Ethel Waters

Petunia Jackson

Eddie 'Rochester' Anderson

Joseph 'Little Joe' Jackson

Lena Horne

Georgia Brown

Louis Armstrong

The Trumpeter

Rex Ingram

Lucius / Lucifer Jr.

John 'Bubbles' Sublett

Domino Johnson

Oscar Polk

The Deacon / Fleetfoot

Mantan Moreland

First Idea Man

Willie Best

Second Idea Man

Butterfly McQueen

Lily

Ruby Dandridge

Mrs. Kelso

Nick Stewart

Dude

Ernest Whitman

Jim Henry

Vivian Dandridge

Dancer / Jim Henry's Paradise Patron (uncredited)

Duke Ellington

Duke Ellington (uncredited)

Joel Fluellen

Mr. Kelso / Jim Henry's Paradise Patron (uncredited)

William Gillespie

Soloist in 'Little Black Sheep' (uncredited)

Suzette Harbin

Dancer / Jim Henry's Paradise Patron (uncredited)

Glenn Leedy

Boy in Church (uncredited)

Juanita Moore

Nightclub Patron / Churchgoer (uncredited)

Florence O'Brien

Dancer / Jim Henry's Paradise Patron (uncredited)

Amanda Randolph

Churchgoer (uncredited)

Clinton Rosemond

Doctor (uncredited)

Archie Savage

Dancer / Jim Henry's Paradise Patron (uncredited)

Juano Hernández

Neighbor (uncredited)