The Mission Impossible cast has changed a lot in almost 60 years, yet the idea behind it hasn’t: a small team of spies taking on missions the US government won’t admit to. It started as a 1966 Cold War TV show and grew into Tom Cruise’s film series. Below is every major face, from the original cast to The Final Reckoning.
| Field | Details |
|---|---|
| Franchise | Mission: Impossible |
| Original TV Run | 1966–1973 (CBS) |
| TV Revival | 1988–1990 |
| First Film Release | 22 May 1996 |
| Latest Film | Mission: Impossible – The Final Reckoning (2025) |
| Lead Star | Tom Cruise as Ethan Hunt |
| Longest-Serving Co-Star | Ving Rhames (all eight films) |
| Original TV Leaders | Steven Hill (Dan Briggs), Peter Graves (Jim Phelps) |
| Fictional Agency | IMF (Impossible Missions Force) |
| Genre/Field | Spy, action, thriller |
| Awards/Honors | Multiple Primetime Emmys for the TV show, Golden Globes for its stars |
| Streaming | Paramount+, Prime Video (availability varies by region) |
Mission Impossible Cast 2025: Who Is In The Final Reckoning
The Final Reckoning, released in 2025, is presented as the end of the story Cruise has told for 29 years. It continues directly from Dead Reckoning (2023). Ethan and his IMF team face The Entity, a dangerous AI program that can manipulate world governments and nuclear systems.
The cast blends returning players with a big group of new faces. Hayley Atwell returns as Grace, the thief who joined Ethan’s inner circle. Simon Pegg is back as Benji Dunn. Esai Morales plays Gabriel, the Entity’s devotee, who carries a personal grudge against Ethan that goes back decades.
The supporting cast reads like a list of top TV actors. Many of them play officials in the war room or at sea, and these scenes carry much of the film’s nuclear action.
| Actor | Character | Best Known For |
|---|---|---|
| Tom Cruise | Ethan Hunt | Top Gun: Maverick, Edge of Tomorrow |
| Hayley Atwell | Grace | Peggy Carter in Agent Carter |
| Ving Rhames | Luther Stickell | Pulp Fiction |
| Simon Pegg | Benji Dunn | Shaun of the Dead, Hot Fuzz, Star Trek |
| Esai Morales | Gabriel | NYPD Blue |
| Pom Klementieff | Paris | Mantis in Guardians of the Galaxy |
| Angela Bassett | President Erika Sloane | Black Panther, Waiting to Exhale, 9-1-1 |
| Henry Czerny | Eugene Kittridge | Revenge, Clear and Present Danger |
| Shea Whigham | Jasper Briggs | Perry Mason, American Primeval |
| Greg Tarzan Davis | Degas | Top Gun: Maverick |
| Hannah Waddingham | Admiral Neely | Ted Lasso, Game of Thrones |
| Tramell Tillman | Captain Bledsoe | Severance |
| Nick Offerman | General Sidney | Parks and Rec, Devs, Civil War |
| Janet McTeer | Walters | Jessica Jones, The Menu |
| Holt McCallany | Secretary of Defense | Mindhunter, The Iron Claw |
What stood out to me on a rewatch is how well the film uses these actors in small roles. Tramell Tillman, as the calm commander of a US submarine, makes a short stretch of screen time memorable. Hannah Waddingham is sharp and commanding as Admiral Neely.
There’s also a treat for long-time fans. Rolf Saxon returns as William Donloe, the CIA analyst from the 1996 film, which ties the final chapter back to the first.
The Core IMF Team
A few actors form the backbone of the film series. They link the 1996 film to the 2025 finale, and they explain why the franchise feels like one continuous story.
Tom Cruise As Ethan Hunt
Tom Cruise, born in 1962, has played Ethan Hunt in all eight films and also produces them. He arrived as a box-office star from Risky Business and the Top Gun films. Mission: Impossible turned him into a commercial juggernaut as well as a leading man.
His career outside the franchise is just as strong. He earned acting Oscar nominations for Born on the Fourth of July, Jerry Maguire, and Magnolia (1999). His other hits include Eyes Wide Shut, Vanilla Sky (2001), The Last Samurai (2003), Collateral (2004), Edge of Tomorrow (2014), and Top Gun: Maverick (2022). In 2025 the Academy gave him an honorary Oscar.
His personal life has drawn as much attention as his films. He married Nicole Kidman in 1990, and they adopted two children before divorcing in 2001. He married Katie Holmes in 2006, and their daughter Suri was born that year. They divorced in 2012.
The reason Ethan Hunt works as a character is Cruise’s commitment to the role. He performs most of his own stunts, and these sequences are now the main draw of each film.
Ving Rhames As Luther Stickell
Ving Rhames is the only actor besides Cruise to appear in every Mission: Impossible film. He plays Luther Stickell, a master coder and hacker, and he is one of the true OG members of Ethan’s team.
Most people first recognized him as Marsellus Wallace in Pulp Fiction. His credits also include Con Air (1997), Baby Boy, and the Dawn of the Dead remake (2004). He voiced Cobra Bubbles in the original Lilo & Stitch (2002).
He won a Golden Globe for Don King: Only in America and famously handed the trophy to fellow nominee Jack Lemmon on stage. Rhames, born in 1959, married Deborah Reed in 2000.
Luther is the team’s calm voice and Ethan’s most loyal friend. The Final Reckoning gives him some of the most emotional scenes in the entire series.
Henry Czerny As Eugene Kittridge
Henry Czerny played Eugene Kittridge, the IMF leader who hunts Ethan in the 1996 original. It was one of his breakout film roles. He returned 27 years later in Dead Reckoning (2023), and again in The Final Reckoning.
The Canadian actor, born in 1959, had a busy career in the years between. He appeared in Clear and Present Danger, The Exorcism of Emily Rose, The Pink Panther, Remember, Ready or Not, and Scream VI. On TV, he played Conrad Grayson in Revenge and also appeared in Quantico.
He is married to Claudine Cassidy, and they have one son. Kittridge’s return shows how the franchise rewards fans who have watched from the start. The boss who doubted Ethan in 1996 becomes a cold, complicated presence in the last two films.
Fallout Mission Impossible Cast
Fallout (2018) is the sixth film, and many fans and critics rank it as the best. Christopher McQuarrie directed it, and it was the first time a director returned for a second Mission: Impossible film. It grossed about $791 million worldwide.
The Fallout Mission Impossible cast added a strong antagonist. Henry Cavill played August Walker, a CIA assassin who is assigned to watch Ethan. His fight with Cruise in a nightclub bathroom is still one of the franchise’s best scenes.
| Actor | Character in Fallout |
|---|---|
| Tom Cruise | Ethan Hunt |
| Henry Cavill | August Walker |
| Ving Rhames | Luther Stickell |
| Simon Pegg | Benji Dunn |
| Rebecca Ferguson | Ilsa Faust |
| Sean Harris | Solomon Lane |
| Angela Bassett | CIA Director Erika Sloane |
| Alec Baldwin | Alan Hunley |
| Michelle Monaghan | Julia Meade |
| Vanessa Kirby | Alanna Mitsopolis (White Widow) |
| Wes Bentley | Erik |
Fallout also brought back Michelle Monaghan as Julia, Ethan’s ex-wife. This gave the film more emotional weight than earlier entries. It introduced Angela Bassett as Erika Sloane, a character who later becomes US President.
If you’re new to the series and want one film that shows what the modern franchise does best, start with Fallout. The story is tight, and the stunts, like the HALO jump and the helicopter chase, hold up.
Actress Mission Impossible Cast: The Women Of The Franchise
The women of the franchise often get less attention than the stunts. Still, the actress Mission Impossible cast has played some of the most important characters in the series. That began with Barbara Bain on TV and continues through Hayley Atwell today.
Rebecca Ferguson’s Ilsa Faust is widely seen as the strongest female character in the films. She is a British agent and Ethan’s equal in a fight. She appeared in Rogue Nation, Fallout, and Dead Reckoning.
| Actress | Character | Film/Series |
|---|---|---|
| Barbara Bain | Cinnamon Carter | TV series (1966–69) |
| Lesley Ann Warren | Dana Lambert | TV series (Season 5) |
| Emmanuelle Béart | Claire Phelps | Mission: Impossible (1996) |
| Kristin Scott Thomas | Sarah Davies | Mission: Impossible (1996) |
| Vanessa Redgrave | Max | Mission: Impossible (1996) |
| Thandiwe Newton | Nyah Nordoff-Hall | Mission: Impossible 2 (2000) |
| Michelle Monaghan | Julia Meade | MI3, Ghost Protocol, Fallout |
| Keri Russell | Lindsey Farris | MI3 (2006) |
| Maggie Q | Zhen | MI3 (2006) |
| Paula Patton | Jane Carter | Ghost Protocol (2011) |
| Léa Seydoux | Sabine Moreau | Ghost Protocol (2011) |
| Rebecca Ferguson | Ilsa Faust | Rogue Nation, Fallout, Dead Reckoning |
| Vanessa Kirby | White Widow | Fallout, Dead Reckoning |
| Hayley Atwell | Grace | Dead Reckoning, The Final Reckoning |
| Pom Klementieff | Paris | Dead Reckoning, The Final Reckoning |
| Angela Bassett | Erika Sloane | Fallout, The Final Reckoning |
Over time the roles have clearly changed. Early characters like Nyah were largely love interests. Later characters like Ilsa, Grace, and Paris have their own motives, loyalties, and arcs that move the plot forward.
Pom Klementieff’s Paris is a good example. She begins as a silent assassin in Dead Reckoning, and in The Final Reckoning she becomes a follower of Ethan’s cause, which surprises many viewers.
Original Mission Impossible Cast (1996 Film)
The original Mission Impossible cast for the 1996 film was more European and more art-house than you might expect from an action film. Brian De Palma directed it, and he cast respected actors in place of typical blockbuster names.
| Actor | Character |
|---|---|
| Tom Cruise | Ethan Hunt |
| Jon Voight | Jim Phelps |
| Emmanuelle Béart | Claire Phelps |
| Henry Czerny | Eugene Kittridge |
| Jean Reno | Franz Krieger |
| Ving Rhames | Luther Stickell |
| Kristin Scott Thomas | Sarah Davies |
| Vanessa Redgrave | Max |
| Emilio Estevez | Jack Harmon (uncredited) |
Kristin Scott Thomas, born in 1960, received an Oscar nomination the same year for The English Patient. She later appeared in Gosford Park, I’ve Loved You So Long, Darkest Hour, and the spy series Slow Horses. France awarded her the Legion of Honour. In 2024 she married John Micklethwait, editor-in-chief of Bloomberg.
Vanessa Redgrave, born in 1937, played the arms dealer Max. She is an Oscar winner, and she won a Tony Award in 2003. Her later work includes Atonement, Foxcatcher, and Cold Storage (2025). She married her longtime partner, Italian actor Franco Nero, in 2006.
French star Emmanuelle Béart, born in 1963, played Claire, Jim’s wife. In France she is known for Sentimental Destinies, 8 Women, and The Passengers of the Night (2023). She has received the French Order of Arts and Letters.
Jim Phelps: Jon Voight vs Peter Graves
Jim Phelps is the only character that links the TV show to the film franchise. Peter Graves played him on TV, and Jon Voight played him in the 1996 film. The film’s twist, which reveals Phelps as the traitor, still splits fans.
Peter Graves led the IMF from Season 2 in 1967 until the show ended in 1973. He returned for the 1988–1990 revival. He won a Golden Globe for the role. Comedy fans know him as Captain Clarence Oveur in Airplane!, and he also starred in The Winds of War.
Graves turned down the chance to play Phelps in the film, and several original TV actors publicly criticized the villain twist. Graves died of a heart attack in 2010 at age 83.
Jon Voight, born in 1938, is an Oscar winner whose career runs from Ali to Transformers (2007), Pride and Glory (2008), and Megalopolis (2024). Younger audiences may know him from Zoolander (2001). In 2025 President Trump named him a Special Ambassador to Hollywood.
Original Mission Impossible TV Series Cast (1966–73)
Many people don’t know the full original Mission Impossible cast. It began on TV in 1966 with Steven Hill as Dan Briggs, the first team leader. Hill left after one season, and Peter Graves took over as Jim Phelps. The show ran for seven seasons and won multiple Primetime Emmys, including Outstanding Dramatic Series twice.
| Actor | Character | Role on the Team | Seasons |
|---|---|---|---|
| Steven Hill | Dan Briggs | Team leader | 1 |
| Peter Graves | Jim Phelps | Team leader | 2–7 |
| Martin Landau | Rollin Hand | Master of disguise | 1–3 |
| Barbara Bain | Cinnamon Carter | Model and actress operative | 1–3 |
| Greg Morris | Barney Collier | Tech genius | 1–7 |
| Peter Lupus | Willy Armitage | Strongman | 1–7 |
| Leonard Nimoy | The Great Paris | Disguise expert | 4–5 |
Martin Landau worked as a newspaper cartoonist before acting. His film debut came in North by Northwest. He later starred in Space: 1999 with Barbara Bain, who was his wife at the time. He won an Oscar for Ed Wood and died in 2017 at 89.
Barbara Bain won three Emmys in a row as Cinnamon Carter. She was born in 1931 and is one of the last surviving members of the original cast. Peter Lupus, a bodybuilder before acting, played Willy Armitage. Born in 1932, he is the other surviving main cast member.
Greg Morris played Barney Collier, one of the first Black lead characters on American TV. He later appeared in Vega$ and died in 1996 at 62. His son Phil Morris played Barney’s son Grant Collier in the 1988–90 revival.
Leonard Nimoy joined in Season 4, right after Star Trek ended, as master of disguise The Great Paris. He died in 2015 at 83. Steven Hill returned to acting after a 10-year break and became familiar to a new generation as DA Adam Schiff in Law & Order (1990–2000). He died in 2016 at 94.
FAQs
Who Is In The Mission Impossible Cast 2025?
The 2025 cast of The Final Reckoning includes Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Ving Rhames, Simon Pegg, Esai Morales, Pom Klementieff, Angela Bassett, and Henry Czerny. New additions include Hannah Waddingham, Nick Offerman, Tramell Tillman, and Janet McTeer.
Is The Final Reckoning The Last Mission Impossible Film?
The Final Reckoning is presented as the end of Ethan Hunt’s story after 29 years. Paramount and Tom Cruise have not officially confirmed a ninth film, so for now it stands as the franchise’s closing chapter.
Which Actors Have Appeared In Every Mission Impossible Film?
Only Tom Cruise and Ving Rhames have appeared in all eight films. Simon Pegg joined in Mission: Impossible III (2006) and stayed for every film after that.
Is Anyone From The Original Mission Impossible TV Cast Still Alive?
Yes. Barbara Bain and Peter Lupus are the surviving main stars of the 1966 series. Peter Graves, Martin Landau, Leonard Nimoy, Greg Morris, and Steven Hill have all passed away.
Who Played The Villain In The Fallout Mission Impossible Cast?
Henry Cavill played August Walker, a CIA assassin who secretly works against Ethan. Sean Harris returned as Solomon Lane, the anarchist leader from Rogue Nation.
Where Can I Watch The Mission Impossible Movies?
The films usually stream on Paramount+ and are available to rent or buy on Prime Video. Availability depends on your region, so check your local streaming platforms.
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