The 1996 film A Time to Kill stars Matthew McConaughey as lawyer Jake Brigance, Sandra Bullock as law student Ellen Roark, and Samuel L. Jackson as Carl Lee Hailey, the father on trial for murder.
Main cast
- Jake BriganceMatthew McConaugheyMain
- Ellen RoarkSandra BullockMain
- Carl Lee HaileySamuel L. JacksonMain
- Lucien WilbanksDonald SutherlandMain
- Judge Omar NoosePatrick McGoohanMain
Supporting cast
- Rufus BuckleyKevin SpaceySupp
- Carla BriganceAshley JuddSupp
- Harry Rex VonnerOliver PlattSupp
- Ozzie WallsBrenda FrickerSupp
- Ethel TwittyBrenda StrongSupp
- Sheriff Ozzie WallsJohn DiehlSupp
- Dwayne LooneyCharles S. DuttonSupp
- Billy Ray CobbNicky KattSupp
- Pete WillardD.B. SweeneySupp
Guest & voice
- Tonya HaileyTonea StewartSupp
- Gwen HaileyLisa Nicole CarsonSupp
- Freddie Lee CobbKurtwood SmithSupp
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About this cast
A Time to Kill is a 1996 legal drama film based on John Grisham’s novel. The story follows a young lawyer defending a black man who killed two white men for raping his daughter, set in a racially charged Mississippi town. The lead trio of Matthew McConaughey, Sandra Bullock, and Samuel L. Jackson anchor a strong ensemble cast.
FAQs
Who plays Jake Brigance in A Time to Kill?
Jake Brigance is played by Matthew McConaughey.
Who plays Carl Lee Hailey in A Time to Kill?
Carl Lee Hailey is played by Samuel L. Jackson.
Who plays Ellen Roark in A Time to Kill?
Ellen Roark is played by Sandra Bullock.
Who plays Rufus Buckley in A Time to Kill?
Rufus Buckley is played by Kevin Spacey.
What year was A Time to Kill released?
The film was released in 1996.
Sources & where to watch: IMDb · Wikipedia · Where to watch (JustWatch UK) · Updated June 2026