- Jim Carrey as Truman Burbank.
- Though Robin Williams was considered for the role, Weir cast Carrey after seeing him in Ace Ventura: Pet Detective, citing that Carrey's performance reminded him of Charlie Chaplin.[5] Gary Oldman did a test footage for the role, though he understood Niccol's script was the star he had no interest in playing the role.[6] Carrey took the opportunity to proclaim himself as a dramatic actor, rather than being typecast in comedic roles.[7] Carrey, who was then normally paid $20 million per film, agreed to do The Truman Show for $12 million.[8] Carrey also said it was the fastest that he ever accepted a role.[9] The scene in which Truman declares "this planet Trumania of the Burbank galaxy" to the bathroom mirror was Carrey's idea.[10]
- Laura Linney as Hannah Gill, acting as Meryl Burbank, Truman's wife.
- Linney studied Sears catalogs from the 1950s to develop her character's poses.[11]
- Dennis Hopper was originally cast in the role, but he left in April 1997 (during filming) over "creative differences". Harris was a last-minute replacement for him.[8] Hopper later stated that he was fired after two days because Weir and producer Scott Rudin had made a deal that if they did not both approve of Hopper's performance, they would replace him.[12] A number of other actors turned down the role after Hopper's departure.[10] [5]
- Noah Emmerich as Louis Coltrane, playing Marlon, Truman's best friend.
- Emmerich has said, "My character is in a lot of pain. He feels really guilty about deceiving Truman. He's had a serious drug addiction for many years. Been in and out of rehab." Very little of this is shown in the finished film, but several deleted scenes depict Louis actively expressing guilt over Truman's situation, and in one sequence, he spots Truman during his escape and purposely says nothing. His name is an amalgamation of two jazz musicians, Louis Armstrong and John Coltrane.
- Natascha McElhone as Sylvia, playing Lauren Garland, Truman's college schoolmate who was originally just a background character, but who Truman fell for. This relationship was the only real moment of Truman's life in Seahaven.
- Holland Taylor as Alanis Montclair, playing Angela Burbank, Truman's mother.
- Brian Delate as Walter Moore, playing Truman's father Kirk Burbank.
- Paul Giamatti as Simeon, the control room director.
- Una Damon as Chloe, Christof's control room assistant.
- Peter Krause as an unnamed actor playing Laurence, Truman's boss.
- Harry Shearer as Mike Michaelson, a TV talk-show host.
- Philip Baker Hall as the network executive.
- Joel McKinnon Miller as a garage attendant.
- David Andrew Nash as bus driver.[13]
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