Speed (1994) – Full Cast and Characters

In his feature picture directing debut, Jan de Bont helmed the 1994 American action thriller Speed. Starring in the movie are the actors – Keanu Reeves, Sandra Bullock, Jeff Daniels, Dennis Hopper, and Joe Morton. The plot of the movie goes by when Los Angeles police officer Jack (Keanu Reeves) enrages retired bomb squad member Howard Payne (Dennis Hopper) and stops him from robbing hostages. Payne equips a bus with a bomb that will detonate if the speed goes below 50 mph as retaliation. Jack and his partner Harry (Jeff Daniels) attempt to save the passengers on the bus before the bomb detonates with the assistance of vivacious passenger Annie (Sandra Bullock), while simultaneously trying to find out how Payne is watching them. 

The movie gives an amazing spine-chilling experience and keeps the audience engaged till the end. When it was first released on June 10, 1994, it was well received by critics and audiences alike. It made $350.4 million on a $30–37 million budget, ranking as the fifth-highest-grossing movie of the year and taking home two Academy Awards for Best Sound Effects Editing and Best Sound. In this article, let’s get to know more about the full cast of the Speed movie in detail.

Star Cast of Speed (1994) Movie:

Leading Cast of Speed:

• Keanu Reeves as Officer Jack Traven
• Sandra Bullock as Annie Porter
• Dennis Hopper as Howard Payne
• Joe Morton as Lieutenant Herb ‘Mac’ McMahon
• Jeff Daniels as Harry

Supporting Cast of Speed:

• Alan Ruck as Stephens
• Glenn Plummer as Jaguar Owner
• Richard Lineback as Norwood
• Beth Grant as Helen
• Hawthorne James as Sam
• Carlos Carrasco as Ortiz

Cast Details of Speed (1994) Movie:

1. Keanu Reeves as Officer Jack Traven

In the movie, Keanu Reeves played the character of Jack Traven who is a bomb squad specialist for the Los Angeles Police Department. He is the main character in the movie Speed. Keanu is a brilliant actor and in the movie, he eventually saves the passengers along with Annie (Sandra Bullock) from the secret bomber. 

However, talking about his real life, Keanu is an extraordinary actor and has been featured in many movies, such as The Boys from Syracuse and Oliver Stone’s Born on the Fourth of July, Destination Wedding, Exposed, JohnWick, etc. In the science fiction movie Bill & Ted’s Excellent Adventure (1989), Reeves made his debut as Bill “The Butcher” Cutting. Thereafter, he appeared in movies like Point Break, Bram Stoker’s Dracula, and My Own Private Idaho. Reeves was chosen to play Neo, the main character, in the Wachowskis’ science fiction thriller The Matrix in 1994. Since then, it developed into a global hit with more than $400 million in revenue.

2. Sandra Bullock as Annie Porter

Annie is a plucky passenger who assists the policeman in deactivating the bomb on a bus. As a reluctant passenger, she takes up the wheel and becomes a driver. Sandra Bullock, an American actress, producer, and former model, was born on April 22, 1963. She started out as a model for clothing before switching to acting. Bullock debuted as an actor in The Burning Bed in 1985. (1985). She gained prominence after participating in various movies in the 1980s and 1990s, including Speed (1994). In 2009, Bullock won the Academy Award for Best Actress for her work in the movie The Blind Side. In 2014, she was nominated for another Academy Award for her work in the movie Gravity.

3. Dennis Hopper as Howard Payne

Bomber Howard Payne is portrayed by Dennis Hopper. He is a resentful former police officer who is smart and has a wide variety of skills. He also appears to be able to predict all of Reeves’ movements. Along with the ransom money, he also seeks the gratification of degrading the LAPD. Dennis Hopper was a well-known actor and filmmaker who was born in Downers Grove, Illinois, on September 27, 1936, and passed away in Los Angeles, California, in August 2002. In his amazing career, Payne has done many movies including, Easy Rider (1969), Apocalypse Now (1979), Blue Velvet (1986), True Romance (1993), etc.

4. Joe Morton as Lieutenant Herb ‘Mac’ McMahon

The experienced partner of Jack Traven is Lieutenant Herb “Mac” McMahon, who is called in after a crazy bomber cuts the wires holding an elevator in a high-rise building. Actor Joe Morton hails from the USA. He is best known for playing Dr. Raymond Holt in the crime drama 24 on television. The Proposition, The Skulls, and The Whole Nine Yards are just a few of the movies he has been in. In 1995, he received an Academy Award nomination for Best Supporting Actor for his work in The Shawshank Redemption.