Sidney Poitier

Virgil Tibbs

Rod Steiger

Police Chief Bill Gillespie

Warren Oates

Deputy Sam Wood

Peter Whitney

Deputy Courtney

Lee Grant

Mrs. Leslie Colbert

Anthony James

Ralph

William Schallert

Mayor Schubert

Scott Wilson

Harvey Oberst

Larry Gates

Eric Endicott

James Patterson

Mr. Purdy

Quentin Dean

Delores Purdy

Larry D. Mann

Watkins

Matt Clark

Packy

Beah Richards

Mama Caleba

Arthur Malet

Ulam

Fred Stewart

Dr. Stuart

Timothy Scott

Shagbag

William Watson

McNeil

Stuart Nisbet

Shuie

Peter Masterson

Fryer

Nikita Knatz

2nd Tough

Alan Oppenheimer

Ted Appleton (uncredited)

Clegg Hoyt

Deputy (uncredited)