Peter Coyote Narrator Mandy Patinkin Benjamin Franklin Voice Carolyn McCormick Deborah Franklin Voice Josh Lucas William Franklin Voice Paul Giamatti John Adams Voice Liam Neeson Alexander Wedderburn, Ambassador Lord Stormont Voice Joe Morton William Bradford Voice Adam Arkin Elkanah Watson Voice Dave Quay Daniel Defoe Voice Tony Beck Marquis de Lafayette Voice Dayton Duncan Writer Ken Burns Executive Producer, Director David Schmidt Producer