Casper Van Dien
The role is played by actor Casper Van Dien, whose clean cut good looks and prominent jawline makes him ideal for the role of protagonist, model citizen, and living legend of the United Citizen Federation’s Mobile Infantry Unit Johnny Rico. The film chronicles his transformation from private citizen to decorated military hero.
Neil Patrick Harris
Played by Neil Patrick Harris, Gen. Jenkins is a man of many accomplishments: a skilled battle tactician, prominent scientist, and a psychic of considerable ability. He is a close childhood friend of Johnny Rico and other members of The Roughnecks. His discovery and resultant research of the Brain Bug caste becomes the fulcrum that tips the tide of war in favor of the human race.
Dina Meyer
Another of Johnny Rico's old classmates, comrade at arms, and later on, lover. She is fatally wounded in battle and is awarded full military honors upon her death, her casket jettisoned into space, her eulogy delivered by Johnny Rico himself.
Denise Richards
Spacecraft Captain under the United Citizen Federation Fleet. She becomes a crew member of the ship Rodger Young, and eventually becomes the C.O. of the starship Athena and John A. Warden. She and Johnny Rico were romantically connected but the relationship becomes estranged when they enter into military service. They cross paths once more again though on the field of battle this time as comrades in arms against the bugs.
Anthony Ruivivar
A hand-to-hand combat specialist whose prowess allows him to move up quickly earning him the rank of Instructor-Corporal, in time he also proves to be an accomplished knife fighter and competent in the use of ordnance making him a valued member of Rico's unit. He dies in combat though after going berserk, gunning down bugs despite being heavily outnumbered.
Clancy Brown
The brash Clancy Brown plays Sgt. Zim the tough talking; no-nonsense drill instructor who trained Johnny Rico. He was one of the first to spot his potential for leadership and give him an opportunity to show his abilities.
Bruce Gray
Sky Marshal Dienes was the former Fleet Admiral and Sky Marshal of the Federation Forces who bungled the Battle of Klendathu by making use of outdated battle of attrition tactics.
Denise Dowse
Sky Marshal Meru succeeds Sky Marshal Dienes after he is disgraced by his failure at the Battle of Klendathu. She approaches the situation from a completely different angle, proposing that research must be done in order to understand the bugs so that they can fight them more effectively rather than needlessly sacrifice human lives.
Jake Busey
A cocky, opinionated, loudmouth of a soldier who proves his mettle with time and again in combat, Levy, Rico and a handful of others from their class of recruits are just some of the few who manage to survive and get accepted into the fabled Rasczak’s Roughnecks.
Michael Ironside
The gravel voiced Michael Ironside plays the role of grizzled former soldier turned high school teacher later turned commando unit leader Jean Rasczak. His depiction of a wise and wizened old teacher and a no-nonsense, tougher-than-nails commando captain is a rare departure from the usual antagonist roles he plays.
