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Cast of 'Saving Private Ryan'

Image: Photofest

Tom Hanks

Hanks earned best actor Oscar nomination for his role of Captain Miller in Saving Private Ryan.

Images: Photofest; Stefania D'Alessandro/Getty

Matt Damon

During preproduction, Spielberg sent several of the castmembers to a "boot camp" program to learn to realistically portray soldiers. Damon was intentionally left out so the other actors would resent him in his role as Private Ryan.

Images: Photofest; Noam Galai/Getty

Vin Diesel

Diesel has a brief but tragic role in the film as Private Caparzo, who is shot and killed during a rainy skirmish while clutching a letter to his father.

Images: Photofest; Jamie McCarthy/Getty

Jeremy Davies

In Saving Private Ryan, Davies plays the timid Corporal Upham, an interpreter brought along on the mission for his language skills.

Images: Photofest; John Lamparski/Getty

Adam Goldberg

As the wisecracking, Jewish Private Mellish in Saving Private Ryan, he brandishes his Star of David at captured German soldiers and educates Corporal Upham in the acronym FUBAR.

Images: Photofest; Matthew Eisman/Getty

Edward Burns

Saving Private Ryan was the first movie in which Burns acted that he did not direct.

Images: Photofest; Michael Loccisano/Getty

Barry Pepper

The role of Private Jackson in Saving Private Ryan was a breakthrough for Pepper. Before the film, he worked mostly in television.

Images: Photofest; Gabe Ginsberg/Getty

Nathan Fillion

Fillion appears briefly in Saving Private Ryan as another Private James Ryan — not the one Miller and company are looking for.

Images: Courtesy of IMDB; Dimitrios Kambouris/Getty

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