Jodie Foster character Eleanor Arroway
Matthew McConaughey character Palmer Joss
James Woods character Michael Kitz
John Hurt character S. R. Hadden
Tom Skerritt character David Drumlin
William Fichtner character Kent Clark
David Morse character Ted Arroway
Angela Bassett character Rachel Constantine
Geoffrey Blake character Fisher
Max Martini character Willie
Rob Lowe character Richard Rank
Jake Busey character Joseph
Jena Malone character Young Ellie
Tucker Smallwood character Mission Director
Sami Chester character Vernon
Henry Strozier character Minister
Haynes Brooke character Drumlin Aide
Timothy McNeil character Davio
Laura Elena Surillo character Cantina Woman
Michael Chaban character Hadden Suit
Larry King character Himself
Thomas Garner character Ian Broderick
Conroy Chino character KOB-TV Reporter
Dan Gifford character Jeremy Roth
Vance Valencia character Senator Valencia
Donna Kelley character Herself
Leon Harris character Himself
Claire Shipman character Herself
Behrooz Afrakhan character Middle Eastern Anchor
Saemi Nakamura character Japanese Anchor
Maria Celeste Arraras character Latina Anchor
Tabitha Soren character Herself
Geraldo Rivera character Himself
Ian Whitcomb character British Anchor
Jay Leno character Himself
Michael Albala character Decryption Hacker
Ned Netterville character Decryption Expert
Leo Lee character Major Domo
William Jordan character Chairman of Joint Chiefs
David St. James character Joint Chief
Steven Ford character Major Russell
Alexander Zemeckis character Major Russell's Son
Janie Peterson character Major Russell's Daughter
Philippe Bergeron character French Committee Member
Jennifer Balgobin character Dr. Patel
Anthony Hamilton character British Committee Member
Rebecca T. Beucler character NASA Public Relations
Marc Macaulay character NASA Technician
Jeffery Thomas Johnson character Mechanical
Yuji Okumoto character Electrical
Gerry Griffin character Dynamics
Brian Alston character Communications
Rob Elk character Pad Leader
Mark Thomason character Security
José Rey character Controller #8
Todd Patrick Breaugh character New VLA Technician
Alex Veadov character Russian Cosmonaut
Alice Kushida character Scientist
Robin Gammell character Project Official
Richardson Morse character Mission Doctor
Seiji Okamura character Japanese Ensign
Mak Takano character Japanese Tech #1
Hiroshi Tom Tanaka character Japanese Tech #2
Catherine Dao character Life Support
Kristoffer Ryan Winters character Dynamics #2
Valorie Armstrong character Senator
Jim Hild character Reporter #5
William L. Thomas character Reporter #6
Diego Montoya character School Boy
Jonathan Adler character White House Official
Robert Aguilar Jr. character NASA Controller #2
Mark Bailey character Four-Star General
Matt Bennett character Senate Observer
Tony Boldi character Robert Hand
Christopher Boyer character Scientist
Mark Byrne character Protester
Candice T. Cain character Supporter
Aixa Clemente character President's Secretary
Derrick Damions character Ailing Believer
Elaina Erika Davis character Philanthropy Bureaucrat
Joey Dente character Factory Worker
Michael Egan character IMC Police Officer
Jeff Elmore character Monk
Carl Gilliard character Controller
William B. Kaplan character TV Interviewer
Ming Lo character Pod Systems Control
Sunshine Logroño character Puerto Rican Taxi Driver
Denise Loveday character Press Secretary
Neal Matarazzo character Kitz's Aide
Cassidy McMillan character Student Reporter at NASA
Molly Mueller character Family Exchange
Paul L. Nolan character Ellie's Attorney
Marisa Petroro character Oval Office Secretary
Errica Poindexter character Police Officer
J.A. Preston character Senator
Frank Principe character Ailing Believer
Leo Rogstad character Ailing Believer
Russell Sanderlin Sr. character Photographer
Frank Silva character Army Officer
John A. Taylor character Senate Hearing Attendee
Todd Thompson character News Reporter
Cenk Uygur character Reporter
Holly Cross Vagley character Religious Zealot
Eric Alan Wendell character Protester
Delaney Williams character Believer
