---
title: "The Color Purple: cast and crew"
canonical: "https://film.one/film/the-color-purple/cast-and-crew"
title_page: "https://film.one/film/the-color-purple"
cast: 55
crew: 35
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# The Color Purple (1985): cast and crew

55 cast and 35 crew, as credited (TMDB). Cast in billing order.

## Cast

- [Danny Glover](https://film.one/person/danny-glover.md) as Albert
- [Whoopi Goldberg](https://film.one/person/whoopi-goldberg.md) as Celie
- [Margaret Avery](https://film.one/person/margaret-avery.md) as Shug Avery
- [Oprah Winfrey](https://film.one/person/oprah-winfrey.md) as Sofia
- [Willard E. Pugh](https://film.one/person/willard-e-pugh.md) as Harpo
- [Akosua Busia](https://film.one/person/akosua-busia.md) as Nettie
- [Desreta Jackson](https://film.one/person/desreta-jackson.md) as Young Celie
- [Adolph Caesar](https://film.one/person/adolph-caesar.md) as Old Mr.
- [Rae Dawn Chong](https://film.one/person/rae-dawn-chong.md) as Squeak
- [Dana Ivey](https://film.one/person/dana-ivey.md) as Miss Millie
- [Leonard Jackson](https://film.one/person/leonard-jackson.md) as Pa
- [Ben Guillory](https://film.one/person/bennet-guillory.md) as Grady
- John Patton Jr. as Preacher
- Carl Anderson as Reverend Samuel
- [Susan Beaubian](https://film.one/person/susan-beaubian.md) as Corrine
- James Tillis as Buster
- Phillip Strong as Mayor
- [Laurence Fishburne](https://film.one/person/laurence-fishburne.md) as Swain
- Peto Kinsaka as Adam
- Lelo Masamba as Olivia
- Margaret Freeman as Odessa
- Howard Starr as Young Harpo
- Daphaine Oliver as Young Olivia
- Jadili Johnson as Young Adam
- Lillian Njoki Distefano as Young Tashi
- Donna Buie as Daisy
- [Leon Rippy](https://film.one/person/leon-rippy.md) as Store Clerk
- John R. Hart as Mailman
- David Thomas as Road Gang Leader
- Carrie Murphy as Loretta
- Juliet Poe as Church Sister
- Katie Simon as Church Sister
- Ethel Taylor as Church Sister
- Marcus Covington as Boy
- Marcus Liles as Boo
- April Myers as Emma
- Maurice Moore as Child #1
- Lechanda Latharp as Child #2
- Drew Bundini Brown as Jook Joint Patron
- Arnold F. Turner as Jook Joint Patron
- Jeris Poindexter as Jook Joint Patron
- [Hawthorne James](https://film.one/person/hawthorne-james.md) as Jook Joint Patron
- Sonny Terry as Jook Joint Musician
- Greg Phillinganes as Jook Joint Musician
- Roy Gaines as Jook Joint Musician
- Paulinho da Costa as African Musician
- Nana Yaw Asiedu as African Musician
- Clarence Avant as African Musician
- Bayo Martin as African Musician
- Ndugu Chandler as African Musician
- Jeffrey Kwashi as African Musician
- Pete Munzhi as African Musician
- Aniijia Rae Schockley as African Musician
- Maria Howell as Church Choir Soloist (uncredited)
- Gayle King as Church-goer (uncredited)

## Directing

- [Steven Spielberg](https://film.one/person/steven-spielberg.md): Director

## Writing

- Alice Walker: Novel
- [Menno Meyjes](https://film.one/person/menno-meyjes.md): Screenplay
- [Quincy Jones](https://film.one/person/quincy-jones.md): Lyricist
- Rod Temperton: Lyricist
- Lionel Richie: Lyricist

## Production

- [Steven Spielberg](https://film.one/person/steven-spielberg.md): Producer
- [Frank Marshall](https://film.one/person/frank-marshall.md): Producer
- [Kathleen Kennedy](https://film.one/person/kathleen-kennedy.md): Producer
- [Quincy Jones](https://film.one/person/quincy-jones.md): Producer
- [Peter Guber](https://film.one/person/peter-guber.md): Executive Producer
- Carole Isenberg: Producer
- [Jon Peters](https://film.one/person/jon-peters.md): Executive Producer

## Camera

- [Allen Daviau](https://film.one/person/allen-daviau.md): Director of Photography
- Robert Samuels: Second Assistant Camera

## Editing

- [Michael Kahn](https://film.one/person/michael-kahn.md): Editor

## Sound and music

- [Quincy Jones](https://film.one/person/quincy-jones.md): Original Music Composer, Songs
- Andraé Crouch: Music Arranger, Songs
- Randy Kerber: Orchestrator
- Jorge Calandrelli: Orchestrator
- Joel Rosenbaum: Orchestrator
- [Fred Steiner](https://film.one/person/fred-steiner.md): Orchestrator
- Jerry Hey: Orchestrator
- Jack Hayes: Orchestrator
- Rod Temperton: Songs
- David Del Sesto: Songs
- Bill Maxwell: Songs
- Alan L. Nineberg: ADR Editor

## Art

- [J. Michael Riva](https://film.one/person/j-michael-riva.md): Production Design
- [Bo Welch](https://film.one/person/bo-welch.md): Art Direction
- [Linda DeScenna](https://film.one/person/linda-descenna.md): Set Decoration

## Costume and make-up

- [Aggie Guerard Rodgers](https://film.one/person/aggie-guerard-rodgers.md): Costume Design
- Richard Alonzo: Makeup Artist

## Crew

- Dana Dru Evenson: Stunt Double
- Tony Brubaker: Stunts

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Our review: https://film.one/film/the-color-purple.md