American Beauty

American Beauty

Lester Burnham

Carolyn Burnham

Jane Burnham

Ricky Fitts

Colonel Fitts

Buddy Kane

Barbara Fitts

Jim Olmeyer

Jim Berkley

Brad

Sale House Man #1

Sale House Man #2

Sale House Woman #2

Sale House Man #3

Sale House Women #4

Sale House Women #4

Spartanette #1

Spartanette #2

Spartanette #3

Spartanette #4

Spartanette #5 (as Romana Leah)

Spartanette #6 (as Chekesa Van Putten)

Spartanette #7

Spartanette #8

Spartanette #9

Spartanette #10

Playground Girl #1

Playground Girl #2

Christy Kane

Catering Boss

Mr. Smiley's Counter Girl (Janine)

Mr. Smiley's Manager

Firing Range Attendant

Young Jane

Bartender (uncredited)

Newscaster (uncredited)

Wedding Guest (uncredited)

Advertising Executive (uncredited)

Since Thora Birch was barely 17 at the time she made the film, and thus classified as a minor in the United States, her parents had to approve her brief topless scene in the movie and they and child labor representatives were on the set for the shooting of it.

Holly Hunter and Helen Hunt were considered for the role of Carolyn Burnham.

The filmmakers made an effort to avoid any specificity in the film's locale, in favor of a more generic setting. However, the area codes in Jane's phone book are 312, which is the area code for Chicago, and the paper in the Burnhams' kitchen appears to be the Chicago Sun-Times. Also, the lawn signs for both Carolyn and Buddy have phone numbers with an (847) area code. The (847) area code serves the northern suburbs of Chicago, Illinois. On the other hand, the license plates in the film are not Illinois plates; the plates only identify "The Primrose State". Besides, as Lester is driving and listening to "American Woman", he can be seen driving through Burbank, CA - The reflection of the Disney Channel building in Burbank can be seen clearly as a reflection on his windshield.

When Ricky gets the frozen urine sample out of the freezer, it's obviously half a cup. When he is ready to hand it over to his father (outside at the car), the cup is completely filled.

When Lester wants to dial up Angela while his daughter is in the shower, you can hear that the first two digits he's dialing are the same and the next one is different. However, the phone book says that Angela's number starts with (yes, you guessed it) '555', so all three tones must be equal.

When Ricky begins recording Jane, the camera makes the sound of ejecting the tape.

Angela Hayes: I was hoping you'd give me a bath. I'm very, very dirty.

Angela Hayes: I don't think that there's anything worse than being ordinary.

Ricky Fitts: I didn't mean to scare you. I just think you're interesting.