- Fred Allen
- Samuel Brown (segment "The Ransom of Red Chief")
- Anne Baxter
- Joanna Goodwin (segment "The Last Leaf")
- Jeanne Crain
- Della Young (segment "The Gift of the Magi")
- Farley Granger
- Jim Young (segment "The Gift of the Magi")
- Charles Laughton
- Soapy (segment "The Cop and the Anthem")
- Oscar Levant
- William Smith (segment "The Ransom of Red Chief")
- Marilyn Monroe
- Streetwalker (segment "The Cop and the Anthem")
- Jean Peters
- Susan Goodwin (segment "The Last Leaf")
- Gregory Ratoff
- Behrman (segment "The Last Leaf")
- Dale Robertson
- Barney Woods (segment "The Clarion Call")
- David Wayne
- Horace (segment "The Cop and the Anthem")
- Richard Widmark
- Johnny Kernan (segment "The Clarion Call")
- Joyce Mackenzie
- Hazel Woods (segment "The Clarion Call")
- Lee Aaker
- J.B. Dorset (segment "The Ransom of Red Chief")
- Richard Rober
- Chief of Detectives (segment "The Clarion Call")
- Fred Kelsey
- Mr. Schultz / Santa Claus (segment "The Gift of the Magi")
- Richard Garrick
- Doctor (segment "The Last Leaf")
- John Steinbeck
- Self - Narrator
- Richard Allan
- Pete (segment "The Gift of the Magi")
- Phil Arnold
- Convict (Prologue)
- Irving Bacon
- Ebenezer Dorset (segment "The Ransom of Red Chief")
- Warner Baxter
- Cisco Kid (clip from 'The Cisco Kid' (Prologue)
- Carl Betz
- Jimmie Valentine (Prologue)
- Harry Carter
- Cop in Park (segment "The Cop and the Anthem")
- Robert Cherry
- Yokel (segment "The Ransom of Red Chief")
- Frank Cusack
- Waiter (segment "The Cop and the Anthem")
- Abe Dinovitch
- Barney (segment "The Clarion Call")
- Robert Easton
- Yokel (segment "The Ransom of Red Chief")
- Fritz Feld
- Maurice (segment "The Gift of the Magi")
- Pat Flaherty
- Irish Cop (Prologue)
- James Flavin
- Cop (segment "The Cop and the Anthem")
- Robert Foulk
- Cop (segment "The Cop and the Anthem")
- Kathleen Freeman
- Mrs. Dorset (segment "The Ransom of Red Chief")
- Steven Geray
- Boris Radolf (segment "The Last Leaf")
- Everett Glass
- Desk Clerk (segment "The Clarion Call")
- Gloria Gordon
- Ellie Mae (segment "The Ransom of Red Chief")
- A. Cameron Grant
- Poker Player (segment "The Clarion Call")
- Tom Greenway
- Cop (segment "The Cop and the Anthem")
- Harry Hayden
- A.J. Crump (segment "The Gift of the Magi")
- Thomas Browne Henry
- Manager (segment "The Cop and the Anthem")
- Bert Hicks
- Sheldon Sidney (segment "The Last Leaf")
- Marjorie Holliday
- Cashier (segment "The Cop and the Anthem")
- Jimmie Horan
- Bookkeeper (segment "The Gift of the Magi")
- Richard Hylton
- Bill (segment "The Gift of the Magi")
- Frank Jaquet
- Butcher (segment "The Gift of the Magi")
- Richard Karlan
- Headwaiter (segment "The Cop and the Anthem")
- Don Kohler
- Secretary (segment "The Last Leaf")
- Anne Kunde
- Yokel (segment "The Ransom of Red Chief")
- Norman Leavitt
- Yokel (segment "The Ransom of Red Chief")
- Nico Lek
- Owner (segment "The Cop and the Anthem")
- Jack Mather
- Cop (segment "The Cop and the Anthem")
- David McMahon
- Cop (segment "The Clarion Call")
- Tyler McVey
- O. Henry (Prologue)
- Frank Mills
- Man Being Booked at Police Station (segment "The Clarion Call")
- Alfred Mizner
- Storekeeper (segment "The Ransom of Red Chief")
- Ava Norring
- Girl (segment "The Clarion Call")
- William J. O'Brien
- Hotel Clerk (segment "The Clarion Call")
- House Peters
- Dave Bascom (segment "The Clarion Call")
- Stuart Randall
- Detective (segment "The Clarion Call")
- Sig Ruman
- Menkie (segment "The Gift of the Magi")
- Henry Slate
- Poker Player (segment "The Clarion Call")
- Hal Smith
- Dandy (segment "The Last Leaf")
- Bert Stevens
- Street Extra / Roominghouse Extra / Office Worker at Crump's (uncredited)
- Warren Stevens
- Druggist (segment "The Last Leaf")
- Harry Tenbrook
- Bar Customer (segment "The Clarion Call")
- Beverly Thompson
- Girl (segment "The Last Leaf")
- Philip Tonge
- Man with Umbrella (segment "The Cop and the Anthem")
- Phil Tully
- Guard (Prologue)
- William Vedder
- Judge (segment "The Cop and the Anthem")
- Ernö Verebes
- Waiter (segment "The Cop and the Anthem")
- Herb Vigran
- Poker Player (segment "The Clarion Call")
- Ruth Warren
- Neighbor (segment "The Last Leaf")
- Billy Wayne
- Bystander (segment "The Cop and the Anthem")
- Martha Wentworth
- Mrs. O'Brien (segment "The Last Leaf")
- Will Wright
- Manager (segment "The Clarion Call")
- May Wynn
- Mother (Prologue)
