Tom Hanks plays Captain John Miller, Matt Damon plays Private James Ryan, and Tom Sizemore plays Sergeant Mike Horvath in the war film ‘Saving Private Ryan‘.
Main cast
- Captain John H. MillerTom HanksMain
- Private First Class James Francis RyanMatt DamonMain
- Technical Sergeant Michael ‘Mike’ HorvathTom SizemoreMain
Supporting cast
- Private Richard ReibenEdward BurnsSupp
- Private Adrian CaparzoVin DieselSupp
- Private Daniel JacksonBarry PepperSupp
- Private Stanley ‘Fish’ MellishAdam GoldbergSupp
- Medic WadeGiovanni RibisiSupp
- Lieutenant Colonel AndersonDennis FarinaSupp
- Captain HamillTed DansonSupp
Guest & voice
- Sergeant HillPaul GiamattiGuest
- General George C. MarshallHarve PresnellGuest
- Private Ryan (old age)Harrison YoungGuest
- French civilian (credited as ‘Mother with Baby’)Kathleen ByronGuest
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About this cast
‘Saving Private Ryan’ (1998) follows a US Army Ranger squad led by Captain Miller as they search for the sole surviving Ryan brother behind enemy lines in World War II. The film is famous for its brutal opening sequence depicting the Omaha Beach landings.
FAQs
Who plays Private James Ryan in ‘Saving Private Ryan’?
Matt Damon plays Private First Class James Francis Ryan.
Is ‘Saving Private Ryan’ based on a true story?
The film is inspired by the real-life Sullivan brothers and the Niland brothers, but the specific mission of Captain Miller’s squad is fictional.
Who directed ‘Saving Private Ryan’ and who wrote the screenplay?
The film was directed by Steven Spielberg and the screenplay was written by Robert Rodat.
How many Oscars did ‘Saving Private Ryan’ win?
It won five Academy Awards: Best Director (Spielberg), Best Cinematography, Best Film Editing, Best Sound, and Best Sound Effects Editing.
Where was the Normandy beach landing scene filmed?
The beach assault was filmed on Curracloe Beach in County Wexford, Ireland, chosen for its resemblance to Omaha Beach.
Sources & where to watch: IMDb · Wikipedia · Where to watch (JustWatch UK) · Updated June 2026