A Look at 'The Color Purple' Cast, Then and Now

On Christmas Day, the world will be reintroduced to the story of “The Color Purple.”

Adapted from the Pulitzer Prize-winning novel of the same name by Alice Walker, the book was originally brought to the big screen in 1985. Starring Whoopi Goldberg, Oprah Winfrey, Danny Glover and Margaret Avery, the Stephen Spielberg-directed seminal film told the heartbreaking, coming-of-age story of Celie Harris, a dark-skinned young Black girl subjected to years of abuse by the men in her life and forced away from her younger sister Nettie.

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Adult Celie, Then: Whoopi Goldberg|| Now: Fantasia Barrino-Taylor

Whoopi Goldberg, left; Fantasia Barrino-Taylor.

Young Celie, then: Desreta Jackson|| Now: Phylicia Pearl Mpasi

Desreta Jackson, left; Phylicia Peral Mpasi.

Young Nettie, then: Akosua Busia|| Now: Halle Bailey

Akosua Busia, left; Hally Bailey.

Adult Nettie, then: Akosua Busia|| Now: Ciara

Akosua Busia, left; Ciara.

Sofia, then: Oprah Winfrey|| Now: Danielle Brooks

Oprah Winfrey, left; Danielle Brooks.

Shug Avery, then: Margaret Avery|| Now: Taraji P. Henson

Margaret Avery, left; Taraji P. Henson.

Mister, then: Danny Glover|| Now: Colman Domingo

Danny Glover, left; Colman Domingo.

Old Mister, then: Adolph Caesar|| Now: Louis Gossett Jr.

Louis Gossett Jr as he participates in an onstage conversation at the Meditation Museum, Silver Spring, Maryland, October 27, 2017.

Rev. Samuel Avery, then: Carl Anderson|| Now: David Alan Grier

David Alan Grier attends the world premiere of Amazon Prime Video’s “Candy Cane Lane” at Regency Village Theatre on November 28, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.

Adult Harpo, then: Willard Pugh|| Now: Corey Hawkins

Corey Hawkins attends ELLE’s Women In Hollywood Celebration at Nya Studios on December 05, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.

Grady, Shug’s Husband, then: Bennet Guillory|| Now: Jon Batiste

Jon Batiste attends the American Symphony New Orleans Premiere on December 07, 2023 in New Orleans, Louisiana.

Papa Harris, then: Leonard Jackson|| Now: Deon Cole

Deon Cole at the premiere of “The Color Purple” held at The Academy Museum on December 6, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.

Squeak, then: Rae Dawn Chong|| Now: H.E.R.

Gabriella Wilson aka H.E.R. attends the World Premiere of Warner Bros.’ “The Color Purple” at Academy Museum of Motion Pictures on December 06, 2023 in Los Angeles, California.

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