The Wolf of Wall Street Cast (2013)
Paramount Pictures | Biographical Crime Comedy | 180 min | Directed by Martin Scorsese
The Wolf of Wall Street is a 2013 biographical black comedy crime film directed by Martin Scorsese and written by Terence Winter, based on the memoir of the same name by Jordan Belfort. The film chronicles the rise and fall of stockbroker Jordan Belfort, who in the 1990s founded Stratton Oakmont, a brokerage firm that engaged in widespread securities fraud and corruption. Notorious for its unflinching depiction of excess, the film runs three hours and was nominated for five Academy Awards, including Best Picture and Best Actor for Leonardo DiCaprio.
The Wolf of Wall Street cast is led by Leonardo DiCaprio in what many regard as his most physically and comedically demanding performance, playing real-life fraudster Jordan Belfort with infectious charisma and escalating self-destruction. Jonah Hill earned a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination for his portrayal of Belfort's business partner Donnie Azoff — a performance of unhinged, near-cartoonish ambition. Australian actress Margot Robbie made her Hollywood breakthrough as Naomi Lapaglia, Belfort's glamorous and sharp-witted second wife. Matthew McConaughey appears in a brief but galvanising early scene as the mentor figure Mark Hanna, and the scene became iconic almost instantly. Kyle Chandler provides a cool foil as the FBI agent relentlessly pursuing Belfort. The ensemble also includes Rob Reiner, Jon Bernthal, Jean Dujardin, and Joanna Lumley, each adding texture to Scorsese's sprawling, satirical canvas.
Main Cast
Leonardo DiCaprio
Jordan Belfort
The real-life stockbroker who founded Stratton Oakmont and built a fraudulent empire of extraordinary wealth and debauchery before his eventual downfall.
Jonah Hill
Donnie Azoff
Belfort's closest friend and business partner, who joins Stratton Oakmont from the start and matches Belfort's excesses at every turn.
Margot Robbie
Naomi Lapaglia
Belfort's beautiful and formidable second wife, who enjoys the benefits of his wealth but ultimately refuses to be destroyed by his choices.
Matthew McConaughey
Mark Hanna
Belfort's first boss on Wall Street, who introduces him to the culture of excess and provides the film's most memorable early scene.
Kyle Chandler
Agent Patrick Denham
The cool, principled FBI agent who doggedly pursues Belfort across the film's timeline, representing the law's slow but inevitable reach.
Rob Reiner
Max Belfort
Jordan's father and the firm's CFO, a frustrated voice of semi-reason amid his son's increasingly reckless behaviour.
Jon Bernthal
Brad
A drug dealer and Belfort associate from his Long Island neighbourhood who becomes a key figure in laundering money overseas.
Jean Dujardin
Jean-Jacques Saurel
A suave Swiss banker who helps Belfort launder money through offshore accounts in exchange for substantial fees.
Joanna Lumley
Aunt Emma
Naomi's British aunt, recruited to hold overseas bank accounts as part of Belfort's money-laundering scheme.
Supporting & Recurring Cast
| Actor | Character | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Cristin Milioti | Teresa Petrillo | Jordan's first wife | Early scenes before the rise |
| P. J. Byrne | Nicky Koskoff | Stratton Oakmont broker nicknamed "Rugrat" | Recurring throughout |
| Kenneth Choi | Chester Ming | Stratton Oakmont broker | Recurring throughout |
| Brian Sacca | Robbie Feinberg | Stratton Oakmont broker nicknamed "Pinhead" | Recurring throughout |
| Henry Zebrowski | Alden Kupferberg | Stratton Oakmont broker nicknamed "Sea Otter" | Recurring throughout |
| Ethan Suplee | Toby Welch | A Long Island friend turned broker | Supporting role |
| Bo Dietl | Himself | Former NYPD detective, appears as a private investigator | Cameo |
| Jordan Belfort | Himself (cameo) | The real Jordan Belfort appears introducing DiCaprio's character in the final scene | Final scene cameo |
Creators & Production
Martin Scorsese
Director
Terence Winter
Screenwriter
Leonardo DiCaprio
Producer
Riza Aziz
Producer
Joey McFarland
Producer
Rodrigo Prieto
Cinematographer
Thelma Schoonmaker
Film Editor
Howard Shore
Composer
About The Wolf of Wall Street Cast
The Wolf of Wall Street marked the fifth collaboration between Martin Scorsese and Leonardo DiCaprio, following Gangs of New York (2002), The Aviator (2004), The Departed (2006), and Shutter Island (2010). DiCaprio has spoken about the physical and comedical demands of the role, particularly a celebrated scene in which Belfort attempts to drive home in an advanced state of drug-induced incapacitation — a sequence requiring days of choreographed physical comedy. DiCaprio received his third Academy Award nomination for the performance. Jonah Hill went through a dramatic physical transformation for the role and his over-the-top energy became the film's comic engine; his Oscar nomination for Best Supporting Actor reflected the critical appreciation for what was a genuinely difficult performance to calibrate.
Margot Robbie's casting as Naomi Lapaglia was her Hollywood debut at feature scale, and the performance announced her as an immediately major screen presence. She has subsequently noted that the film's success was a turning point in her career. Matthew McConaughey's brief appearance — a single scene in which he beats his chest rhythmically while discussing the philosophy of Wall Street excess — became one of the most quoted and referenced scenes of 2013, and McConaughey improvised much of it. Scorsese's long-time editor Thelma Schoonmaker cut the three-hour film from what was reportedly a much longer assembly, making the pace feel relentless despite the runtime.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who stars in The Wolf of Wall Street?
The Wolf of Wall Street stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Jordan Belfort, Jonah Hill as Donnie Azoff, Margot Robbie as Naomi Lapaglia, and Matthew McConaughey as Mark Hanna.
Who plays Jordan Belfort in The Wolf of Wall Street?
Leonardo DiCaprio plays Jordan Belfort, the real-life stockbroker who founded the brokerage firm Stratton Oakmont and was later convicted of fraud and money laundering. DiCaprio received an Academy Award nomination for the role.
Who directed The Wolf of Wall Street?
The Wolf of Wall Street was directed by Martin Scorsese, his fifth collaboration with Leonardo DiCaprio. The screenplay was written by Terence Winter, based on Jordan Belfort's memoir of the same name.
When was The Wolf of Wall Street released?
The Wolf of Wall Street was released on December 25, 2013, in the United States by Paramount Pictures.
Who plays Naomi in The Wolf of Wall Street?
Margot Robbie plays Naomi Lapaglia, Jordan Belfort's second wife. The role was Robbie's breakthrough Hollywood performance after her work on Australian television.
Is The Wolf of Wall Street based on a true story?
Yes. The film is based on the memoir of the same name by the real Jordan Belfort, who ran the fraudulent brokerage Stratton Oakmont in the 1990s and was later convicted of securities fraud and money laundering.
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