Carny
Tired of being a small-town waitress, Donna departs with the latest carnival show, living with entertainers Frankie and Patch in a tense, emotional triangle.
Gary Busey
Frankie
Jodie Foster
Donna
Robbie Robertson
Patch
Meg Foster
Gerta
Kenneth McMillan
Heavy St. John
Elisha Cook Jr.
On-Your-Mark
Tim Thomerson
Doubles
Teddy Wilson
Nails
John Lehne
Skeet
Bill McKinney
Marvin Dill
Bert Remsen
Delno Baptiste
Craig Wasson
Mickey
Fred Ward
Jack
Woodrow Parfrey
W. C. Hannon
Alan H. Braunstein
Willie Mae
Tina Andrews
Sugaree
Jordan Cael
Flame
John Cassidy
Harry the Hat
Margaret Jo Lee
Pagan Knight
William S. Bartman
Hi-Striker
Terry Beaver
Trucker
Dani Dembrosky
Skinny
George Emerson
Fat Man
Bob Hannah
Tough #1
Cathi Harrer
Cheryl
Anita Haynes
Waitress
Nancy Hazeltine
Lesbian Girl
Robert Kent
Cook
Jack Howard Kitchens Jr.
Tough #3
Charles Christian Levy Sr.
Tough #2
Virginia Logan
Ticket Seller
Jerry Lyles
Mark
Noelle Massina
Noelle
Nomi Mitty
Eight Color Girl
Sirl Myhand
Carl
Greg Oliver
Cop
Randal Patrick
Mark
Tony C. Petrea
Tough #5
Jeannie Rapp
Twin #2
Elijah Perry
Trucker
Mary Siceloff
Georgene
Albert Smith
Old Farmer
Trisha Tiedemann
Trish
Janet Thomas
Twin #1
Janet Wieringa
Lesbian #2
E. Devan Young
Tough #4
Emmett Bejano
Alligator Skin Man
Percilla Bejano
Monkey Girl
Elaina Doucet
Contortionist
Jimmy Rapp
Contortionist / Sword Swallower
Johann K. Petursson
Giant
Pete Terhune
Fire Eater Dwarf and Iron Togue Act
Robert DoQui
Jerry
Richard Kaufman
Carnival Goer (uncredited)