The Nickel Boys cast features Ethan Herisse as Elwood, Brandon Wilson as Turner and Hamish Linklater as Spencer. This info article contains minor spoilers and character details for RaMell Ross’s 2024 movie on Amazon, Apple and MGM+. Check out more cast guides in Vague Visages’ Know the Cast category.

Nickel Boys centers on a Black student from Florida during the 1960s. When Elwood Curtis gets sent to a reform school for a crime he didn’t commit, he develops a bond with a young man named Turner. The narrative jumps back and forth in time to examine racism, injustice and new beginnings in America. Here’s every actor and character in Nickel Boys, an adaptation of Colson Whitehead’s 2019 novel The Nickel Boys.

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘September 5’

Nickel Boys Cast: Ethan Herisse as Elwood

Character Profile: An educated Black student from Tallahassee, Florida. He arrives at a reform school after being wrongfully arrested for stealing a car. Elwood stands up for his beliefs at Nickel Academy but gets tortured for his behavior.

Herisse’s Resume: Nate in Go On (2012-13), Jean Jean in The Mindy Project (2013), Yusef Salaam (Teen) in When They See Us (2019), Jerome in Miss Virginia (2019), Dashawn in The American Society of Magical Negroes (2024)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Nosferatu’

Nickel Boys Cast: Brandon Wilson as Turner

Character Profile: Elwood’s friend at Nickel Academy. He is a cynical man from Houston, Texas. Turner experiences a fateful event with Elwood that changes the course of his life.

Wilson’s Resume: Male Fan in Beyond the Lights (2014), Pelé (Voice) in Pele: Birth of a Legend (2016), Ian in Ray Donovan (2017), Brandon Durrett in The Way Back (2020), Zach in Murmur (2022)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘The Brutalist’

Nickel Boys Cast: Hamish Linklater as Spencer

Character Profile: The Nickel Academy superintendent. He makes money through convict labor. Spencer kills a Nickel Academy student due to a gambling plan gone wrong.

Linklater’s Resume: Leonard in Fantastic Four (2005), Matthew Kimble in The New Adventures of Old Christine (2006-10), Porter Collins in The Big Short (2015), Clark in Legion (2017-19), Father Paul in Midnight Mass (2021)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘A Different Man’

Nickel Boys Cast: Fred Hechinger as Harper

Character Profile: A Nickel Academy employee. He supervisors a labor program. Harper colludes with Spencer against Black students.

Hechinger’s Resume: Trevor in Eighth Grade (2018), John Calley in News of the World (2020), Ethan Russell in The Woman in the Window (2021), Simon in Fear Street: Part One – 1994 (2021), Quinn Mossbacher in The White Lotus (2021)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘A Real Pain’

Nickel Boys Cast: Daveed Diggs as Adult Elwood

Character Profile: An adult version of “Elwood.” He runs a moving company in New York City and learns about unmarked graves at Nickel Academy. Adult Elwood hides a secret about his true identity.

Diggs’ Resume: Mr. Browne in Wonder (2017), Dos in Ferdinand (2017), Collin in Blindspotting (2018), Andre Layton in Snowpiercer (2020-), Marquis de Lafayette/Thomas Jefferson in Hamilton (2020)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Conclave’

Nickel Boys Cast: Jimmie Fails as Mr. Hill

Character Profile: Elwood’s high school teacher. He helps with technical college/HBCU opportunities. Mr. Hill inspires Elwood before the boy gets sent to Nickel Academy.

Fails’ Resume: Jimmie Fails in The Last Black Man in San Francisco (2019), Max in Pieces of a Woman (2020), Rhodes in Borderline (2015), Seth in Wish You Were Here (2025)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘A Complete Unknown’

Nickel Boys Cast: Aunjanue Ellis-Taylor as Hattie

Character Profile: Elwood’s grandmother. She warns her grandson about the consequences of standing up to white people. Hattie gets robbed by her lawyer.

Ellis-Taylor’s Resume: Mary Ann Fisher in Ray (2004), Yule Mae Davis in The Help (2011), Hippolyta Freeman in Lovecraft Country (2020), Oracene “Brandy” Price in King Richard (2021), Carolyn Wilder in Justified: City Primeval (2023)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Anora’

The Nickel Boys cast also includes:

• Ethan Cole Sharp as Young Elwood
• Sam Malone as Percy
• Najah Bradley as Evelyn
• Taraja Ramsess as Rodney
• Gralen Bryant Banks as Blakely
• Luke Tennie as Griff
• Trey Perkins as Chickie Pete
• Craig Tate as Adult Chickie Pete
• Robert Aberdeen as Mr. Goodall
• Escalante Lundy as Earl

Q.V. Hough (@QVHough) is Vague Visages’ founding editor.