Summary

• Cool Hand Luke is a character-driven prison drama that explores themes of rebellion and non-conformity.
• The cast and their performances play a crucial role in unraveling the complex layers of the narrative.
• Paul Newman impressively portrayed the titular character, Luke, while other cast such as George Kennedy and Strother Martin delivered compelling performances as well.

Stuart Rosenberg's Cool Hand Luke is a character-driven prison drama that boasts an impressive roster of actors. Released in 1967, Cool Hand Luke centers on the titular character, Luke, a World War II veteran who gets imprisoned at a Florida prison camp after he beheads many parking meters. However, despite facing the harsh conditions at the prison, Luke stands as a symbol of individualism and freedom, and his acts of defiance against the prison's authorities gradually start affecting its inner workings.

Although Cool Hand Luke's primary appeal comes from its intricate exploration of themes surrounding rebellion and non-conformity, its cast and their interactions as their respective characters play a crucial role in unraveling the complex layers of the narrative elements. Owing to this, Cool Hand Luke is considered a testament to the power of character-driven storytelling, where each actor's performance is integral to selling the emotional drama that drives its storyline. Since Cool Hand Luke's cast and their respective character beats are instrumental to its success, it is hard not to wonder who plays whom in the film.

Paul Newman As Lucas "Luke" Jackson

Paul Neuman's Luke is the titular character in Cool Hand Luke who ends up in prison after knocking down parking meters. Despite being the main character of the film, however, Luke meets a tragic fate after he attempts to escape prison for the third time. His death and non-conformist attitude ultimately rub off on other prisoners, inspiring them to follow his path. Paul Neuman, who ed away in 2008, impressively portrayed the titular character in Cool Hand Luke. Although the star had over 80 acting credits under his best, he was best known for Eddie Felson in The Hustler, John Rooney in Road to Perdition, and Frank Galvin in The Verdict.

George Kennedy As Clarence "Dragline" Slidell

Dragline was among the leading figures at the prison before Luke came in. However, after Luke's arrival, he becomes more of his sidekick and best friend. Despite attempting to escape prison with Luke in his final attempt, Dragline ultimately tries to convince Luke to surrender after they get caught in a church. In Cool Hand Luke, Dragline is portrayed by late star George Kennedy, best known for his roles in movies like Airport, Thunderbolt and Lightfoot, Mad Man Wagon Party, and The Naked Gun series. Many also him for his compelling voice-acting performances in Little Soldiers, Cats Can't Dance, and The Real Adventures of Johnny Quest.

Strother Martin As The Captain

Played by Strother Martin, the Captain is one of the antagonists in Cool Hand Luke. As the prison's overseer, he does everything in his power to maintain order and even tries to psychologically and physically torture Luke to make him conform to the prison's rules. Apart from portraying the Captain in Cool Hand Luke, Martin also played myriad characters in films like Slap Shot, True Grit, and The Wild Bunch. Before Strother Martin dipped his feet in the world of acting, he was a swimming instructor in the United States Navy during World War II, which paved the way for his acting career as he initially served as an extra in water scenes from movies.

Strother Martin is still ed for his line "What we've got here is failure to communicate," in Cool Hand Luke, which was also featured in the American Film Institute's 100 Years...100 Movie Quotes list.

Jo Van Fleet As Arletta Jackson

In Cool Hand Luke, Jo Van Fleet plays Arletta, Luke's mother, who regrets not giving him enough time when he was younger. In a pivotal scene in the film, she meets him before returning home and dying from cancer, triggering a catharsis in Luke that rids him of all expectations. Jo Van Fleet's acting career primarily included movies in which she played characters much older than her. Her scintillating performance in the Broadway production The Trip to Bountiful helped her win a Tony Award in 1954, but she is best known for her portrayal of Kate in East of Eden, which got her an Academy Award win.

Morgan Woodward As Walking Boss / Godfrey

Cool Hand Luke features Morgan Woodward as Boss Godfrey, one of the meanest guards at the central Florida prison. He rarely talks throughout the film, but his presence alone is intimidating enough to strike fear in many prisoners. In the movie, he is often referred to as the "man with no eyes" because he always has his sunglasses on. With over 100 acting credits in his portfolio, Morgan Woodward was known for playing menacing roles in several movies and TV shows. However, to this day, he remains best known for his portrayal of Marvin "Punk" Anderson in the TV series Dallas. Many may also recognize him for his appearances in Stark Terk, The X-Files, 21 Jump Street, and The Fall Guy.

Cool Hand Luke ing Cast & Characters

J.D. Cannon As Society Red: Society Red, played by J.D. Cannon in Cool Hand Luke, is one of the most educated prisoners at the movie's central prison. Other than Cool Hand Luke, Cannon also starred in other renowned movies and TV shows like Scorpio, Death Wish II, McCloud, and Law & Order.

Joy Harmon As “Lucille”: Joy Harmon's "Lucille" appears in Cool Hand Luke's iconic car wash scene. Although her brief appearance in Cool Hand Luke remains one of his most ed movie parts, Harmon also played diverse characters in B-films like Village of the Giants and One Way Machine, and TV shows like Burke's Law and The Odd Couple.

Lou Antonio As Koko: Lou Antonio, who plays Koko in Cool Hand Luke, has had a successful career as a director as well. As an actor, he is best known for starring in movies and TV shows like The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries, Spy Game, and Star Trek. On the other hand, as a director, he has garnered recognition for helming films and shows like Mr. & Mrs. Smith, Chicago Hope, CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, and Boston Legal.

Robert Drivas As Loudmouth Steve: Loudmouth Steve, who arrives at the prison with Luke, is played by Robert Drivas. Other than Cool Hand Luke, Robert Drivas appeared in several other movies, such as Road Movie and The Illustrated Man. He was also a part of Hawaii Five-O and N.Y.P.D.'s cast.

Clifton James As Carr: Clifton James plays one of the security guards, Carr, in Cool Hand Luke. The late star often appeared in similar roles in several other films. For instance, he played a sheriff in both Live and Let Die and Superman II.

Luke Askew As Boss Paul: Throughout Cool Hand Luke, Boss Paul tries his best to break Luke, but Luke often catches him off-guard with his mental fortitude. Apart from his portrayal of Boss Paul in Cool Hand Luke, Luke Askew is also known for playing Sheriff Smalls in Frality, Pvt. Hubert in The Devil's Brigade, and Alec Campbell in The Greatest Game Ever Played.

Marc Cavell As Rabbitt: Rabbitt mindlessly follows Boss Godfrey's orders in Cool Hand Luke. He is portrayed by Marc Cavell of The Wild Angels and The Man From Alamo fame.

Dennis Hopper As Babalugats: Other than playing Babalugats in Cool Hand Luke, Dennis Hopper is also known for portraying Deacon in Waterworld, Frank Booth in Blue Velvet, and Howard Payne in Speed.

Warren Finnerty As Tattoo: In Cool Hand Luke, Tattoo accompanied Luke during his first escape from prison. He is portrayed by Warren Finnerty, who has acting credits in The Connection, Easy Rider, Cockfighter, and several other films.

Robert Donner As Boss Shorty: Boss Shorty, played by Robert Donner, is the Pursuer in Cool Hand Luke who ultimately finds the main character after he escapes. Donner is also known for playing roles in films like Vanishing Point, El Dorado, and High Plains Drifter.

Richard Davalos As Blind Dick: Often referred to as "The Shiek of Simmonsville," Blind Dick is portrayed by Richard Davalos, of the East of Eden and The Americans fame, in Cool Hand Luke.