The Polar Express Cast Guide: Who Voices Each Character (2024)

The Polar Express is an animated holiday classic, and here is a complete cast breakdown, including who voices each character. While The Polar Express is animated, it features some pretty big names, with the characters not only sounding like their voice actors but looking like them as well. This is thanks to Robert Zemeckis' signature motion capture technology which was popularized in The Polar Express, although it was used on several other films. The Polar Express has been cemented as an icon of the holiday season, and here's who all appears in the beloved Christmas movie.

2004's The Polar Express is a Robert Zemeckis-directed film that features a talented cast of voice actors and motion capture performers, one of whom is an actor famous for collaborating with Zemeckis on some of his most popular works. The Polar Express is a fantasy film that follows a young boy who gets on a train bound for the North Pole, with the titular locomotive being called the Polar Express. A group of children hop aboard the Polar Express, with them interacting with the train's zany crew before arriving at the North Pole to meet the legendary Santa Claus.

Related: 15 Hidden Details You Missed In The Polar Express

Tom Hanks As Conductor

Tom Hanks is by far the biggest name in The Polar Express, with him being a frequent collaborator of Robert Zemeckis, starring in his previous movies like Forrest Gump and Castaway. Tom Hanks plays the Conductor in The Polar Express, the man in charge of driving the titular train. He also frequently interacts with the children, punching tickets, performing songs, and serving hot chocolate. The Conductor isn't the only character that Tom Hanks plays in The Polar Express, however, as he also plays the adult version of Hero Boy, Hero Boy's father, the Hobo, and Santa Claus himself, proving that Hanks was fully invested in The Polar Express.

Daryl Sabara As Hero Boy

Daryl Sabara is another popular actor who is featured in The Polar Express, with him playing the child credited as Hero Boy. Sabara is an actor most famous for starring in Robert Rodriguez' Spy Kids franchise, although he has also made appearances in movies like Finding Nemo, World's Greatest Dad, and Rob Zombie's 2007 Halloween remake. Hero Boy is the main character in The Polar Express, with him being the child who leaves his house on the train in order to embark on a quest to the North Pole. Interestingly, actor Josh Hutcherson also provided additional motion capture for Hero Boy, and Tom Hanks played the adult version.

Nona Gaye As Hero Girl

Hero Girl is another main character in The Polar Express, with her being voiced by Nona Gaye. Nona Gaye is an actress famous for appearing in movies like XXX: State of the Union, The Matrix Reloaded, and The Matrix Revolutions, although her role in The Polar Express is arguably her biggest. Hero Girl is the secondary protagonist in The Polar Express, with her being another child who boards the titular train. Hero Boy accidentally causes Hero Girl's ticket to get lost, with the duo having to work to get it back. Darrian O Driscoll provided additional motion capture, Meagan Moore provided the singing voice, and Tinashe was the mo-cap model.

Eddie Deezen As Know-It-All

The child referred to as Know-It-All is one of the most iconic elements from The Polar Express, and the character was played by Eddie Deezen. Deezen is an actor famous for playing stereotypical nerd characters, with him performing this act in movies like Grease, WarGames, and I Wanna Hold Your Hand. One of Deezen's most famous nerd characters, however, is Know-It-All, the aptly-named nerdy child who is on the train throughout the film. A younger actor named Jimmy Pinchak provided additional motion capture for Know-It-All, giving the character his youthful appearance.

Related: 20 Best Quotes From The Polar Express

Peter Scolari As Billy the Lonely Boy

Billy the Lonely Boy is another one of the child passengers in The Polar Express, with him being one of the few named characters in the film. Billy is played by actor Peter Scolari, who has also appeared in movies like That Thing You Do! and Camp Nowhere. Billy is a young child who is initially hesitant to board the Polar Express, with him keeping to himself while on the train. However, Hero Boy and Hero Girl try to befriend him throughout the journey, with him slowly opening up. Hayden McFarland provided additional motion capture, Jimmy Bennett provided the voice, and Matthew Hall provided the singing voice.

The Polar Express Supporting Cast & Characters

Michael Jester as Smokey and Steamer - Michael Jester plays twin brothers Smokey and Steamer, with these characters being the engineer and fireman on the Polar Express. Michael Jester can be seen in films like The Fisher King, Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas, and Jurassic Park III.

Leslie Zemeckis as Sister Sarah and Hero Boy's Mother - Leslie Zemeckis plays two relatives of Hero Boy in The Polar Express, those being his mother and his younger sister Sarah. Leslie Zemeckis is the wife of Robert Zemeckis, with her having appeared in several of his films. However, she is also a documentary filmmaker, with her directing projects like Behind the Burly Q.

Chris Coppola as Gus the Toothless Boy - Chris Coppola also appears in The Polar Express, with him playing another one of the Polar Express' child passengers, Gus the Toothless Boy. Coppola has appeared in films like Spider-Man, 2009's Friday the 13th remake, and Diary of a Wimpy Kid: The Long Haul.

Charles Fleischer as Elf General - Plenty of elves appear in The Polar Express, but actor Charles Fleischer plays the leader of them all, the Elf General. Fleischer is a frequent collaborator of Robert Zemeckis, having appeared in movies like Who Framed Roger Rabbit and Back to the Future Part II.