Poster for the movie The Five Heartbeats

The Five Heartbeats

1991 • 121 minutes
DramaMusic

In the early 1960s, a quintet of hopeful, young African-American men form an amateur vocal group called The Five Heartbeats. After an initially rocky start, the group improves, turns pro, and rises to become a top flight music sensation. Along the way, however, the guys learn many hard lessons about the reality of the music industry.

Picture of Robert Townsend

Robert Townsend

Duck

Picture of Michael Wright

Michael Wright

Eddie

Picture of Leon

Leon

J.T.

Picture of Harry Lennix

Harry Lennix

Dresser

Picture of Tico Wells

Tico Wells

Choirboy

Picture of Diahann Carroll

Diahann Carroll

Eleanor Potter

Picture of Harold Nicholas

Harold Nicholas

Sarge

Picture of John Canada Terrell

John Canada Terrell

Michael 'Flash' Turner

Picture of Chuck Patterson

Chuck Patterson

Jimmy Potter

Picture of Hawthorne James

Hawthorne James

Big Red

Picture of Roy Fegan

Roy Fegan

Bird

Picture of Troy Byer

Troy Byer

Baby Doll

Picture of Carla Brothers

Carla Brothers

Tanya Sawyer

Picture of Deborah Lacey

Deborah Lacey

Rose

Picture of Theresa Randle

Theresa Randle

Brenda

Picture of John Witherspoon

John Witherspoon

Wild Rudy

Picture of Bobby McGee

Bobby McGee

Leon

Picture of O.L. Duke

O.L. Duke

Monroe

Picture of Kasi Lemmons

Kasi Lemmons

Cookie

Picture of Eugene Robert Glazer

Eugene Robert Glazer

David Green

Picture of Timmie Rogers

Timmie Rogers

Buddy Lewis

Picture of Tommy Redmond Hicks

Tommy Redmond Hicks

Pastor Blake

Picture of Donnie Simpson

Donnie Simpson

Donnie Simpson

Picture of Norma Donaldson

Norma Donaldson

Mrs. Sawyer

Picture of Roger Rose

Roger Rose

The Five Horsemen

Picture of James Anderson

James Anderson

Big Red's Guys