Danny Glover:Albert Johnson;Whoopi Goldberg:Celie Harris Johnson;Margaret Avery:Shug Avery;Oprah Winfrey:Sofia Johnson;Willard E. Pugh:Harpo Johnson;Akosua Busia:Nettie Harris;Desreta Jackson:Young Celie Harris;Adolph Caesar:Old Mister;Rae Dawn Chong:Squeak;Dana Ivey:Miss Millie;Leonard Jackson:Alphonso 'Pa' Harris;Bennet Guillory:Grady;John Patton Jr.:Preacher;Carl Anderson:Reverend Samuel;Susan Beaubian:Corrine;James Tillis:Henry 'Buster' Broadnax;Phillip Strong:Mayor;Laurence Fishburne:Swain;Peto Kinsaka:Adam;Lelo Masamba:Olivia;Margaret Freeman:Odessa;Howard Starr:Young Harpo;Daphaine Oliver:Young Olivia;Jadili Johnson:Young Adam;Lillian Njoki Distefano:Young Tashi;Donna Buie:Daisy;Leon Rippy:Store Clerk;John R. Hart:Mailman;David Thomas:Road Gang Leader;Carrie Murphy:Loretta;Juliet Poe:Church Sister;Katie Simon:Church Sister;Ethel Taylor:Church Sister;Marcus Covington:Boy;Marcus Liles:Boy;April Myers:Emma;Maurice Moore:Child #1;Lechanda Latharp:Child #2;Drew Bundini Brown:Jook Joint Patron;Arnold F. Turner:Jook Joint Patron;Jeris Poindexter:Jook Joint Patron;Hawthorne James:Jook Joint Patron;Sonny Terry:Jook Joint Musician;Greg Phillinganes:Jook Joint Musician;Roy Gaines:Jook Joint Musician;Paulinho da Costa:African Musician;Nana Yaw Asiedu:African Musician;Clarence Avant:African Musician;Bayo Martin:African Musician;Ndugu Chandler:African Musician;Jeffrey Kwashi:African Musician;Pete Munzhi:African Musician;Aniijia Rae Schockley:African Musician;Maria Howell:Church Choir Soloist (uncredited);Gayle King:Church-goer (uncredited)