The cast of Brian De Palma's Scarface is as iconic as the movie itself. The 1983 classic tells the rags-to-riches story of Cuban refugee Tony Montana as he builds his drug empire in Miami. Even though the Oliver Stone-written feature takes inspiration from a 1930 novel and Howard Hawks's briefly-banned original 1932 film also called Scarface, De Palma's movie is more than just a crime drama. Tony's aggressive desire to get to the top stands for many immigrants' wishes to achieve their very own American Dream. The larger social context aside, Scarface is also a cult classic for its stylized violence and vibrant costume design.

Scarface also features some iconic quotes like "Say hello to my little friend" and "The eyes, chico. They never lie," which have become pop culture canon. Electronic music veteran Giorgio Moroder's score also continues to be a highlight. Some of the movie's elements haven't aged well, such as its depiction of Cubans. But with Scarface being repeatedly referenced in cinema and hip-hop music, it continues to have its fair share of admirers. And much of its appeal is thanks to the movie's performances. Here is a guide to the cast of Brian De Palma's Scarface, the characters they play, and what else the actors are known for.

RELATED: How Brian De Palma's Scarface Compares To The 1932 Original

Al Pacino As Tony Montana

Al Pacino as Tony Montana in Scarface

Oscar-winner Al Pacino leads the Scarface cast as gangster and drug lord Tony Montana. Introduced as a Cuban immigrant to Miami, Tony is adamant about making it big in America even if it means resorting to illegal means. While he succeeds in building a lavish lifestyle for himself and overseeing a multi-million dollar criminal enterprise, Tony also turns paranoid and egoistic as a leader. Pacino had already established himself in the gangster genre as the second-generation Italian-American mob boss Michael Corleone in The Godfather franchise. Both Michael Corleone and Tony Montana bear testimony to Pacino’s versatility: while Michael is calm and composed, Tony is outspoken and ruthless.

RELATED: Is Tony Montana Real? Scarface True Story & Inspiration Explained

Pacino has played tough guys and mobsters in several movies over the decades, including mobster Lefty Ruggiero in Donnie Brasco, unionist Jimmy Hoffa in The Irishman, bank robber Sonny Wortzik in Dog Day Afternoon, and reformed criminal Carlito Brigante in Carlito’s Way, his second collaboration with Brian De Palma. He has also had significant roles as hardened police officers, such as Detective Frank Serpico in Serpico and Lt Vincent Hanna in Heat. Other popular credits on Pacino’s stellar filmography include The Devil in The Devil’s Advocate, medically retired army man Frank Slade in Scent of a Woman, and the Nazi-hunting vigilante Meyer Offerman in the Prime Video series Hunters.

Steven Bauer As Manny Ray

Manny looking sideways in Scarface

Steven Bauer joined the Scarface cast as Manolo Ribera, a.k.a. Manny Ray, Tony’s best friend who helps him build his criminal empire in Miami. He’s generally a loyal friend and also doesn’t shy away from giving Tony romantic and personal advice. As Tony’s right-hand man, he can also dutifully execute missions without any questions asked. Manny wasn’t Bauer’s only time playing a drug lord as he also appeared in Breaking Bad and Better Call Saul as drug cartel leader Don Eladio Vuente. The Cuban-born American actor first broke out in the 1970s portraying Joe Peña, the son of Cuban immigrants, in the first American bilingual sitcom ¿Qué Pasa, USA?.

Michelle Pfeiffer As Elvira Hancock

Michelle Pfieffer - Scarface

Elvira Hancock is a secondary protagonist in Scarface, introduced as drug lord Frank Lopez’s wife. Later, she marries Tony but eventually gets disappointed in him when Tony’s ego gets in the way of their relationship. The self-assertive and charming Elvira is also incredibly honest, not holding back on her bitter feelings for Tony. The character is played by Michelle Pfeiffer. Her popular roles include the antiheroine Catwoman in Batman Returns, the witch Sukie Ridgemont in The Witches of Eastwick, and the original Wasp in Marvel's Ant-Man franchise. Pfeiffer earned three Oscar nominations, for her supporting performance in Dangerous Liaisons and lead performances in The Fabulous Baker Boys and Love Field.

Robert Loggia As Frank Lopez

Frank and Tony looking sideways in Scarface

Frank Lopez is a Miami drug lord who initially mentors Tony and Manny. But the aging crime supremo is soon overpowered by the very people that were once under him. Frank is a charismatic person who can deceive even his closest allies by betraying them later. The late Robert Loggia joined the Scarface cast as the secondary antagonist. The actor later earned a Best Supporting Actor Oscar nomination as private detective Sam Ransom in the neo-noir thriller Jagged Edge. He also starred alongside Tom Hanks in Big as toy company owner Freddie MacMillan. Loggia again played gangsters in The Sopranos as Feech La Manna and Lost Highway as Mr. Eddy.

Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio As Gina Montana

Gina Montana pointing a gun in Scarface

The Scarface cast also includes actors playing Tony’s blood relatives, such as Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, who plays his sister Gina. Right from the start, Tony has an overprotective attitude toward her, forbidding her to be with certain men. This toxic nature ends up testing Gina’s psychological limits, which leads to her disturbing death. Sharing an unstable relationship with her brother, she even threatens to kill him. Mastrantonio’s other popular credits include her Oscar-nominated performance as Carmen in The Color of Money, Dr. Lindsey Brigman in The Abyss, real-life maritime author and ship captain Linda Greenlaw in The Perfect Storm, and Lady Marian in Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves.

Related: 15 Things You Didn't Know About Scarface

Míriam Colón As Mama Montana

Mama Montana looking glum in Scarface

Tony’s mother, simply known as Mama Montana, disapproves of her son’s illegal methods of getting rich. She does exhibit a caring tendency for Tony but eventually estranges herself from him for not giving up on his criminal activities. The matriarch of the Montana family is played by Puerto Rican actress Míriam Colón. An accomplished Broadway and TV actress, Colón served as the founder and director of the New York City-based theater company Puerto Rican Traveling Theater. From the 2000s onwards, she began playing supporting characters such as the protagonist Santiago’s grandmother Mercedes Muñez in the Goal franchise and Tuco Salamanca’s Abuelita (grandmother) in Better Call Saul’s pilot episode.

F. Murray Abraham As Omar Suarez

F. Murray Abraham in Scarface

Amadeus actor F. Murray Abraham was also a part of the Scarface cast as Omar, Frank Lopez’s right-hand man. Suspicious of Tony and his hunger for power, Omar eventually becomes Tony’s enemy. Even though he's good at deception, Omar eventually gets framed as an informant. Abraham won an Oscar for his performance as Italian composer and Mozart’s rival Antonio Salieri in Amadeus. Since then, Abraham has guest-starred on Homeland as black ops specialist Dar Adal, voiced the Egyptian god Khonshu on Moon Knight, and played womanizing family patriarch Bert Di Grasso in The White Lotus.

Paul Shenar As Alejandro Sosa

Sosa looking sideways in Scarface

An international drug lord from Bolivia, Alejandro “Alex” Sosa is the major cocaine supplier to Tony. Much like Tony’s other working relationships, his partnership with Sosa starts off smooth but ends up being quite contentious. According to the Argentine newspaper Página 12, Sosa was heavily inspired by real-life Bolivian drug lord Roberto Suárez Gómez. Sosa was played by late theater veteran Paul Shenar, who was one of the founders of the San Francisco nonprofit American Conservatory Theater. The Shakespearean and Broadway actor also had roles in a two-part episode of Wonder Woman as Lieutenant Wertz and a Chicago don’s right-hand man, Paulo Rocca, in the Arnold Schwarzenegger movie Raw Deal.

Harris Yulin As Bernstein

Bernstein looking sideways in Scarface

No gangster drama is complete without a corrupt cop or two. In the Scarface cast, Harris Yulin played Bernstein, a crooked cap on Frank’s payroll who also attempts to extort Tony. He lacks any honor and is ready to serve whoever can give him more money. Yulin is known for his Emmy-nominated performance as mob boss Jerome Belasco on the sitcom Frasier. Apart from Scarface, his other performances as legal and police professionals include Judge Stephen Wexler in Ghostbusters II, U.S. Secret Service Special Agent Sterling in Rush Hour 2, and Detective Doug Roselli in Training Day.

Ángel Salazar As Chi-Chi

Chi-Chi looking concerned in Scarface

Chi-Chi is one of Tony’s most loyal henchmen and sticks by his boss till the very end. His trustworthiness can be understood from his involvement in major assassination missions and drug deals. The character is played by Cuban-American comedian and actor Ángel Salazar. He went on to collaborate with Al Pacino and Brian De Palma again on Carlito’s Way in which he played the gangster Walberto. He also shared screen space with Tom Hanks in the stand-up comedy-centric film Punchline. Regarding Salazar’s own punchlines, he is known for saying “Sheck it out” (an iteration of “Check it out”) before and after his stand-up routines.

Pepe Serna As Angel Fernández

Angel looking concerned in Scarface

The Scarface cast also includes character actor Pepe Serna playing Angel, one of Tony’s closest friends. Angel migrated to America along with Tony, Manny, and Chi-Chi. Working under Frank Lopez, he has never shied away from expressing his undying devotion toward Tony. But he doesn’t get to see Tony make it to the top as he’s brutally killed by a rival early in the film, a tragedy for which Tony gets his blood-stained revenge. Serna has had a diverse multi-genre career, playing Luis in the Roger Corman-produced exploitation film The Student Nurses and Señor Cárdenas in the sci-fi comedy-drama Downsizing.

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Scarface Supporting Cast & Characters

Manny and Tony looking at something together in Scarface

Arnaldo Santana as Ernie - Frank’s bodyguard Ernie is quick to change sides when Tony comes to power, serving as the Scarface protagonist’s bodyguard later. The character is played by Arnaldo Santana, who was reunited with Al Pacino in the crime thriller Cruising.

Michael P. Moran as Nick the Pig - Nick the Pig, one of the underlings serving Tony, is played by actor and playwright Michael P. Moran. He also portrayed Frank the Doorman in Ghostbusters II. Like many members of the Scarface cast, Moran also appeared in Carlito’s Way, credited as “Party Guest."

Al Israel as Hector the Toad - The chainsaw-wielding Colombian drug trafficker Hector the Toad is played by Al Israel, who also appeared on Carlito’s Way as Rolando Ruiz. Israel’s filmography includes the Wesley Snipes-led action film Drop Zone, the Michelle Pfeiffer movie Dangerous Minds, and an episode of Miami Vice.

Related: 5 Ways Carlito's Way Is Better Than Scarface

Dennis Holahan as Jerry the Banker - Actor-turned-lawyer Dennis Holahan plays a banker used by Tony to launder his money. After putting his legal career on hold in 1976, Holahan acted in episodes of M*A*S*H, Hill Street Blues, and The Rockford Files. In 1992, he resumed his tenure as an attorney specializing in entertainment, media, and intellectual property cases.

Mark Margolis as Shadow - One of Alejandro Sosa’s henchmen, Shadow is played by Mark Margolis, whom Breaking Bad fans will know as the mute crime lord Hector Salamanca. Margolis also reprised the role in the Breaking Bad prequel Better Call Saul. His movie credits include Ace Venture: Pet Detective and Gone Baby Gone, and he frequently collaborates with filmmaker Darren Aronofsky, appearing in his feature debut Pi plus Requiem for a Dream, The Wrestler, The Fountain, Black Swan, and Noah.

Michael Alldredge as Sheffield - Tony’s lawyer, Sheffield, is played by Michael Alldredge, who appeared in the two-part sci-fi miniseries V as Bill Graham and the short-lived TV drama Almost Grown as Frank Foley.

Ted Beniades as Seidelbaum - Previously collaborating with Al Pacino on Serpico, Ted Beniades joined the Scarface cast as the undercover cop Seidelbaum. The character actor has also appeared in episodes of Kojak, N.Y.P.D, The Equalizer, and Dark Shadows.

Albert Carrier as Pedro Quinn - The Andes Sugar Corporation’s chairman, Pedro, is portrayed by Italian-American actor Albert Carrier, who appeared in several '50s and '60s films, like The Secret Life of an American Wife, Thunder in the Sun​​​​​​, and Tender Is The Night.

Caesar Cordova as Taco Stand Cook - The cook at a Cuban diner visited by Tony and Manny is played by Caesar Cordova, who like many of his peers in the Scarface cast also appeared in Carlito’s Way. Cordova also had a brief role in Nighthawks and appeared in episodes of The A-Team and Kojak.