Part of what makes Succession such an iconic show is down to the fantastic ensemble cast, including Brian Cox, Jeremy Strong, Kieran Culkin, Sarah Snook and Alan Ruck – all playing characters that you can’t take your eyes off.
But with so many twists, turns and changing alliances, it can be hard to keep track of who’s who. Luckily, we’ve got you covered! Read on to discover the cast and characters of Succession.
Logan Roy (played by Brian Cox)
Logan Roy is the founder of media conglomerate Waystar RoyCo and patriarch of the Roy family. Even in the face of his declining health, Logan is intensely protective of his media empire and will stop at nothing to remain on top. Logan is portrayed as a ruthless and domineering businessman, who demands authority and respect in both his business and family life. He is known for his cunning decision-making and never shies away from using ruthless tactics – even manipulating and leveraging his own children – to protect his empire.
Logan’s determination to retain power drives the narrative of the show, leading to numerous challenges including health issues, corporate scandals and betrayals. As Logan navigates through the four seasons, we see his character evolve, revealing moments of vulnerability beneath an otherwise stone-cold exterior.
Brian Cox is an Emmy award-winning Scottish actor who portrays Logan Roy on Succession. He made his big break as Dr Hannibal Lecter in Manhunter (1986) and is also known for his roles in major films including The Corrupter (1999), The Ring (2002) and X-Men 2 (2003). Throughout his career he has received numerous accolades, including Olivier Awards, BAFTA’s, a Golden Globe, an Emmy and a SAG award.
Kendall Roy (played by Jeremy Strong)
Kendall Roy is a lead character in Succession, as one of the four children of patriarch and founder of Waystar RoyCo, Logan Roy. Kendall is introduced as an ambitious individual, who continuously strives for his father’s approval and the role of successor to the family business. Despite appearing as a confident businessman, we quickly learn that Kendall struggles with his own insecurities and the pressure of being in the constant shadow of his father. Throughout the series, we see Kendall face numerous setbacks; from battling with cocaine addiction to Logan questioning his ability to be a true ‘killer’ in business. Kendall represents the struggle for identity within a powerful family, like the Roy’s, and the difficulty that comes with balancing ambition, family and personal autonomy.
Jeremy Strong is an American actor, best known for his role as Kendall Roy in Succession. This role has seen him receive numerous awards, including an Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series. Prior to this role, Jeremy appeared in a number of film and TV shows including The Good Wife, The Big Short and The Trial of the Chicago 7.
Roman Roy (played by Kieran Culkin)
Roman Roy is the youngest son of media tycoon Logan Roy and a member of the Roy family's business empire, Waystar RoyCo. Roman is depicted as impulsive, sarcastic, and often acts as the comic relief in the show. He has a complex relationship with his family, particularly his father and his siblings, as they all vie for power and control within the company.
Throughout the series, Roman Roy is shown navigating the high-stakes world of corporate politics, trying to prove himself to his father and secure his place in the family business. His character arc explores themes of ambition, insecurity, and the dynamics of power within a wealthy and influential family.
Roman is played by Kieran Culkin, the younger brother of fellow actor Macaulay Culkin. Kieran Culkin began his acting career at a young age, making his film debut in 1990 in the movie Home Alone, where he played the role of Fuller McCallister, the younger cousin of Macaulay character. He continued to appear in films throughout the 1990s, including Father of the Bride and its sequel, The Mighty, and She's All That.
For his portrayal of Roman, he received a nomination for the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series.
Shiv Roy (played by Sarah Snook)
Siobhan “Shiv” Roy is the only daughter of media tycoon Logan Roy, who at the start of the series is working as a political fixer for a Democratic Senator. Growing up as the only female in a family of headstrong men, Shiv learned to be a shrewd, calculating and professional woman who, in contrast to her brothers, is not afraid to carve her own path - even working for staunch liberal agendas and a vendetta against Logan. However, as family dynamics change, Shiv is brought back into the fold, at points appearing to be the heir apparent to the Waystar RoyCo business in counterpoint to Kendall. She is in a relationship with Tom Wambsgans – whom she weds at the end of season one – but their partnership is marked by a one-sided power imbalance throughout, with Shiv occasionally taking advantage of Tom’s insecurities.
Shiv’s relationship with her siblings is tumultuous. She has a competitive nature, considers herself to be both more competent than either Kendall and Roman and is not above deliberately undercutting or sabotaging them in order to secure the best outcome for herself, even when they all appear to be on the same page. In turn she can also be drawn into childish fights – with Roman in particular.
Shiv is played by Australian actress Sarah Snook, who has picked up a Golden Globe and Critic’s Choice Award as well as two Emmy nominations for the role.
Connor Roy (played by Alan Ruck)
The eldest of Logan Roy’s children, but also the least involved in the goings on of the family business. Connor initially resides in a ranch in New Mexico with his much younger girlfriend Willa, largely out of sight and mind of his family and their internal rivalries.
Connor later, stemming from an offhand comment made at a party, sets his eyes on the lofty goal of becoming President of the United States. His deluded belief that he has the experience and competency to achieve this goal defines his role in the series, with his aspirations proving to be more of a hindrance than help to his father and siblings, who are quick to dismiss Connor as a serious player.
Connor is played by Alan Ruck, who many will be quick to recognise from roles such as Cameron from Ferris Bueller’s Day Off and many other film and TV roles.
Tom Wambsgans (played by Matthew Macfadyen)
While the Roy siblings were born into the chaos that is their dynasty, Tom Wambsgans actually chose to be part of it. Tom met Shiv Roy at a painful time in her life and became her rock. Through his relationship he is able to climb the ladder at Waystar RoyCo but remains an outsider within the inner circle.
Although devoted to Shiv, the relationship is troubled by his own insecurities,and he is frequently emasculated. Tom takes Cousin Greg under his wing, but primarily because he takes great delight in belittling him and subjecting him to his cruel sense of humour.
Constantly yearning for approval from Logan in particular, Tom is willing to go to any lengths to remain in his favour. Whether that be volunteering to take the fall and go to prison for company scandals, or even betraying the people closest to him.
Tom is played by British actor Matthew Macfadyen, for which he won a Primetime Emmy Award and a BAFTA. He began his acting career on stage before his breakthrough television role as Tom Quinn in the BBC spy drama Spooks. He is married to fellow actor Keeley Hawes, with whom he has two children.
Greg Hirsch (played by Nicholas Braun)
A great-nephew to Logan through his estranged brother Ewan, Greg shows up at the Roy patriarch’s 80th birthday after being fired from a costumed mascot role at one of the company’s theme parks. During the chaos that follows, Greg is able to ingratiate himself with Tom, albeit primarily because he is a target for his bullying and manipulation. However, being underestimated serves Greg well, as the seemingly bumbling youngster is able to secure his place in the inner circle by shrewdly retaining documents regarding the cover-up of widespread sexual abuse on the company’s cruise lines.
While Greg is looked at by the Roy family and the company executives as something of a pest, and is consistently treated as an underling for Tom, (the term “Gregging” becoming synonymous with menial tasks), his survival instincts are on point and the siblings learn he is worth keeping as a wild card. His main weakness is not always knowing which horse to back.
Gerri Kellman (played by J. Smith-Cameron)
If anyone can claim to be the power behind the throne at Waystar RoyCo, it’s Gerri Kellman. Serving as the company’s general counsel, Gerri is a longstanding confidant of Logan and the Roy family with a 20-year tenure as his right hand. She is instrumental in implementing damage control over the company’s various scandals and is even godmother to Shiv.
Significantly, she finds herself a constant target for Roman’s sexual advances, which she initially indulges, but quickly tires of. The harassment comes to a head when Logan becomes aware of it, leading him to reconsider her services in the event that she might use it against the company.
Gerri is played by J. Smith-Cameron who is also known for her roles in Rectify and Search Party.
Lukas Mattson (played by Alexander Skarsgard)
Brilliant, eccentric, and cunning, Lukas Mattson is the Swedish CEO of the tech giant GoJo. Mattson enters the picture in season three, when a opportunistic proposal from Roman at Kendall’s birthday bash draws his attention. But rather than working with Waystar RoyCo, Mattson centres his attention on acquiring it outright.
Mattson is a forward thinker, considering Waystar RoyCo an outdated company. While he might seem cold and hard to read, many of his actions are motivated by his emotions. He can be just as spiteful and vindictive as any of the Roys, and has the capital to basically make whatever he wants happen – which makes him a very difficult man to best in business. His unpredictability and recklessness also works against him; his actions have left plenty of skeletons – some startlingly bizarre – in his closet.
Lukas Mattson is played by Alexander Skarsgård, who is well known from his roles in True Blood, The Northman (2022), and Big Little Lies – earning himself an Emmy award for this role in the latter.
Marcia Roy (played by Hiam Abbass)
Logan’s third wife, Marcia is a constant presence through the first two seasons of Succession, and a thorn in the side of the Roy children who cannot abide her. Despite caring for Logan as his health deteriorates the Roy siblings believe she is a gold digger, and she returns their contempt in kind, believing them to be entitled.
Marcia continues to be a formidable presence until season two, where she realises that Logan is more likely than not intimately involved with CEO of rival news network and potential successor to Waystar RoyCo Rhea Jarrell. Following this revelation, Marcia ends the relationship and separates (unofficially) from Logan.
Marcia is played by Palestinian actress Hiam Abbass, who has had credits in the films Munich (2005) and Blade Runner 2049 (2017).
Willa Ferreya (played by Justine Lupe-Schomp)
Willa is Connor Roy’s partner, who is significantly younger and often thought of by the rest of the family as taking advantage of a ”sugar daddy” relationship. Willa is a former sex worker who aspires to be a playwright. Willa eventually produces a play, but it is a critical and financial failure, and the ensuing debt scuppers Connor’s initial plans to run for President.
Connor later proposes to Willa, thinking it will aid his presidential campaign. Willa is apprehensive, but agrees – at least partially out of pity. She shows worrying behaviour at the wedding rehearsal – leading Connor to wonder if it will actually go ahead. However, even the earth-shattering events on the day of the wedding, she maintains she is genuinely happy with the relationship and the wedding goes ahead.
Willa is played by Justine Lupe-Schomp, who has previous credits in The Marvelous Mrs Maisel.
Rhea Jarrell (played by Holly Hunter)
Rhea Jarrell is the CEO of ATN’s rival media corporation PGM who appears throughout season two. When Logan Roy announces his plans to take over the company, Rhea gives up her position and aligns herself with Waystar on the agreement that she will take over the company when he retires, much to the disgust of Logan’s children. It’s heavily implied there is a sexual affair taking place between her and Logan, which Marcia soon gets wind of.
Rhea is played by Academy Award-winning actress Holly Hunter, who previously won the 1983 Oscar for her performance in the 1993 drama The Piano, and received nominations for her roles in Broadcast News (1987), The Firm (1993) and Thirteen (2003).
