The Jarhead cast features Jake Gyllenhaal, Jamie Foxx and Peter Sarsgaard. This info article contains minor spoilers and character details for Sam Mendes’ 2005 movie on Amazon and Apple TV. Check out more cast guides in Vague Visages’ Know the Cast category.

Jarhead takes place in 1989. As Anthony Swofford trains for the United States Marine Corps in Camp Pendleton, California, he anticipates combat experience in Saudia Arabia for Operation Desert Shield. The narrative follows the main protagonist and fellow soldiers as they learn about the realities of deployment missions. Here’s every actor and character in Jarhead, an adaptation of Anthony Swofford’s 2003 memoir.

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Jarhead Cast: Jake Gyllenhaal as Anthony Swofford

Character Profile: A 20-year-old United States Marine from Sacramento, California and the son of a Vietnam War veteran. He gets deployed to Saudia Arabia for Operation Desert Shield. Anthony trains as a sniper while anticipating combat during the Gulf War.

Gyllenhaal’s Resume: Donnie Darko in Donnie Darko (2001), Jack Twist in Brokeback Mountain (2005), Louis Bloom in Nightcrawler (2014), Quentin Beck/Mysterio in Spider-Man: Far from Home (2019), Rusty Sabich in Presumed Innocent (2024)

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Jarhead Cast: Jamie Foxx as Staff Sergeant Sykes

Character Profile: Anthony’s superior officer. He is a staff sergeant who specializes in surveillance and target acquisition. Sykes fully commits to the military and his religious beliefs.

Foxx’s Resume: Various in In Living Color (1991-94), Ray Charles in Ray (2004), Max in Collateral (2004), Django in Django Unchained (2012), Art in Project Power (2020)

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Jarhead Cast: Peter Sarsgaard as Alan Troy

Character Profile: A corporal in the United States military. He is a gamer from Greenville, Michigan. Alan works as Anthony’s spotter.

Sarsgaard’s Resume: Mark in Garden State (2014), Clyde Martin in Kinsey (2014), Alan Troy in Jarhead (2005), Bobby Kennedy in Jackie (2016), Tommy Molto in Presumed Innocent (2024)

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Jarhead Cast: Chris Cooper as Lieutenant Colonel Kazinski

Character Profile: Anthony’s superior officer. He is a battalion commander during Operation Desert Shield. Lieutenant Colonel Kazinski oversees a mission to protect oil fields.

Cooper’s Resume: Colonel Fitts in American Beauty (1999), John Laroche in Adaptation. (2002), Conklin in The Bourne Identity (2002), Charlie Aiken in August: Osage County (2013), Leonard Geist in Homecoming (2020)

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Jarhead Cast: Lucas Black as Chris Kruger

Character Profile: Anthony’s comrade. He is a native of Baytown, Texas. Chris philosophizes about wartime experiences during Operation Desert shield.

Black’s Resume: Frank Wheatley in Sling Blade (1996), Mike Winchell in Friday Night Lights (2004), Sean Boswell in The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (2006), Pee Wee Reese in 42 (2013), Christopher LaSalle in NCIS: New Orleans (2014-19)

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Jarhead Cast: Brian Geraghty as Fergus O’Donnell

Character Profile: Anthony’s comrade. He is a native of Cottonwood Falls, Kansas. Fergus inadvertently sets a tent on fire.

Geraghty’s Resume: Specialist Owen Eldridge in The Hurt Locker (2008), Ken Evans in Flight (2012), Sean Roman in Chicago P.D. (2014-20), Ronald Pergman in Big Sky (2020-22), Zane Davis in 1923 (2022-25)

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The Jarhead cast also includes:

• Scott MacDonald as D.I. Fitch
• Iván Fenyö as Pinko
• Jacob Vargas as Juan Cortez
• Laz Alonso as Ramon Escobar
• Jocko Sims as Julius
• Evan Jones as Dave Fowler
• Dennis Haysbert as Major Lincoln
• John Krasinski as Corporal Harrigan
• Rini Bell as Swoff’s Sister
• Brianne Davis as Swoff’s Girlfriend Kristina

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