List of Euphoria characters
Euphoria is an American teen drama television series created by Sam Levinson, which centres on a group of dysfunctional high school students at East Highland High School. The show premiered on June 16, 2019, on HBO (USA).
Cast timeline[]
- Key
- Main cast (credited)
- Recurring cast (3 or more episodes)
- Guest cast (1–2 episodes)
- ^ Smith only appears in the first two episodes of season 2 although credited as a main cast member.
Main characters[]
Ruby "Rue" Bennett[]
- played by Zendaya
- Janice LeAnn Brown (4 years old, "Pilot" and "And Salt the Earth Behind You")
- McKenna Rae Roberts (10 years old, "Pilot")
- Aliyah Conley (13 years old, "'03 Bonnie and Clyde")
- Alumière Glass (3 years old, "Stand Still Like the Hummingbird")
Born September 14, 2001, Rue is a recovering teenage drug addict who is fresh out of rehab and struggling to find her place in the world. She serves as the narrator for the series.[1] She lives with her mom and sister. Her dad passed away from cancer before the start of the series. She was formerly best friends with Lexi, having known her since preschool. The plot of the first season mainly revolves around her relationship with Jules.
Alexandra "Lexi" Howard[]
- played by Maude Apatow[2]
Lexi was born January 11, 2002. She is Rue's childhood best friend, and Cassie's younger sister. She spends most of her teenage years in the shadow of her big sister, always feeling like an outsider and an observer of her own life.
Determined to do more and to finally step into the spotlight, she creates a play in Season 2 and bases it on everything that has happened around her. At the same time, she grows closer to Fezco after discovering an unexpected compatibility, including some unusual shared interests (such as the 1986 film Stand by Me).
Lexi mentions that her mother (and Cassie's mother) is Jewish. (Season 2, Episode 1)
Fezco[]
- played by Angus Cloud
- Mason Shea Joyce (10 years old, "Trying to Get to Heaven Before They Close the Door")
Fez is a local drug dealer with a close relationship to Rue. He was raised by his grandmother who is now an invalid. He lives with Ashtray, whom he considers his business partner, and even though they do not appear to be related, he treats him like a brother. He begins to have a relationship with Lexi in Season 2.
Cal Jacobs[]
- played by Eric Dane
- Elias Kacavas (18 years old, "Ruminations: Big and Little Bullys")
Cal is Nate's strict, demanding father with a double life. He is married to Marsha, who was his high school girlfriend, and they have three children together.
Madeleine "Maddy" Perez[]
- played by Alexa Demie
- Keilani Arellanes (11 years old, "Made You Look", "’03 Bonnie and Clyde", and "Out of Touch")
Maddy was born January 31, 2001. She is Nate's on-and-off girlfriend and later ex-girlfriend. She is best friends with Kat and Cassie, as well as BB.
Nathaniel "Nate" Jacobs[]
- played by Jacob Elordi
- Gabriel Golub (11 years old, "Stuntin' Like My Daddy")
Nate is a high school athlete whose anger issues mask his sexual insecurities. He has a relationship with Maddy during season 1, and during season 2 he starts a secret relationship with Cassie.
Katherine "Kat" Hernandez[]
- played by Barbie Ferreira
- Johanna Colón (11 years old, "Made You Look")
Kat was born August 15, 2001. She is a girl fighting for body-positivity while exploring her sexuality. She is a plus-sized teenage girl with chin-length hair, ivory skin, and dark brown eyes.[3] At the beginning of the first season, she wears cat eyeglasses and her everyday clothes often consist of average shirts, tops, and dresses, preferring minimalist makeup looks.
Leslie Bennett[]
- played by Nika King
- Malia Barnhardt (14 years old, "A Thousand Little Trees of Blood")
Leslie is Rue and Gia's mother. After losing her husband, Leslie takes care of her children on her own.
Georgia "Gia" Bennett[]
- played by Storm Reid
- Hyla Rayne Fontenot (7 years old, "Pilot")
- Nyran Hepburn and Ashton Hunsberger (Baby Gia, "Stand Still Like the Hummingbird")
Rue's younger sister. The summer before Rue's junior year, Gia found her overdosing and choking on a pool of vomit, which traumatized her.
Jules Vaughn[]
- played by Hunter Schafer
- Clark Furlong (11 years old, "Shook Ones Pt. II")
Jules was born February 28, 2002. She is a transgender girl who enters a turbulent relationship with Rue, as well as others, after moving into town.
Christopher "Chris" McKay[]
- played by Algee Smith[4]
- Yohance & Zakai Biagas-Bey (11 years old, "The Next Episode")
McKay is a young football player and Cassie's ex-boyfriend who is having difficulties adjusting to college.
Cassandra "Cassie" Howard[]
- played by Sydney Sweeney
- Kyra Adler (11 years old, "The Trials and Tribulations of Trying to Pee While Depressed")
Cassie is Lexi's older sister, McKay's ex-girlfriend, and Nate's current fling with an infamous sexual past that continues to haunt her. She is Maddy’s best friend and is close friends with Kat and BB.
Her sister Lexi mentions that their mother is Jewish. (Season 2, Episode 1)
Ali[]
- played by Colman Domingo ("Trouble Don't Last Always"; recurring season 1–2)
Ali is a man in recovery from substance use disorder who often speaks at Rue's Narcotics Anonymous meetings and eventually becomes her sponsor.[5]
Ashtray[]
- played by Javon "Wanna" Walton (season 2; co-starring season 1)
- Daelo Jin Walton (6 years old, "Trying to Get to Heaven Before They Close the Door")
Ashtray is Fez's "little brother" and a drug dealer. He is a recurring character throughout season 1 but becomes a main character in season 2. He is killed after being shot in the head by a SWAT team member during a police raid at the house he shares with Fez.
Ethan Daley[]
- played by Austin Abrams (season 2; recurring season 1)
Ethan is Kat's love interest who becomes her boyfriend.
Elliot[]
- played by Dominic Fike (season 2)
Elliot is a new friend of Rue's, who comes between her and Jules.
Supporting characters[]
Recurring guest stars[]
- Suze Howard, played by Alanna Ubach, Lexi and Cassie's mother. Her younger daughter Lexi mentions that her mother Suze is Jewish, during the first episode of the second season. She and Gus, her ex-husband, separated the night before Cassie started ninth grade. Although Suze allowed Gus to see their daughters on weekends, he visited less and less over time and eventually stopped visiting altogether. Despite being almost constantly inebriated, she acts as a loving and supportive mother.
- Tyler Clarkson, played by Lukas Gage, a college student who is brutally attacked by Nate for having sex with Maddy at a party (season 1).
- David Vaughn, played by John Ales, Jules' father.
- Daniel, played by Keean Johnson and Isaac Arellanes (11 years old, "Made You Look"), a junior who dated Kat in sixth grade and later tries to hook up with Cassie (season 1).
- Marsha Jacobs, played by Paula Marshall and Rebecca Louise (17 years old, "Ruminations: Big and Little Bullys"), Nate and Aaron’s mother and Cal’s wife.
- Aaron Jacobs, played by Zak Steiner, Nate's older brother who is considered a "fuck-up" by his father and brother.
- Kat's mom, played by Mercedes Colon (season 1).
- Custer, played by Tyler Chase, assistant to Mouse, Fez's supplier (seasons 1-2).
- Robert Bennett, played by Bruce Wexler, Rue's father, seen in flashbacks, died from cancer when Rue was 13.
- Gus Howard, played by Nick Blood, Lexi and Cassie's father, seen in flashbacks, a painkiller addict who is estranged from the family.
- Laurie, played by Martha Kelly, former school teacher turned drug dealer. Unlike her employees, Laurie is calm and soft-spoken, however she claims to be ruthless when it comes to making her money back. She is addicted to OxyContin and it is implied that her addiction had forced her into prostitution in order to earn money for drugs to avoid withdrawal (season 2).
- Samantha, played by Minka Kelly, Maddy’s employer at her new babysitting job (season 2).
Co-stars[]
- Troy and Roy McKay, played by Tyler Timmons and Tristan Timmons, McKay's younger twin brothers who got Gia involved with drugs (season 1).
- Barbara "BB" Brooks, played by Sophia Rose Wilson, a friend of Maddy, Kat, Cassie, and Lexi. She is known by fans as "vape girl" due to her excessive nicotine usage. She is prone to gossip and excites drama as shown when she persuades Maddy to beat up Cassie.
- Ted Perez, played by Ruben Dario, Maddy's alcoholic father (season 1).
- Mouse, played by Meeko, Fez's supplier (seasons 1–2).
- Miss Marsha, played by Marsha Gambles, server at the diner Frank's
- Fezco's grandmother, played by Brynda Mattox and Kathrine Narducci ("Trying to Get to Heaven Before They Close the Door"), who he looks after as she is bed-ridden.
- Faye, played by Chloe Cherry, Custer's girlfriend, who stays with Fezco and Ashtray after she’s wanted by the police for pushing her superintendent off the motel balcony. She is initially presented as a somewhat self-centred airhead who is rude towards Rue after she expresses discomfort over doing heroin, however later in the series she is shown to be kinder and forms a friendship with Fez. After learning her boyfriend is cooperating with the police against Fez, she is conflicted due to her split loyalties. Shortly before the police raid Fez's apartment, Faye signals to Fez to warn him that Custer may be recording the conversation (season 2).
- Bruce, played by Melvin “Bonez” Estes, Laurie’s right-hand man (season 2).
- Theo, played by Yukon Clement, Samantha’s child that Maddy babysits (season 2).
- Sebastian, played by Fernando Belo, Theo’s father and Samantha’s husband (season 2).
- Bobbi, played by Veronica Taylor, an acquaintance of Lexi's, who helps develop her play. In her first appearance, Bobbi assists Lexi in the casting of her play and later on in the season, during Lexi's play, she acts as Lexi's right-hand man. Following Cassie's interruption of the play, Bobbi comforts Lexi and convinces her to carry on by claiming that the play isn't boring and that in the history of East Highland High School, no other play has incurred a riot (season 2).
- Caleb, played by Ansel Pierce, a student at East Highland High School. He is first seen using the toilet while Cassie is hiding from Maddy in the bath and is later seen in the audience of Lexi's play (season 2).
- Leslie’s mother, played by Gwen Mukes, appears in flashbacks at Robert’s eulogy (season 2).
Guest stars[]
- Principal Hayes, played by Jeremiah Birkett, principal of East Highland High School, appears in episodes "Stuntin' Like My Daddy" and "'03 Bonnie and Clyde".
- Trevor, played by Shiloh Fernandez, a store clerk at Femme to whom Kat develops an attraction, appears in "Made You Look" and "'03 Bonnie and Clyde".
- Amy Vaughn, played by Pell James, Jules' mother, appears in "Shook Ones Pt. II" and "Fuck Anyone Who's Not a Sea Blob".
- Luke Kasten, played by Will Peltz, a notoriously hung former East Highland student who hooks up with Kat, appears in "Shook Ones Pt. II".
- Sonia Perez, played by Elpidia Carrillo, Maddy's mother, appears in "'03 Bonnie and Clyde" and "And Salt the Earth Behind You".
- Officer Wilson, played by Larry Joe Campbell, appears in "'03 Bonnie and Clyde".
- Johnny_Unite_USA, played by Jeff Pope, a man with a small penis who pursues Kat as a financial dominatrix, appears in "Made You Look" and "'03 Bonnie and Clyde"
- Minako, played by Sean Martini, one of Cal's transgender hookups, appears in "'03 Bonnie and Clyde".
- Frederick McKay, played by Cranston Johnson, McKay's father, appears in "The Next Episode".
- Rick, played by Nat Faxon, Leslie's new boyfriend, appears in "The Trials and Tribulations of Trying to Pee While Depressed".
- TC, played by Bobbi Salvör Menuez, Jules' non-binary friend from the city, appears in "The Trials and Tribulations of Trying to Pee While Depressed".
- Anna, played by Quintessa Swindell, TC's pansexual friend who hooks up with Jules, appears in "The Trials and Tribulations of Trying to Pee While Depressed".
- Natalie, played by Allie Marie Evans, Nate's winter formal date, appears in "And Salt the Earth Behind You".
- Dr. Mardy Nichols, played by Lauren Weedman, Jules' therapist, appears in "Fuck Anyone Who's Not a Sea Blob".
- "Tyler", played by Jayden Marcos, Jules' fantasy, appears in "Fuck Anyone Who's Not a Sea Blob".
- Bowl-Cut, played by Andy Mackenzie, drug dealer who rips off Fez’s grandma, appears in "Trying to Get to Heaven Before They Close the Door".
- Bruce Jr., thug who works for Laurie, played by Richie Merritt, appears in "Trying to Get to Heaven Before They Close the Door" and "Stand Still Like the Hummingbird".
- Travis, played by Demetrius "Lil Meech" Flenory Jr,[6] DJ and producer involved with Maddy, appears in "Trying to Get to Heaven Before They Close the Door".
- Derek, played by Henry Eikenberry, Cal’s best friend in high school, appears in "Ruminations: Big and Little Bullys" and "You Who Cannot See, Think of Those Who Can".
- Jade, played by Aja Bair, character in Lexi’s play based on Rue, appears in "The Theater and It’s Double" and "All My Life, My Heart Has Yearned for a Thing I Cannot Name".
- Hallie, played by Eden Rose, character in Lexi’s play based on Cassie, appears in "The Theater and It’s Double" and "All My Life, My Heart Has Yearned for a Thing I Cannot Name".
- Rose also appears as an influencer in "Out of Touch".
- Marta, played by Izabella Alvarez, character in Lexi’s play based on Maddy, appears in "The Theater and It’s Double" and "All My Life, My Heart Has Yearned for a Thing I Cannot Name".
- Luna, played by Isabella Amara, character in Lexi’s play based on Kat, appears in "The Theater and It’s Double" and "All My Life, My Heart Has Yearned for a Thing I Cannot Name".
References[]
- ^ Kent, Clarkisha (July 3, 2019). "Has Euphoria's lead character been dead the whole time?". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on January 25, 2021. Retrieved January 11, 2022.
During the show’s pilot episode, the audience is quickly herded into the world of Euphoria by Rue’s voice. In her voiceovers, she has intimate knowledge of not just her character, but all other characters — including Jules, Nate, Kat, etc. — throughout different stages of their lives, sharing them as she sees fit.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie; Hipes, Patrick (June 7, 2018). "Zendaya To Topline HBO's Drama Pilot 'Euphoria'; Storm Reid, Maude Apatow, Astro & Eric Dane Co-Star". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on July 28, 2019. Retrieved July 30, 2018.
- ^ "How To Dress Like Kat Hernandez Outfits Guide". www.costumerealm.com. Retrieved 2022-02-01.
- ^ Andreeva, Nellie; Petski, Denise (October 31, 2018). "'Euphoria': Algee Smith & Austin Abrams Cast In HBO Teen Drama Series". Deadline Hollywood. Archived from the original on November 1, 2018. Retrieved October 31, 2018.
- ^ Franich, Darren (June 14, 2019). "HBO's teen shock-soap Euphoria is sweeter than you think: EW review". Entertainment Weekly. Archived from the original on July 3, 2019. Retrieved June 16, 2019.
- ^ Shanfeld, Ethan (August 6, 2021). "'Euphoria' Season 2 Adds Dominic Fike, Minka Kelly, Demetrius 'Lil Meech' Flenory Jr". Variety. Retrieved August 6, 2021.
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- Euphoria (TV series)
- Lists of American drama television series characters