Ben Gazzara
— John Resko
Stuart Whitman
— Principal Keeper
Ray Walston
— Iggy
Vincent Price
— Carl Carmer
Rod Steiger
— Tiptoes
Broderick Crawford
— Warden
Dodie Stevens
— Resko's Sister
Jack Kruschen
— Resko's Father
Sammy Davis Jr.
— Wino
Naomi Stevens
— Resko's Mother
Adam Williams
— Guard
Jack Albertson
— Teach
John Kellogg
— Guard
Robert H. Harris
— Commissioner
Carmen Phillips
— Connie Resko
Timothy Carey
— Nick
Myron Healey
— Gunther
Lee Krieger
— Stanley
Josip Elic
— Vic the Barber
Arthur Malet
— Storekeeper
Robert Christopher
— Guard
Reggie Nalder
— Greer
Kreg Martin
— Guard
Susan Silo
— Cathy (as an adult)
Tom Gilson
— Lefty
Roland La Starza
— Duke
Warren J. Kemmerling
— Guard
Andy Albin
— Inmate
John Close
— Guard
John Dennis
— Cell Block Guard