Mo' Better Blues (1990) featured a cast of 52 tracked actors. Of these, 22 (76%) are still alive today and 7 have passed away. The oldest surviving cast member is Herbert Daughtery, age 95. This film starred Denzel Washington and Spike Lee.
76% still with us· verified cast42% of full cast · incl. 23 unverified
Survivorship
Cast Reunion Index: 76% still living
Avg. Age at Death: 69 yrs
Deaths by Year
1990
1996
2010
2012
2016
2017
2023
Cast52 members
| Person | Character | Status | DOB | Age | DOD | Age in 1990 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Denzel Washington Bleek Gilliam | Bleek Gilliam | Living | 28/12/1954 | 71 | — | 36 |
 Spike Lee Giant | Giant | Living | 20/03/1957 | 69 | — | 33 |
 Wesley Snipes Shadow Henderson (Sax) | Shadow Henderson (Sax) | Living | 31/07/1962 | 64 | — | 28 |
 Giancarlo Esposito Left Hand Lacey (Piano) | Left Hand Lacey (Piano) | Living | 26/04/1958 | 68 | — | 32 |
 Robin Harris Butterbean Jones | Butterbean Jones | Deceased | 30/08/1953 | 36 | 18/03/1990 | 37 |
 Joie Lee Indigo | Indigo | Living | 22/06/1962 | 64 | — | 28 |
 Bill Nunn Bottom Hammer | Bottom Hammer | Deceased | 20/10/1953 | 62 | 24/09/2016 | 37 |
 John Turturro Moe Flatbush | Moe Flatbush | Living | 28/02/1957 | 69 | — | 33 |
 Dick Anthony Williams Big Stop Williams | Big Stop Williams | Deceased | 09/08/1934 | 77 | 16/02/2012 | 56 |
 Cynda Williams Clarke Bentancourt | Clarke Bentancourt | Living | 17/05/1966 | 60 | — | 24 |
 Nicholas Turturro Josh Flatbush | Josh Flatbush | Living | 29/01/1962 | 64 | — | 28 |
 Samuel L. Jackson Madlock | Madlock | Living | 21/12/1948 | 77 | — | 42 |
| Rod | Living | 31/08/1961 | 65 | — | 29 | |
 Charlie Murphy Eggy | Eggy | Deceased | 12/07/1959 | 57 | 12/04/2017 | 31 |
 Rubén Blades Petey | Petey | Living | 16/07/1948 | 78 | — | 42 |
 Abbey Lincoln Lillian Gilliam | Lillian Gilliam | Deceased | 06/08/1930 | 80 | 14/08/2010 | 60 |
Linda Hawkins Jeanne | Jeanne | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
 Coati Mundi Roberto | Roberto | Living | 03/01/1950 | 76 | — | 40 |
 Flavor Flav Impatient Movie Patron (voice) | Impatient Movie Patron (voice) | Living | 16/03/1959 | 67 | — | 31 |
 Jeff "Tain" Watts Rhythm Jones (Drums) | Rhythm Jones (Drums) | Living | 20/01/1960 | 66 | — | 30 |
 Steve White Born Knowledge | Born Knowledge | Living | 01/03/1961 | 65 | — | 29 |
 Raye Dowell Rita | Rita | Living | 22/08/1961 | 65 | — | 29 |
 Angela Hall Cora | Cora | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
Zakee Howze Young Bleek / Miles (as Zakee L. Howze) | Young Bleek / Miles (as Zakee L. Howze) | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
 Deon Richmond Tyrone | Tyrone | Living | 02/04/1978 | 48 | — | 12 |
 Raymond Anthony Thomas Joe (as Raymond Thomas) | Joe (as Raymond Thomas) | Living | 19/12/1956 | 69 | — | 34 |
Sheldon Turnipseed Benny | Benny | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
Christopher Skeffrey Louis | Louis | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
| Sam | Unverified | — | — | — | — | |
 Leon Addison Brown Smith | Smith | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
 Scot Anthony Robinson Cooley | Cooley | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
 Bill Lee Father of the Bride | Father of the Bride | Deceased | 23/07/1928 | 94 | 24/05/2023 | 62 |
 Branford Marsalis Party Guest | Party Guest | Living | 26/08/1960 | 66 | — | 30 |
 Doug E. Doug Jimmy the Busboy (as Douglas Bourne) | Jimmy the Busboy (as Douglas Bourne) | Living | 07/01/1970 | 56 | — | 20 |
 Tracy Camilla Johns Club Patron | Club Patron | Living | 12/04/1963 | 63 | — | 27 |
 John Canada Terrell Club Patron | Club Patron | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
 Joe Seneca Big Stop's Friend | Big Stop's Friend | Deceased | 14/01/1919 | 77 | 15/08/1996 | 71 |
Darryl M. Wonge Jr. Miles at Birth | Miles at Birth | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
Jelani Asar Snipes Miles, Age 1 | Miles, Age 1 | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
Glenn Williams III Miles, Age 3 | Miles, Age 3 | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
Arnold Cromer Miles, Age 5 | Miles, Age 5 | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
 Herbert Daughtery Minister | Minister | Living | 13/01/1931 | 95 | — | 59 |
Monty Ross Club Patron | Club Patron | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
Carol M. Wiggins Club Patron | Club Patron | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
Isabella Club Patron | Club Patron | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
Mamie Louise Anderson Club Patron | Club Patron | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
John Sobestanovich Taxi Driver | Taxi Driver | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
David Droge Night Club Patron (uncredited) | Night Club Patron (uncredited) | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
Anaysha Figueroa Shanika (uncredited) | Shanika (uncredited) | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
Curt Hayward Jazz Club Patron (uncredited) | Jazz Club Patron (uncredited) | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
 Candace Kirkpatrick Club Patron (uncredited) | Club Patron (uncredited) | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
Stephen Vause Club Patron (uncredited) | Club Patron (uncredited) | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
