Till cast and character guide. Directed by Chinonye Chukwu from a screenplay she co-wrote with Michael Reilly and Keith Beauchamp, Till retells the story of Emmett Till, a Black 14-year-old who was murdered by white men in Mississippi in 1955. Till’s death drew a lot of public attention due to its brutality, and Chukwu brings his story to the big screen in a timely fashion.

First announced in August 2020, Till documents what happened to Emmett Till through the eyes of his mother Mamie Till-Mobley. Chukwu, who is perhaps known best for having directed Clemency starring Alfre Woodard, assembles a wonderfully talented cast for her biographical drama, including actress Whoopi Goldberg. Here is a full guide to the cast of Till, who the actors portray, and in what other movies and TV shows audiences have seen them in before.

Related: Director Chinonye Chukwu Interview: Till

Danielle Deadwyler As Mamie Till

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Mamie Till (later Mamie Till-Mobley) is Emmett Till’s mother. Based in Chicago, Mamie Till-Mobley testified in the trial of her son’s murder and, in the years following, became a civil rights activist. Mamie Till is portrayed by Danielle Deaddwyler, who is best known for her roles in the Netflix film The Harder They Fall, the well-received series Station Eleven, and Paradise Lost.

Jalyn Hall As Emmett Till

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Emmett Till is the 14-year-old who was brutalized, tortured, and lynched by white men after he was accused of whistling at a white woman in a store. Emmett was visiting his cousins in Money, Mississippi when he was murdered. Till is portrayed by Jalyn Hall, who is known for his roles in The CW series All American, where he plays Dillon James, Space Jam: A New Legacy, and John Henry.

Whoopi Goldberg As Alma Carthan

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Alma Carthan is Mamie’s mother and Emmett’s grandfather. She encourages Emmett to visit his cousins in Mississippi so he can get a sense of life in the south, as well as know where he came from. Alma is portrayed by Whoopi Goldberg, who is most famous for her roles in Sister Act and its sequel film Sister Act 2, The Color Purple, Ghost, Girl, Interrupted, How Stella Got Her Groove Back, Corrina, Corrina, Disney’s animated film The Lion King, and Star Trek: The Next Generation.

Till Supporting Cast & Character Guide

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Frankie Faison as John Carthan - John Carthan is Mamie’s father and Emmett’s grandfather, as well as the ex-husband of Alma Carthan. John is portrayed by Frankie Faison, who is best known for his roles in The Thomas Crown Affair, Do the Right Thing, Hannibal, the Chris Rock comedy Down to Earth, The Silence of the Lambs, and The Killing of Kenneth Chamberlain.

Related: Danielle Deadwyler & Jalyn Hall Interview: Till

Tosin Cole as Medgar Evers - Medgar Evers is a civil rights activist who helps Mamie Till when she comes down to Mississippi. Evers Medgar Tosin Cole is known for his roles in Doctor Who, where he played the character Ryan Sinclair, Star Wars: The Force Awakens, The Souvenir and its sequel The Souvenir: Part II.

Jayme Lawson as Myrlie Evers - Myrlie Evers is also a civil rights activist and Medgar Evers’ wife. Like her husband, Myrlie played a crucial role in the NAACP. Jayme Lawson is known for her roles in the superhero drama The Batman, The Woman King, and the TV miniseries The First Lady.

Kevin Carroll as Rayfield Mooty - Rayfield Mooty was a Chicago Labor Union Leader who helped Mamie Till, his second cousin, bring Emmett’s death to the attention of the NAACP. Kevin Carroll is best known for his roles in Blindspotting, Velvet Buzzsaw, the TV series Snowfall, The Walking Dead, and The Leftovers.

Sean Patrick Thomas as Gene Mobley - Gene Mobley was Mamie Till’s boyfriend at the time of Emmett’s death. The pair were later married until Gene’s death in 2000. Sean Patrick Thomas is best known for his roles in Save the Last Dance, the comedy film Barbershop, The Tragedy of Macbeth, Halloween: Resurrection, and the TV series The District.

Related: Lovecraft Country: Why [SPOILER] Recreates Emmett Till's Death

John Douglas Thompson as Mose Wright - Mose Wright, otherwise known as “Preacher,” is Emmett Till’s great-uncle. John Douglas is known for his roles in the HBO series Mare of Easttown and The Bourne Legacy.

Roger Guenveur Smith as Dr. T. R. M. Howard - Dr. T.R.M. Howard was a civil rights leader and a doctor. Roger Guenveur Smith is known for his roles in Dope, Do the Right Thing, The Birth of a Nation, and the TV drama series All Rise.

Keisha Tillis as Elizabeth Wright - Elizabeth Wright was Emmett Till’s great-aunt and the wife of Mose Wright. Keisha Tillis is known for a guest starring role in the long-running series The Walking Dead.

Haley Bennett as Carolyn Bryant - a Southern shopkeeper whose accusations led to Emmett's murder. Haley Bennett is known for her roles in the musical Cyrano alongside Peter Dinklage, The Magnificent Seven, the romantic comedy Music and Lyrics, and Hillbilly Elegy.

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Sean Michael Weber as Roy Bryant - Roy is Carolyn Bryant’s husband and one of Emmett Till’s killers. Sean Michael Weber is known for his role in Drought.

Eric Whitten as JW Milam - JW Milam is Roy’s half-brother and one of Emmett Till’s killers. Eric Whitten is known for his roles in I’m Not Him and The Jim Gaffigan Show.

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