- Jeff Bridges as Preston Tucker
- Joan Allen as Vera Tucker
- Martin Landau as Abe Karatz
- Elias Koteas as Alex Tremulis
- Frederic Forrest as Eddie Dean
- Christian Slater as Preston Tucker, Jr.
- Don Novello as Stan
- Nina Siemaszko as Marilyn Lee Tucker
- Mako as Jimmy Sakuyama
- Dean Stockwell as Howard Hughes
- Lloyd Bridges as Senator Homer Ferguson (uncredited)
- Anders Johnson as Johnny
- Corin Nemec as Noble Tucker (credited as Corky Nemec)
- Marshall Bell as Frank
- Jay O. Sanders as Kirby
- Peter Donat as Otto Kerner
- Dean Goodman as Bennington / Drew Pearson's Voice
- John X. Heart as Ferguson's Agent
- Patti Austin as Millie
- Sandy Bull as Stan's Assistant
- Joe Miksak as Judge Igoe (as Joseph Miksak)
- Scott Beach as Floyd Cerf
- Roland Scrivner as Oscar Beasley
- Bob Safford as Narrator (voice)
- Lawrence Menkin as "Doc" (credited as Larry Menkin)
- Ron Close as Fritz
- Joe Flood as "Dutch"
- Leonard Gardner as Gas Station Owner
- Bill Bonham as Garage Owner
- Abigail Van Alyn as Ferguson's Secretary #1
- Taylor Gilbert as Ferguson's Secretary #2
- David Booth as Man in Hall
- Jessie Nelson as Woman on Steps
- Al Hart as Newscaster (voice)
- Cab Covay as Security Guard
- James Cranna as Man in Audience
- Bill Reddick as Board Member
- Ed Loerke as Mayor
- Jay Jacobus as Head Engineer
- Anne Lawder as Bennington's Secretary
- Jeanette Lana Sartain as Singing Girl
- Mary Buffett as Singing Girl
- Annie Stocking as Singing Girl
- Michael McShane as Recording Engineer[Note 1]
- Hope Alexander-Willis as Tucker's Secretary #1
- Taylor Young as Tucker's Secretary #2
- Jim Giovanni as Police Sergeant
- Joe Lerer as Reporter at Trial
- Morgan Upton as Ingram
- Ken Grantham as SEC Agent
- Mark Anger as Blue
- Al Nalbandian as Jury Foreman
• Brian Storey as Doorman (uncredited)
