Roots: The Gift (1988) featured a cast of 30 tracked actors. Of these, 12 (63%) are still alive today and 7 have passed away. The oldest surviving cast member is Jerry Hardin, age 96. This film starred LeVar Burton and Louis Gossett Jr..
63% still with us· verified cast40% of full cast · incl. 11 unverified
Survivorship
Cast Reunion Index: 63% still living
Avg. Age at Death: 70.3 yrs
Deaths by Year
1991
1992
2004
2016
2021
2024
Cast30 members
| Person | Character | Status | DOB | Age | DOD | Age in 1988 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 LeVar Burton Kunta Kinte | Kunta Kinte | Living | 16/02/1957 | 69 | — | 31 |
 Louis Gossett Jr. Fiddler | Fiddler | Deceased | 27/05/1936 | 87 | 29/03/2024 | 52 |
 Avery Brooks Cletus Moyer | Cletus Moyer | Living | 02/10/1948 | 77 | — | 40 |
 Kate Mulgrew Hattie Carraway | Hattie Carraway | Living | 29/04/1955 | 71 | — | 33 |
 Shaun Cassidy Edmund Parker, Jr. | Edmund Parker, Jr. | Living | 27/09/1958 | 67 | — | 30 |
 John McMartin Edmund Parker, Sr. | Edmund Parker, Sr. | Deceased | 21/08/1929 | 86 | 06/07/2016 | 59 |
 Jerry Hardin William Reynolds | William Reynolds | Living | 20/11/1929 | 96 | — | 59 |
 Annabella Price Sarah Parker | Sarah Parker | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
 Michael Learned Amelia Parker | Amelia Parker | Living | 09/04/1939 | 87 | — | 49 |
 Fran Bennett May | May | Deceased | 14/08/1937 | 84 | 12/09/2021 | 51 |
 Tim Russ Marcellus | Marcellus | Living | 22/06/1956 | 70 | — | 32 |
 Jimmie F. Skaggs Scarvie | Scarvie | Deceased | 20/12/1944 | 59 | 06/07/2004 | 44 |
Brandy Brown Arabella | Arabella | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
| Nick | Living | 25/11/1952 | 73 | — | 36 | |
Maria Bryant Lilly | Lilly | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
James McIntire Jubal | Jubal | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
 Lawrence Mandley Boatman | Boatman | Living | 10/05/1961 | 65 | — | 27 |
John Sherrod Driver #1 | Driver #1 | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
Karl Anthony Smith Gaunt Man | Gaunt Man | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
J. Christopher Sullivan Driver #2 | Driver #2 | Deceased | — | — | — | — |
Donna Howell Elly | Elly | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
Billy Ray Reynolds Christopher | Christopher | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
Michael Edwards Gentleman #1 | Gentleman #1 | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
 Myke R. Mueller Gentleman #2 | Gentleman #2 | Deceased | 05/02/1955 | 36 | 14/08/1991 | 33 |
 John Murray Bishop Wadley | Bishop Wadley | Living | 22/06/1958 | 68 | — | 30 |
 Alex Haley Self - presenter | Self - presenter | Deceased | 11/08/1921 | 70 | 10/02/1992 | 67 |
Bernard Peyton Jolly | Jolly | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
 Tina Andrews Aurelia (archive footage) (uncredited) | Aurelia (archive footage) (uncredited) | Living | 23/04/1951 | 75 | — | 37 |
 Robert Goldman Horseman (uncredited) | Horseman (uncredited) | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
 Debra Perry Slave Girl (uncredited) | Slave Girl (uncredited) | Living | 28/12/1967 | 58 | — | 21 |
