* Henry Thomas as Elliott, the young boy who befriends E.T.
* Drew Barrymore as Gertie, Elliott's little sister.
* Robert MacNaughton as Michael, Elliott's older brother.
* Dee Wallace Stone as Mary, the children's mother.
* Peter Coyote as Keys, the government agent searching for E.T.
* Pat Welsh as the school principal.
E.T. was played by Pat Welsh, who wore a puppet suit, and Matthew Deighton who provided some of the voice.