Will Smith as Captain Steven Hiller: An assured United States Marine CorpsF/A-18 pilot at the forefront of the human resistance counter-offensive. His ambition before the alien attack is to join NASA's astronaut training program. Devlin and Emmerich had always envisioned an African-American for the role,[5] and specifically wanted to cast Smith after seeing his performance in Six Degrees of Separation.[6]
Bill Pullman as President Thomas J. Whitmore: A former Persian Gulf War fighter pilot and current President of the United States whose approval ratings early in the film indicate the nation's dissatisfaction with his performance. To prepare for the role, Pullman read The Commanders by Bob Woodward and watched the documentary film The War Room.[7]
Jeff Goldblum as David Levinson: An MIT-educated computer expert who is a chess enthusiast and environmentalist, working as a satellite technician for a cable television company in New York City when he discovers the aliens' invasion plot. He still has strong feelings for his ex-wife and later formulates a plan to defeat the invaders.
Mary McDonnell as First Lady Marilyn Whitmore: The wife of President Whitmore, who is wounded while fleeing the destruction of Los Angeles and later dies from her injuries.
Judd Hirsch as Julius Levinson: A cigar-smoking Jewishimmigrant and widowed father of David Levinson, whom he loves but also teases by referring to him as a cable repairman.
Randy Quaid as Russell Casse: A widowed, alcoholic crop duster and veteran Vietnam War pilot who claims to have been an alien abductee ten years prior to the events of the film. He struggles to care for his three children. At the end of the film, he sacrifices himself to destroy an alien destroyer, gaining the admiration of his eldest son, whom had previously held little respect for him.
Margaret Colin as Constance Spano: The White House Communications Director and David's ex-wife. Though she still loves David she feels that he is underachieving, and divorced him to pursue her career alongside President Whitmore.
Vivica A. Fox as Jasmine Dubrow: A single mother, Steve's girlfriend and exotic dancer. She searches for fellow survivors in the aftermath of the Los Angeles attacks, finding the First Lady in the process.
James Rebhorn as Albert Nimziki: The Secretary of Defense and former director of the CIA. Rebhorn described the character as being much like Oliver North.[9] The character's eventual firing lampoons Joe Nimziki,[10] who was MGM's head of advertising and reportedly accounted for unpleasant experiences for Devlin and Emmerich when studio executives forced recuts of Stargate.[11]
Brent Spiner as Dr. Brackish Okun: The scientist in charge of research at Area 51. He is later killed by a captured alien.[12] Devlin, who is open to the idea of bringing Dr. Okun back in the event of a sequel, later implied that the character is merely in a coma.[13] The character's appearance and verbal style are based upon those of visual effects supervisor Jeffrey A. Okun, whom Emmerich had worked with on Stargate.[14]
Harry Connick, Jr. as Captain Jimmy Wilder: The best friend of Steve and fellow pilot, he is killed while fleeing a failed attack on an alien spacecraft. Connick took over the part for Matthew Perry, who was originally cast in the role.[15]
Kiersten Warren as Tiffany: A friend of Jasmine and fellow stripper. She wants to go up on the First Interstate World Center to greet the aliens. Despite Jasmine's requests to not go, Tiffany goes anyway and is one of the first to be killed in the destruction of Los Angeles.
Cast and characters