Detective Virgil Tibbs

Sidney Poitier

Police Chief Bill Gillespie

Rod Steiger

Sam Wood

Warren Oates

Mrs. Colbert

Lee Grant*

Delores Purdy

Quentin Dean

Deputy Courtney

Peter Whitney

Purdy, Delores' brother

James Patterson

Mayor Webb Schubert

William Schallert

Mrs. Leslie Colbert

Lee Grant

Eric Endicott

Larry Gates

Ralph

Anthony James

Harvey Oberst

Scott Wilson

Packy Harrison

Matt Clark

Mr. Purdy

James Patterson

Mama Caleba

Beah Richards

H.E. Henderson

Kermit Murdock

Philip Colbert (uncredited)

Jack Teter

Jess

Khalil Bezaleel

Watkins

Larry D. Mann

McNeil

William C. Watson

Ulam

Arthur Malet

"Shagbag" Martin

Timothy Scott

Dr. Stuart

Fred Stewart

Dennis

Michael LeGlaire

Ted Appleton (uncredited)

Alan Oppenheimer

Shagbag

Timothy Scott

Charles Hawthorne

Eldon Quick

Shuie

Stuart Nisbet

Endicott's Butler

Jester Hairston

Arnold Fryer

Peter Masterson

1st Tough

Phil Adams

Mark Crowell

Philip Garris

2nd Tough

Nikita Knatz

Clerk

Sam Reese

Deputy

Clegg Hoyt

Baggage Master

David Stinehart

Conductor

Buzz Barton

Undetermined Role

Warren Kenner

James Patterson

Director

Norman Jewison