Rent (film) - Cast

Cast

All but two principal members of the original Broadway cast reprised their roles on film. Director Columbus got the idea to give the original cast first dibs on the roles when he talked to Anthony Rapp, Adam Pascal, and Idina Menzel about the musical and felt that they all still looked the same as when they premiered the show in 1996. Only Daphne Rubin-Vega and Fredi Walker, the original Mimi and Joanne, were not cast in the film. Rubin-Vega was seven months pregnant at the time of filming and was not able to reprise her role as Mimi. Fredi Walker was offered the role, but said that she felt too old for it; however, she insisted that a woman of African-American descent should play the part of Joanne.

  • Anthony Rapp as Mark Cohen, a struggling Jewish filmmaker and Roger's roommate. He was dumped by Maureen for Joanne.
  • Adam Pascal as Roger Davis, an HIV-positive ex-junkie rock musician; Mimi's love interest.
  • Rosario Dawson as Mimi Marquez, an HIV-positive heroin junkie and nightclub dancer; Roger's love interest.
  • Jesse L. Martin as Tom Collins, a gay, HIV-positive anarchist and philosophy professor; former roommate of Maureen, Roger, Mark, and Benny; Angel's love interest.
  • Wilson Jermaine Heredia as Angel Dumott Schunard, a gay drag queen street musician who is suffering from AIDS; Collins' love interest.
  • Idina Menzel as Maureen Johnson, a bisexual performance artist and Joanne's girlfriend; Mark's ex-girlfriend.
  • Tracie Thoms as Joanne Jefferson, a lesbian Harvard-graduate lawyer and Maureen's love interest.
  • Taye Diggs as Benjamin "Benny" Coffin III, Mark, Roger, and Mimi's apartment building landlord and ex-roommate of Collins, Roger, Maureen, and Mark.
Supporting characters
  • Mackenzie Firgens as April Ericsson, Roger's late girlfriend
  • Sarah Silverman as Alexi Darling, head of Buzzline
  • Jennifer Siebel as Alexi Darling's receptionist
  • Aaron Lohr and Wayne Wilcox as Steve and Gordon, life support members
  • Daryl Edwards and Anna Deavere Smith as Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson, Joanne's parents
  • Kevin Blackton and Bettina Devin as Mr. and Mrs. Johnson, Maureen's parents
  • Joel Swetow and Randy Graff as Mr. and Mrs. Cohen, Mark's parents
  • Chris Columbus (director cameo) as Angry man in car

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