It is one of those rare films where every single person on screen feels like they were born for that specific role. You can’t imagine anyone else. When you look at who played in The Princess Bride, you aren't just looking at a list of actors; you’re looking at a lightning strike of casting brilliance managed by director Rob Reiner and casting director Jane Jenkins. It’s almost miracle-adjacent that this movie got made at all, considering it sat in "development hell" for years with names like Arnold Schwarzenegger once attached to play Fezzik. Imagine that for a second. It would have been a totally different, and likely worse, movie.
The Dread Pirate and the Farm Boy
Cary Elwes was Westley. There’s no two ways about it. Reiner reportedly saw him in Lady Jane and knew he had that specific swashbuckling, Errol Flynn energy mixed with a very dry, British wit. Elwes actually performed many of his own stunts, which led to a pretty serious toe injury during filming when he was riding an ATV on set. If you watch the scene where he’s walking toward the Fire Swamp, he’s actually limping in real life. He just hid it well.
Then you have Robin Wright as Buttercup. She was relatively unknown at the time, mostly known for a soap opera called Santa Barbara. She beat out huge names for the part. Her performance is often underrated because she has to play the "straight man" to a bunch of eccentric characters, but her chemistry with Elwes is what anchors the whole fantasy. Without that genuine heart, the jokes wouldn't land because we wouldn't care if they reunited.
The Trio of Outlaws (And the Giant)
Honestly, the villains—or the "mercenaries with hearts of gold"—stole the show. Mandy Patinkin played Inigo Montoya, and he has gone on record many times saying it is his favorite role he ever played. It was personal for him. Patinkin lost his father to cancer, and he famously said that when he was filming the final confrontation with the Six-Fingered Man, he felt like he was reclaiming his father. When he screams "I want my father back, you son of a bitch," that isn't just acting. That’s raw, real grief.
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Andre the Giant as Fezzik is the soul of the film. Finding who played in The Princess Bride as the muscle was the hardest part of production. They needed a giant, but they needed a giant with a gentle spirit. Andre was in immense physical pain during filming due to his acromegaly and previous back surgeries. He couldn't actually lift Robin Wright; they had to use wires to support her weight because his back was so compromised. Despite being a world-famous wrestler, he was incredibly nervous about his lines, and Reiner ended up recording all of Fezzik's lines on tape so Andre could listen to them and learn the phonetics.
Wallace Shawn as Vizzini? Inconceivable. But the funny thing is, Wallace Shawn was convinced he was going to be fired every single day. He knew he wasn't the first choice—Danny DeVito was—and he spent the entire shoot paralyzed with the fear that he wasn't funny enough. He was wrong. His performance created some of the most quotable moments in cinematic history.
The Villains We Loved to Hate
Chris Sarandon played Prince Humperdinck with a sort of oily, cowardly charisma that is hard to pull off. He wasn't a physical threat; he was a bureaucratic one. Alongside him was Christopher Guest as Count Rugen. Guest is usually known for improvisational comedy like This Is Spinal Tap, but here he plays it totally straight and genuinely menacing. That contrast is part of why the movie works. It doesn't wink at the camera too much. It takes its world seriously even when it’s being ridiculous.
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The Framing Story
We can’t talk about the cast without the bedroom. Fred Savage was the "Grandson," fresh off his early success. Peter Falk, the legendary Columbo, played the Grandfather. Their dynamic is what makes the movie a "family" film in the truest sense. Falk’s weary, loving delivery of "As you wish" at the very end is the emotional payoff that bridges the gap between the fairy tale and the real world.
Lesser-Known Cameos and Scene Stealers
- Billy Crystal and Carol Kane: They played Miracle Max and Valerie. They were only on set for three days. Billy Crystal ad-libbed so many jokes that Cary Elwes actually got kicked off the set because he couldn't stop laughing and ruining takes. Even Rob Reiner had to leave the room.
- Peter Cook: He played the "Impressive Clergyman" with the famous speech impediment. He was a titan of British comedy, and his brief appearance is a masterclass in making a small role iconic.
- Mel Smith: He played the Albino in the Pit of Despair. He actually had a severe allergic reaction to the makeup and spent most of his time on set in total agony, which probably helped his performance as a miserable dungeon dweller.
Why This Specific Cast Worked
The secret sauce of who played in The Princess Bride is that they weren't just "actors for hire." They were a troupe. They spent weeks rehearsing and eating meals together in England before cameras even rolled. This created a shorthand. When you see Fezzik and Inigo interacting, that’s real affection. When you see Westley and Buttercup, that’s real trust.
William Goldman, who wrote the book and the screenplay, was notoriously protective of his work. He had seen several failed attempts to adapt the book. He reportedly cried when he saw the cast performing his words because they got it right. They captured the "fractured fairy tale" tone that is so hard to pin down—half satire, half earnest romance.
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Navigating the Legacy
If you're looking to dive deeper into the history of this production, there are a few things you should do next. First, read Cary Elwes' memoir, As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride. It is packed with first-hand accounts of what happened when the cameras weren't rolling, including the story of how they nearly burned down the set during the Fire Swamp sequence.
Also, check out the 30th-anniversary cast reunions often found on YouTube. Seeing Mandy Patinkin and Robin Wright talk about their time on set decades later shows just how much this film meant to the people who made it. It wasn't just a job. It was a career-defining moment for almost everyone involved.
To truly appreciate the casting, watch the movie again but focus specifically on the background characters and the physical comedy. Notice how Billy Crystal changes his facial expressions even when the camera isn't on him. Look at the way Andre the Giant uses his hands to show tenderness. This is a film that rewards repeat viewings because the performances are layered with more than just the script.
Actionable Next Steps:
- Watch the "As You Wish" Documentary: Most Blu-ray and special edition digital versions include a deep-seated look at the casting process.
- Read the Original Novel: William Goldman’s book is written as an "abridged" version of a fictional classic. Understanding the meta-narrative helps you see why the actors played their roles with such specific, heightened energy.
- Track the Cast’s Later Work: Compare Mandy Patinkin’s work in Homeland to Inigo Montoya to see the incredible range of a classically trained stage actor.
The Princess Bride remains a staple of pop culture because the casting was flawless. Every actor brought a piece of themselves to the screen, creating a world that feels lived-in, hilarious, and eternally sweet.