'Snub' Pollard as Comedy Waiter #2

Emile Avery as Stagehand (uncredited)

Al Bain as Actor in Bullpen (uncredited)

Bobby Barber as The Miracle Man Extra (uncredited)

Russ Bender as Judge (uncredited)

Marjorie Bennett as Vera (uncredited)

June Blair as Chorine (uncredited)

Nicky Blair as Cameraman of ‘Unholy Three' (uncredited)

Larry J. Blake as David T. Stone (uncredited)

Harold Bostwick as Piano Player (uncredited)

Rudy Bowman as Actor in Bullpen (uncredited)

Chet Brandenburg as Stagehand (uncredited)

Helen Brown as Mrs. Heinley (uncredited)

Robert Brubaker as Jack Conway (uncredited)

John Bryant as William R. Darrow Jr. (uncredited)

George Calliga as Ceremony Guest (uncredited)

Charles Cane as Studio Guard (uncredited)

Anna Lee Carroll as Chorine (uncredited)

James J. Casino as Stagehand (uncredited)

Spencer Chan as Chinese Extra in Bullpen (uncredited)

Bill Chatham as Shadow Dancer (uncredited)

Jack Chefe as Extra in Bullpen (uncredited)

Heinie Conklin as Audience Extra (uncredited)

Billy Curtis as Harry Earles (uncredited)

Troy Donahue as Assistant Director (uncredited)

Nancy Kilgas as Mary Philbin (uncredited)

Charles Horvath as Ivan Linow (uncredited)

Robert F. Hoy as Assistant Director in Bullpen