Titanic Cast (1997)
Paramount Pictures & 20th Century Fox | Romance / Disaster | 194 minutes | Directed by James Cameron
Titanic (1997) is an epic romantic disaster film written, directed, and co-produced by James Cameron. Set aboard the ill-fated RMS Titanic on its maiden voyage in April 1912, the story follows Jack Dawson, a penniless artist, and Rose DeWitt Bukater, a first-class socialite promised in an arranged engagement, who fall in love across the rigid class divide. When the ship strikes an iceberg and begins to sink, their love is tested against the catastrophic backdrop of one of history's most famous maritime disasters. The film became a cultural phenomenon, winning eleven Academy Awards including Best Picture and Best Director, and became the highest-grossing film in history at the time of its release.
The Titanic cast is anchored by two of the most acclaimed performances of the 1990s. Leonardo DiCaprio and Kate Winslet carry the emotional weight of the film as Jack and Rose, delivering chemistry that resonated with global audiences and launched both actors to superstar status. James Cameron assembled a carefully chosen ensemble to populate the ship's social hierarchy, drawing on distinguished British and American character actors to bring historical and fictional passengers to life. From Billy Zane's menacing portrayal of the antagonist Cal Hockley to Gloria Stuart's affecting performance as the elderly Rose recounting her memories, every member of the cast contributes to a film that operates simultaneously as intimate love story and large-scale disaster epic. Kathy Bates brings warmth and humor as the historical figure Molly Brown, while Bernard Hill and Victor Garber ground the film in the real events of April 14–15, 1912.
Main Cast
Leonardo DiCaprio
Jack Dawson
A free-spirited, penniless American artist traveling third class after winning his ticket in a lucky poker game; falls deeply in love with Rose.
Kate Winslet
Rose DeWitt Bukater
A 17-year-old first-class passenger from Philadelphia high society, betrothed to Cal Hockley, who finds liberation through her bond with Jack.
Billy Zane
Cal Hockley
Rose's arrogant and possessive fiancé, heir to a Pittsburgh steel fortune, who grows increasingly menacing as he loses control of Rose.
Kathy Bates
Molly Brown
A real historical figure — the boisterous, self-made Denver socialite Margaret "Molly" Brown — who befriends Jack and advocates for survivors in a lifeboat.
Frances Fisher
Ruth DeWitt Bukater
Rose's cold and financially desperate mother, who pushes the Cal engagement to preserve the family's social standing after her husband's death left them in debt.
Gloria Stuart
Old Rose (101-year-old Rose)
The framing narrative's narrator — the 101-year-old Rose looking back on the Titanic sinking, a performance that earned Stuart an Academy Award nomination.
Bill Paxton
Brock Lovett
A modern-day treasure hunter leading an expedition to the Titanic wreck in search of a legendary diamond necklace called the Heart of the Ocean.
Bernard Hill
Captain Edward James Smith
The real historical captain of the RMS Titanic, depicted as a dignified officer who ultimately goes down with the ship.
Victor Garber
Thomas Andrews
The real historical designer of the Titanic, shown as a conscientious and guilt-ridden man who tells Rose directly that the ship will sink within two hours.
David Warner
Spicer Lovejoy
Cal's cold, efficient personal bodyguard who pursues Jack through the flooding ship on Cal's orders.
Danny Nucci
Fabrizio
Jack's loyal and spirited Italian best friend and fellow third-class passenger, who shares in both the excitement of the voyage and its tragic end.
Supporting & Recurring Cast
| Actor | Character | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jonathan Hyde | J. Bruce Ismay | Chairman of the White Star Line, depicted controversially escaping in a lifeboat | Historical figure |
| Ioan Gruffudd | Fifth Officer Harold Lowe | The only officer to return his lifeboat to rescue survivors from the freezing water | Historical figure |
| Suzy Amis | Lizzy Calvert | Old Rose's granddaughter who accompanies her aboard Brock Lovett's research vessel | Supporting |
| Lewis Abernathy | Lewis Bodine | Brock Lovett's sardonic technical expert on the salvage expedition | Supporting |
| Nicholas Cascone | Bobby Buell | Member of Lovett's research crew | Supporting |
| Anatoly Sagalevitch | Anatoly Mikailavich | Russian MIR submersible pilot on the real expedition; played himself | Cameo/real person |
| Eric Braeden | John Jacob Astor IV | The wealthiest passenger aboard, a real historical American businessman | Historical figure |
| Charlotte Chatton | Madeleine Astor | John Jacob Astor's young wife, depicted briefly on the promenade | Historical figure |
| Mark Lindsay Chapman | Chief Officer Henry Wilde | Senior officer on the bridge during the sinking | Historical figure |
| Ewan Stewart | First Officer William Murdoch | The officer on watch when the iceberg was spotted; depicted making several critical decisions | Historical figure |
Creators & Production
James Cameron
Writer, Director, and Co-Producer. Cameron spent years developing the project, personally diving to the actual Titanic wreck, and oversaw one of the most expensive productions in Hollywood history to that point.
Jon Landau
Co-Producer. Landau partnered with Cameron throughout production and has continued as Cameron's producing partner on subsequent projects including the Avatar franchise.
James Horner
Composer. Horner's score — including the song "My Heart Will Go On" performed by Celine Dion — won Academy Awards for Best Original Score and Best Original Song and became one of the best-selling film soundtracks of all time.
Russell Carpenter
Director of Photography. Carpenter was responsible for capturing both the intimate character moments and the large-scale flooding and sinking sequences.
Peter Lamont
Production Designer. Lamont oversaw the construction of a near-full-scale replica of the Titanic built at Rosarito, Mexico, at Twentieth Century Fox's purpose-built Baja Studios.
Conrad Buff, James Cameron & Richard A. Harris
Film Editors. The editorial team shaped a 194-minute runtime that balances the slow build of the romance with the relentless pace of the disaster sequences.
About the Titanic Cast
James Cameron's casting of Leonardo DiCaprio opposite Kate Winslet was considered something of a gamble at the time, pairing a teen idol then best known for Romeo + Juliet with a critically acclaimed British actress coming off her Oscar-nominated turn in Sense and Sensibility. The two actors underwent extensive costume and period research and developed a warm off-screen friendship that translated directly into the electric on-screen chemistry that critics praised. DiCaprio had initially been reluctant to take the role, reportedly resistant to the idea of being in a "love story," before Cameron convinced him of the film's ambition and scale.
The decision to cast Gloria Stuart as the older version of Rose was a masterstroke of historical resonance: Stuart had been a genuine Hollywood actress in the 1930s, meaning she was an authentic link to the era in which the young Rose would have grown up. At the time of filming she was 86 years old and delivered a performance of such quiet dignity that she became the oldest person ever nominated for an Academy Award in a competitive acting category. The dual casting of Winslet and Stuart was carefully managed so that audiences could seamlessly believe they were watching the same woman at different points in life. The supporting cast drew on strong British stage and television talent — Bernard Hill, Victor Garber, and David Warner — to lend historical weight and authority to the real-world figures and antagonists who populate the ship.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who stars in Titanic (1997)?
Titanic stars Leonardo DiCaprio as Jack Dawson and Kate Winslet as Rose DeWitt Bukater. The supporting cast includes Billy Zane, Kathy Bates, Frances Fisher, Gloria Stuart, and Bill Paxton.
Who plays Jack Dawson in Titanic?
Leonardo DiCaprio plays Jack Dawson, a free-spirited third-class passenger who wins his ticket in a poker game and falls in love with first-class socialite Rose DeWitt Bukater.
When was Titanic released?
Titanic was released on December 19, 1997, in the United States. It was co-produced by Paramount Pictures and 20th Century Fox.
Who directed Titanic?
Titanic was written and directed by James Cameron, who also served as a producer. Cameron spent years researching the real RMS Titanic wreck and dove to the actual shipwreck site during production.
Who plays the villain Cal Hockley in Titanic?
Billy Zane plays Caledon "Cal" Hockley, Rose's arrogant and controlling fiancé who is a first-class passenger from a wealthy steel family.
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