Irma P. Hall .... 'Mama Joe' Joseph
Darrin Dewitt Henson .... Lem Van Adams
Nyla Crawford Noel .... Jeremiah Van Adams
Malinda Williams .... Tracy 'Bird' Van Adams
Vanessa Williams .... Maxine Chadway
Aaron Meeks .... Ahmad Chadway
Taylor Love .... Kelly Chadway
Rockmond Dunbar .... Kenny Chadway
Nicole Ari Parker .... Teri Joseph
Boris Kodjoe .... Damon Carter (2001-2003)
rest of cast listed alphabetically
James Avery .... Walter Carter #2
Obba Babatund� .... Benjamin Chadway
Dylan Bierk .... Gigi
Yannick Bisson .... Brian
Richard Collier .... Cop
Keesha Danson .... Bird, age 9
Gary Dourdan .... Jack Van Adams
Christopher B. Duncan .... Bob Wayne
Anais Granofsky .... Christine Hughes (2001-2002)
Kevin Rahsaan Grant .... Reggie
Nicole Hardy .... Keisha Thomas
Sistah Lois .... Charlene
Yvette McKoy .... Mara Stiller
Nicki Micheaux .... Lila
Debbi Morgan .... Lynette
Camila Porter Ramirez .... Kelly Chadway #1 (2000)
Bradley Reid .... Michael
Richard Roundtree .... Hardy Lester
Raphael Nash Thompson .... Ray Mason
Tanisha Tullock .... Young Max
Michael Warren .... Baron Marks (2002-2004)
Kathryn Winslow