The Politician's Cast Is the Reason You'll Laugh and Ugly-Cry While Bingeing
Ryan Murphy and Brad Falchuk’s Netflix series, The Politician, binge-dropped all of season 1 in September, giving us ample time to pore over its brilliant cast.
The cast includes screen newcomers, veteran actors, and theater buffs.
Season 2 is on its way, so brush up on the characters now.
And if you're curious, learn more about the opening credits song, Ben Platt's renditions of "Vienna" and "River," and the show's epic filming locations.
It seems like the only thing small-screen powerhouse producer Ryan Murphy hasn’t done is run for president—not that we’re counting that out as a future possibility. For now, he’s leaving the politics, mudslinging, and schematics to the brilliant cast of his latest offering.
Expanding his Murphyverse—or his orbit of inclusive shows that dominate the primetime airwaves (currently, he has Pose, American Horror Story, and 9-1-1)—The Politician is now available to stream on Netflix. And it’s eight episodes of gleeful camp and electoral satire that grows in its superb lunacy with every episode. Thanks in part to Brad Falchuk’s writing and Murphy’s trademark wit, the show really shines because of its principle cast.
Composed of screen newbies, heavyweight veterans, and theaters kids, the players are as refreshing as they are sublime. Below, allow us to introduce you to each one of them, with a couple who really need no introduction (hello there, Bette Midler). Warning: there are minor storyline spoilers ahead.
Ben Platt as Payton Hobart
Before starring as the elite go-getter who has his sights set on becoming the president of the United States in Murphy’s Politician, the star of the show was bringing the house down as the lead in Dear Evan Hansen on Broadway.
Those who are fans of Platt’s tonsils can rest assured that Murphy’s Netflix series is yet another outlet for Platt to show off his vocals. In the series premiere, Payton sings a rendition of Joni Mitchell’s “River” that will first give you chills and then bring you to tears.
David Corenswet as River Barkley
A modern-day Kennedy, David Corenswet plays Payton’s campaign opponent and Mandarin tutor, River Barkley. Without giving too much away, River is the rich, handsome, sexually fluid lacrosse jock who has relationships with both Lucy Boynton’s and Ben Platt’s characters. His storyline is bookended by the opening and closing credits of the series premiere, although he does show up later in memories and apparitions belonging to Payton.
Beyond The Politician, Corenswet had a bit role in another Netflix hit, House of Cards, as well as roles in network TV’s Instinct and Elementary.
Theo Germaine as James Sullivan
One-third of Payton’s trio of ambitious campaigner staffers, James Sullivan—if not ironically—shares Payton’s singular path to the White House, and sees Payton as the ticket to get there. It’s also noted in the series premiere that James is Payton’s best friend.
The actor behind the character, Theo Germaine, identifies as trans non-binary and has a background in theater. A relative screen newbie, Theo’s work has appeared on OpenTV, “a platform for intersectional pilots and series, supporting Chicago artists in producing and exhibiting indie series.” We actually caught up with Germaine to chat about The Politician. Read all about it here.
Laura Dreyfuss as McAfee Westbrook
If we had to sum up Laura Dreyfuss’s genius McAfee Westbrook in three words, they’d be: deadpan, suits, bedhead. A fast-talking campaign adviser in Payton’s camp, McAfee gives off major outfit inspo while also rallying behind Payton on his presidential quests.
But this isn’t the first time Dreyfuss and Platt have worked together. The Politician actually marks a couple of reunions for the actress. First, she starred opposite Platt in the highly acclaimed, majorly decorated Dear Evan Hansen show on Broadway. And she made her acting debut as one-half of the McCarthy twins on Glee, Murphy’s smash hit of the early 2010s. Further credits include The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel and indie rom-com After Party.
Julia Schlaepfer as Alice Charles
With her blonde chopped bob and monotone velvety vocals, Alice Charles—the last of Payton’s staffers—gives great pep talks, speaks six languages, and vows to do anything to ensure Payton a W. Technically Payton’s girlfriend, Alice concocts a scandal to secure Payton the sympathy vote in the student body presidential race.
But her talents aren’t confined to seducing viewers of the show; she actually got her start in television with a bit role on the CBS political drama Madam Secretary. She also starred in Mary Harron’s Manson crime drama called Charlie Says.
Gwyneth Paltrow as Georgina Hobart
A Santa Barbara socialite who loves art, Payton, and her horse trainer, Georgina Hobart gets her beauty from actress Gwyneth Paltrow and her dialogue from Paltrow’s husband, Brad Falchuk, who she met on the set of Glee when she guest-starred. He apparently wrote the role with her in mind. As Georgina, she’s married to a man she loathes, is the birth mother to evil twins, and the adoptive savior to her dear Payton.
Paltrow, who won an Oscar for her role in Shakespeare in Love, is a bright spot in Murphy and Falchuk’s dark comedy. Before running lines with her husband on The Politician, the Goop mogul was saying goodbye to Marvel with Avengers: Endgame.
Bob Balaban as Keaton Hobart
A collector of original-edition books, Keaton Hobart, played by Bob Balaban, lives for his antiques. That is, until he finds out his wife wants a divorce; though, we wouldn’t dare spoil what happens after that for you. Through methods we again refuse to spoil, Keaton learns of his twin sons’ loathsome nature and turns all his attention to Payton, his adoptive son.
Beyond the series, Balaban has had supporting and cameo roles in countless films and series, including Lady in the Water, Isle of Dogs, Girls, Broad City, Capote, and Condor. Perhaps his biggest claim to fame, however, is when he played Frank Buffay Sr., Phoebe Buffay’s father, on Friends.
Zoey Deutch as Infinity Jackson
In a ripped-from-the-headlines storyline, Zoey Deutch stars as Infinity Jackson, a cancer patient harboring more than meets the eye. Anyone familiar with the Hulu docudrama The Act or the HBO docufilm Mommy Dead and Dearest will know what we’re getting at here. Apart from her illness, Infinity has a positive outlook on life and eventually becomes Payton’s running mate.
Deutch, who dons a beanie and speaks with an indoor voice with just a hint of a soft lisp as Infinity, brings a lot to the table. Included in her long list of film credits is her role opposite James Franco and Bryan Cranston in Why Him? and her part in helping to revive the rom com in Set It Up. She’ll be joining the cast of Zombieland for the sequel, out soon. And she’s also the daughter of Back to the Future’s Lea Thompson.
Jessica Lange as Dusty Jackson
You can’t have a Ryan Murphy production without Jessica Lange. A longtime staple of Murphy’s various projects, Lange gives every piece of herself to the role of Dusty Jackson, an exaggerated Southerner who exploits her granddaughter’s sickness for trips to Disneyland and wads of cash. She is instrumental in getting Infinity to sign on as Payton’s running mate.
As we mentioned before, Lange, whose resume spans four decades, is a recurring actress in several Murphy series, including American Horror Stories and Feud. She’s also an Oscar-winning actress: She took home the top prizes for Tootsie (1982) and Blue Sky (1994).
Benjamin Barrett as Ricardo
If there’s one thing Benjamin Barrett has down pat, it’s playing the twisted creeper to superbly chilling effect. Not only does he raise the hair on the back of every viewer’s neck as Infinity’s blockhead boyfriend, but he starred in The Night Stalker as 1980s serial killer Richard Ramirez. He also wrote and starred in Badsville and played Party Jesus in the sport comedy Varsity Punks.
Lucy Boynton as Astrid Sloan
A beauty who wants her dad’s approval, Astrid Sloan, played by Lucy Boynton, serves as River’s campaign adviser. Authenticity is not her bag, and neither is the idea of Payton Hobart. Though she is at first clueless about the love Payton and River share, she and Payton are archenemies who soon find themselves running opposite each for student body president.
Outside the halls of Saint Sebastian High School, Boynton has made a name for herself opposite Rami Malek in the Oscar-winning Bohemian Rhapsody, with Naomi Watts on the Netflix series Gypsy, and as the muse for the Dublin rockers in the crowd-pleasing cine-musical Sing Street.
Dylan McDermott as Theo Sloan
Another Murphy enterprise frequenter, American Horror Story’s Dylan McDermott stars in The Politician as Theo Sloan, Astrid’s severely intense father. For reasons we’re sure will become more apparent in the subsequent season, Mr. Sloan has virtually unachievable expectations perched for his daughter to reach.
As for work outside the series, McDermott has starred in critically acclaimed films like The Perks of Being a Wallflower and Steel Magnolias, with small-screen credits including The Practice and Dark Blue. But perhaps our favorite role of McDermott’s came with a certain miracle that happened over on 34th Street.
January Jones as Lizbeth Sloan
Astrid’s mother, Lizbeth Sloan, is played by big- and small-screen actress January Jones. Although, she does take a backseat to McDermott’s overbearing patriarch. A disinterested housewife who would rather be popping pills than playing parent, Lizbeth will no doubt harken back to another of Jones’s homemaker roles: Mad Men’s Betty Draper. Further discernible roles include Love Actually, X-Men: First Class, and Unknown.
Rahne Jones as Skye Leighton
Rahne Jones makes her screen debut as the gender non-conforming Skye Leighton. Initially, she’s River’s running mate, but due to tragic circumstances becomes Astrid’s fierce right-hand sidekick. Though The Politician is Jones’s sole IMDb credit, we can already hear her phone ringing off the proverbial hook.
Trey and Trevor Eason as Luther and Martin Hobart
Pardon our language, but Luther and Martin Hobart, twin sons of Georgina and Keaton Hobart, put the “suck” in seersucker. Preppy and privileged, the pair spend season 1 conniving to score their father’s riches. If this sounds slightly familiar, it’s because Payton’s identical brothers are inspired by the famous Menendez boys, right down to their family seal-embroidered sweaters.
Trey and Trevor Eason first starred in a comedy short called Wake Up! together, with Trevor furthering his acting career in the TV movie A Smile as Big as the Moon.
Ryan J. Haddad as Andrew Cashman
Ryan J. Haddad plays Andrew Cashman, the whistleblower who drops a knowledge bomb about Infinity, leaving Payton to succumb to trickery in an effort to get to the truth. He likes atypical Hawaiian shirts and reveals he’s been in love with Infinity since forever.
Stints for Haddad on well-known shows outside of The Politician include Madam Secretary, Bull, and Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.
Bette Midler as Hadassah Gold
You have to wait a few episodes to meet Bette Midler’s Hadassah Gold, the campaign manager for Judith Light’s character, Dede Standish. But know the wait is worth it. According to reports, we can probably “Bette” on the legendary artist returning for season 2, too. Midler, whose work on Beaches, The First Wives Club, and Hocus Pocus speaks for itself, also has plenty of TV to boast, including The Good Place, The Goldbergs, and our favorite: the Rochelle, Rochelle star in Seinfeld.
Judith Light as Dede Standish
Senator Dede Standish, who’s introduced later in the season with her comrade, Hadassah Gold, gets her wits from small-screen royalty Judith Light. Emmy-nominated last year for The Assassination of Gianni Versace: American Crime Story, Light is a Murphy veteran.
Light became a household name as Karen Wolek on One Life to Live and then became even more entrenched in American pop culture as Angela Bower opposite Tony Danza on Who’s the Boss. Transparent, Ugly Betty, The Good Fight, Dallas, Nurse Jackie, Law & Order—you name it, Light has done it. Or is about to do it.
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