Click here or the link below to read Part 1 of our Best TV Casts of the 21st Century, including an explanation of how we tallied the points to rank the casts:
One important note: This was a fun, thought-provoking, but also very time-consuming project put together by just by three people, with absolutely zero AI assistance. A few things might have fallen through the cracks, but we tried our very best to be as comprehensive as possible. If we did forget something let us know (nicely!) in the comments.
Will your favorite TV show make the list of most successful casts? Part 2 of our list starts right now.
Lead role in significant show: Naveen Andrews, The Dropout; Josh Holloway, Duster; Michael Emerson, Person of Interest; Michael Emerson, Evil; Harold Perrineau, From, Ken Leung, Industry (60)
Supporting role in significant show: Daniel Dae Kim, Hawaii 5-0; Yunjin Kim, XO Kitty; Emilie de Ravin, Once Upon a Time; Henry Ian Cusick, The 100; Harold Perrineau, Claws; Ken Leung, Avatar: The Last Airbender; Nestor Carbonell, Bates Motel; Nestor Carbonell, The Morning Show; Maggie Grace, Fear the Walking Dead, Maggie Grace, Suits LA (30)
Lead role in significant movie: Evangeline Lilly, Ant-Man; Evangeline Lilly, Ant-Man and the Wasp; Evangeline Lilly, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (30)
Supporting role in significant movie: Daniel Dae Kim, Always be My Baby; Daniel Dae Kim, Joy Ride, Daniel Dae Kim, KPop Demon Hunters; Yunjin Kim, KPop Demon Hunters; Evangeline Lilly, The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug; Evangeline Lilly, The Hobbit: The Battle of the Five Armies; Evangeline Lilly, Avengers: Endgame; Harold Perrineau, Zero Dark Thirty; Harold Perrineau, The Best Man Holiday; Ken Leung: Star Wars: The Force Awakens; Ken Leung, Joker: Folie a Deux; Ken Leung, Old (36)
Cast MVP: Daniel Dae Kim and Evangeline Lilly (tie)
Evangeline Lilly has major roles in two popular cinematic universes—Lord of the Rings/The Hobbit and Marvel—yet hasn’t been able to use that as a launching pad to an enduring career beyond those franchises. Meanwhile, Daniel Dae Kim has quietly laid claim to the title as Lost’s most prolific alumnus thanks to his work behind the camera and beyond television. His production company 3AD produced the long-running series The Good Doctor, and in 2025 he earned a best actor Tony nomination for the play Yellow Face. That same year, he was named one of the world’s 100 most influential people by TIME magazine. And last year he voiced a role in the biggest pop culture phenomenon of 2025, KPop Demon Hunters. (+25)
Lead role in significant show: Jane Krakowski, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt; Jane Krakowski, Dickinson; Tracy Morgan, The Last O.G.; Tracy Morgan, The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins; Tina Fey, The Four Seasons (50 points)
Supporting role in significant show: John Lutz, Girls5Eva; Katrina Bowden, The Bold and the Beautiful; Judah Friedlander, Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp; Scott Adsit, Veep; Jack McBrayer, Drunk History; Jane Krakowski, Schmigadoon!; Alec Baldwin, Saturday Night Live; Tina Fey, Great News; Tina Fey, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt; Tina Fey, Only Murders in the Building (30 points)
Lead role in significant film: Tina Fey, This Is Where I Leave You; Tina Fey, Sisters; Tina Fey, Soul (30 points)
Supporting role in significant movie: Judah Friedlander, Star Wars: The Force Awakens; Judah Friedlander, Sharknado 2: The Second One; Scott Adsit, Big Hero 6; Scott Adsit, Appropriate Behavior; Jack McBrayer, Ralph Breaks the Internet; Jack McBrayer, Unfrosted; Tracy Morgan, Top Five; Tracy Morgan, Rio 2; Tracy Morgan, Coming 2 America; Alec Baldwin, Still Alice; Alec Baldwin, Mission: Impossible—Rogue Nation; Alec Baldwin, Mission: Impossible—Fallout; Tina Fey, Muppets Most Wanted; Tina Fey, Mean Girls (2024) (42 points)
Emmy nominations: Tina Fey, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Saturday Night Live (3x); Alec Baldwin, Saturday Night Live (3x) (24 points)
Additional claims to fame: Tina Fey for appearing in Inside Amy Schumer’s epochal “Last Fuckable Day” sketch. (+10 points)
Cast MVP: Tina Fey
There are so many great supporting performers on this show for whom 30 Rock remains the clear peak of their career. I might have guessed Jack McBrayer would become more of a comedy-series regular than he has so far. It’s primarily Tina Fey who has had a flourishing post-30 Rock career, including creating the underrated Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt. But props to Jane Krakowski for starring in two superb series after this one: Kimmy Schmidt and the magnificent Dickinson.
Lead role in significant show: Jon Hamm, Your Friends & Neighbors; Elisabeth Moss, Top of the Lake, The Handmaid’s Tale, Imperfect Women; Kiernan Shipka, Chilling Adventures of Sabrina; Jared Harris, Chernobyl; Ben Feldman, Superstore; Alison Brie, GLOW (70)
Supporting role in significant show: Jon Hamm, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt; Jon Hamm, The Morning Show; Jon Hamm, Fargo; Jon Hamm, Curb Your Enthusiasm; Kiernan Shipka, Industry; January Jones, Last Man on Earth; Jared Harris, The Crown; Teyonah Paris, WandaVision (21)
Lead role in significant movie: John Slattery, Spotlight; Teyonah Paris, If Beale Street Could Talk; Jon Hamm, Confess, Fletch (30)
Supporting role in significant movie: Jon Hamm, Baby Driver; Jon Hamm, Top Gun: Maverick; Jon Hamm, Mean Girls; Elisabeth Moss, Us; Kiernan Shipka, Twisters; John Slattery, Ant-Man; John Slattery, Captain America: Civil War; John Slattery, Avengers: Endgame; John Slattery, Spotlight; Alison Brie, The Post; Alison Brie, The Little Hours; Alison Brie, Promising Young Woman (36)
Emmy nominations: Jon Hamm, Fargo, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, The Morning Show, Elisabeth Moss, The Handmaid’s Tale (6x), Jared Harris, Chernobyl (40)
SNL hosts: Jon Hamm (5)
Additional claims to fame: Jon Hamm is one of SNL‘s “honorary cast members”: he’s always making cameos and special appearances, including on the 50th anniversary special.
Cast MVP: Elisabeth Moss
Don Draper is such an iconic role that Jon Hamm’s later career feels quiet, even though he has been nominated for an Emmy for three wildly different performances in three wildly different series, and is consistently excellent (have you seen Confess, Fletch?) That feels like more of an us thing than a him thing. Alison Brie is great in everything she does, and anchored another enormous ensemble in GLOW. But the show’s breakout star is unquestionably Elisabeth Moss.
Lead role in significant show: Joel McHale, Animal Control; Donald Glover, Atlanta; Donald Glover, Mr. & Mrs. Smith; Gillian Jacobs, Love; Gillian Jacobs, Transatlantic; Alison Brie, GLOW; Ken Jeong, Dr. Ken; Ken Jeong, The Masked Singer (80)
Supporting role in significant show: Joel McHale, The Bear; Danny Pudi, Mythic Quest; Gillian Jacobs, The Bear; Gillian Jacobs, Winning Time; Ken Jeong, The Afterparty; Yvette Nicole Brown, The Odd Couple (18)
Lead role in significant movie: Donald Glover, Solo: A Star Wars Story; Alison Brie, Spin Me Round; Alison Brie, Together; Donald Glover, The Lion King (40)
Supporting role in significant movie: Donald Glover, Magic Mike XXL; Donald Glover, The Martian; Donald Glover, Spider-Man: Across the Spider-Verse; Alison Brie, The Post; Alison Brie, The Little Hours; Alison Brie, Promising Young Woman; Ken Jeong, KPop Demon Hunters; Yvette Nicole Brown, Disenchanted; Jim Rash, Bros; Ken Jeong, Crazy Rich Asians; Alison Brie, The Lego Movie 2; Alison Brie, Happiest Season; Yvette Nicole Brown, Zootopia 2; Yvette Nicole Brown, Inside Out 2 (42)
Emmy nominations: Donald Glover, Atlanta (3x), Saturday Night Live, Mr. & Mrs. Smith (20)
SNL host: Donald Glover (5)
Additional claims to fame: Donald Glover has achieved A-list status as a star and/or showrunner for his TV projects, but also an acclaimed, Grammy Award winning musician under the name Childish Gambino. (+10). Plus, casting John Oliver pre- Last Week Tonight! (+10) (20)
Cast MVP: Donald Glover, obvs
Glover runs away with it, but still a showing for an ensemble of a cult hit sitcom.
Lead role in significant show: Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie; Michael Imperioli, The White Lotus; Dominic Chianese, Boardwalk Empire; Steven Van Zandt, Lilyhammer; Steve Buscemi, Boardwalk Empire (50)
Supporting role in significant show: Lorraine Bracco, Rizzoli & Isles; Edie Falco, Law & Order: True Crime; Edie Falco, Bupkis; Edie Falco, Impeachment: American Crime Story; Jamie-Lynn Sigler, Entourage; Drea de Matteo, Sons of Anarchy; Drea de Matteo, Joey; Drea de Matteo, Desperate Housewives; Steve Schirripa, Blue Bloods; Steve Schirripa, Secret Life of the American Teenager; John Ventimiglia, Blue Bloods; John Ventimiglia, Jessica Jones; Ray Abruzzo, Transparent; Kathrine Narducci, Workaholics; Jerry Adler, Transparent; Jerry Adler, The Good Wife; Michael Imperioli, Californication; Michael Imperioli, Hawaii Five-O; Michael Imperioli, Blue Bloods; Michael Imperioli, This Fool; Aida Turturro, The Blacklist (63)
Lead role in significant movie: James Gandolfini, Enough Said (10)
Supporting role in significant movie: Edie Falco, Avatar: The Way of Water; Edie Falco, Avatar: Fire and Ash; James Gandolfini, In the Loop; James Gandolfini, Where the Wild Things Are; James Gandolfini, The Taking of Pelham 123; James Gandolfini, Zero Dark Thirty; James Gandolfini, Not Fade Away; James Gandolfini, Killing Them Softly; Steven Van Zandt, The Irishman; Tony Sirico, Cafe Society; Tony Sirico, Wonder Wheel; Vincent Curatola, Killing Them Softly; Ray Abruzzo, Bad Education; Kathrine Narducci, The Irishman; Kathrine Narducci, Bad Education; Jerry Adler, Synecdoche, New York; Jerry Adler, A Most Violent Year; Joe Pantoliano, Percy Jackson & the Olympians: The Lightning Thief; Joe Pantoliano, Bad Boys for Life; Joe Pantoliano, Bad Boys: Ride or Die; Steve Buscemi, The Messenger; Steve Buscemi, Rampart; Steve Buscemi, Hotel Transylvania trilogy; Steve Buscemi, Monsters University; Steve Buscemi, The Death of Stalin; Steve Buscemi, Transformers: The Last Knight; Steve Buscemi, The King of Staten Island; Steve Buscemi, Norman; Steve Buscemi, Boss Baby; Steve Buscemi, The Dead Don’t Die; Steve Buscemi, Happy Gilmore 2 (93)
Emmy nominations: Edie Falco, Nurse Jackie (6x), 30 Rock, Law & Order True Crime, Michael Imperioli, The White Lotus (36)
Cast MVP: Edie Falco
I have little doubt that Gandolfini would have gone on to a sterling second act post-Sopranos if not for his untimely death. But The Sopranos is a legendarily hard act to follow. I can’t help but feel that Imperioli and de Matteo should have had bigger careers, given their talent and the sheer goodwill that accrued to them. Have you seen This Fool? Imperioli is outstanding in it.
Lead role in significant show: Samira Wiley, The Handmaid’s Tale; Laura Prepon, That 90s Show; Uzo Aduba, In Treatment; Uzo Aduba, The Residence; Natasha Lyonne, Russian Doll; Natasha Lyonne, Poker Face (60)
Supporting role in significant show: Josh Segarra, The Other Two; Josh Segarra, The Big Door Prize; Josh Segarra, Abbott Elementary; John Palladino, Mrs America; Tracee Chimo, Dying for Sex; Amanda Fuller, Last Man Standing; Amanda Fuller, The Pitt; Lea DeLaria, Girls5eva; Diane Guerrero, Jane the Virgin; Constance Shulman, The Curse; Alysia Reiner, The Deuce; Alysia Reiner, Better Things; Alysia Reiner, The Diplomat; Annie Golden, The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel; Kimiko Glenn, BoJack Horseman; Joel Marsh Garland, Godfather of Harlem; Kate Mulgrew, Star Trek: Prodigy; Uzo Aduba, Mrs. America; Elizabeth Rodriguez, Shameless; Michael Harney, For All Mankind; Laverne Cox, Inventing Anna; Laverne Cox, Curb Your Enthusiasm; Natasha Lyonne, Big Mouth; Jolene Purdy, WandaVision; Maria Dizzia, 13 Reasons Why; Michael Chernus, Severance; Michael Chernus, Dead Ringers; Michael Chernus, Ramy; Olivia Luccardi, The Deuce; Asia Kate Dillon, Billions; Susan Heyward, The Boys; Susan Heyward, Gen V; Lori Petty, Station Eleven; Matt McGorry, How to Get Away with Murder; Hunter Emery, The Hunting Wives; Lori Tan Chinn, A Man on the Inside; Catherine Curtin, Stranger Things (111)
Lead role in significant movie: John Magaro, First Cow; Natasha Lyonne, His Three Daughters (20)
Supporting role in significant movie: Josh Segarra, Friendship; John Magaro, The Many Saints of Newark; John Magaro, Showing Up; John Magaro, Past Lives; John Magaro, September 5; John Magaro, The Mastermind; John Magaro, Materialists; Barbara Rosenblat, The Boy and the Heron; Dale Soules, Lightyear; Diane Guerrero, Encanto; Constance Shulman, Funny Pages; Danielle Brooks, A Minecraft Movie; Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple; Dascha Polanco, In the Heights; Dascha Polanco, The Irishman; Selenis Leyva, Creed III; Uzo Aduba, Lightyear; Laverne Cox, Promising Young Woman; Natasha Lyonne, Ad Astra; Natasha Lyonne, The United States vs. Billie Holiday; Natasha Lyonne, Glass Onion; Natasha Lyonne, The Fantastic Four: First Steps; Michael Chernus, A Complete Unknown; Lori Tan Chinn, Turning Red; Catherine Curtin, Bad Education (75)
Emmy nominations: Uzo Aduba, In Treatment, Mrs. America, The Residence; Natasha Lyonne, Russian Doll, Poker Face (20)
Oscar nominations: Danielle Brooks, The Color Purple (5)
Additional claims to fame: Mike Birbiglia! (10) Laverne Cox being the first transgender person on the cover of Time magazine (10) (20)
Cast MVP: Uzo Aduba and Natasha Lyonne (tie)
A deep bench gives more players a chance to shine. Uzo Aduba became many OITNB fans’ favorite performer on the show, and rewarded their loyalty with superb, and entirely different, performances in The Residence and In Treatment. And Danielle Brooks got an Oscar nomination for The Color Purple! Natasha Lyonne was a known commodity prior to Orange, but the show launched her as a national treasure, with two acclaimed shows both devoted to just letting us hang out with her.
Lead role in significant show: Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad; Titus Welliver, Bosch; Kim Dickens, Treme; Kim Dickens, Fear the Walking Dead; Molly Parker, Doc; Timothy Olyphant, Justified (60)
Supporting role in significant show: This list is so massive that you can read it in full in the footnotes. (138)
Lead role in significant movie: John Hawkes, Winter’s Bone (10)
Supporting role in significant movie: Garret Dillahunt, No Country for Old Men; Garret Dillahunt, The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford; Garret DIllahunt, 12 Years a Slave; Michael Harney, The Iron Claw; Ricky Jay, The Prestige; Franklyn Ajaye, Bridesmaids; Ray McKinnon, Ford V Ferrari; Ray McKinnon, Mud; Ray McKinnon, Take Shelter; Pruitt Taylor Vince, Superman; Peter Jason, The Other Side of the Wind; Titus Welliver, The Town; Ralph Richeson, The Revenant; Sean Bridgers, Trumbo; Robin Weigert, Bombshell; Robin Weigert, Mississippi Grind; Robin Weigert, Synecdoche, New York; Paula Malcomson, The Hunger Games; Jim Beaver, Nightmare Alley; Kim Dickens, Gone Girl; Kim Dickens, The Blind Side; John Hawkes, American Gangster; John Hawkes, Miracle at St. Anna’s; John Hawkes, Martha Marcy May Marlene; John Hawkes, Contagion; John Hawkes, Lincoln; John Hawkes, Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri; Brad Dourif, Bad Lieutenant: Port of Call New Orleans; Molly Parker, Pieces of a Woman; Molly Parker, Madeline’s Madeline; Ian McShane, John Wick; Timothy Olyphant, Once Upon a Time in Hollywood; Timothy Olyphant, Live Free or Die Hard (99)
Emmy nominations: Anna Gunn, Breaking Bad (3x); Timothy Olyphant, Justified (2x); Molly Parker, House of Cards (24)
Oscar nominations: John Hawkes, Winter’s Bone (5)
Cast MVP: Kim Dickens
Anna Gunn and Timothy Olyphant are the more familiar names, but huge kudos to Kim Dickens, who jumped Davids from Milch to Simon for the wildly underrated Treme and then also got to anchor Fear the Walking Dead. Ian McShane went on to a smaller role in Game of Thrones, but I wonder if he is hard to cast because everyone immediately thinks of Al Swearengen.
Lead role in significant show: Matt LeBlanc, Episodes; Lisa Kudrow, The Comeback; Jennifer Aniston, The Morning Show; Courteney Cox, Cougartown; Tom Selleck, Blue Bloods; Paul Rudd, The Shrink Next Door (60)
Supporting role in significant show: David Schwimmer, Curb Your Enthusiasm; Jessica Hecht, Succession; Jessica Hecht, Breaking Bad; Jessica Hecht, Bored to Death; Paul Rudd, Only Murders in the Building; Paul Rudd: Wet Hot American Summer: First Day of Camp; Paul Rudd, Parks and Recreation; David Schwimmer, Episodes; Lisa Kudrow, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (27)
Lead role in significant movie: Paul Rudd, Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania; Paul Rudd, Ant-Man and the Wasp; Paul Rudd, This Is 40; Paul Rudd, I Love You, Man; Paul Rudd, Ant-Man; Paul Rudd, Forgetting Sarah Marshall; Courteney Cox, Scream series; Jennifer Aniston, Cake; Jennifer Aniston, Just Go With It, Jennifer Aniston, We’re the Millers; Jennifer Aniston, Horrible Bosses, Jennifer Aniston, Horrible Bosses 2, Jennifer Aniston, Murder Mystery, Jennifer Aniston, Murder Mystery 2 (140)
Supporting role in significant movie: Jessica Hecht, A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood; Jessica Hecht, J. Edgar; Jessica Hecht, Starting Out in the Evening; Elliott Gould, Contagion; Elliott Gould, Ocean’s Thirteen; Paul Rudd, Friendship; Paul Rudd: Avengers: Endgame; Paul Rudd, Captain America: Civil War; Paul Rudd, Anchorman 2; Paul Rudd, This Is the End; Paul Rudd, The Perks of Being a Wallflower; Paul Rudd, Knocked Up; Paul Rudd, Night at the Museum; Paul Rudd, The 40-Year-Old Virgin; Lisa Kudrow, Booksmart; Lisa Kudrow, Long Shot; Lisa Kudrow, Neighbors; Lisa Kudrow, Easy A (57)
Emmy nominations: Jennifer Aniston, The Morning Show (2x) and 30 Rock; Lisa Kudrow, The Comeback (2x); Matt LeBlanc, Episodes (4x); Matthew Perry, The West Wing (2x), The Ron Clark Story; David Schwimmer, The People v. O.J. Simpson (52)
Oscar nominations: None, but Jennifer Aniston really wanted one for Cake.
Additional claims to fame: Jennifer Aniston has retained her A-list status after both Friends and her marriage to Brad Pitt ended. (+5)
Cast MVP: Jennifer Aniston and Paul Rudd (tie)
Paul Rudd was already a movie star before becoming the de facto seventh Friend when he joined as Phoebe’s boyfriend and future husband late in the show’s run. So it’s not surprising that his Marvel credits boost him to MVP status. But among the six original Friends, Jennifer Aniston is the obvious standout. While the other cast members all have notable credits on their resume, including earning Emmy nods for their post-Friends projects, Aniston has been on a roll in recent years with her run of movie comedies and as the star of The Morning Show.
Lead role in significant show: Adam Scott, Severance; Aziz Ansari, Master of None; Aubrey Plaza, The White Lotus; Rashida Jones, Angie Tribeca; Rob Lowe, 9-1-1: Lone Star; Billy Eichner, Difficult People; Billy Eichner, Friends from College; Billy Eichner, Billy on the Street (80)
Supporting role in significant show: Nick Offerman, Fargo; Nick Offerman, The Last of Us; Aubrey Plaza, Agatha All Along; Rashida Jones, Black Mirror; Adam Scott, The Good Place; Adam Scott, Big Little Lies; Adam Scott, Wet Hot American Summer: Ten Years Later; Nick Offerman, Pam and Tommy; Nick Offerman, Death by Lightning; Nick Offerman, A League of Their Own (30)
Lead role in significant movie: Chris Pratt, Guardians of the Galaxy trilogy; Chris Pratt, Jurassic World; Chris Pratt, Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom, Chris Pratt, Lego Movie 2; Chris Pratt, Garfield; Chris Pratt, Avengers: Endgame; Chris Pratt, Avengers: Infinity War; Rashida Jones, On the Rocks; Aubrey Plaza, My Old Ass; Aubrey Plaza, Ingrid Goes West; Amy Poehler, Inside Out; Billy Eichner, Bros (140)
Supporting role in significant movie: Adam Scott, The Disaster Artist; Aubrey Plaza, Megalopolis; Aubrey Plaza, Honey Don’t; Aubrey Plaza, Child’s Play; Aubrey Plaza, Dirty Grandpa; Aubrey Plaza, Happiest Season; Aziz Ansari, The Bob’s Burgers Movie; Jim O’Heir, Logan Lucky; Billy Eichner, The Lion King; Billy Eichner, Mufasa: The Lion King; Billy Eichner, Honey Don’t; Nick Offerman, Ice Age: Collision Course; Nick Offerman, Sing; Nick Offerman, The Little Hours; Nick Offerman, The Lego Movie 2; Nick Offerman, Sing 2; Nick Offerman, Civil War; Nick Offerman, The Life of Chuck; Nick Offerman: Mission Impossible: The Final Reckoning (57)
Emmy nominations: Aubrey Plaza, The White Lotus, Aziz Ansari, Master of None (2x), Rashida Jones, Black Mirror, Adam Scott, Severance (2x) (24)
SNL hosts: Amy Poehler (2x), Aubrey Plaza, Aziz Ansari (20)
Additional claims to fame: Rashida Jones wrote an episode of Black Mirror; Rashida Jones directed Quincy; Amy Poehler directed Wine Country; Amy Poehler was a four-time host of the Golden Globes; Amy Poehler’s podcast Good Hang won the first-ever Golden Globe for Best Podcast. (+15)
Cast MVP: Chris Pratt
This show actually inspired this entire list. As we talked about it, we were in awe of how much success nearly all of the key players achieved once the show ended, and wondered how Parks compared with other contemporaneous(ish) series. Turns out the answer is: very, very well. It’s astonishing for this little sitcom that almost got canceled nearly every season it aired to rank higher than golden-age darlings like Mad Men and Deadwood, and bested only by shows sporting enormous casts. (No wonder Jennifer wrote a book about this series.) Even more incredible that Parks and Rec did it without casting Michael B. Jordan or Jesse Plemons (see below).
Lead role in significant show: Connie Britton, Nashville; Connie Britton, American Horror Story; Connie Britton, 9-1-1; Connie Britton, Dirty John; Jesse Plemons, Fargo; Kyle Chandler, Bloodline; Matt Lauria, CSI: Vegas (70)
Supporting role in significant show: Scott Porter, Ginny and Georgia; Scott Porter, Hart of Dixie; Gaius Charles, Grey’s Anatomy; Zach Gilford, Criminal Minds; Adrianne Palicki, The Orville; Adrianne Palicki, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D.; Michael B. Jordan, Parenthood; Jesse Plemons, Black Mirror; Jurnee Smollett, Lovecraft Country; Jurnee Smollett, True Blood; Jurnee Smollett, Underground; Matt Lauria, Parenthood; Madison Burge, Chicago Fire; Madison Burge, Dexter (42)
Lead role in significant movie: Taylor Kitsch, Battleship; Michael B. Jordan, Fruitvale Station; Michael B. Jordan; Chronicle; Michael B. Jordan, Fahrenheit 451; Michael B. Jordan, Creed; Michael B. Jordan, Creed II; Michael B. Jordan, Black Panther; Michael B. Jordan, Just Mercy; Michael B. Jordan, Creed III; Michael B. Jordan, Sinners; Jesse Plemons, Other People; Jesse Plemons, Bugonia (110)
Supporting role in significant movie: Kyle Chandler, Zero Dark Thirty; Kyle Chandler, Argo; Kyle Chandler, The Wolf of Wall Street; Kyle Chandler, Carol; Kyle Chandler, Manchester by the Sea; Kyle Chandler, Game Night; Kyle Chandler, Godzilla vs. Kong; Jesse Plemons, Bridge of Spies; Jesse Plemons, The Post; Jesse Plemons, Game Night; Jesse Plemons, Vice; Jesse Plemons, The Irishman; Jesse Plemons, El Camino; Jesse Plemons, I’m Thinking of Ending Things; Jesse Plemons, Judas and the Black Messiah; Jesse Plemons, The Power of the Dog; Jesse Plemons, Killers of the Flower Moon; Jesse Plemons, Civil War; Jesse Plemons, Kinds of Kindness; Adrianne Palicki, John Wick; Aimee Teegarden, Scream 4; Jurnee Smollett, Birds of Prey; Madison Burge, Everybody Wants Some!! (69)
Emmy nominations: Kyle Chandler, Bloodline (2x); Connie Britton, Nashville (3x); Jesse Plemons, Black Mirror and Fargo(3x) (36)
Oscar nominations: Jesse Plemons, The Power of the Dog; Michael B. Jordan, Sinners (10)
SNL hosts: Michael B. Jordan (5)
Additional claims to fame: +25 for casting two future movie stars Michael B. Jordan and Jesse Plemons in the same show; +10 for Michael B. Jordan for directing Creed III. (35)
Cast MVP: Michael B. Jordan
If you cast both Michael B. Jordan and Jesse Plemons in the same show before either became famous, I think you hang up your casting clipboard, or dip it in bronze, or whatever suits you best. Kyle Chandler and Connie Britton are among the most beloved TV actors of the past two decades, so it is no surprise that Chandler keeps very busy as a supporting actor in basically every prestige film on the studio calendar, and Britton has headlined three different successful shows since leaving Dillon. Funny to remember that there was a time where everyone was sure that the show’s breakout star was Taylor Kitsch, who played soulful bad boy Tim Riggins.
Lead role in significant show: Krysten Ritter, Don’t Trust the B— in Apartment 23; Krysten Ritter, Jessica Jones; Jesse Plemons, Fargo; Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul (30)
Supporting role in significant show: Krysten Ritter, Dexter: Resurrection; Lavell Crawford, Better Call Saul; Laura Fraser, Better Call Saul; Christopher Cousins, UnREAL; Charles Baker, The Pitt; Giancarlo Esposito, Better Call Saul; Giancarlo Esposito, The Boys; Giancarlo Esposito, The Mandalorian; Giancarlo Esposito, Godfather of Harlem; Giancarlo Esposito, Dear White People; Giancarlo Esposito, Community; Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul; Jonathan Banks, Community; Steven Michael Quezada, Better Call Saul; Betsy Brandt, Better Call Saul; Betsy Brandt, Masters of Sex; Dean Norris, Curb Your Enthusiasm; Dean Norris, Better Call Saul; Dean Norris, Scandal; Dean Norris, The Big Bang Theory; Aaron Paul, Black Mirror; Aaron Paul, Better Call Saul; Aaron Paul, BoJack Horseman; Jesse Plemons, Black Mirror; Bryan Cranston, The Studio; Bryan Cranston, Better Call Saul; Bob Odenkirk, Fargo; Bob Odenkirk, The Bear (84)
Lead role in significant movie: Aaron Paul, El Camino; Jesse Plemons, Other People; Jesse Plemons, Bugonia; Bryan Cranston, Trumbo; Bryan Cranston, All the Way; Bob Odenkirk, Nobody (60)
Supporting role in significant movie: Krysten Ritter, El Camino; Krysten Ritter, Margaret; Matt Jones, El Camino; Charles Baker, El Camino; Charles Baker, The Neon Demon; Giancarlo Esposito, Captain America: Brave New World; Giancarlo Esposito, Megalopolis; Giancarlo Esposito, MaXXine; Giancarlo Esposito, Okja; Giancarlo Esposito, Maze Runner; Jonathan Banks, El Camino; Jonathan Banks, Mudbound; Betsy Brandt, Magic Mike; Dean Norris, Unfrosted; Aaron Paul, Exodus: Gods and Kings; Jesse Plemons, Bridge of Spies; Jesse Plemons, The Post; Jesse Plemons, Game Night; Jesse Plemons, Vice; Jesse Plemons, The Irishman; Jesse Plemons, El Camino; Jesse Plemons, I’m Thinking of Ending Things; Jesse Plemons, Judas and the Black Messiah; Jesse Plemons, The Power of the Dog; Jesse Plemons, Killers of the Flower Moon; Jesse Plemons, Civil War; Jesse Plemons, Kinds of Kindness; Bryan Cranston, Godzilla; Bryan Cranston, Last Flag Flying; Bryan Cranston, Isle of Dogs; Bryan Cranston, El Camino; Bryan Cranston, Asteroid City; Bryan Cranston, The Phoenician Scheme; Bob Odenkirk, The Disaster Artist; Bob Odenkirk, The Post; Bob Odenkirk, Incredibles 2; Bob Odenkirk, Long Shot; Bob Odenkirk, Little Women (114)
Emmy nominations: Bryan Cranston, All the Way, Curb Your Enthusiasm, The Studio; Giancarlo Esposito Better Call Saul, The Mandalorian (2x), The Boys; Bob Odenkirk, Better Call Saul (6x), The Bear; Jonathan Banks, Better Call Saul (4x); Jesse Plemons, Fargo, Black Mirror, Love and Death (84)
Oscar nominations: Bryan Cranston, Trumbo; Jesse Plemons, The Power of the Dog (10)
Cast MVP: Jesse Plemons
It definitely helps to juice the numbers when you go on to create a prequel with many of the same performers! Some of the key performers from the show have not landed major roles since Breaking Bad went off the air, but Jesse Plemons and Bryan Cranston have more than made up for that themselves, and Giancarlo Esposito and Jonathan Banks are in-demand character actors. And if I had told you in the era of Mr. Show that Bob Odenkirk would one day be an Emmy-nominated dramatic actor with a sideline as an action star, you would have looked around for the hidden cameras.
Lead role in significant show: Emilia Clarke, Ponies; Kit Harington, Industry; Bella Ramsey, The Last of Us; Pedro Pascal, The Mandalorian; Pedro Pascal, The Last of Us; Liam Cunningham, 3 Body Problem; Jacob Anderson, Interview with the Vampire, Michiel Huisman, The Haunting of Hill House; Nathalie Emmanuel, Four Weddings and a Funeral; Rose Leslie, The Good Fight (110)
Supporting role in significant show: Sophie Turner, The Staircase; Nikolaj Coster-Waldau, The Last Thing He Told Me; Sean Bean, Snowpiercer; John Bradley, 3 Body Problem; Jonathan Pryce, The Crown; Jonathan Pryce, Slow Horses; Jonathan Pryce, 3 Body Problem; Jonathan Pryce, Wolf Hall: The Mirror and the Light; Gwendoline Christie, Severance; Gwendoline Christie, Wednesday; Michiel Huisman, The Flight Attendant; Michelle Fairley, Gangs of London; Mark Addy, The Full Monty; Jack Gleeson, Sex Education; Jason Momoa, See; Jason Momoa, Chief of War (48)
Lead role in significant movie: Emilia Clarke, Last Christmas; Peter Dinklage, The Toxic Avenger; Sophie Turner, X-Men: Dark Phoenix; Pedro Pascal, Materialists; Pedro Pascal, Eddington; Pedro Pascal, The Fantastic Four: First Steps; Richard Madden, Rocketman; Richard Madden, 1917; Jonathan Pryce, The Two Popes; Jason Momoa, Fast X; Jason Momoa, Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (110)
Supporting role in significant movie: Peter Dinklage, Wicked; Peter Dinklage, Roofman; Peter Dinklage, The Hunger Games: The Ballad of Songbirds & Snakes; Maisie Williams, Practical Magic 2; Pedro Pascal, Wonder Woman 1984; Pedro Pascal, Gladiator II; Pedro Pascal, Freaky Tales; Alfie Allen, Jojo Rabbit; Rory McCann, Jumanji: The Next Level; Rory McCann, Gladiator II; Nathalie Emmanuel, F9; Nathalie Emmanuel, Fast X; Nathalie Emmanuel, Megalopolis; Jonathan Pryce, Thursday Murder Club; Richard Madden, Eternals; Kit Harington, Eternals; Oona Chaplin, Avatar: Fire and Ash; Gwendoline Christie, Flux Gourmet; Mark Addy, The Lost King; Charles Dance, Mank; Charles Dance, Frankenstein; Jason Momoa, A Minecraft Movie (66)
Emmy nominations: Bella Ramsey, The Last of Us (2x), Pedro Pascal, The Last of Us (2x), Saturday Night Live, Patagonia; Gwendoline Christie, Severance, Jonathan Pryce, The Crown, Slow Horses (36)
SNL hosts: Pedro Pascal, Jason Momoa (10)
Additional claims to fame: Pedro Pascal: beloved popular celeb thought of by the internet as a “zaddy”; Peter Dinklage (just because he’s so cool? and makes a name for himself in theater too) (+20)
Cast MVP: Pedro Pascal
Game of Thrones had so many performers that some of them would have to hit. I’m not sure that I was smart enough to know that one of them would be Pedro Pascal, who played Oberyn Martell. You know a show is iconic when it still feels startling to catch one of its performers elsewhere. Every time I see Kit Harington in Industry, I want to ask him where his sheepskin coat is. Nice to think of The Last of Us as a Game of Thrones reunion, with both Pascal and Bella Ramsey in the lead roles.
Lead role in significant show: John Krasinski, Tom Clancy’s Jack Ryan; Jenna Fischer, Splitting Up Together; Mindy Kaling, The Mindy Project; Mindy Kaling, Velma; Ed Helms, Rutherford Falls; Ellie Kemper, The Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt; Zach Woods, Silicon Valley; Melora Hardin, The Bold Type; Steve Carell, Space Force; Steve Carell, The Morning Show; Steve Carell, The Patient; Steve Carell, The Four Seasons; Steve Carell, Rooster; Craig Robinson, Killing It; Rashida Jones, Parks and Recreation; Rashida Jones, Angie Tribeca; James Spader, The Blacklist; Jake Lacy, High Fidelity; Jake Lacy, The White Lotus; Jake Lacy, Apples Never Fall; Jake Lacy, All Her Fault (210)
Supporting role in significant show: Rainn Wilson, Lessons in Chemistry; Oscar Nuñez, The Paper; David Denman, Mare of Easttown; Rashida Jones, Black Mirror; Jake Lacy, Girls; Jake Lacy, Fosse/Verdon; Amy Ryan, Only Murders in the Building (21)
Lead role in significant movie: John Krasinski, A Quiet Place; John Krasinski, A Quiet Place II; B.J. Novak, Vengeance; Mindy Kaling, A Wrinkle in Time; Mindy Kaling, Late Night; Mindy Kaling, Ocean’s Eight; Mindy Kaling, Inside Out; Ed Helms, The Hangover III; Ed Helms, Chappaquiddick;, Ed Helms, Tag; Ellie Kemper, Unbreakable Kimmy ;Schmidt: Kimmy vs the Reverend; Ellie Kemper, Happiness for Beginners; Phyllis Smith, Inside Out; Phyllis Smith, Inside Out 2; Steve Carell, Despicable Me/Minions movies; Steve Carell, Foxcatcher; Steve Carell, Alexander and the Terrible, Horrible, No Good, Very Bad Day; Steve Carell, The Big Short; Steve Carell, Battle of the Sexes; Steve Carell, Beautiful Boy; Steve Carell, Mountainhead; Craig Robinson, Hot Tub Time Machine 2; Rashida Jones, On the Rocks; Jake Lacy, Obvious Child; Amy Ryan, Wolfs; Amy Ryan, Beau if Afraid (260)
Supporting role in significant movie: Rainn Wilson, The Meg; Rainn Wilson, Jerry and Marge Go Large; Rainn Wilson, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story; John Krasinski, Aloha; John Krasinski, Doctor Strange in the Multiverse of Madness; Jenna Fischer, Mean Girls; Leslie David Baker, The Happytime Murders; Oscar Nuñez, The Lost City; Oscar Nuñez, Disenchanted; B.J. Novak, The Founder, Ed Helms, We’re the Millers; Ed Helms, Vacation; Ed Helms, Love the Coopers; Ellie Kemper, We Came Together; Zach Woods, The Post; Zach Woods, The Afterparty; Phyllis Smith, Barb and Star Go to Vista Del Mar; Steve Carell, Vice; Craig Robinson, Dolemite Is My Name; Jake Lacy, Carol; Jake Lacy, Being the Ricardos; Clark Duke, Bad Moms; Amy Ryan, Bridge of Spies; Amy Ryan, Late Night (72)
Emmy nominations: Steve Carell, The Morning Show, Rashida Jones, Black Mirror, Jake Lacy, The White Lotus, Ellie Kemper, Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt (x2) (20)
Oscar nominations: Steve Carell, Foxcatcher (5)
SNL host: Steve Carell, John Krasinski (5)
Additional claims to fame: John Krasinski wrote and/or directed the Quiet Place movies and IF; Mindy Kaling wrote Late Night and created or co-created (deep breath) The Mindy Project, Champions, Four Weddings and a Funeral, Never Have I Ever, The Sex Lives of College Girls and Running Point; Jenna Fischer and Angela Kinsey’s massively popular The Office Ladies podcast kicked off a wave of celebrity-hosted TV recap podcasts (for better or worse, as we discussed here). (+100)
Cast MVP: Steve Carell and Mindy Kaling (tie)
While we’ve been ranking successful casts based on the IMDb acting credits, a special exception has to be made for Mindy Kaling, who, similar to Tina Fey, has created her own Mindyverse of popular entertainment. The other reason that The Office ranks so highly on this list is due to Steve Carell’s dominance on the big screen and small screen alike. John Krasinski has had an impressive post-Office career too, and like Mindy has added writing and directing credits to his resume. And while Jake Lacy was a latecomer to The Office, he has become one of the sitcom’s hardest working alumni in recent years, making a name for himself in buzzy streaming shows.
Lead role in significant show: Dominic West, The Affair; Jamie Hector, We Own This City; Wendell Pierce, Treme; Dominic West, The Hour; Dominic West, The Crown; Michael K. Williams, Boardwalk Empire (60)
Supporting role in significant show: David Costabile, Breaking Bad; James Ransone, Treme; Method Man, Godfather of Harlem; Method Man, Teenage Bounty Hunters; Method Man, The Deuce; Pablo Schreiber, Orange Is the New Black; Pablo Schreiber, Weeds; Chris Bauer, Fellow Travelers; Chris Bauer, For All Mankind; Chris Bauer, The Deuce; Chris Bauer, Unsolved; Chris Bauer, True Blood; Julito McCullum, Show Me a Hero; Maestro Harrell, Unsolved; Peter Gerety, Ray Donovan; Maria Broom, We Own This City; Paul Ben-Victor, Nobody Wants This; Amy Ryan, Only Murders in the Building; Amy Ryan, The Office; Amy Ryan, In Treatment; Lawrence Gilliard Jr. The Deuce; Glynn Turman, Fargo; Glynn Turman, How to Get Away with Murder; Glynn Turman, House of Lies; Glynn Turman, In Treatment; Jermaine Crawford, We Own This City; Reg E. Cathey, Luke Cage; Reg E. Cathey, House of Cards; Isiah Whitlock Jr., The Residence; Isiah Whitlock Jr., Veep; Michael Kostroff, The Plot Against America; Michael Kostroff, The Deuce; Michael Kostroff, Luke Cage; Michael Kostroff, The Good Wife; Michael Kostroff, Show Me a Hero; Michael Kostroff, Party Down; Tray Chaney, We Own This City; Chad L. Coleman, Girls5eva; Chad L. Coleman, It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia; Chad L. Coleman, The Walking Dead; Anwan Glover, The Deuce; Anwan Glover, We Own This City; Robert Wisdom, Barry; Robert Wisdom, Watchmen; Robert Wisdom, Nashville; Gbengba Akinnagbe, The Deuce; Gbengba Akinnagbe, The Good Wife; Gbengba Akinnagbe, Damages; Gbengba Akinnagbe, Nurse Jackie; Jamie Hector, Bosch; Jamie Hector, Queen of the South; Jamie Hector, Heroes; Aidan Gillen, Game of Thrones; Aidan Gillen, Peaky Blinders; Wood Harris, Empire; Delaney Williams, SVU; Delaney Williams, We Own This City; Jim True-Frost, Treme; Andre Royo, Empire; Clarke Peters, Damages; Clarke Peters, Treme; Clarke Peters, The Deuce; Domenick Lombardozzi, Entourage; Domenick Lombardozzi, Boardwalk Empire; Domenick Lombardozzi, The Deuce; Seth Gilliam, The Walking Dead; Sonja Sohn, The Chi; Lance Reddick, Fringe; Lance Reddick, Bosch; Wendell Pierce, Suits; Wendell Pierce, Elsbeth; Wendell Pierce, Chicago P.D.; John Doman, The Boys; John Doman, The Good Wife; John Doman, The Affair; Michael K Williams, Community; Michael K Williams, The Night Of; Michael K Williams, When They See Us; Michael K Williams, Lovecraft Country; Idris Elba, The Office; Michael B. Jordan, Friday Night Lights; Michael B. Jordan, Parenthood (246)
Lead role in significant movie: Idris Elba, Mandela; Idris Elba, Beasts of No Nation; Idris Elba, A House of Dynamite; Michael B. Jordan, Fruitvale Station; Michael B. Jordan, Creed; Michael B. Jordan, Creed II; Michael B. Jordan, Black Panther; Michael B. Jordan, Just Mercy; Michael B. Jordan, Creed III; Michael B. Jordan, Sinners (100)
Supporting role in significant movie: Another massive list that you can read in full in the footnotes. (258)
Emmy nominations: Idris Elba, Luther (4x), The Big C, Hijack; Michael K. Williams, Bessie, When They See Us, The Night Of, Lovecraft Country; Dominic West, The Crown (44)
Oscar nominations: Michael B. Jordan, Sinners (5)
SNL hosts: Idris Elba, Michael B. Jordan (10)
Additional claims to fame: Tom McCarthy directed Best Picture winner Spotlight (20); Amy Ryan received a Tony nomination for Doubt. (20)
Cast MVP: Since we already gave it to MBJ earlier, Idris Elba.
Hard to compete with this one. Idris Elba and Michael B. Jordan both go on to become superstars, but I’d like to tip my cap to Michael K. Williams, so indelibly brilliant as Omar that he essentially forces future creators to create roles just so they can cast him. A stadium of football fans could just hear him whistling and burst into applause! Williams’ untimely death in 2021 remains one of the great tragedies to befall recent American culture.
Okay, now tell us: Do you agree with our list of most successful cast based on our rigorous calculations? How about our cast MVPs? Let us know in the comments!
Each month, Ministry selects a title we think our readers will love and publish an interview with the author. This month we’re highlighting two books: the publication of Jennifer’s Parks and Rec (coincidentally one of our top TV casts of all time!) and a book about the current media landscape sure to get people talking. Last month, we selected Hole bassist Melissa Auf der Maur’s new memoir, Even the Good Girls Will Cry; read our interview with her below.
To check out all our Ministry Book Club Picks, go here!
