Using archival footage, cabinet conversation recordings, and an interview of the 85-year-old Robert McNamara, The Fog of War depicts his life, from working as a WWII whiz-kid military officer, to being the Ford Motor Company's president, to managing the Vietnam War as defense secretary for presidents Kennedy and Johnson.
| Actor | Role |
|---|---|
 Robert McNamaraSelf | Self |
 Errol MorrisSelf (uncredited) | Self (uncredited) |
 Fidel CastroSelf (archive footage) (uncredited) | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) |
 Barry GoldwaterSelf (archive footage) (uncredited) | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) |
 John F. KennedySelf (archive footage) (uncredited) | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) |
 Nikita KhrushchevSelf (archive footage) (uncredited) | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) |
| CCurtis LeMaySelf (archive footage) (uncredited) | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) |
 Richard NixonSelf (archive footage) (uncredited) | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) |
 Harry ReasonerSelf (archive footage) (uncredited) | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) |
 Franklin D. RooseveltSelf (voice) (archive footage) (uncredited) | Self (voice) (archive footage) (uncredited) |
 Woodrow WilsonSelf (archive footage) (uncredited) | Self (archive footage) (uncredited) |