The Color Purple (1985) featured a cast of 55 tracked actors. Of these, 15 (65%) are still alive today and 8 have passed away. The oldest surviving cast member is Dana Ivey, age 85. This film starred Danny Glover and Whoopi Goldberg.
65% still with us· verified cast27% of full cast · incl. 32 unverified
Survivorship
Cast Reunion Index: 65% still living
Avg. Age at Death: 72.2 yrs
Deaths by Year
1986
1987
2004
2005
2013
2023
Cast55 members
| Person | Character | Status | DOB | Age | DOD | Age in 1985 |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 Danny Glover Albert | Albert | Living | 22/07/1946 | 80 | — | 39 |
 Whoopi Goldberg Celie | Celie | Living | 13/11/1955 | 70 | — | 30 |
 Margaret Avery Shug Avery | Shug Avery | Living | 20/01/1944 | 82 | — | 41 |
 Oprah Winfrey Sofia | Sofia | Living | 29/01/1954 | 72 | — | 31 |
 Willard E. Pugh Harpo | Harpo | Living | 16/06/1959 | 67 | — | 26 |
 Akosua Busia Nettie | Nettie | Living | 30/12/1966 | 59 | — | 19 |
 Desreta Jackson Young Celie | Young Celie | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
 Adolph Caesar Old Mr. | Old Mr. | Deceased | 05/12/1933 | 52 | 06/03/1986 | 52 |
 Rae Dawn Chong Squeak | Squeak | Living | 28/02/1961 | 65 | — | 24 |
 Dana Ivey Miss Millie | Miss Millie | Living | 12/08/1941 | 85 | — | 44 |
| Pa | Deceased | 07/02/1928 | 85 | 22/12/2013 | 57 | |
 Bennet Guillory Grady | Grady | Living | 07/11/1949 | 76 | — | 36 |
 John Patton Jr. Preacher | Preacher | Deceased | 18/02/1930 | 75 | 18/04/2005 | 55 |
 Carl Anderson Reverend Samuel | Reverend Samuel | Deceased | 27/02/1945 | 58 | 23/02/2004 | 40 |
 Susan Beaubian Corrine | Corrine | Living | 07/09/1951 | 75 | — | 34 |
James Tillis Buster | Buster | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
Phillip Strong Mayor | Mayor | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
 Laurence Fishburne Swain | Swain | Living | 30/07/1961 | 65 | — | 24 |
Peto Kinsaka Adam | Adam | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
Lelo Masamba Olivia | Olivia | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
Margaret Freeman Odessa | Odessa | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
Howard Starr Young Harpo | Young Harpo | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
Daphaine Oliver Young Olivia | Young Olivia | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
Jadili Johnson Young Adam | Young Adam | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
Lillian Njoki Distefano Young Tashi | Young Tashi | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
Donna Buie Daisy | Daisy | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
 Leon Rippy Store Clerk | Store Clerk | Living | 30/10/1949 | 76 | — | 36 |
John R. Hart Mailman | Mailman | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
David Thomas Road Gang Leader | Road Gang Leader | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
Carrie Murphy Loretta | Loretta | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
Juliet Poe Church Sister | Church Sister | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
Katie Simon Church Sister | Church Sister | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
Ethel Taylor Church Sister | Church Sister | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
| Boy | Unverified | — | — | — | — | |
Marcus Liles Boo | Boo | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
April Myers Emma | Emma | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
Maurice Moore Child #1 | Child #1 | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
Lechanda Latharp Child #2 | Child #2 | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
 Drew Bundini Brown Jook Joint Patron | Jook Joint Patron | Deceased | 21/03/1926 | 61 | 24/08/1987 | 59 |
 Arnold F. Turner Jook Joint Patron | Jook Joint Patron | Deceased | 15/10/1931 | 81 | 06/05/2013 | 54 |
 Jeris Poindexter Jook Joint Patron | Jook Joint Patron | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
 Hawthorne James Jook Joint Patron | Jook Joint Patron | Living | — | — | — | — |
 Sonny Terry Jook Joint Musician | Jook Joint Musician | Deceased | 24/10/1911 | 74 | 11/03/1986 | 74 |
 Greg Phillinganes Jook Joint Musician | Jook Joint Musician | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
Roy Gaines Jook Joint Musician | Jook Joint Musician | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
 Paulinho da Costa African Musician | African Musician | Living | 31/05/1948 | 78 | — | 37 |
Nana Yaw Asiedu African Musician | African Musician | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
 Clarence Avant African Musician | African Musician | Deceased | 25/02/1931 | 92 | 12/08/2023 | 54 |
Bayo Martin African Musician | African Musician | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
Ndugu Chandler African Musician | African Musician | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
Jeffrey Kwashi African Musician | African Musician | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
Pete Munzhi African Musician | African Musician | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
Aniijia Rae Schockley African Musician | African Musician | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
 Maria Howell Church Choir Soloist (uncredited) | Church Choir Soloist (uncredited) | Unverified | — | — | — | — |
 Gayle King Church-goer (uncredited) | Church-goer (uncredited) | Living | 28/12/1954 | 71 | — | 31 |
