Robert De Niro (Master Chief Leslie W. Sunday), Cuba Gooding jr. (Senior Chief Carl Brashear), Charlize Theron (Gwen Sunday), Aunjanue Ellis (Jo), Hal Holbrook (Captain Mr. Pappy), Michael Rapaport (Snowhill), Powers Boothe (Captain Pullman), David Keith (Captain Hartigan), Holt McCallany (Dylan Rourke), David Conrad (Hanks), Joshua Leonard (Timothy Douglas Isert), Richard Sanders (Donny Moor, Barkeeper), Carl Lumbly (Mac Brashear), Lonette McKee (Ella Brashear), Glynn Turman (Chief Floyd), Alimi Ballard (Coke), Leon Russom (Decker), Chris Warren Jr. (der junge Carl), Marilyn Faith Hickey (Frau im Entgiftungscenter), Theo Nicholas Pagones (FC Mellegrano), Steven Clark Pachosa (Navy-Rekrutierer / Chief Petty Officer), Lester B. Hanson (Admiral Yon), Nasir Najieb (schwarzer Rekrut), Dennis Bateman (Navy-Ausbilder), Eric Newsome (nackter Infanterist), Shawn Michael Howard (Junie), Joshua Feinman (DuBoyce), Michelle Guthrie (Therapeutin), George 'Chick' Rankins (Taxifahrer), Richard Perry Turner (Dr. Dinkins), Jack Frazier (Rear Admiral French), Demene E. Hall (Mrs. Biddle), Henry Harris (geretteter Pilot), Matt Dotson (Marinewachmann bei Anhörung), David Meyers (Dr. Cudahy), Ryan Honey (Yarmouth), David Richard Heath (Sanitätsoffizier), Bruce Burkhartsmeier (vorsitzender Offizier), Dennis Troutman (Boots)