* Jon Voight as Lewis Medlock
* Burt Reynolds as Lewis's friend, Bobby Trippe
* Ned Beatty as Drew, the quiet and meek friend
* Ronny Cox as Ed, the city slicker
These were all experienced actors with established careers, and their performances in Deliverance are considered to be some of their best work.
While some scenes in the film, like the canoeing and the banjo scene, may have required some real-life skills from the actors, they were all professional actors who had been trained to play their roles convincingly.
However, it's worth noting that the film was known for its gritty realism and use of non-professional extras, especially in scenes involving the local inhabitants of the Ozarks. This helped to create a sense of authenticity and contributed to the film's overall impact.