The Towering Inferno

Chief Mike O'Hallorhan

Doug Roberts

Jim Duncan

Susan Franklin

Harlee Claiborne

Patty

Simmons

Lisolette

Jernigan

Senator Parker

Bigelow

Lorrie

Paula Ramsay

Giddings (as Normann Burton)

Mayor Ramsay

Kappy

Scott

Carlos

Mark Powers (as Ernie Orsatti)

Deputy Chief #1

Lady in Buoy

Guest

Flaker

Deputy Chief #2

Johnson (as Olan Soulé)

Angela Allbright

Phillip Allbright

Mrs. Allbright

Young Fireman

Tim

Chief Officer

Technician

Leasing Agent (as William H. Bassett)

Callahan

Wes (as Erik Nelson)

Announcer

Pilot (as LCDR. Norman Hicks)

Co-Pilot (as LTJG. Thomas Karnahan)

Party Guest (uncredited)

Fire Victim in Elevator (uncredited)

Bigelow's Assistant (uncredited)

Herself - Singer at Party (uncredited)

Security Guard (uncredited)

Janet - Secretary (uncredited)

Dinner Guest (uncredited)

Security Guard in Control Room (uncredited)

An instrumental version of the song "The Morning After" from The Poseidon Adventure (1972) can be heard in the background in certain scenes.

Irwin Allen originally wanted Steve McQueen to play the part of building architect Doug Roberts. McQueen however, fought for and got the role of fire chief O'Halloran. The role of Doug Roberts went to Paul Newman.

Steve McQueen was married to actress Ali MacGraw at the time. Right before filming the dangerous and climactic scene in the Promenade Room, he told everyone, "If anything happens to me, Ali gets my pickup truck."

Lifting the brakes on the scenic elevator would not involve cutting wires and shimming relays (unless there was still power, in which case the brakes wouldn't need to be lifted. Manually lifting the brakes would require large wrenches on the elevator machine itself, and could not be done in 30 seconds.

When the electrical junction box explodes open in the storage closet on the 81st floor, a fairly thick wire flops down and sparks. The thick wires in such a box are made out of bundles of copper wire, too stiff to flop down as shown in the movie.

Dan and Lorrie and having an illicit affair. They are both eager to keep this from being discovered as evidenced by some of their dialog during their tryst. When the couple discover the fire and Dan makes his fake phone call, Lorrie has no reason to doubt him. Yet though her clothes are draped on a chair in the same room, she makes no attempt to get dressed. Instead, she remains wearing only Dan's dress shirt and a pair of control top pantyhose. She apparently means to greet the supposed rescuing fireman dressed this way-- and be escorted down to the lobby barefoot in pantyhose with her boss at her side. Given the situation and circumstances, Lorrie's first action after Dan reassured her that "help was on the way" should have been to put her clothes back on.

Dan Bigelow: I used to run the 100 in 10 flat.

Doug Roberts: We'll send the kids out first, and then the women. Number this up to, I don't know - a hundred or so.

Lorrie: There never were any firemen, were there?