A grandfather reads a story to his sick grandson: inside that frame, Buttercup loves Westley but is about to marry Prince Humperdinck. The 1987 film’s cast moves between that fairy-tale romance and adventure and the family reading it aloud.
The Princess Bride is the 1987 feature directed by Rob Reiner and written by William Goldman. It is rated PG and runs 1 hour 38 minutes, according to 20th Century Studios.
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Who is in The Princess Bride cast?
The principal characters belong to the story-within-a-story: Buttercup and Westley’s romance is threatened by Humperdinck’s marriage plan, while Inigo, Fezzik, and Vizzini complicate the adventure. The Grandfather and Grandson remain part of the cast too, but they appear in the frame story rather than the fantasy kingdom.
| Actor | Character | Role in the story |
|---|---|---|
| Cary Elwes | Westley | Buttercup’s beloved, later associated with the mysterious pirate. |
| Robin Wright | Buttercup | Westley’s love; she is due to marry Prince Humperdinck. |
| Chris Sarandon | Prince Humperdinck | The prince Buttercup is about to marry. |
| Christopher Guest | Count Rugen | A principal antagonist. |
| Mandy Patinkin | Inigo Montoya | A vengeful Spaniard whose story centers on revenge. |
| André the Giant | Fezzik | The good-natured giant. |
| Wallace Shawn | Vizzini | A member of the kidnapping trio. |
| Peter Falk | The Grandfather | The reader in the frame story. |
| Fred Savage | The Grandson | The sick child listening to the story. |
These actor-character pairings follow Criterion’s cast listing and its synopsis.
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Who plays Westley and Buttercup?
Cary Elwes as Westley
Cary Elwes plays Westley, Buttercup’s beloved. Their relationship provides the film’s romantic center, even as the story takes Westley into the adventure associated with the mysterious pirate.
Robin Wright as Buttercup
Robin Wright plays Buttercup. She is due to marry Prince Humperdinck, although her heart belongs to Westley; that conflict sets the fairy-tale plot in motion.
Who plays Inigo Montoya, Fezzik, and Vizzini?
Mandy Patinkin as Inigo Montoya
Mandy Patinkin plays Inigo Montoya, the vengeful Spaniard. In a 2015 first-person TIME reflection, Patinkin wrote, “I love the idea of giving up the vengeful nature that so many of us have.” That is Patinkin’s interpretation of Inigo’s revenge arc, rather than a claim that every viewer reads the character the same way.
André the Giant as Fezzik
André the Giant plays Fezzik, described in Criterion’s synopsis as good-natured. He is one of the trio whose path intersects with the central romance and adventure.
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Wallace Shawn as Vizzini
Wallace Shawn plays Vizzini, the third member of the kidnapping trio. Together, Vizzini, Fezzik, and Inigo bring the story’s danger and unlikely alliances into Buttercup and Westley’s tale.
Who are the supporting characters?
The film’s other credited roles include:
- Carol Kane as Valerie
- Billy Crystal as Miracle Max
- Peter Cook as the Impressive Clergyman
- Mel Smith as the Albino
- Anne Dyson as the Queen
- Willoughby Gray as the King
- Margery Mason as the Ancient Booer
Criterion’s cast-and-credits listing pairs these performers with their roles; the Academy also identifies Billy Crystal as Miracle Max in its 1988 ceremony record.
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- MGM The Princess Bride (2-Disk Blu-Ray/DVD Combo)
Why are the Grandfather and Grandson in the cast?
Peter Falk and Fred Savage play the two characters who frame the fantasy: the Grandfather reads to his ill Grandson. Their scenes explain why the film can shift between a child hearing a story and the action of that story. They are not residents of Humperdinck’s kingdom; they are the audience within the film.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How does the film relate to William Goldman’s novel?
The film is based on William Goldman’s 1973 novel, and Goldman adapted his own book for the screenplay. The AFI Catalog says the film closely follows the novel while changing some names and omitting details. One clear difference is the film’s Pit of Despair: the novel has an underground hunting arena called the Zoo of Death. That example describes the film and the novel as cataloged; it should not be taken as a definitive account of every book edition or adaptation.
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Where can you find the film and more behind-the-scenes context?
Criterion lists a 4K UHD and Blu-ray edition of the film. Its edition page describes a 4K restoration with Dolby Vision HDR, commentary by the director, screenwriter, producer, and actors, an edited audiobook of Goldman’s novel, cast interviews, programs on makeup, fencing, and fairy tales, behind-the-scenes videos, subtitles, and an illustrated book. These are features of the edition described by Criterion; the listing does not establish current retailer stock or price.
For production stories, Simon & Schuster publishes As You Wish: Inconceivable Tales from the Making of The Princess Bride by Cary Elwes and Joe Layden, with a foreword by Rob Reiner. The publisher describes interviews with cast and filmmakers, photographs, and production stories. See the publisher’s book listing.
Disney+ lists the film. Streaming availability and pricing depend on territory and can change, so check the catalog for your market.
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