The Great Debaters Cast
The cast of The Great Debaters including popularity data. Data for March 25, 2025.
Denzel Whitaker
as James Farmer Jr.

Portrayed the character James Farmer Jr.

#10
Most popular actor on The Great Debaters
220 Wikipedia views yesterday
Denzel Washington
as Melvin B. Tolson

Portrayed the character Melvin B. Tolson.

#2
Most popular actor on The Great Debaters
12,322 Wikipedia views yesterday
Nate Parker
as Henry Lowe

Portrayed the character Henry Lowe.

Jurnee Smollett
as Samantha Booke

Portrayed the character Samantha Booke.

#4
Most popular actor on The Great Debaters
1,744 Wikipedia views yesterday
Forest Whitaker
as Dr. James Farmer Sr.

Portrayed the character Dr. James Farmer Sr.

#3
Most popular actor on The Great Debaters
2,870 Wikipedia views yesterday
Kimberly Elise
as Pearl Farmer

Portrayed the character Pearl Farmer.

#6
Most popular actor on The Great Debaters
880 Wikipedia views yesterday
Jermaine Williams
as Hamilton Burgess

Portrayed the character Hamilton Burgess.

#13
Most popular actor on The Great Debaters
76 Wikipedia views yesterday
Gina Ravera
as Ruth Tolson

Portrayed the character Ruth Tolson.

#9
Most popular actor on The Great Debaters
250 Wikipedia views yesterday
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
#16
Most popular actor on The Great Debaters
2 Wikipedia views yesterday
Justice Leak
as Harland Osbourne
#15
Most popular actor on The Great Debaters
15 Wikipedia views yesterday
Glen Powell
as Harvard Debater #1
#1
Most popular actor on The Great Debaters
12,661 Wikipedia views yesterday
Brad Watkins
as Harvard Debater #2
Brian Smiar
as Harvard Dean
Damien Leake
as Wilson
#12
Most popular actor on The Great Debaters
111 Wikipedia views yesterday
Voltaire Sterling
as Paul Quinn Debater #1
Stephen Rider
as Paul Quinn Debater #2
#8
Most popular actor on The Great Debaters
302 Wikipedia views yesterday
Gordon Danniels
as Paul Quinn Debate Judge
Donny Boaz
as Oklahoma City College Debater #1
#14
Most popular actor on The Great Debaters
66 Wikipedia views yesterday
Samuel Elliott Whisnant
as Oklahoma City College Debater #2
Bonnie Johnson
as Dr. Jennings
Charissa Allen
as Benita
Michael Beasley
as Trudell
#5
Most popular actor on The Great Debaters
1,097 Wikipedia views yesterday
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
#11
Most popular actor on The Great Debaters
114 Wikipedia views yesterday
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
#7
Most popular actor on The Great Debaters
602 Wikipedia views yesterday
Ahmad Powell
as Fisk Professor
Marcus Lyle Brown
as Howard Debater #1
Gary Mattis
as Enormous Man
For the best insights and data about The Great Debaters, visit our main The Great Debaters page.