See the ‘Apollo 13’ cast, then and now

Tom Hanks as Jim Lovell

Tom Hanks was at the height of his powers in the lead-up to Apollo 13, having just won back-to-back Oscars for Philadelphia (1993) and Forrest Gump (1994). While the Academy didn’t honor his performance as real-life astronaut Jim Lovell, he’s since been nominated for his turns in Saving Private Ryan (1998), Cast Away (2000), and A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019).

Apollo 13, though, was a highlight of Hanks’ career, what with his well-documented fascination with outer space.

“I followed the space program heavily when I was a kid,” Hanks told us in a 1995 Entertainment Weekly cover story. “I could name all the crews of Apollo 7 through 12… And then Apollo 11, of course. That was the one the whole world stood still for. But I sort of stood still for each one of those Apollo missions.”

In the aftermath of the film, Hanks teamed with Howard and Apollo 13 producer Brian Grazer for HBO’s docudrama From the Earth to the Moon (1998), on which he served as host and producer. The series was nominated for 17 Primetime Emmys, winning three, including Best Miniseries.

Since the turn of the century, Hanks has stayed busy both on and offscreen, from releasing a collection of short stories and a novel to making his Broadway debut, starring in a Carly Rae Jepsen video, and enjoying viral fame as David S. Pumpkins, a breakout character he played in a 2017 Saturday Night Live skit.

He’s also been awarded a number of lofty awards, including an AFI Life Achivement Award in 2002, the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016, and the Golden Globe’s Cecil B. DeMille Award in 2020.

In recent years, he joined Wes Anderson’s A-list stable, appearing in Asteroid City (2023) and The Phoenician Scheme (2025), and executive produced Apple TV+’s Masters of the Air (2024), among other projects.

Kevin Bacon as Jack Swigert

In Apollo 13, Kevin Bacon played the pivotal role of Jack Swigert, a last-minute replacement for the mission following Ken Mattingly’s exposure to measles.

Looking back on the role in a 2022 interview with EW, Bacon recalled filming on what the crew affectionately referred to as the “Vomit Comet,” a windowless jet production used for scenes requiring zero gravity.

“We shot on this thing [we dubbed] the ‘Vomit Comet,’ where we went up over the Gulf of Mexico and we’d dive and climb over and over to simulate weightlessness,” Bacon told us. “I was smart and took the drugs NASA handed us every day. One day, both Tom and Bill went cowboy and decided, ‘We’ve been up there so many times that we don’t really need them.’ I will say they weren’t puking, but they were not looking good.”

Bacon was puked on, just not by his costars.

“One of the cameramen threw up on me,” he said. “What’s interesting about being thrown up on when it’s zero-G is that it hovers there for a while. It’s floating, and there’s nothing you can really do, except go, ‘Here it comes,’ and when they hit the G forces, it’s coming down on you.”

Bacon was cooking in the mid-’90s, with Apollo 13 landing in between his gripping turns in The River Wild (1994) and Sleepers (1996). He’s remained a versatile and adventurous actor, bouncing between romantic comedies (Picture Perfect, Crazy Stupid Love), genre (Stir of Echoes, They/Them), suspense (In the Cut, Black Mass), and intense drama (The Woodsman, Mystic River).

Most recently, he took on leading roles on Netflix hit Sirens (2025) and Amazon Prime’s The Bondsman (2025), and played some real sickos in MaXXXine (2024) and The Toxic Avenger (2025).

Bill Paxton as Fred Haise

Bill Paxton rounded out Apollo 13‘s leading trio of spacefarers as Fred Haise, the ship’s Lunar Module pilot.

Unlike Bacon, who never looked forward to riding the Vomit Comet, Paxton told EW that he was “strangely drawn to it,” adding, “It almost is like a weird addiction. Just to float — there is something liberating about it.”

Paxton is likely best remembered for his gonzo turns in Kathryn Bigelow’s Near Dark (1987) and James Cameron films like Aliens (1986) and True Lies (1994), but, as seen in Apollo 13, the actor was also capable of navigating intense drama. Just look at his performance in Frailty (2001), the harrowing horror drama he also directed.

He would go on to lead the cast of HBO polygamy drama Big Love (2006–2011) and the History Channel’s Hatfields & McCoys (2012), scoring nominations for three Golden Globes and one Emmy between the projects.

Paxton died in 2017 at the age of 61 from surgery complications. His final film role, released posthumously, found him reuniting with Hanks in James Ponsoldt’s The Circle.

Kathleen Quinlan as Marilyn Lovell

Kathleen Quinlan was nominated for both an Academy Award and a Golden Globe for her performance as Marilyn Lovell, wife of Hanks’ Jim Lovell.

In a 2014 interview, she reflected on meeting the real Marilyn Lovell in preparation for the film.

“I felt a great responsibility to demonstrate or portray or represent somebody’s life. So yes, I met Marilyn, and she was so gracious and helpful,” she said. “Jim and Marilyn flew me to Houston. Jim actually flew the plane, and Marilyn sat in the back serving coffee. It was really cute.”

She added, “I met a lot of the astronauts’ wives, and I realized when I met them and talked with them what a strong, important influence they were on their husbands and where they were in their minds before they took off. They had to be really ready, and it had a lot to do with who was there supporting them.”

Quinlan has remained a prolific performer in the decades since Apollo 13’s release, appearing in dozens of films and series. On the big screen, she starred in enduring genre flicks like Breakdown (1997), Event Horizon (1997), and Alexandre Aja’s 2006 The Hills Have Eyes remake. Currently, she stars in the second and third chapters of Kevin Coster’s Horizon: An American Saga.

She’s been equally present on the small screen, with recurring roles on series such as Prison Break (2008–2009), Marvel’s Runaways (2018–2019), and Mayans M.C. (2023).

Gary Sinise as Ken Mattingly

Gary Sinise, fresh off a Best Supporting Actor nomination for his turn as Lieutenant Dan in Forrest Gump (1994), costarred in Apollo 13 as Ken Mattingly, the real-life astronaut who had to forfeit his spot on the vessel after being exposed to German measles, which he never actually contracted.

As Sinise explained in an interview with the American Veterans Center, it was his working relationship with Hanks on Forrest Gump that secured him the role.

“[Hanks told] Ron Howard, ‘You should meet Gary,’ so I went in and Ron said, ‘Audition for any of the astronauts except for [the one] Tom [is playing], just pick one and come in and audition,'” he recalled. “And I thought the story of [Ken] Mattingly was a really good one. I liked the story of the guy — he gets pulled out and he’s supportive but he wishes he was up there. But then he gets called back and he’s needed again and plays a vital role in saving the day, bringing the guys home. I thought that was a good story.”

Sinise, a co-founder of Chicago’s acclaimed Steppenwold Theatre Company, clearly made a good impression on Howard, who cast him as a lead in his next film, Ransom (1996). The actor went on to work with a number of prominent filmmakers, including Brian De Palma (Snake Eyes, Mission to Mars), Frank Darabont (The Green Mile), and John Frankenheimer (Reindeer Games).

In the 2000s, he found a cozy place on network procedurals, leading CSI: NY (2004–2013) as Detective Mac Taylor and Criminal Minds: Beyond Borders (2016–2017) as Agent Jack Garrett.

Since the turn of the century, Sinise has been a vocal supporter of veterans’ groups, and has worked to raise money for veterans via the Gary Sinise Foundation, which he founded in 2011. He also regularly tours military bases with the Lt. Dan Band, a cover band he’s been performing with since 2003.

Sinise has received numerous awards and honors for his advocacy, including the Presidential Citizens Medal, which President George W. Bush awarded him in 2008.

In 2024, he discussed his decision to step back from acting in 2019 to help care for his wife and son, who had both been diagnosed with cancer. While his wife, Moira Harris, is in remission, his son, McCanna, died in January 2024 from a rare form of bone cancer.

Ed Harris as Gene Kranz

The first of Ed Harris’ four Oscar nominations came for his electrifying turn as Gene Kranz, the flight director for the mission.

It was his performance, in particular, that impressed our critic, who lauded the “fear, passion, and lightning” the actor conveyed. “Harris takes chances; he surprises you in every scene,” we wrote.

Speaking with EW in 2016, Harris revealed that he prepped for the role by “[getting] used to all the jargon and how these guys talked.”

He added, “Going to that set, you really felt like you were in the control room.… The thing I appreciate about [Kranz] is he’s not concerned about himself. He’s not concerned about his image, he’s not concerned about anything other than doing the best job he can. The moment I recall the most is when [the NASA team] realizes we finally succeeded and everybody cheers. I remember this energy, taking it in and appreciating the work that everybody’s done.”

Harris, who at 74 remains as busy as ever, remains a go-to for playing mercurial and menacing characters, lighting up the big screen in everything from big-budget action spectacles (The Rock, Top Gun: Maverick) to arthouse genre (A History of Violence, Love Lies Bleeding) to intimate character portraits (The Hours, The Lost Daughter).

He went on to score Oscar nominations for his turns in The Truman Show (1998), Pollock (2000), and The Hours (2002).

He also made a splash on the small screen with memorable roles on HBO series like Game Change (2012) and Westworld (2016–2022). He’ll next appear in the upcoming Marvel series Wonder Man, starring opposite Yahya Abdul-Mateen II and Ben Kingsley.

Clint Howard as Sy Liebergot

Clint Howard, brother of Ron, costarred in Apollo 13 as Sy Liebergot, the team’s electrical, environmental, and consumables manager.

“I was on a professional roll in the early- to mid-’90s,” Clint told the A.V. Club in 2021. “I had started to really find my footing as an actor, and I had confidence playing Sy. But again: team, team, team. Ed Harris is a friggin’ great acting partner. He gives a lot more than he gets. We had so much fun, and he brought my game up to a new level.”

Like his older brother, Clint was a child actor who’s spent his entire life navigating an ever-shifting Hollywood. In the years following Apollo 13, Clint appeared in dozens of films and series, with highlights including Hanks’ That Thing You Do! (1996), NBC’s My Name Is Earl (2006–2008), and gross-out horror hit Terrifier 3 (2024).

In addition to remaining a staple of Howard’s films — he pops up in How the Grinch Stole Christmas (2000), The Missing (2003), and Cinderella Man (2005) — Clint has also appeared in numerous films produced by Adam Sandler, Mike Myers, and Rob Zombie.

Ray McKinnon as Jerry Bostick

Georgia-born actor, writer, and director Ray McKinnon helped man the Apollo 13 control room as Flight Dynamics Officer Jerry Bostick.

Over the past three decades, McKinnon won an Academy Award for his short film, The Accountant (2001), which he wrote, directed, and starred in. As a creator, he went on to write and direct Chrystal (2004) and Randy and the Mob (2007), as well create and executive produce the acclaimed Sundance TV drama Rectify (2013–2016).

As an actor, McKinnon proved his comedic chops as “bonafide” suitor Vernon T. Waldrip in the Coen Brothers’ O Brother Where Art Thou? (2000), and broke hearts as the doomed Reverend H.W. Smith on HBO’s Deadwood (2004).

Over the past decade, he’s worked with a number of notable directors, including Jeff Nichols (Take Shelter, Mud), James Mangold (Ford v Ferrari), Paul Greengrass (News of the World), and Viggo Mortensen (The Dead Don’t Hurt).

These days, though, McKinnon is likely best known for playing U.S. Attorney Linc Potter on Sons of Anarchy (2011) and Mayans M.C. (2018–2023), as well as for his turn on the Emmy-winning Hulu series Dopesick (2021).

Chris Ellis as Deke Slayton

Chris Ellis played a key role in Apollo 13 as Deke Slayton, director of flight crew operations.

The actor, who’s appeared in dozens of film and TV series across his four-decade career, named Deke his favorite role in a 2016 interview.

“Of all the movies I have worked on, my favorite, far and away, is Apollo 13,” Ellis said.

He added, “That movie, more than any other, revved up my career prospects, and everyone working on that movie had the conviction while shooting it that it was going to be Ron Howard’s best movie ever (still is, I think),” he said. “And that it would be a significant movie that would have a significant effect on all of our careers (it did).”

A tried-and-true “that guy” actor, Ellis appeared in numerous blockbusters in the ’90s and beyond, including Con Air (1997), Godzilla (1998), Armageddon (1998), Transformers (2007), and The Dark Knight Rises (2012).

Similarly, he’s guested on some of the most popular and acclaimed series of the century, from NCIS (2003–2004) and The West Wing (2006) to The Office (2009) and Mad Men (2015).

Xander Berkeley as Henry Hurt

Xander Berkeley had been lighting up the big screen for 15 years by the time he played Apollo 13‘s Henry Hurt, a member of NASA’s Office of Public Affairs. Unlike many of Apollo 13‘s characters, which were based on real people, Henry was a composite of a handful of different real-life figures.

Howard’s film arrived at a bountiful time for the actor. In 1995 alone, he appeared in Apollo 13, the Oscar-winning Leaving Las Vegas, Michael Mann’s Heat, and Todd Haynes’ brilliant Safe. That’s a hell of a year for any actor.

The ’90s remained fruitful for Berkeley, as he’d go on to feature in movies like Air Force One (1997), Gattaca (1997), and Amistad (1997).

While he remained present on the big screen throughout the 21st century, he’d also find success on TV with roles on 24 (2001–2003), The Mentalist (2008, 2013), Nikita (2010–2012), and The Walking Dead (2016–2018).

In recent years, he departed Hollywood for Maine, and also joined the Star Wars universe as Captain Gilad Pellaeon on both The Mandalorian (2023) and Star Wars: Tales of the Empire (2024).

Marc McClure as Glynn Lunney

Marc McClure was a familiar face by the time he played NASA engineer Glynn Lunney in Apollo 13, as the actor previously played Jimmy Olsen in the Superman franchise (1978–1987) and Marty’s older brother, Dave, in Back to the Future (1985).

Over the last three decades, McClure appeared in Hanks’ That Thing You Do! (1996), Freaky Friday (2003), Coach Carter (2005), and Frost/Nixon (2008), the latter a reunion between the actor and Howard.

His history with the Superman franchise also led him to a 2008 role on Smallville, in which he played a Kryptonian scientist, and separate cameos in both Justice League (2017) and Zack Snyder’s Justice League (2021).