George Clooney’s 2023 sports film, The Boys in the Boat, boasts an ensemble cast of exciting young stars with veteran talents sprinkled in. The movie is based on Daniel James Brown’s 2013 book of the same name, exploring the true story of the United States men’s rowing team and their mission to compete in the 1936 Summer Olympics in Berlin. While The Boys in the Boat makes changes to its material for cinematic purposes, much of its core drama comes from its real historical drama, combined with surefire underdog sports movie elements.

Despite directing the film, iconic movie star George Clooney isn’t part of The Boys in the Boat cast. It’s not the first time Clooney has explored World War II in his directorial ventures, having previously worked on The Monuments Men in 2014. He also previously directed a sports film with 2008’s Leatherheads. The movies George Clooney has directed have ranged in quality, but many of his narratives have examined fascinating true stories about 20th-century figures, from Edward R. Murrow to Chuck Barris and now Joe Rantz.

Joel Edgerton as Al Ulbrickson

Date Of Birth: June 23, 1974

• Active Since: 1995

Actor: Joel Edgerton is an Australian actor who had his big break playing Uncle Owen Lars in the Star Wars prequel trilogy. Following the minor role in the iconic sci-fi franchise, Edgerton found himself on the map with roles in successful Hollywood films like Warrior, Zero Dark Thirty, The Great Gatsby, and more. In recent years, he’s appeared in films like The Green Knight and The King, the latter of which he co-wrote. In 2024, he’s starring in the TV series Dark Matter for Apple TV+, which has received acclaim for its first five episodes.

Character: Edgerton plays Al Ulbrickson, the rowing coach at the University of Washington.

Callum Turner as Joe Rantz

Date Of Birth: February 15, 1990

• Active Since: 2010

Actor: Callum Turner is an actor from London, England, who’s most widely recognized as Theseus Scamander in the Fantastic Beasts franchise. He’s appeared in films with varying-sized roles since 2010, though his most prominent performances have come in recent years. In 2024, he co-led the Masters of the Air cast with Austin Butler, which was met with enormous critical acclaim for its depiction of World War II air combat as a companion piece to HBO’s Band of Brothers.

Character: Callum Turner plays Joe Rantz, who is a member of the University of Washington’s rowing team. He’s a poor engineering student who joins the team for work and a place to live.

Hadley Robinson as Joyce Simdars

Date Of Birth: December 5, 1994

• Active Since: 2014

Actor: Hadly Robinson is an American actress from New York City whose breakout performance was in HBO’s Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty. In the critically acclaimed series, she played sports icon, Jeanie Buss, leading to two roles in two big 2023 movies. Aside from The Boys in the Boat, she also starred in the box office hit rom-com Anyone but You, where she starred alongside Sydney Sweeney and Glen Powell. She’s also appeared in the films Little Women and The Pale Blue Eye.

Character: Joyce Simdars is Joe Rantz’s girlfriend and eventual wife.

Peter Guinness as George Yeomans Pocock

Date Of Birth: August 14, 1950

• Active Since: 1979

Actor: Peter Guinness is an English actor who’s been playing supporting roles in films and television for over four decades. He has over 100 acting credits, including notable titles like Zack Snyder’s Justice League, Alien 3, Tim Burton’s Sleepy Hollow, and historical fiction movies like Centurion and King Arthur: Legend of the Sword. In 2022, he played a significant role in Prime Video’s Jack Ryan series, and he also worked with George Clooney on his miniseries adaptation of Catch-22.

Character: Peter Guinness plays George Pocock, a racing-shell builder who’s instrumental to the team’s success and to encouraging Joe Rantz.

The Boys In The Boat Supporting Cast & Characters

Jack Mulhern as Don Hume: Jack Mulhern is an American actor who can be recognized for his roles in the TV shows Mare of Easttown and Painkiller.

Ian McElhinney as Elderly Joe Rantz: Ian McElhinney is a Northern Irish actor who’s best known as Barristan Selmy in HBO’s Game of Thrones. He’s appeared in film and television shows for over forty years.

James Wolk as Tom Bolles: James Wolk is an American actor with nearly two decades of experience. He’s worked on celebrated shows like Mad Men and HBO’s Watchmen.

Courtney Henggeler as Hazel Ulbrickson: Courtney Henggegler is an American actress who’s best known for her starring role in Cobra Kai, where she plays Amanda LaRusso.

Chris Diamantopoulos as Royal Brougham: Christopher Diamantopoulos is a Canadian actor primarily known for his voice acting roles in Mickey Mouse cartoons and for playing the DC superhero Green Arrow. In live-action, he’s recognized for his role in the HBO series Silicon Valley.