If you were browsing the "Horror" section of a Blockbuster in the late nineties, you definitely saw it. A skeletal figure in a top hat, draped in the American flag, staring back at you with empty sockets. It was striking. It was patriotic. It was honestly kind of terrifying for a straight-to-video flick. But when you actually sit down to watch William Lustig’s Uncle Sam, the biggest surprise isn't the kills—it's the weirdly stacked Uncle Sam 1996 cast.
Most people expect a bunch of nobodies in a movie about a vengeful, undead soldier who murders people for being "un-American" on the Fourth of July. Instead, you get a mix of legitimate Oscar nominees, blaxploitation legends, and icons of the genre. It's a bizarre stew of talent.
The Man Behind the Mask: David Forsaith and Timothy March
Let's get the logistics out of the way first. Sam Harper, the deserting soldier who comes back in a pine box only to go on a rampage, is the center of the storm. Interestingly, the role is split. David "Shark" Forsaith plays the "Human" Sam Harper in the photographs and the brief glimpses we get of his life before the incident.
But the guy in the actual costume? That’s Timothy March.
March doesn’t have a massive IMDb page, which is common for "suit actors" in horror. His performance relies almost entirely on physical presence. He has to look imposing in a costume that, let's be real, could easily look like a cheap Halloween outfit. He pulls it off by leaning into a rigid, military stiffness that makes the character feel like a statuesque golem rather than a guy in a mask. It’s a thankless job, but he’s the reason the visual works.
Why Isaac Hayes Is the Secret Weapon
If there is one reason to watch this movie besides the gore, it’s Isaac Hayes. Yes, the "Theme from Shaft" Isaac Hayes. The "Chef" from South Park Isaac Hayes.
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He plays Sergeant Jed Crowley, a veteran who lost his leg and now spends his time trying to warn the protagonist, young Jody, about the reality of war. Hayes is great here because he isn't phoning it in. In a movie about a zombie in a star-spangled hat, Hayes brings actual gravity. He’s the moral compass. He gives these long, gravelly-voiced monologues about the horrors of combat that feel like they belong in a much "better" movie.
There's this specific scene where he explains to Jody that Sam wasn't a hero, but a bully. It’s a heavy moment. Hayes uses that iconic bass-heavy voice to strip away the "rah-rah" patriotism the movie is deconstructing. Without him, the Uncle Sam 1996 cast would feel a lot thinner. He grounds the absurdity.
The Supporting Players: Bo Hopkins and William Smith
William Lustig, the director, clearly had a deep love for 1970s tough-guy cinema. You can tell by who he hired for the supporting roles.
You’ve got Bo Hopkins playing Sergeant Twining. Hopkins is one of those "hey, it's that guy" actors who appeared in everything from The Wild Bunch to American Graffiti. He brings a certain weathered, small-town authority to the screen. Then you have William Smith as the Major. If you don't know William Smith, he was basically the king of the B-movie tough guys, famously fighting Clint Eastwood in Any Which Way You Can.
Having these two guys on screen together is a treat for cinephiles. They represent an older era of Hollywood masculinity that the movie is actively critiquing. It’s smart casting. They aren't just there for a paycheck; they fit the archetypes perfectly.
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The "Wait, They Were In This?" Members
Then we get into the truly surprising cameos.
- P.J. Soles: She plays Madge, the mother of one of the victims. Horror fans know her instantly as Lynda from the original Halloween ("Totally!") or Riff Randell from Rock 'n' Roll High School. Her appearance is a wink to the audience—a "scream queen" passing through a new generation's slasher flick.
- Robert Forster: This is the big one. Forster plays Congressman Alvin Cummings. This was 1996. Literally one year later, Forster would star in Quentin Tarantino's Jackie Brown and get an Oscar nomination. Seeing him here, playing a sleazy politician who gets what's coming to him, is a trip. He treats the material with total professionalism, which makes his eventual demise even more satisfying.
Why the Cast Matters for the Movie's Message
Uncle Sam isn't just a mindless slasher. It was written by Larry Cohen, the genius behind It's Alive and The Stuff. Cohen always had a political edge. By filling the Uncle Sam 1996 cast with veterans of the industry—people who looked like the "Old Guard" of America—he made the satire bite harder.
The kids in the movie, like Christopher Ogden (Jody) and Anne Tremko (Louise), represent the confusion of the younger generation. They are surrounded by these giants of cinema (Hayes, Forster, Hopkins) who are all telling them different versions of what it means to be a patriot.
The Practicality of 90s Horror Casting
Back then, you could get high-caliber character actors for a direct-to-video project if the script was by someone like Cohen or the director was someone like Lustig. These guys had reputations. They weren't just making "trash"; they were making "genre films."
That’s why the acting in Uncle Sam is surprisingly competent. You don't get the wooden, "I'm just here for the craft service" performances you see in modern low-budget horror. Everyone is leaning into the tone—which is essentially a dark, cynical comic book brought to life.
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How to Appreciate the Uncle Sam 1996 Cast Today
If you’re going back to watch this for the first time, or maybe the first time since the VHS days, keep an eye on the background. The movie is a snapshot of a very specific moment in indie filmmaking where the lines between "prestige" and "exploitation" were incredibly blurry.
To get the most out of the experience, don't just look for the kills. Look at the faces.
Next Steps for the Horror Collector:
- Check the Blu-ray Commentary: If you can find the Blue Underground release, listen to the commentary with William Lustig and Larry Cohen. They talk extensively about how they wrangled this cast on a shoestring budget.
- Double Feature with "Maniac Cop": If you liked the "undead law-and-order" vibe, Maniac Cop (also directed by Lustig) is the perfect companion piece and features many of the same stylistic choices.
- Spot the Political Satire: Pay attention to Robert Forster’s dialogue. It’s scary how much of the "political posturing" he does in 1996 still feels relevant in the modern era.
The Uncle Sam 1996 cast remains one of the most eclectic and over-qualified groups ever assembled for a movie about a killer zombie in a patriotic outfit. It’s a testament to a time when B-movies had A-list character talent.