- John Cusack as Craig Schwartz
- Cameron Diaz as Lotte Schwartz
- Catherine Keener as Maxine Lund
- John Malkovich as himself and John Horatio Malkovich
- Orson Bean as Dr. Lester
- Mary Kay Place as Floris
- Charlie Sheen as himself
- W. Earl Brown as First J.M. Inc. Customer
- Carlos Jacott as Larry the Agent
- Byrne Piven as Captain James Mertin
- Octavia L. Spencer as Woman in Elevator
Cameo appearances
Spike Jonze makes a cameo appearance as Derek Mantini's assistant; Mantini is billed in the story as the greatest puppeteer in the history of the world and arouses Craig's envy. Brad Pitt also has a brief cameo, as a miffed star in the documentary on Malkovich's career, who seems to be on the verge of saying something before the shot ends. Sean Penn appears as himself, a fan of Malkovich's puppeteer work. Film director David Fincher makes an uncredited appearance as Christopher Bing in the American Arts & Culture pseudo-documentary on John Malkovich. Winona Ryder, Andy Dick, and the members of Hanson can be seen in the audience of a Malkovich puppet show.[6]
