<Ul> <Li> John Hurt as John Merrick , an intelligent , friendly and kind - hearted man who is feared by most people in his society because of his severe deformity </Li> <Li> Anthony Hopkins as Frederick Treves , a doctor who takes John from the freakshow to work in the hospital </Li> <Li> Anne Bancroft as Madge Kendal </Li> <Li> John Gielgud as Francis Carr - Gomm </Li> <Li> Wendy Hiller as Mrs Mothershead </Li> <Li> Freddie Jones as Mr. Bytes , the ringmaster ( based on Tom Norman ) </Li> <Li> Dexter Fletcher as Bytes ' boy </Li> <Li> Michael Elphick as Jim , the night porter </Li> <Li> Hannah Gordon as Ann Treves </Li> <Li> Helen Ryan as Alexandra , Princess of Wales </Li> <Li> John Standing as Fox </Li> <Li> Lesley Dunlop as Nora , Merrick 's nurse </Li> <Li> Phoebe Nicholls as Mary Jane Merrick </Li> <Li> Morgan Sheppard as man in pub </Li> <Li> Kenny Baker as plumed dwarf </Li> </Ul>
who played the elephant man in the film
John Hurt