Cast
- Al Pacino as Carlito Brigante. Pacino came to Carlito's Way directly from his Oscar-winning role in Scent of a Woman. To get into the character, he accompanied Torres through East Harlem. There he could absorb the sights and atmosphere. Pacino first envisioned Carlito with a ponytail, but his visits to Harlem showed the men there were not wearing their hair that way. The beard was Pacino's idea. The black leather coat fit the period setting.
- Sean Penn as David Kleinfeld. For the role of Carlito's lawyer and best friend, Penn was lured back from early retirement by the challenge of playing the role. Taking the role allowed him to finance his movie The Crossing Guard and work with Pacino. De Palma and Penn discussed what 1970s mob lawyers looked like. Often, men in the entertainment business can look more bizarre than the talent they represent. Penn shaved the hair on the front of his forehead to give the appearance of a receding hairline. He permed the rest. Alan Dershowitz, believing Penn was attempting to look like him, threatened the filmmakers with a defamation lawsuit.
- Penelope Ann Miller as Gail. Casting for the role proved difficult because of the striptease scenes, which required someone who was both a talented dancer and actor.
- John Leguizamo as Benny Blanco. Leguizamo completed the main cast as "Benny Blanco from the Bronx", an up-and-coming gangster who is determined to exceed Carlito's reputation but lacks any sense of ethics.
- Luis Guzmán as Pachanga. In Koepp's first draft of the screenplay, he spoke in a very heavy slang; following rumbles from the Latino cast and crew, Koepp toned this down.
- Jorge Porcel as Saso
- Ingrid Rogers as Steffie
- James Rebhorn as Norwalk
- Joseph Siravo as Vincent "Vinnie" Taglialucci
- Frank Minucci as Anthony "Tony T." Taglialucci
- Adrian Pasdar as Frank "Frankie" Taglialucci
- Richard Foronjy as Pete Amadesso
- Viggo Mortensen as Lalin
- John Augstin Ortiz as Guajiro
- Al Israel as Rolando
- Ángel Salazar as Walberto.
- Orlando Urdaneta as a bartender
- Rick Aviles as Quisqueya
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