About The Great Debaters
- Released on December 27, 2007
The true story of a brilliant but politically radical debate team coach who uses the power of words to transform a group of underdog African-American college students into a historical powerhouse that took on the Harvard elite.
Full Cast of The Great Debaters
Denzel Whitaker plays James Farmer Jr.
Denzel Washington plays Melvin B. Tolson
Nate Parker plays Henry Lowe
Jurnee Smollett plays Samantha Booke
Forest Whitaker plays Dr. James Farmer Sr.
Kimberly Elise plays Pearl Farmer
Jermaine Williams plays Hamilton Burgess
Gina Ravera plays Ruth Tolson
John Heard plays Sheriff Dozier
Devyn A. Tyler plays Helen Farmer
Trenton McClain Boyd plays Nathaniel Farmer
Ritchie Montgomery plays Deputy
Jackson Walker plays Pig Owner
Tim Parati plays Pig Farmer
Robert X. Golphin plays Dunbar Reed
Justice Leak plays Harland Osbourne
Glen Powell plays Harvard Debater #1
Brad Watkins plays Harvard Debater #2
Brian Smiar plays Harvard Dean
Damien Leake plays Wilson
Voltaire Sterling plays Paul Quinn Debater #1
Stephen Rider plays Paul Quinn Debater #2
Gordon Danniels plays Paul Quinn Debate Judge
Donny Boaz plays Oklahoma City College Debater #1
Samuel Elliott Whisnant plays Oklahoma City College Debater #2
Bonnie Johnson plays Dr. Jennings
Charissa Allen plays Benita
Michael Beasley plays Trudell
Gary Mathis plays Enormous Man
Georges Wilson plays Samuel
Fahnlohnee R. Harris plays Clementine
Harold Evans plays William Taylor
J.D. Evermore plays Captain Wainwright
Sharon Jones plays Lila
Kelvin Payton plays Joseph
Southey Blanton plays White Labor Organizer
Michael Mattison plays White Sharecropper #1
Jeff Braun plays White Sharecropper #2
Milton R. Gipson plays Prairie View Professor
Frank Ridley plays Security Guard
Jeremiah Kissel plays Radio Announcer at Harvard Debate
Jack Radosta plays White Man at Lynching
Alvin Youngblood Hart plays Juke Joint Musician #1
Dom Flemons plays Juke Joint Musician #2
Justin Robinson plays Juke Joint Musician #3
Rhiannon Giddens plays Juke Joint Musician #4
Ahmad Powell plays Fisk Professor
Marcus Lyle Brown plays Howard Debater #1
Gary Mattis plays Enormous Man
Crew of The Great Debaters
Costume & Make-Up
Sound
Crew
Art
Writing
Production
Directing
Camera
Lighting
Visual Effects
Editing
- Denzel Whitaker
- Denzel Washington
- Nate Parker
- Jurnee Smollett
- Forest Whitaker
- Kimberly Elise
- Jermaine Williams
- Gina Ravera
- John Heard
- Devyn A. Tyler
- Trenton McClain Boyd
- Ritchie Montgomery
- Jackson Walker
- Tim Parati
- Robert X. Golphin
- Justice Leak
- Glen Powell
- Brad Watkins
- Brian Smiar
- Damien Leake
- Voltaire Sterling
- Stephen Rider
- Gordon Danniels
- Donny Boaz
- Samuel Elliott Whisnant
- Bonnie Johnson
- Charissa Allen
- Michael Beasley
- Gary Mathis
- Georges Wilson
- Fahnlohnee R. Harris
- Harold Evans
- J.D. Evermore
- Sharon Jones
- Kelvin Payton
- Southey Blanton
- Michael Mattison
- Jeff Braun
- Milton R. Gipson
- Frank Ridley
- Jeremiah Kissel
- Jack Radosta
- Alvin Youngblood Hart
- Dom Flemons
- Justin Robinson
- Rhiannon Giddens
- Ahmad Powell
- Marcus Lyle Brown
- Gary Mattis