- Tom Hanks as John H. Miller: A determined U.S. captain suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder[2][3][4]
- Edward Burns as Richard Reiben: A rebellious soldier[5][6]
- Tom Sizemore as Mike Horvath: Miller's long-time friend and second-in-command[5]
- Jeremy Davies as Timothy Upham: A staff assistant lacking any combat experience, recruited by Miller as a French and German interpreter[5][6]
- Vin Diesel as Adrian Caparzo: A battle-hardened and compassionate soldier[5][6]
- Adam Goldberg as Stanley "Fish" Mellish: A wisecracking Jewish trooper, and Caparzo's close friend[5][6]
- Barry Pepper as Daniel Jackson: A religious sniper[5][6]
- Giovanni Ribisi as Irwin Wade: The team's diligent and caring combat medic[5][6]
- Matt Damon as James Francis Ryan: A young soldier from Iowa[6][7]
- Dennis Farina as Walter Anderson: An American officer who tasks Miller with finding Ryan[8]
- Ted Danson as Fred Hamill: The captain of the 101st Pathfinders unit[5][8]
- Harve Presnell as George C. Marshall: The top U.S. Army general, who orders the mission to recover Ryan.[8]
- Bryan Cranston as Mac: A staff officer in the War Department[5][8]
- David Wohl as T. E. Sanders: An officer in the War Department[9]
- Nathan Fillion as James Frederick Ryan: A soldier mistaken for James Francis Ryan (credited as Minnesota Ryan)[5][6][8]
- Paul Giamatti as William Hill: A war-weary sergeant in Neuville[6][8]
- Ryan Hurst as Mandelsohn: A hearing-impaired paratrooper[8]
- Max Martini as Henderson: A soldier in Ryan's company[8][9]
- Leland Orser as DeWindt: A lieutenant from the 99th Troop Carrier Squadron[8][9]
The cast also includes Glenn Wrage as Doyle, Corey Johnson as a radioman, John Sharian as Corporal Loeb, and Rolf Saxon as Lieutenant Briggs—Allied soldiers at the Omaha beach landing.[8][9] Demetri Goritsas and Dylan Bruno portray Parker and Private First Class Toynbe, respectively, who aid in the battle of Ramelle.[8] Joerg Stadler appears as Steamboat Willie, a German prisoner.[5][9] Amanda Boxer portrays Ryan's mother, while Harrison Young and Kathleen Byron portray the elderly James Ryan and his wife, Margaret.[8][9] Technical advisor and Marine veteran, Dale Dye, appears as a War Department colonel.[8]
