Bessie

Mike Epps

Richard

Michael J. Moore

-

Oliver Platt

Carl Van Vechten

Basti Van Der Woude

-

Queen Latifah

Bessie Smith

Michael Kenneth Williams

Jack Gee

Charles S. Dutton

William 'Pa' Rainey

Tory Kittles

Clarence

Gerard 'Gus' Williams

-

Todd Allen Durkin

Nightclub Manager

Judy McGee Burley

Extra (uncredited)

Samuel Lee Fudge

Hoover Town Citizen (uncredited)

Geoffrey Howard

Poker Player (uncredited)

Letecia Reeder

Patron (uncredited)

Khandi Alexander

Viola

Dee Rees

-

Alexis Silvestre

Pretzel Guy (uncredited)

Jim R. Coleman

Host

Terence Rosemore

Detroit Theater Manager

Brooke Satrazemis

-

Whitney Goin

Fania Van Vechten

Tim McAdams

Shady Guy

Jonathan Bryant

Dancer

Desiree Dixon

Dancer

L. Warren Young

Sharkish Man

Damita Jane Howard

-

Joe Knezevich

Frank Walker

Jennifer Sears

Ma's Main Girl

Tika Sumpter

Lucille

Troy Faruk

-

Onira Tarés

Chorus Girl

Sheerod Tate

Dancer

Andre Lamar

Cheering Fan (uncredited)

Bryan Greenberg

John Hammond

Clay Chappell

'81' Theatre Owner

Mo'Nique

Ma Rainey

Tray Williams

Stage Crew (uncredited)

John Merical

VIP Guest (uncredited)

Marie Burke

Etta Johnson

Dorothea Syleos

Switchboard Operator (uncredited)

Neko Parham

Rehearsal Director

Christopher L. Plunkett

Dancer

Kaden Washington Lewis

Swarm Boy

Selah Avery

Background Extra (uncredited)

Lanier McKinney

Dancer (uncredited)

Alkoya Brunson

Swarm Boy #2 (uncredited)

Jeremie Harris

Langston Hughes

Saundra Dunson-Franks

Hostess

Jessejames Locorriere

Vanity Fair Editor

Adella Gautier

Neighbor #2 (uncredited)

Montice Harmon

Party Goer (uncredited)

Swift Rice

Stage Hand (uncredited)

Briana Starks

Ma's Dancer

Melissa Youngblood

Theatergoer

Marcus Lewis

Bessie's Band Member

Qualen Bradley

Stage Crew (uncredited)

Sarah Turner Holland

Train Passenger #1 (uncredited)

Sharan C. Mansfield

Miss Taylor

Kamryn Johnson

Young Bessie

Rikki McKinney

Chorus Guy

Alan T. Coleman

Stagehand

Jhoni Davis

Chorus Girl

Crystal Lee Brown

Bessie's Dancer

Hunter Womack

Roadie

Christopher Harvey

Roadie

Tia Hendricks

Doreen Dupree

Karri Mack

Wild Child

Bralyn Stokes

Harry Herbert Pace

Cj Sykes

Black Swan Executive

Adebukola Bodunrin

-

David Paul Lord

-

Chris Walters

-

Chantelle Rose Mussenden

Gertrude

Sylvester Ambrose James II

Jack Gee Jr.

Levi Erik

Benny Goodman

Kenny Banks Jr.

Bessie's Band Member

Michael Burton

Bessie's Band Member

Roderick Harris

Bessie's Band Member

John A. Harvey

Bessie's Band Member

Reggie Hines

Bessie's Band Member

Kevin Kendrick

Bessie's Band Member

Kenneth Murray Jr.

Bessie's Band Member

Kwame Paige

Bessie's Band Member

Jason Passmore

Bessie's Band Member

Daniel Saintil

Bessie's Band Member

Craig Shaw

Bessie's Band Member

Don C. Sherow

Bessie's Band Member

Dashiel Smith

Bessie's Band Member

Eric Solomon

Bessie's Band Member

Joseph Claude Sommerville Jr.

Bessie's Band Member

Teddy White

Bessie's Band Member

Wilbert Williams

Bessie's Band Member

Brandon Boone

Ma's Band Member

Robert Boone

Ma's Band Member

Daniel Terence Harper

Ma's Band Member

Anton Harris

Ma's Band Member

Jody Mayfield

Ma's Band Member

Derrick B. White

Ma's Band Member

Edward Wright

-

Heather Bland

Dancer

Raquiah Carter

Dancer

Lauren Debrick

Dancer

Anthony Hart

Dancer

Nia Lancelin

Dancer

Keshia McNeal

Dancer

Samara Michelle

Dancer

LaVaughn Morton

Dancer

Tiffany Murray

Dancer

Ashley Neal

Dancer

Tiffany Norris

Dancer

Stephan Reynolds

Dancer

Nateli Ruiz

Dancer

Primas Leon Stanley

Dancer

Brentney Stephens

Dancer

Dacia Stinson

Dancer

Fred Swinton

Dancer

Quiantae Thomas

Dancer

Alicia 'Nikki' Thompson

Dancer

Kendre White

Dancer

Perry Ball

Railroad Passenger (uncredited)

Jeffery James Bucchino

Doorman (uncredited)

Jess Marie Carr

Ophelia Franklin (uncredited)

Jameson Jamey Copeland

Upscale Party Goer (uncredited)

Taurus Davis

Extra (uncredited)

Dino Demitri

-

Derrick Dee

Bodyguard (uncredited)

Shannon Edwards

Philadelphia Audience Member (uncredited)

Tyrone Emanuel

Party Guest (uncredited)

Curtis Gordon

Train Passenger #2 (uncredited)

Rob Hays

Server (uncredited)

Charlie Johnson

Party Goer (uncredited)

Noah Hudson Killingbeck

Neighborhood Kid (uncredited)

Trey McGriff

Pedestrian (uncredited)

Dan Michael

Theater Goer (uncredited)

Darrell L. Shuler

Club Goer (uncredited)

Nicole Spiezio

Marguerite d'Alvarez (uncredited)