Richard Gere stars as Zack Mayo, Debra Winger as Paula Pokrifki, and Louis Gossett Jr. as Sergeant Foley in the 1982 romantic drama An Officer and a Gentleman.
Main cast
- Zack MayoRichard GereMain
- Paula PokrifkiDebra WingerMain
- Sgt. Emil FoleyLouis Gossett Jr.Main
Supporting cast
- Lynette PomeroyLisa BlountSupp
- Sid WorleyDavid KeithSupp
- Byron MayoRobert LoggiaSupp
- Esther PokrifkiGrace ZabriskieSupp
- Casey SeegerTony PlanaSupp
- PerrymanHarold SylvesterSupp
- DobieVictor FrenchSupp
Guest & voice
- Manny O’CaseyDavid CarusoGuest
- Topper DanielsJohn LaughlinGuest
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About this cast
An Officer and a Gentleman is a 1982 American romantic drama film directed by Taylor Hackford. The film follows Zack Mayo, a young man who enters the U.S. Navy’s Officer Candidate School, where he faces the harsh training of Sergeant Foley while falling in love with local factory worker Paula Pokrifki. The three lead performances by Richard Gere, Debra Winger, and Louis Gossett Jr. (who won the…
FAQs
Who plays Zack Mayo in An Officer and a Gentleman?
Richard Gere plays the lead role of Zack Mayo, a determined naval aviation candidate.
Who plays Sergeant Foley in An Officer and a Gentleman?
Louis Gossett Jr. plays Gunnery Sergeant Emil Foley, the tough drill instructor. He won an Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor for his performance.
Who plays Paula Pokrifki in An Officer and a Gentleman?
Debra Winger plays Paula Pokrifki, the local factory worker who becomes Zack’s love interest.
Is An Officer and a Gentleman based on a true story?
The film is loosely based on the experiences of U.S. Navy officers, but it is not a direct adaptation of a single real-life story. The screenplay by Douglas Day Stewart drew from his own time in the Navy.
Did the cast perform their own stunts in An Officer and a Gentleman?
Richard Gere performed many of his own stunts, including the famous running scenes, but some dangerous sequences were handled by stunt doubles.
Sources & where to watch: IMDb · Wikipedia · Where to watch (JustWatch UK) · Updated June 2026