O Brother, Where Art Thou? has a large ensemble cast led by George Clooney, John Turturro, and Tim Blake Nelson, with memorable supporting turns from John Goodman and Holly Hunter.

Main cast (core trio)

  • George Clooney as Everett Ulysses McGill , a fast‑talking escapee who sees himself as the brains of the outfit.
  • John Turturro as Pete Hogwallop , Everett’s hot‑headed, suspicious partner in the chain gang breakout.
  • Tim Blake Nelson as Delmar O’Donnell , a sweet but naive fellow escapee whose optimism gives the film much of its charm.

These three form the heart of the road‑movie story as they wander across 1930s Mississippi, echoing episodes from Homer’s Odyssey.

Key supporting characters

  • John Goodman as Big Dan Teague , the one‑eyed Bible‑selling con man (a clear nod to the Cyclops).
  • Holly Hunter as Penny , Everett’s sharp‑tongued wife who is ready to move on unless he proves himself.
  • Chris Thomas King as Tommy Johnson , the blues guitarist who claims he met the Devil at a crossroads and also contributes original songs.
  • Charles Durning as Governor Pappy O’Daniel , the blustery incumbent governor using radio and music to woo voters.
  • Wayne Duvall as Homer Stokes , the “reform” candidate with a dark, racist secret.

Other notable roles

  • Michael Badalucco as George “Babyface” Nelson , the volatile bank robber the trio briefly teams up with.
  • Ray McKinnon as Vernon T. Waldrip , Penny’s “bona fide” suitor and Everett’s rival.
  • Daniel von Bargen as Sheriff Cooley , the relentless lawman pursuing the convicts, giving the film its almost supernatural sense of fate.
  • Lee Weaver as the Blind Seer , the railway prophet who foreshadows the heroes’ journey.
  • Stephen Root as the Radio Station Man , who records the Soggy Bottom Boys and accidentally makes them a hit.

Mini cast table (main roles)

Actor Character Role type
George Clooney Everett Ulysses McGill Lead – escapee, self‑styled mastermind
John Turturro Pete Hogwallop Lead – hot‑headed escapee
Tim Blake Nelson Delmar O’Donnell Lead – naive, kind escapee
John Goodman Big Dan Teague Supporting – one‑eyed con man
Holly Hunter Penny Supporting – Everett’s wife
Chris Thomas King Tommy Johnson Supporting – blues guitarist
Charles Durning Governor Pappy O’Daniel Supporting – Mississippi governor
Daniel von Bargen Sheriff Cooley Supporting – pursuing sheriff
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Behind the camera & quick “latest news” note

  • Directed by Joel Coen , with Joel and Ethan Coen sharing writing and producing duties.
  • Cinematography by Roger Deakins , whose digital color work gave the movie its dusty, sepia‑tinted look.
  • The film has stayed culturally relevant thanks to its soundtrack (produced by T Bone Burnett) and the enduring popularity of the Soggy Bottom Boys tracks, which still get discussed in forums and music threads today.

TL;DR

The O Brother, Where Art Thou? cast is led by George Clooney, John Turturro, and Tim Blake Nelson, backed by John Goodman, Holly Hunter, Charles Durning, Chris Thomas King, and Daniel von Bargen in standout roles.

Information gathered from public forums or data available on the internet and portrayed here.