Ed Asner Capt. Thomas Davies Actor Georg Stanford Brown Tom Harvey Actor Maya Angelou Nyo Boto Actor Thalmus Rasulala Omoro Actor Renn Woods Fanta Actor Cicely Tyson Binta Actor O.J. Simpson Kadi Touray Actor Ralph Waite Slater Actor Louis Gossett Jr. Fiddler Actor Lorne Greene John Reynolds Actor Lynda Day George Mrs. Reynolds Actor Vic Morrow Ames Actor John Amos Older Kunta Kinte , Toby Actor Madge Sinclair Bell Reynolds Actor Leslie Uggams Kizzy Reynolds Actor Chuck Connors Tom Moore Actor Sandy Duncan Missy Anne Reynolds Actor Ben Vereen 'Chicken' George Moore Actor Doug McClure Jemmy Brent Actor Burl Ives Senator Arthur J. Justin Actor Gilbert Moses Director John Erman Director Marvin J. Chomsky Director David Greene Director Stan Margulies Producer