The cast of The Boroughs is no joke. Seriously.
Created by Jeffrey Addiss and Will Matthews (The Dark Crystal: Age of Resistance), the sci-fi series stars heavy hitters from film and television — Alfred Molina, Geena Davis, Alfre Woodard, Denis O’Hare, Clarke Peters, and Bill Pullman — as a misfit group of retirees-turned-unlikely heroes. As this crew is underestimated at every turn, they must uproot a dark secret at the heart of their sublime New Mexico retirement community (the titular Boroughs) before time runs out. Like we said, this is no laughing matter.
“The fact that they are older is not a joke. It is part of why they are our heroes,” Addiss says. “When we meet them, their lives are already pretty full. And then they go on this adventure that changes them.”
The prospect of finding the right people to inhabit these characters was one of the most appealing parts of the series when Addiss and Matthews first pitched the concept to the Duffer Brothers, who serve as executive producers. “So many of the actors of this age, even legends, aren’t given an opportunity to shine like action heroes. They’re often cast as grandparents,” says Ross Duffer. “To see them all interact together — it was definitely a pinch me moment when we went to that first table read, because these are all legends and they’re still at the top of their game, and they just love being there. You just saw the joy.”
Matt Duffer adds, “They really bonded and became a family. A lot of what you see onscreen in terms of their dynamic and the chemistry they have with one another is very much the same as it is in real life.”
Woodard, who plays a retired journalist in the series, agrees, and reveled in her co-stars being close in age. “[I loved] that everybody was grown-up,” she says. “That was one of the things I love the most about doing this project, is that the first seven people on the call sheet are over 60. Not only that, but they are experienced, they are really fine actors.”
So who else has taken up residence in The Boroughs? Keep reading to learn all about the residents and staff living in the seemingly idyllic community, as well as the family members who are along for the journey.
The Residents
Alfred Molina
as Sam
About the Character
The newest resident of The Boroughs, Sam Cooper, is a retired engineer who’s grieving the death of his wife Lily (Jane Kaczmarek). After a monstrous encounter, he rallies his misfit neighbors to uncover the dark truth and save a community he didn’t even want to be part of.
Molina connected with the script because “the writing just felt so normal,” the actor says. “It didn’t feel like writing. It felt like speech, like people talking.”
Co-showrunner Matthews recalls how everyone wanted “to do a good job in front of Alfred” on set. “No one wants to let Alfred Molina down,” he says. “When we met him [during casting], we were just like, ‘Oh, obviously that’s him. He’s the guy.’ He talked about his own personal experiences and falling in love and the tragedies along the way, and the joys that go with it. And without question, he was Sam Cooper.”
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Geena Davis
as Renee
About the Character
Renee is a cynical, rock ’n’ roll former music manager who refuses to be sidelined by age. Renee finds a surprising romance and a fierce new fight as she and her neighbors rally to expose the danger lurking in their manicured cul-de-sacs.
“I love that Renee has a very colorful past, a very exotic and interesting past,” Davis says of the character.
The actor was intrigued by the show’s characters, and that it was a supernatural story set in a retirement community. “I thought that would be super fun for us, to be the main characters in a story like this. And the supernatural aspects were incredibly exciting,” she says. “I’ve been the girlfriend of a fly and the girlfriend of an alien and things like that. So I have some experience in this sort of far-out world.”
Previously In
Blink Twice, Thelma & Louise, A League of Their Own
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Alfre Woodard
as Judy
About the Character
Judy Daniels is a sharp-witted former journalist with an ear to the ground and eyes on someone else’s windows. Her investigative instincts tell her that this sun-drenched paradise may be hiding a dark secret.
“There is just an insatiable curiosity in Judy,” Woodard says. “Some people might call her nosy, but it is [simply] that thing that wants to know what’s going on. She sees something and she’s always aware and looking and observing, but not just that, she wants to put it together.”
Addiss believes viewers will be surprised by Judy’s arc in the season. “When you first meet Judy, you kind of think that, more than anybody, she’s got it all figured out. And then she gets thrown for a loop, and you watch her in private struggle with that,” he says.
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See, The Last Frontier, Love & Basketball
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Denis O’Hare
as Wally
About the Character
Wally Baker is a brilliant retired doctor who is running out of options. He uses humor as both a shield and a weapon, diffusing tension while proving to be surprisingly resourceful in a fight.
O’Hare jumped at the prospect of exploring the character’s journey. “What excited me the most about this project is Wally’s arc,” the actor says. “He’s a beloved character, he’s funny, he seems to be sort of a joke — until he’s not. And then he becomes quite heavy and quasi-tragic.”
O’Hare’s adeptness with the medical jargon he was thrown impressed the showrunnners. “With Wally, you need someone who can spit out the words without making you feel like they’re spitting out dialogue. And Denis is just so [talented] linguistically that he can make it sound easy,” Matthews says.
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American Horror Story, Dallas Buyers Club, The Good Fight, True Blood
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Clarke Peters
as Art
About the Character
Art Daniels is a soulful spiritual seeker whose quiet strength and open mind make him the heart of the group, leading him toward a personal transformation that proves his most formidable days are still ahead of him.
“What drew me to the role of Art was that Art is on a quest to try to understand something supernatural, something natural, something beyond our consciousness,” Peters says.
Art’s journey pulls him away from the group, which means embarks “there are a lot of scenes in which Clarke has to hold the camera alone,” says Addiss. “You need somebody who can hold the camera for a long time as he sees these amazing things, these scary things, these beautiful scenes — and Clarke could do that.”
Previously In
Foundation; Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri; The Wire
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Bill Pullman
as Jack
About the Character
Jack Willard is the gregarious, life-of-the-party neighbor who welcomes everyone with a smile and a drink, working to unite the cul-de-sac’s residents into a found family.
Executive producer Hilary Leavitt suggested Bill Pullman for the role, and when Addiss and Matthews met with the actor, they agreed that he was the right man for the job.
“What Bill brings to this part is an emotional honesty,” says Addiss. “He is a sounding board for Sam. He becomes Sam’s first friend, and he is able to help Sam on his part of the journey without it feeling fake. It feels natural, effortless and lovely.”
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The Sinner, The Equalizer, Independence Day
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The Staff
Carlos Miranda
as Paz
About the Character
Paz Navarro is a charming former musician and current security guard who finds himself caught between his loyalty to his employer and his growing suspicion that the residents he’s assigned to protect are in danger.
Previously In
Station 19, Vida, The Bling Ring
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Eric Edelstein
as Hank
About the Character
Hank Williams is the hulking, irritable head of security who rules The Boroughs with an iron grip, enforcing the community’s perfect facade and serving as a menacing obstacle to anyone who dares to step out of line.
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The Lowdown, Twin Peaks, Jurassic World
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Seth Numrich
as Blaine
About the Character
Blaine Shaw is the charismatic face of The Boroughs who promises residents the time of their lives. The impeccably dressed CEO works hard to maintain the illusion of paradise.
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Under the Banner of Heaven, The Blacklist, Turn: Washington’s Spies
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Alice Kremelberg
as Anneliese
About the Character
Elegant, composed, and quietly terrifying, Anneliese Shaw represents the flawless perfection the community promises. She wants to ensure their idyllic world remains undisturbed.
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The Family
Jena Malone
as Claire
About the Character
Claire is Sam’s grounded and deeply concerned daughter who convinces him to move into The Boroughs. Sharpand at times prickly, she’s not afraid to go toe-to-toe with her father about what she believes is best for him.
Previously In
Love Lies Bleeding, The Hunger Games franchise, Pride & Prejudice, Saved!
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Rafael Casal
as Neil
About the Character
Neil is Claire’s supportive husband whose eagerness to help his family often lands him in Sam’s crosshairs.
Previously In
The Lowdown, Blindspotting, Bad Education
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Jane Kaczmarek
as Lilly
About the Character
Lily is Sam’s deceased wife who knew how to slow down and savor life’s small daily pleasures. She was the glue that held their family together, reminding them of what was most important.
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