| Matthew McConaughey | Detective Rust Cohle |
| Woody Harrelson | Detective Marty Hart |
| Michelle Monaghan | Maggie Hart |
| Michael Potts | Detective Maynard Gilbough |
| Tory Kittles | Detective Thomas Papania |
| Alexandra Daddario | Lisa Tragnetti |
| Kevin Dunn | Major Ken Quesada |
| Jackson Beals | Detective Mark Daughtry |
| Aurielle Brimmer | Bungalow Woman #2 |
| Amber Carollo | Kelsey Burgess |
| Brad Carter | Charlie Lange |
| Laura Cayouette | Theresa Weems |
| Joe Chrest | Detective Demma |
| Silas Cooper | Police Officer |
| J.D. Evermore | Detective Lutz
(as JD Evermore) |
| Jon Eyez | Tiger Thomas |
| Todd Giebenhain | Tyrone Weems |
| Dana Gourrier | Cathleen |
| Owen Harn | Hunter |
| Ike Jackson | Tiger's Gang |
| Shane Jacobsen | Doctor |
| Lucky Johnson | Rock |
| Tre Styles | Black
(as David Kency) |
| Jim Klock | Detective Ted Bertrand |
| Garrett Kruithof | Detective Jimmy Dufrene |
| Joshua Leonard | Mitch |
| Frank Duffy | Biker #2
(as Frank Lynch) |
| Sam Malone | Lamar |
| Jaren Mitchell | Tiger's Gang |
| Nic Pizzolatto | Bartender |
| Tom Proctor | Biker #1 |
| Dane Rhodes | Detective Favre |
| Joseph Sikora | Ginger |
| Lloyd Watts | L |
| Terrance Collier | Looter
(uncredited) |
| Ross P. Cook | Club Patron
(uncredited) |
| Brandon Cubas | Biker
(uncredited) |
| Jason Gerry | Biker
(uncredited) |
| Steffie Grote | GB Girl
(uncredited) |
| Jacquelyn Twodat Jackson | Pedestrian
(uncredited) |
| Sebastian Kretzmann | Roller Rink Teen
(uncredited) |
| Shane Kretzmann | GB Biker #1
(uncredited) |
| Jaci LeJeune | Dancer
(uncredited) |
| Gustavo I. Ortiz | Lawyer
(uncredited) |
| James Ourso | Strip Club Trucker
(uncredited) |
| Tre Tureaud | Looter
(uncredited) |