Cast and crew
Imitation of Life (1959)
51 cast and 44 crew, as credited. Cast in billing order; crew by department.
Cast51
Lana TurnerLora Meredith
John GavinSteve Archer
Sandra DeeSusie (16)
Susan KohnerSarah Jane (18)
Robert AldaAllen Loomis
Dan O'HerlihyDavid Edwards
Juanita MooreAnnie Johnson- Karin DickerSarah Jane (8)
Terry BurnhamSusie (6)- John VivyanYoung Man
- Lee GoodmanPhotographer
Ann RobinsonShowgirl- Troy DonahueFrankie
- Sandra GouldAnnette
- David TomackMr. McKenney
- Joel FluellenMinister
Jack WestonTom- Billy HouseFat Man on Beach
- Maida SevernTeacher
- Than WyennRomano
- Peg ShirleyFay
Mahalia JacksonChoir Soloist- Frank BakerParty Guest (uncredited)
George BarrowsFurniture Mover (uncredited)- Rodney BieberMoulin Rouge Dancer (uncredited)
- Chet BrandenburgMan at Coney Island (uncredited)
- Teddy BucknerMarching Band Member (uncredited)
- George CalligaSecurity (uncredited)
- Steve CarruthersActor at Audition (uncredited)
- Richard CollierMcKinney (uncredited)
- Paul CristoShow Spectator (uncredited)
- Joe DarensbourgMarching Band Member (uncredited)
- Robert DarinWaiter (uncredited)
- Mike De LayMarching Band Member (uncredited)
Elinor DonahueLora's Friend (uncredited)- Cicely EvansLouis Morton (uncredited)
- Myrna FaheyIris Dawn (uncredited)
Bess FlowersGeraldine Moore (uncredited)- George FordShow Spectator (uncredited)
- Tedd HadfieldCop (uncredited)
- Nelson LeighDoctor (uncredited)
- Paul LevittWaiter (uncredited)
- John McNamaraDoctor (uncredited)
- Joseph MellWatchman (uncredited)
- Eddie ParkerCop at Funeral (uncredited)
- Waclaw RekwartRestaurant Patron (uncredited)
- Cosmo SardoAudience Member (uncredited)
- Jeffrey SayreAudience Member (uncredited)
- Cap SomersTruck Driver (uncredited)
- Ted ThorpeDog Owner (uncredited)
- Napoleon WhitingKenneth - Lora's Butler (uncredited)
Crew44
Directing
- Douglas SirkDirector
- Frank ShawAssistant Director
- Wilson ShyerAssistant Director
- Luanna ShermanScript Supervisor
Writing
- Eleanore GriffinScreenplay
- Allan ScottScreenplay
- Fannie HurstNovel
Production
- Ross HunterProducer
- Norman DemingProduction Manager
Camera
- Russell MettyDirector of Photography
- Eddie PyleCamera Operator
- Ledge HaddowAssistant Camera
- Roy VaughnAssistant Camera
Editing
- Milton CarruthEditor
Sound and music
- Frank SkinnerOriginal Music Composer
- Leslie I. CareySound
- Earl GrantTheme Song Performance
- Joseph GershensonMusic Supervisor
- Joe LapisSound
- Sammy FainSongs
- Paul Francis WebsterSongs
- Henry ManciniOriginal Music Composer
- Henry JanssenSound
- Ethmer RotenMusician
- Glenn E. AndersonSound
Art
- Alexander GolitzenArt Direction
- Richard H. RiedelArt Direction
- Julia HeronSet Decoration
- Russell A. GausmanSet Decoration
- Wayne FitzgeraldTitle Designer
Costume and make-up
- Bill ThomasCostume Designer
- Larry GermainHairstylist
- Bud WestmoreMakeup Artist
- Jean LouisCostume Designer
- Lynn F. ReynoldsMakeup Artist
- Del ArmstrongMakeup Artist
- Martha BunchWardrobe Master
- Nick MarcellinoMakeup Artist
- Pat WestmoreHairstylist
- LaVaughn SpeerHairstylist
- Rydo LoshakWardrobe Master
- Rosamonde LyteleWardrobe Master
Visual effects
- Clifford StineVisual Effects
Crew
- Don MorganUnit Publicist