Main Cast:
* LeVar Burton as Kunta Kinte (adult)
* Louis Gossett Jr. as Fiddler
* John Amos as Kunta Kinte (young adult)
* Cicely Tyson as Binta
* James Earl Jones as Chicken George
* Ben Vereen as Chicken George (young adult)
* Olivia Cole as Belle
* Madge Sinclair as Belle (young adult)
* Leslie Uggams as Kizzy
* Lynne Moody as Belle (old age)
* David Soul as Tom Lea
* Edward Asner as John Reynolds
Notable Supporting Cast:
* Robert Guillaume as Tom
* Paul Winfield as William
* James Whitmore as John Waller
* Michael O'Hare as Captain Davies
* Georg Stanford Brown as Henry
* George C. Scott as John Reynolds (older)
* Ralph Waite as Captain Davies (older)
* Don Murray as Dr. Russel
This is not an exhaustive list, as "Roots" features a large ensemble cast. The miniseries is known for its powerful portrayals of enslaved people and the impact of slavery on individuals and families.