Chiwetel Ejiofor (Solomon Northup), Michael Fassbender (Edwin Epps), Benedict Cumberbatch (William Ford), Paul Giamatti (Theophilius Freeman), Brad Pitt (Samuel Bass), Paul Dano (Tibeats), Garret Dillahunt (Armsby), Scoot McNairy (Brown), Lupita Nyong'o (Patsey), Adepero Oduye (Eliza), Sarah Paulson (Mary Epps), Michael Kenneth Williams (Robert), James C. Victor (Käufer), Alfre Woodard (Mistress Shaw), Liza J. Bennett (Mistress Ford), Bill Camp (Radburn), Bryan Batt (Richter Turner), Christopher Berry (Burch), Deneen Tyler (Phebe), Douglas M. Griffin (Sailor), Marcus Lyle Brown (Jasper), Taran Killam (Hamilton), Tom Proctor (Biddee), Tony Bentley (Mr. Moon), Quvenzhané Wallis (Margaret Northup), Kelsey Scott (Anne Northup), Cameron Zeigler (Alonzo Northup), Ashley Dyke (Anna), Anwan Glover (Cape), Chris Chalk (Clemens), J.D. Evermore (Chapin), John McConnell (Jonus Ray), Marc Macaulay (Captain), Dwight Henry (Onkel Abram), Rob Steinberg (Parker), Storm Reid (Emily), Craig Tate (John), Richard Holden (Fitzgerald), Nicole Collins (Rachel), Dickie Gravois (Aufseher)