Sidney Poitier

 Sidney Poitier was the first black male actor to be nominated in any acting category of the Academy Awards, earning a Best Actor nomination for his role in "The Defiant Ones" (1958). The film features Tony Curtis' only Oscar nominated performance, as well. Curtis insisted that Sidney Poitier receive top billing.

Stanley Kramer originally had Poitier and Marlon Brando in mind for the two protagonists. Both were interested, but only Poitier was available. Brando was caught up in filming "The Young Lions" (1958). As the start date for "The Defiant Ones" loomed, Kramer had no option but to start looking at other actors. Also, while Brando liked the integration message, he didn't like the way Kramer had produced their film, "The Wild One" (1953).

Poitier came to the set with a great deal of respect and admiration for Kramer. He recalled,"Stanley was always a forerunner of terribly good things; He was the type of man who found it essential to put on the line the things that were important to him. People have short memories: in the days he started making films about important social issues, there were powerful Hollywood columnists who could break careers. He knew this, and he said to himself, 'What the hell', either I do it or I can't live with myself.' For that attitude, we're all in Stanley Kramer's debt. He's an example of the very best of a certain type of filmmaker."

A technical advisor on-board during filming had to go uncredited, because he was a real-life chain gang escapee who was still a wanted man.