The Great Debaters Cast
The cast of The Great Debaters.
Denzel Whitaker
as James Farmer Jr.

Portrayed the character James Farmer Jr.

Denzel Washington
as Melvin B. Tolson

Portrayed the character Melvin B. Tolson.

Nate Parker
as Henry Lowe

Portrayed the character Henry Lowe.

Jurnee Smollett
as Samantha Booke

Portrayed the character Samantha Booke.

Forest Whitaker
as Dr. James Farmer Sr.

Portrayed the character Dr. James Farmer Sr.

Kimberly Elise
as Pearl Farmer

Portrayed the character Pearl Farmer.

Jermaine Williams
as Hamilton Burgess

Portrayed the character Hamilton Burgess.

Gina Ravera
as Ruth Tolson

Portrayed the character Ruth Tolson.

John Heard
as Sheriff Dozier
Devyn A. Tyler
as Helen Farmer
Trenton McClain Boyd
as Nathaniel Farmer
Ritchie Montgomery
as Deputy
Jackson Walker
as Pig Owner
Tim Parati
as Pig Farmer
Robert X. Golphin
as Dunbar Reed
Justice Leak
as Harland Osbourne
Glen Powell
as Harvard Debater #1
Brad Watkins
as Harvard Debater #2
Brian Smiar
as Harvard Dean
Damien Leake
as Wilson
Voltaire Sterling
as Paul Quinn Debater #1
Stephen Rider
as Paul Quinn Debater #2
Gordon Danniels
as Paul Quinn Debate Judge
Donny Boaz
as Oklahoma City College Debater #1
Samuel Elliott Whisnant
as Oklahoma City College Debater #2
Bonnie Johnson
as Dr. Jennings
Charissa Allen
as Benita
Michael Beasley
as Trudell
Gary Mathis
as Enormous Man
George Wilson
as Samuel
Fahnlohnee R. Harris
as Clementine
Harold Evans
as William Taylor
J.D. Evermore
as Captain Wainwright
Sharon Jones
as Lila
Kelvin Payton
as Joseph
Southey Blanton
as White Labor Organizer
Michael Mattison
as White Sharecropper #1
Jeff Braun
as White Sharecropper #2
Milton R. Gipson
as Prairie View Professor
Frank Ridley
as Security Guard
Jeremiah Kissel
as Radio Announcer at Harvard Debate
Jack Radosta
as White Man at Lynching
Alvin Youngblood Hart
as Juke Joint Musician #1
Dom Flemons
as Juke Joint Musician #2
Justin Robinson
as Juke Joint Musician #3
Rhiannon Giddens
as Juke Joint Musician #4
Ahmad Powell
as Fisk Professor
Marcus Lyle Brown
as Howard Debater #1
Gary Mattis
as Enormous Man
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