This Is Us Cast – Complete Actors, Roles and Seasons Guide
The ensemble cast of This Is Us brought the Pearson family to life across six seasons of nonlinear storytelling. From the central parental figures portrayed by Milo Ventimiglia and Mandy Moore to the complex adult siblings known as the Big Three, the series relied on a carefully selected group of performers spanning multiple timelines and generations.
Premiering on NBC in September 2016, the drama created by Dan Fogelman required actors capable of portraying characters from the 1980s through the present day. The cast list includes mainstays who appeared in all 106 episodes, recurring performers who transitioned to series regulars, and specialized younger actors who depicted childhood and adolescent versions of core characters.
Who Is in the Main Cast of This Is Us?
2016–2022 (6 seasons)
Dan Fogelman
Jack, Rebecca, Big Three
4 (including Sterling K. Brown)
- Milo Ventimiglia and Mandy Moore anchor the series as Jack and Rebecca Pearson, the parental figures whose relationship spans three decades of flashbacks.
- Sterling K. Brown, Chrissy Metz, and Justin Hartley portray the adult versions of the Big Three siblings: Randall, Kate, and Kevin.
- Ron Cephas Jones appears as William Hill, Randall’s biological father, a role that earned him two Emmy Awards for Outstanding Guest Actor.
- The production employed distinct younger actors for each main character to facilitate extensive flashback sequences covering childhood, teenage years, and young adulthood.
- Supporting performers Susan Kelechi Watson, Chris Sullivan, and Jon Huertas maintained main cast status for the series’ full run.
- Several recurring actors, including Griffin Dunne and Lyric Ross, received promotions to main cast status in later seasons.
| Actor | Role | Seasons | Notable Recognition |
|---|---|---|---|
| Milo Ventimiglia | Jack Pearson | 1–6 | Primetime Emmy nominee |
| Mandy Moore | Rebecca Pearson | 1–6 | Golden Globe nominee |
| Sterling K. Brown | Randall Pearson | 1–6 | Emmy Winner 2017 (Lead Actor) |
| Chrissy Metz | Kate Pearson | 1–6 | Primetime Emmy nominee |
| Justin Hartley | Kevin Pearson | 1–6 | Series regular |
| Ron Cephas Jones | William Hill | 1–6 (recurring/main) | Emmy Winner 2018, 2020 (Guest Actor) |
| Susan Kelechi Watson | Beth Pearson | 1–6 | Series regular |
| Chris Sullivan | Toby Damon | 1–6 | Series regular |
| Jon Huertas | Miguel Rivas | 1 (recurring), 2–6 (main) | Promoted to main cast season 2 |
| Griffin Dunne | Nicky Pearson | 3, 5 (recurring), 4, 6 (main) | Recurring to main cast |
Who Plays Jack and Rebecca Pearson?
Who plays Jack Pearson on This Is Us?
Milo Ventimiglia portrays Jack Pearson, the patriarch who dies of a heart attack at approximately age 53. Ventimiglia was around 38 years old when the series began production, playing a character who appears in timelines spanning from young adulthood through fatherhood in the 1980s and 1990s. Prior to this role, Ventimiglia was widely recognized for his work as Jess Mariano on Gilmore Girls and as Peter Petrelli on NBC’s Heroes.
Who plays Rebecca Pearson?
Mandy Moore stars as Rebecca Pearson, Jack’s wife and the mother of the Big Three. Moore, approximately 32 at the series’ start, transitioned from her earlier career as a pop singer and film actress—known for roles in A Walk to Remember—to television drama. Her character arc spans from young married life through elderly years, requiring extensive age makeup and prosthetics in later seasons.
Joaquin Obradors appears as a child version of Jack Pearson in flashback sequences. The series employs this multi-actor approach for all central characters to maintain narrative continuity across the 1980s, 1990s, and present-day timelines.
Who Are the Actors Playing the Big Three?
Who are the Big Three in This Is Us?
The Big Three refers to the Pearson siblings born on their father’s 36th birthday in 1980: Kevin and Kate, biological twins, and Randall, adopted after being abandoned at a fire station. The adult versions are played by Justin Hartley, Chrissy Metz, and Sterling K. Brown, respectively.
Who plays Randall Pearson?
Sterling K. Brown portrays Randall Pearson, the adopted son who becomes a successful businessman and father of three. Brown won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series in 2017 for this role, having previously appeared in Army Wives, Suits, and American Crime Story. Teenage Randall is portrayed by Niles Fitch, young Randall by Lonnie Chavis, and toddler Randall by Ca’Ron Jaden Coleman.
Who plays Kate Pearson?
Chrissy Metz appears as Kate Pearson, the biological twin sister struggling with weight and self-image issues. Metz brought a background in reality television, including The Biggest Loser, and musical performance to the dramatic role. Hannah Zeile plays Kate at ages 16–18, Mackenzie Hancsicsak portrays her as a young child, and Isabella Rose Landau appears as the toddler version.
Who plays Kevin Pearson?
Justin Hartley stars as Kevin Pearson, the biological twin who becomes an actor starring in the sitcom The Manny before transitioning to serious dramatic work. Hartley’s prior career included extensive soap opera work on Passions and The Young and the Restless, along with roles in Smallville and Revenge. Logan Shroyer plays teenage Kevin, Parker Bates plays the young version, and Kaz Womack appears as the toddler.
Sterling K. Brown’s 2017 Emmy win marked the first time an African American male won the Lead Actor category in nearly two decades. Ron Cephas Jones similarly earned Emmys for his supporting work as William Hill in 2018 and 2020.
Notable Supporting and Guest Cast Members
The extended cast includes Susan Kelechi Watson as Beth Pearson, Randall’s wife and the mother of Tess, Annie, and Deja. Chris Sullivan plays Toby Damon, Kate’s first husband and father to Hailey and Jack Damon. Jon Huertas appears as Miguel Rivas, Jack’s best friend who later marries Rebecca.
Griffin Dunne portrays Nicky Pearson, Jack’s troubled brother who appears as a recurring character in seasons three and five before joining the main cast in seasons four and six. The younger generation includes Eris Baker as Tess Pearson and Faithe Herman as Annie Pearson, both recurring in season one before becoming main cast members from season two onward. Lyric Ross plays Deja Andrews, Randall and Beth’s foster daughter who is adopted into the family, appearing as a recurring guest in season two before promotion to main cast.
Other significant recurring performers include Alexandra Breckenridge as Sophie Inman, Kevin’s ex-wife; Asante Blackk as Malik Hodges, Deja’s boyfriend; Caitlin Thompson as Madison Simons, mother of Kevin’s twins; and Chris Geere as Phillip, Kate’s second husband.
Several actors transitioned between billing categories throughout the series. Miguel Rivas moved from recurring to main cast in season two, while Nicky Pearson and Deja Andrews followed similar trajectories in later seasons, reflecting their characters’ deepening integration into the Pearson family narrative.
How Did the Cast Evolve Across Six Seasons?
-
Pilot casting finalized with Milo Ventimiglia and Mandy Moore as the parental anchors, despite the actors being significantly younger than the characters they would eventually portray in later timeline segments.
-
Series premieres on NBC, introducing the full adult cast alongside the first wave of younger performers who would appear in 1980s and 1990s flashbacks.
-
Sterling K. Brown wins the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series for his portrayal of Randall Pearson.
-
Ron Cephas Jones wins the Emmy for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for his work as William Hill.
-
Jones secures his second Emmy in the Guest Actor category, while the younger cast members including Eris Baker and Faithe Herman receive expanded billing as main cast regulars.
-
Series finale airs, concluding the six-season run and 106-episode arc for the entire ensemble.
What Casting Details Are Definitive vs. Uncertain?
Established Information
- The complete main cast list spanning all six seasons
- Specific Emmy wins for Sterling K. Brown (2017) and Ron Cephas Jones (2018, 2020)
- Jack Pearson’s death from cardiac arrest at age 53
- The full family tree structure including three generations
- Actor billing transitions from recurring to main cast status
Information Gaps
- Exact birth years and current ages for all actors (only approximate ages at casting are documented)
- Comprehensive list of all guest stars across 106 episodes
- Specific audition or casting interview transcripts from creator Dan Fogelman
- Post-2022 project commitments for the full ensemble
What Is the Family Structure Behind the Cast?
The Pearson family tree centers on Jack and Rebecca, whose children comprise the Big Three. Randall marries Beth, producing daughters Tess and Annie and adopting Deja, who later has a child with Malik. Kate marries Toby, giving birth to Jack Damon and Hailey, before later marrying Phillip. Kevin fathers twins Franny and Nick with Madison Simons while maintaining a complicated history with ex-wife Sophie.
Jack’s brother, Nicky Pearson, serves as a secondary paternal figure whose Vietnam War experiences inform the family’s legacy. Rebecca’s second marriage to Miguel Rivas, Jack’s best friend, adds another layer to the adult siblings’ extended family dynamics. For readers interested in themes of protection and legacy, Isaiah 54:17 – Meaning, Context, and Divine Protection offers additional perspective on narrative resilience.
What Do Critics and Sources Document About the Cast?
Television archives and encyclopedic sources confirm the casting details, though specific audition transcripts or creator interviews regarding casting decisions are not available in public records. Critical recognition focuses heavily on the ensemble’s ability to portray characters across multiple decades.
The Fandom wiki and Wikipedia entries align on core cast lists, verifying the multi-actor approach for flashback sequences. Rotten Tomatoes aggregates cast photos and career histories, confirming pre-show credits for Ventimiglia, Moore, and Hartley. The Radio Times comprehensive cast list remains a definitive reference for episode-by-episode appearances.
Where Does the Cast Stand Now?
Following the May 2022 finale, the cast has dispersed to various film and television projects, with no officially confirmed spin-off series featuring the Pearson family announced as of this writing. The ensemble’s work on This Is Us remains their most collectively recognized collaboration, with the show’s six-season run preserved in streaming archives. For additional exploration of meaningful narratives, see Isaiah 54:17 – No Weapon Formed Shall Prosper Explained.
Common Questions About the This Is Us Cast
Who plays William on This Is Us?
Ron Cephas Jones portrays William “Shakespeare” Hill, Randall’s biological father. Jermel Nakia appears as the young adult version of the character.
This Is Us cast list with photos?
Comprehensive cast photographs are available through Rotten Tomatoes and TV Guide archives, though these sources provide descriptive metadata rather than embeddable galleries.
This Is Us cast ages?
In-show, the Big Three were born August 31, 1980. Actors’ real ages during filming varied; Ventimiglia was approximately 38 and Moore 32 when the series premiered in 2016.
How many actors played each main character?
Each of the Big Three and Jack Pearson employed three distinct actors (toddler, child/teen, and adult). Other characters like William Hill used two actors.
What awards did the cast win?
Sterling K. Brown won the 2017 Emmy for Lead Actor. Ron Cephas Jones won Emmys for Guest Actor in 2018 and 2020. The series received numerous ensemble nominations.
Who are the children of the Big Three played by?
Eris Baker (Tess), Faithe Herman (Annie), and Lyric Ross (Deja) play Randall’s children. Kate’s children are played by young actors in the series’ later seasons.
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