<Li> Harry J. Lennix as Terrence "Dresser" Williams: The original choreographer of The Heartbeats, Dresser serves as the groups bass singer and one of the founding members . He is replaced by Ernest "Sarge" Johnson as the choreographer after Sarge out - dances Dresser . </Li> <Ul> <Li> Hawthorne James as Big Red Davis: Corrupt owner of the first record label The Five Heartbeats are signed to . </Li> <Li> Chuck Patterson as Jimmy Potter: The Heartbeats' manager, Jimmy is responsible for giving the group the opportunity to perform at more publicized events and receive training from Ernest "Sarge" Johnson . </Li> <Li> Diahann Carroll as Eleanor Potter: Jimmy Potter's wife, Eleanor along with her husband are the original supporters of The Five Heartbeats . </Li> <Li> John Canada Terrell as Michael "Flash" Turner: Lead singer of Flash and the Ebony Sparks, the Heartbeats' only competition . When Eddie goes into a downward spiral, Flash is brought in as the new lead singer . </Li> <Li> Roy Fegan as Victor "Bird" Thomas: Bird is the lead singer of Bird and The Midnight Falcons . Early in the film the character attempts to defeat The Five Heartbeats in a vocal contest . After Big Red orchestrates the murder of Jimmy Potter, Bird, who was previously attacked and intimidated by Big Red during a party, joins members of the Heartbeats in testifying against Red and helps to convict him of the murder . </Li> <Li> Harold Nicholas of The Nicholas Brothers as Ernest "Sarge" Johnson: Johnson is The Five Heartbeat's choreographer . Sarge is last seen in the hospital on his birthday . </Li> <Li> Troy Beyer as Baby Doll: Eddie's girlfriend, who leaves him after he abuses drugs and alcohol . She later marries Eddie and they are shown singing together in a choir . </Li> <Li> Theresa Randle as Brenda: Dresser's girlfriend, who later becomes his wife . She and Dresser have a daughter named Monica . </Li> <Li> Lamont Johnson as Bobby Cassanova: Bobby and Eddie are the original co-lead singers of the group . Bobby is only seen in the movie's opening scenes when he and Eddie are caught cheating at a high - stakes poker game . Bobby gets shot in the leg and is replaced by Eddie as the lead singer . </Li> <Li> Carla Brothers as Tanya Sawyer: Duck's love interest . His earlier attempts to win her heart are unsuccessful but they reconnect at a party for the group and later date . Tanya and Duck were set to be wed, but Duck's suspicion about Tanya and Choir Boy had him follow her to a hotel only to find out that his brother J.T. was the one seeing her . This led Duck to estrange himself from the Heartbeats and his brother for years . </Li> <Li> Tressa Thomas as "Duck's Little Sister": Clara Matthews, Duck's little sister, was also his muse, often helping him compose and arrange songs for the group as they did household chores . She was instrumental in arranging the vocals for "We Haven't Finished Yet". </Li> </Ul> <Li> Hawthorne James as Big Red Davis: Corrupt owner of the first record label The Five Heartbeats are signed to . </Li> <Li> Chuck Patterson as Jimmy Potter: The Heartbeats' manager, Jimmy is responsible for giving the group the opportunity to perform at more publicized events and receive training from Ernest "Sarge" Johnson . </Li>

Who played big red in the five heartbeats