The Deer Hunter

Staff Sergeant Mikhail Vronsky ("Mike"). After Roy Scheider withdrew from the cast two weeks before the start of filming due to creative differences, producer Michael Deeley pursued De Niro, who was paid one million dollars for the role, in search of star power to sell a film with a "gruesome-sounding storyline and a barely known director". De Niro later said, "I liked the script, and [Cimino] had done a lot of prep. I was impressed." He prepared by socializing with steelworkers in local bars and by visiting their homes. De Niro claimed that this was his most physically exhausting film, and that the sequence in which Mike visits Steven in the hospital was the most emotional scene of his career.

Robert De Niro

Corporal Nikanor Chevotarevich ("Nick"). His performance won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.

Stanley ("Stan"/"Stosh"). All scenes involving Cazale, who had terminal cancer, were filmed first. Because of his illness, the studio wanted to dismiss him, but Streep, with whom he was in a romantic relationship, and Cimino threatened to withdraw from the project if Cazale was released. He was almost uninsurable, and according to Streep, De Niro paid for his insurance because he wanted Cazale in the film. This was Cazale's last film, as he died shortly after filming wrapped. He never saw the finished film.

John Cazale

Corporal Steven Pushkov.

John Savage

Linda. In the screenplay, Streep's role was negligible, but Cimino explained the role to her and suggested that she write her own lines.

Meryl Streep

John Welsh.

George Dzundza

Steven's mother.

Shirley Stoler

Peter Axelrod ("Axel"). Aspegren was not an actor; he was the foreman at an East Chicago steel factory that was visited by De Niro and Cimino during pre-production. They were so impressed with him that they offered him the role. He was the second person to be cast in the film, after De Niro.

Chuck Aspegren

Angela Ludhjduravic-Pushkov.

Rutanya Alda

Sergeant.

Paul D'Amato

Bridesmaid.

Amy Wright