Danny Glover as Albert

Whoopi Goldberg as Celie

Margaret Avery as Shug Avery

Oprah Winfrey as Sofia

Willard E. Pugh as Harpo

Akosua Busia as Nettie

Desreta Jackson as Young Celie

Adolph Caesar as Old Mr.

Rae Dawn Chong as Squeak

Dana Ivey as Miss Millie

Leonard Jackson as Pa

Bennet Guillory as Grady

John Patton Jr. as Preacher

Carl Anderson as Reverend Samuel

Susan Beaubian as Corrine

James Tillis as Buster

Phillip Strong as Mayor

Laurence Fishburne as Swain

Peto Kinsaka as Adam

Lelo Masamba as Olivia

Margaret Freeman as Odessa

Howard Starr as Young Harpo

Daphaine Oliver as Young Olivia

Jadili Johnson as Young Adam

Lillian Njoki Distefano as Young Tashi

Donna Buie as Daisy

Leon Rippy as Store Clerk

John R. Hart as Mailman

David Thomas as Road Gang Leader

Carrie Murphy as Loretta

Juliet Poe as Church Sister

Katie Simon as Church Sister

Ethel Taylor as Church Sister

Marcus Covington as Boy

Marcus Liles as Boo

April Myers as Emma

Maurice Moore as Child #1

Lechanda Latharp as Child #2

Drew Bundini Brown as Jook Joint Patron

Arnold F. Turner as Jook Joint Patron

Jeris Poindexter as Jook Joint Patron

Hawthorne James as Jook Joint Patron

Sonny Terry as Jook Joint Musician

Greg Phillinganes as Jook Joint Musician

Roy Gaines as Jook Joint Musician

Paulinho da Costa as African Musician

Nana Yaw Asiedu as African Musician

Clarence Avant as African Musician

Bayo Martin as African Musician

Ndugu Chandler as African Musician

Jeffrey Kwashi as African Musician

Pete Munzhi as African Musician

Aniijia Rae Schockley as African Musician

Maria Howell as Church Choir Soloist (uncredited)

Gayle King as Church-goer (uncredited)