Lester Burnham....Kevin Spacey

Carolyn Burnham....Annette Bening

Jane Burnham....Thora Birch

Ricky Fitts....Wes Bentley

Angela Hayes....Mena Suvari

Colonel Frank Fitts....Chris Cooper

Buddy Kane....Peter Gallagher

Barbara Fitts....Allison Janney

Jim Olmeyer....Scott Bakula

Jim Berkley....Sam Robards

Brad Dupree....Barry Del Sherman

• Biography of Sam Mendes
• About American Beauty
• Character List
• Major Themes
• Glossary of Terms
• Short Summary
• Full Summary and Analysis
• Summary and Analysis of Scene 1 ("The High Point of My Day") through Scene 4 ("The Gym")
• Summary and Analysis of Scene 5 ("Spectacular") through Scene 8 ("My Personal Hero")
• Summary and Analysis of Scene 9 ("I Love Root Beer") through Scene 12 ("I Want to Look Good Naked")
• Summary and Analysis of Scene 13 ("Mom's Mad") through Scene 16 ("The Most Beautiful Thing")
• Summary and Analysis of Scene 17 ("Pass the Asparagus") through Scene 20 ("Massive Psychological Damage")
• Summary and Analysis of Scene 21 ("The Day You Die") through Scene 24 ("Our Marriage is Just for Show")
• Summary and Analysis of Scene 25 ("You Couldn't Be Ordinary if You Tried") through Scene 27 ("My Stupid Little Life")
• Related Links on American Beauty
• Suggested Essay Questions
• Cast List
• Mendes' influence on American Beauty
• Author of ClassicNote and Sources
• Purchase American Beauty and Other Works
• Test Yourself! Quiz 1
• Test Yourself! Quiz 2
• Test Yourself! Quiz 3
• Test Yourself! Quiz 4
• Message Board on American Beauty