Kevin Bacon
Role in film: Ren McCormack, spiky-haired, rabble-rousing city slicker on a mission to bring dancing back to Bomont, a buttoned-down farm town.
Memorable quote: "Hey Hey! What's this I see? I thought this was a party. LET'S DANCE!"
Memorable scene: Take your pick: his anguished solo dance in the Lehi Roller Mills, playing chicken on a tractor near an irrigation ditch, or his bring-the-house-down dance moves that close the film.
Memorable roles since:
"Mystic River" (2003) as Sean Devine
"Wild Things" (2000) as Sgt. Ray Duquette
"Apollo 13" (1995) as Jack Swigert
"The River Wild" (1994) as Wade
"A Few Good Men" (1992) as Capt. Jack Ross
"JFK" (1991) as Willie O'Keefe
Bio: Married to the actress Kyra Sedgwick, has two children. He and his brother Michael form the Bacon Brothers, a band that has released three albums.
Lori Singer
Role in film: Ariel Moore, sexy daughter of the town minister who falls in love with Ren.
Memorable quote: "Don't you want to kiss me?"
Memorable scene: When she stands astride both a car and a truck while an oncoming truck approaches in the other lane.
Memorable roles since:
"Short Cuts "(1993) as Zoe Trainer
"Warlock" (1989) as Kassandra
"Summer Heat" (1987) as Roxy
"The Man with One Red Shoe" (1985) as Maddy
Bio: Father was a symphony conductor, mother was a concert pianist, Lori enrolled at Juilliard at the age of 14 playing the cello. She also modeled before starring in "Footloose." In 1993 won a Golden Globe for her performance in "Short Cuts."
John Lithgow
Role in film: Bible-thumping minister who wants to keep dancing out of town. Comes around in the end and almost slow-dances with his wife in an empty field.
Memorable quote: "If our Lord wasn't testing us, how would you account for the proliferation, these days, of this obscene rock and roll music, with its gospel of sexuality and relaxed morality."
Memorable scene: Almost dancing with his wife.
Roles Since:
"Orange County" (2002) as Bud Brumder
"Shrek" (2001) as the voice of Lord Farquaad
"A Civil Action" (1998) as Judge Walter J. Skinner
"3rd Rock from the Sun" (TV series) as the High Commander/professor Dick Solomon
"The Pelican Brief" (1993) as Smith Keen
Bio: Son of a retired actress and a father who was both a theatrical producer and director. Graduated Magna Cum Laude from Harvard. Won a Tony Award for "The Changing Room." Received Academy Award nominations for "The World According to Garp" and "Terms of Endearment."
Dianne Wiest
Role in film: Vi Moore, Ariel's mother. Helps her husband let their daughter grow up and dance.
Memorable quote: "Shaw, we're almost dancing."
Memorable scene: Almost dancing with Shaw.
Roles since:
"I Am Sam" (2001) as Annie Cassell
"The Horse Whisperer" (1998) as Diane Booker
"The Birdcage" (1996) as Louise Keeley
"Bullets Over Broadway" (1994) as Helen Sinclair
"Edward Scissorhands" (1990) as Peg Boggs
"Parenthood" (1989) as Helen Buckman Lampkin Bowman
"Bright Lights, Big City" (1988) as Mother
"Hannah and Her Sisters" (1986) as Holly
"The Purple Rose of Cairo" (1985) as Emma
Bio: Won a best supporting actress Oscar for her performance in "Hannah and Her Sisters," and was nominated again for her performance in "Parenthood."
Chris Penn
Role in Film: Willard Hewitt, jughead hayseed who becomes Ren's sidekick and tries to break dance at the end of the film.
Memorable Quote: "Ariel likes trouble, and everyone around here knows that you're t-r-u-b-l."
Memorable Scene: When Ren teaches him to dance with Deniece Williams' "Let's Hear it for the Boy" playing in the background.
Roles Since:
"Starsky & Hutch" (2004) as Manetti
"Stealing Harvard" (2002) as David Loach
"Corky Romano" (2001) as Peter Romano
"Rush Hour "(1998) as Clive Cod
"Reservoir Dogs" (1992) as Nice Guy Eddie Cabot
Brief Bio: Brother of Sean Penn, has a black belt in karate.
Sarah Jessica Parker
Role in Film: Rusty, Willard's girlfriend who spends much of the film urging her meathead boyfriend to stay out of fights.
Memorable Quote: "I can't believe this town."
Memorable Scene: When she lets Willard loose in a brawl right before the big dance.
Roles Since:
"Sex and the City" (TV Series) as Carrie Bradshaw
"The First Wives Club" (1996) as Shelly Stewart
"Hocus Pocus" (1993) as Sarah Sanderson
"Honeymoon in Vegas" (1992) as Betsy/Donna
"L.A. Story" (1991) as SanDeE
Bio: Won the Golden Globe in 2000 for her "Sex and the City" role. Before marrying husband Matthew Broderick, she dated Robert Downey Jr. and the late John Kennedy.