The Great Debaters
The true story of a brilliant but politically radical debate team coach who uses the power of words to transform a group of underdog African-American college students into a historical powerhouse that took on the Harvard elite.
Denzel Whitaker
James Farmer Jr.
Denzel Washington
Melvin B. Tolson
Nate Parker
Henry Lowe
Jurnee Smollett
Samantha Booke
Forest Whitaker
Dr. James Farmer Sr.
Kimberly Elise
Pearl Farmer
Jermaine Williams
Hamilton Burgess
Gina Ravera
Ruth Tolson
John Heard
Sheriff Dozier
Devyn A. Tyler
Helen Farmer
Trenton McClain Boyd
Nathaniel Farmer
Ritchie Montgomery
Deputy
Jackson Walker
Pig Owner
Tim Parati
Pig Farmer
Robert X. Golphin
Dunbar Reed
Justice Leak
Harland Osbourne
Glen Powell
Harvard Debater #1
Brad Watkins
Harvard Debater #2
Brian Smiar
Harvard Dean
Damien Leake
Wilson
Voltaire Sterling
Paul Quinn Debater #1
Stephen Rider
Paul Quinn Debater #2
Gordon Danniels
Paul Quinn Debate Judge
Donny Boaz
Oklahoma City College Debater #1
Samuel Elliott Whisnant
Oklahoma City College Debater #2
Bonnie Johnson
Dr. Jennings
Charissa Allen
Benita
Michael Beasley
Trudell
Gary Mathis
Enormous Man
George Wilson
Samuel
Fahnlohnee R. Harris
Clementine
Harold Evans
William Taylor
J.D. Evermore
Captain Wainwright
Sharon Jones
Lila
Kelvin Payton
Joseph
Southey Blanton
White Labor Organizer
Michael Mattison
White Sharecropper #1
Jeff Braun
White Sharecropper #2
Milton R. Gipson
Prairie View Professor
Frank Ridley
Security Guard
Jeremiah Kissel
Radio Announcer at Harvard Debate
Jack Radosta
White Man at Lynching
Alvin Youngblood Hart
Juke Joint Musician #1
Dom Flemons
Juke Joint Musician #2
Justin Robinson
Juke Joint Musician #3
Rhiannon Giddens
Juke Joint Musician #4
Ahmad Powell
Fisk Professor
Marcus Lyle Brown
Howard Debater #1
Gary Mattis
Enormous Man
Kevin Beard
Klansman at Lynching (uncredited)
Robert Eisele
Writer
Denzel Washington
Director
Kate Forte
Producer
Valeria Scoon
Associate Producer
Harvey Weinstein
Executive Producer
Oprah Winfrey
Producer
John Breinholt
Editorial Coordinator
Hughes Winborne
Editor
Joe Roth
Producer
Todd Black
Producer
Melody Fowler
Associate Producer
David Crockett
Executive Producer
Molly Allen
Co-Producer
Jeffrey Porro
Story
Bob Weinstein
Executive Producer
Austin Anderson
Animal Coordinator
Patrick Tendai Pfupajena
Production Assistant
Sharen Davis
Costume Design
Karen Golden
Script Supervisor
David J. Bomba
Production Design
John R. Jensen
Art Direction
Patrick Cassidy
Set Decoration
Denise Chamian
Casting
Jono Oliver
First Assistant Director
Eric Norris
Stunts
G. Marq Roswell
Music Supervisor
Joe Nin Williams
Stunts
Russell Towery
Stunts
Greg Hale
Second Assistant Director
Gerard 'Gus' Williams
Stunts
Jodie Stern
Assistant Costume Designer
Andrea Young
Hairstylist
Kevin Beard
Stunts
David Crockett
Unit Production Manager
Bobby Beckles
Stunts
Gregg Brazzel
Stunts
Jim Henry
Stunts
Steven Ritzi
Stunt Coordinator
Lex D. Geddings
Stunts
Robert Powell
Stunt Double
Thirl Haston
Stunts
Stephen A. Pope
Stunt Coordinator
Denise Pugh-Ruiz
Assistant Makeup Artist
Kenneth Walker
Hair Department Head
Frances Jacques-LeCompte
Seamstress
Nikki I Brown
Makeup Artist
Valerie Gladstone-Appel
Assistant Hairstylist
Andrea Bowman
Hairstylist
Angela Demo
Casting Associate
Tateum Kohut
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Greg Orloff
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Dana Kay Hart
Costume Supervisor
Mitzi Haralson
Set Costumer
Carl Fullerton
Makeup Department Head
Christopher Gray
Extras Casting
Jack English
Gaffer
Gary Damian Thomas
Storyboard Artist
Kim Drummond
ADR Supervisor
Scott G.G. Haller
Dialogue Editor
John Marquis
Sound Effects Editor
Jerry G. Henery
Construction Coordinator
Riki Lin Sabusawa
Key Costumer
Gary A. Theard
Boom Operator
Natalia Anderson
Production Secretary
C. Alan Rawlins Sr.
Key Grip
John Breinholt
Co-Editor
Xiomara Comrie
First Assistant "A" Camera
Christian Juneau
Extras Casting Assistant
Geraud Brisson
Additional Editor
Elizabeth Rainey
Foley Artist
Brian Smith
ADR Mixer
Nannette Palmer
Set Medic
Mark La Bonge
Steadicam Operator
Frederick Shear
Assistant Accountant
Kali R. Harrison
Second Second Assistant Director
James Babineaux
Best Boy Electric
C. Alan Berry
Props
Valerie Bleth Sharp
Production Supervisor
Yvonne Bastidos
Set Costumer
Linda Lazar
Makeup Artist
Kei Rowan-Young
Location Manager
Tiffani L. Stephenson
Camera Loader
Diah Wymont
Assistant Costume Designer
Alison Cannon
Production Accountant
David Hickey
Payroll Accountant
Mark La Bonge
"A" Camera Operator
Larry M. Cherry
Hairstylist
Nicki Johnson
Assistant Production Coordinator
Anne Scott
First Assistant Accountant
Jamie Horwitz
Assistant Accountant
John Bankson
Property Master
Virle S. Reid
Assistant Property Master
Erin Oakley
ADR Editor
Jon Wakeham
Sound Effects Editor
Herwig Maurer
Sound Effects Editor
Anita Cannella
Foley Artist
Dean Allison
Construction Foreman
James Passanante
Paint Coordinator
Giselle Spence
Seamstress
Cid Swank
Unit Publicist
Pamela Rittelmeyer
"B" Camera Operator
Matiki Anoff
Key Makeup Artist
Janice Hudson
Hairstylist
Willie D. Burton
Sound Mixer
George Bott
Additional Second Assistant Director
Natalie Ballesteros
Casting Assistant
Jack Lynch
Special Effects Supervisor
Pamela Rittelmeyer
First Assistant "A" Camera
LaToya Henderson
Makeup Artist
Stephen Beasley
Rigging Gaffer
Alex Borys
Assistant Location Manager
Amy Kane
Foley Artist
Carmine Rubino
Foley Mixer
Sean J. O'Shea
First Assistant "B" Camera
Frank Perry Rose
Costumer
Belinda Anderson
Key Hair Stylist
Jacob Ross
Best Boy Grip
Darryl Humber
Dolly Grip
Rob Simons
Assistant Art Director
Rick Kline
Sound Re-Recording Mixer
Ted Moser
Transportation Coordinator
Jacob Riehle
First Assistant Sound Editor
Tim Tuchrello
Sound Effects Editor
Todd Kasow
Music Editor
Barbara McDermott
Music Editor
Kami Asgar
Supervising Sound Editor
Sean McCormack
Supervising Sound Editor
Scott Childers
Construction Foreman
Lois Yaroshefsky
Studio Teacher
Helen Britten
Assistant Set Decoration
Dorian Cheah
Sound Designer
Fred Peck III
Sound Recordist
Howard London
ADR Mixer
Howard Berger
Special Effects Makeup Artist
Larry Misselhorn
Greensman
David Lee
Still Photographer
Ted Sapp
Key Rigging Grip
Jeffery D. Woodrel
Special Effects Coordinator
Jonathan Klein
Foley Supervisor
Greg Nicotero
Special Effects Makeup Artist
Ryan Misselhorn
Greensman
Justin Nance
Transportation Co-Captain
Eryne Prine
Assistant Sound Editor
Richard A. Davis
Transportation Captain
Brian McNulty
Post Production Supervisor
Xiomara Comrie
Second Assistant "A" Camera
Gary Tolbert
Aerial Director of Photography
Jeff Valeri
Production Coordinator
Riko Schatke
Best Boy Grip
Christina DeCharles
Assistant Location Manager
Tommy Samona
Leadman
Shellie Gillespie
Art Department Coordinator
Dillon Jim Breithaupt
Art Department Assistant
Ian Crockett
Post Production Coordinator
Michael Dressel
Foley Editor
Philippe Rousselot
Director of Photography
James Newton Howard
Original Music Composer
Peter Golub
Original Music Composer