Cast. 1  Cuba Gooding Jr. as James Robert Radio Kennedy. 2  Ed Harris as Coach Harold Jones, the head football coach. 3  Debra Winger as Mrs. Linda Jones. 4  S. Epatha Merkerson as Maggie Kennedy, Radio's mother. 5  Sarah Drew as Mary Helen Jones. 6  Alfre Woodard as Principal Daniels. 7  Brent Sexton as Coach Honeycutt, the basketball coach.