Leonardo DiCaprio
Leonardo DiCaprio played the adventurous vagabond artist Jack Dawson.
Jack falls in love with Rose and meets his end in the Atlantic. When he falls into the icy waters, he is holding onto a door that is carrying Rose.
In 2017, director James Cameron defended the film’s ending, claiming that Jack had to die despite years of fans insisting that he and Rose could both fit through the door.
Leonardo DiCaprio has starred in several critically acclaimed films since «Titanic,» including «Revolutionary Road,» in which he co-starred with Kate Winslet.
The A-list actor, who’s appeared in many well-received movies such as «The Departed» and «Inception,» finally won his first Oscar in 2016 for his work in «The Revenant» after years of jokes and memes.
DiCaprio is also involved in climate change education, having participated in the 2017 People’s Climate March in protest of President Trump.
He also appeared in the 2021 Netflix film «Don’t Look Up,» which was ostensibly about climate change. The film was nominated for best picture at the 2022 Academy Awards.
Kate Winslet
Kate Winslet played the rebellious upper-class 17-year-old Rose DeWitt Bukater.
Despite her engagement with the arrogant Cal Hockley, Rose falls in love with Jack.
Kate Winslet went on to star in several critically acclaimed films, including «Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind,» «Little Children,» and «The Reader,» for which she received an Academy Award and a Golden Globe nomination.
Winslet is also involved in humanitarian efforts and was named one of Time magazine’s «100 Most Influential People» in 2009.
Winslet recently co-starred in «Ammonite,» a period drama released in 2020, with «Little Women» star Saoirse Ronan. Winslet also won an Emmy in 2021 for her performance in HBO’s «Mare of Easttown.»
Billy Zane
Billy Zane played the repugnant steel heir Cal Hockley.
Cal grows increasingly envious of Rose’s relationship with Jack throughout the film.
Since «Titanic,» Zane has appeared in several films and television shows. In 2017, he also played Colonel Sanders for KFC.
His most recent acting credits include roles in the 2021 film «The Believer» and «Hellblazer» in 2022.
Kathy Bates
Kathy Bates portrayed the Unsinkable Molly Brown, a philanthropist, socialite, and actual Titanic survivor.
Molly Brown is well-known for her efforts to raise funds for lower-class Titanic survivors from wealthier passengers.
Kathy Bates has appeared in «Six Feet Under,» «The Office,» and «American Horror Story» since her role as Molly Brown.
On the set of «Revolutionary Road,» she also reconnected with DiCaprio and Winslet.
Bates was already an Oscar winner when she starred in «Titanic,» has won the best actress award for «Misery» in 1991, but she only received her fourth nomination a few years ago, for «Richard Jewell.»
Frances Fisher
Frances Fisher played Rose’s uptight socialite mother, Ruth.
Ruth arranges Rose and Cal’s engagement in order to maintain her first-class lifestyle after her widowhood. At the end of the film, she and her daughter are separated after Rose changes her surname to Dawson aboard the Carpathia, which rescued the Titanic survivors.
Since her role as Ruth DeWitt Bukater in «Titanic,» Frances Fisher has had a number of television roles.
She had recurring roles on both ABC’s «Resurrection» and Showtime’s «Masters of Sex.» Her most recent acting credit is for her role on Netflix’s «The Sinner.»
Gloria Stuart
Gloria Stuart played Rose Dawson Calvert, Kate Winslet’s older counterpart in the present day.
Rose Dawson Calvert leads treasure hunter Brock Lovett on a wild goose chase in search of «The Heart of the Ocean,» which Rose has been guarding the entire time. She eventually throws it back into the ocean before passing away in her sleep and going to «Titanic» heaven, where she is surrounded by others who died on the ship — though this ending is debatable.
Stuart died in 2010 from respiratory failure. She was a century old.
Prior to «Titanic,» she was a well-known actress of the 1930s and 1940s. Following the film, she appeared in a few television movies and series, including «Murder, She Wrote» and «General Hospital.» Her most recent credit was in 2004.
Bill Paxton
Bill Paxton played treasure hunter Brock Lovett, who was searching the Atlantic for «The Heart of the Ocean» and other items from the Titanic wreck.
At the end of the film, he has a change of heart and realizes he never «let in» the tragedy of what happened.
Paxton played polygamist Bill Hendrickson on «Big Love» for five seasons and also appeared on «Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.» and «Training Day» before passing away in 2017 from a stroke.
Paxton’s last role was in the Tom Hanks and Emma Watson thriller, «The Circle,» which was released after his death. He was just 61.
David Warner
David Warner played Cal Hockley’s valet, Spicer Lovejoy, who spies on Rose and helps to frame Jack for stealing «The Heart of the Ocean.»
It’s implied that he perishes when the ship splits in half mid-sink, causing him to fall into the massive crack.
David Warner
David Warner has provided the voice for a number of animated series, including «Transylvania,» «Men in Black,» and «The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy.»
He starred as Admiral Boom in «Mary Poppins Returns» in 2018, alongside Emily Blunt and Lin-Manuel Miranda.
Danny Nucci
Danny Nucci played Fabrizio, Jack’s Italian best friend.
Fabrizio is killed when one of the Titanic’s funnels crashes on him as he tries to swim to a lifeboat.
Fabrizio died with the Titanic, but Danny Nucci’s career lives on: He continues to appear in TV shows.
Nucci has appeared in several television episodes, including «Castle,» «NCIS,» «CSI: Miami,» and «10-8,» as well as the film «World Trade Center.» He also appeared in Freeform’s «The Fosters» as Mike Foster.
Thomas Andrews
Thomas Andrews, a kind-hearted shipbuilder, is played by Victor Garber.
Andrews is the first to believe that the ship would perish if it hits the iceberg.
Garber first appeared in the Marvel Universe as Dr. Martin Stein in «The Flash,» «Supergirl,» «Arrow,» and «Legends of Tomorrow.»
He also appeared as Sydney Bristow’s father on «Alias» and as Lisa Kudrow’s father on «Web Therapy.» He starred as the wicked Professor Callahan in the 2001 film «Legally Blonde.» He will also star in the upcoming drama «Family Law» on The CW.
Bernard Hill
Captain Edward John Smith is played by Bernard Hill.
Before ocean water crashes through the glass panes into the closed compartment, Captain Smith is last seen clutching to the ship’s wheel.
Bernard Hill has been in the hugely popular «Lord of the Rings» trilogy, as well as «Valkyrie,» «Wimbledon,» and «The Scorpion King» since «Titanic.»
Hill has also lent his voice as a narrator in multiple television series.