▁American ▁Band stand . ▁ ▁Michael ▁Bur ger ▁as ▁Charlie ▁O ' D onn ell : ▁Ann oun cer ▁of ▁American ▁Band stand . ▁ ▁N ig el ▁Th atch ▁as ▁Will ie ▁Johnson : ▁A ▁char ism atic ▁neighborhood ▁ag it ator ▁in ▁North ▁Philadelphia ▁who ▁played ▁a ▁major ▁role ▁in ▁inst ig ating ▁the ▁Philadelphia ▁ 1 9 6 4 ▁race ▁ri ot . ▁ ▁Virginia ▁Mad sen ▁as ▁Reb e cca ▁Sand st rom : ▁Helen ' s ▁friend ▁from ▁a ▁book ▁club . ▁Her ▁character ▁was ▁dropped ▁after ▁the ▁first ▁season . ▁ ▁A lic ia ▁Co pp ola ▁as ▁Nancy : ▁After ▁meeting ▁Helen ▁while ▁working ▁at ▁the ▁same ▁travel ▁ag ency , ▁she ▁became ▁one ▁of ▁Helen ' s ▁conf id antes . ▁Nancy ▁dated ▁and ▁then ▁became ▁engaged ▁to ▁P ete ▁P ry or , ▁only ▁to ▁be ▁left ▁standing ▁at ▁the ▁alt ar . ▁ ▁H ank ▁Str at ton ▁as ▁Donald ▁Nor ville : ▁Helen ' s ▁colle ague ▁at ▁the ▁travel ▁ag ency . ▁He ▁is ▁later ▁fired ▁for ▁being ▁hom osex ual . ▁ ▁Steve ▁Ryan ▁as ▁Father ▁Cont i : ▁The ▁P ry or ▁family ' s ▁strict ▁Catholic ▁priest , ▁who ▁also ▁serves ▁as ▁the ▁head master ▁of ▁East ▁Catholic ▁high ▁school . ▁ ▁James ▁Read ▁and ▁Barbara ▁A lyn ▁Wood s ▁as ▁Mr . ▁and ▁Mrs . ▁George ▁Mason : ▁Beth ' s ▁well - to - do ▁parents . ▁E str anged ▁from ▁Beth ▁after ▁she ▁became ▁pre