Warren Beatty began his acting career on television in the late 50s, before performing in the Broadway play ‘A Loss of Roses’, which got him two award nominations. In 1961 he made his film debut in Splendor in the Grass, directed by Elia Kazan. His films in the early 60s primarily were in the drama genre. In 1965, he starred in Mickey One, a neo noir crime film directed by Arthur Penn. Two years later, Beatty collaborated with Penn again two years later for Bonnie and Clyde.
Faye Dunaway, similar to Beatty, began as an actress on Broadway prior to making her film debut in a 1967 comedy film titled The Happening, directed by Elliot Silverstein. Shortly after, she starred alongside Michael Caine and Jane Fonda in Hurry Sundown, a drama film by director Otto Preminger. That same year, she starred in Bonnie and Clyde, after Arthur Penn had scene her performance in The Happening and decided to let her audition for the role.
Michael J Pollard was a relatively unknown actor prior to Bonnie and Clyde, mainly having small roles in films such as Enter Laughing and Caprice, as well as episodes of television series such as Star Trek and Alfred Hitchcock Presents.
Gene Hackman, known for his performances in The French Connection and the Superman films (both of which released after Bonnie and Clyde), only had small roles in films like A Covenant with Death and First to Fight before Bonnie and Clyde.
Estelle Parsons also began her acting career on Broadway and with small television roles, having only appeared in the film Ladybug Ladybug in 1963 before being cast in Bonnie and Clyde.
Denver Pyle was another actor who primarily appeared in TV Shows, such as Perry Mason and The Twilight Zone. However, he had also appeared in Western films such as The Horse Soldiers, directed by John Ford, and John Wayne’s The Alamo.
Dub Taylor was an established Western film actor throughout the 40s, having significant roles in films such as The Last Horseman and Brand Of Fear. In addition to his western roles, he also had minor parts in films like Mr Smith Goes to Washington (1939) and A Star is Born (1954).
Gene Wilder, most well known as the star of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory 4 years after Bonnie and Clyde was released, made his feature film debut in Bonnie and Clyde. He had a few small roles in television beforehand, but none as significant as his still minor role in Bonnie and Clyde.
