The True Detective cast features Matthew McConaughey, Woody Harrelson and Michelle Monaghan. This info article contains minor spoilers and character details for Nic Pizzolatto and Issa López’s HBO series. Check out more streaming guides in Vague Visages’ Know the Cast section.

*

True Detective is a crime-themed anthology series. The storyline begins in Louisiana as two detectives learn about an underworld figure known as “The Yellow King.” The first eight-episode narrative links to subsequent seasons as investigators contemplate a spiritual realm known as Carcosa. Here’s every actor and character in True Detective.

Read More at VV — Know the Cast & Characters: ‘Succession’

True Detective Cast: Matthew McConaughey as Rust Cohle

Character Profile: A Louisiana state detective with elite interview skills. He is the son of a Vietnam War veteran who previously worked as an undercover cop. Rust’s no-nonsense approach causes friction with friends and colleagues.

McConaughey’s Resume: Mud in Mud (2012), Dallas in Magic Mike (2012), Ron Woodroof in Dallas Buyers Club (2013), Cooper in Interstellar (2014), Michael Pearson in The Gentlemen (2019)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast & Characters: ‘The Idol’

True Detective Cast: Woody Harrelson as Marty Hart

Character Profile: Rust’s partner. He is a confident man who values his good ol’ boy ways. Marty’s behavior contradicts his moralistic monologues.

Harrelson’s Resume: Woody Boyd in Cheers (1985-93), Mickey Knox in Natural Born Killers (1994), Larry Flynt in The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996), Marty Hart in True Detective (2014-19), E. Howard Hunt in White House Plumbers (2023)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast & Characters: ‘Somebody Somewhere’

True Detective Cast: Michelle Monaghan as Maggie Hart

Character Profile: Marty’s wife. She is a loyal woman who raises two children. Maggie separates from Marty after hooking up with Rust.

Monaghan’s Resume: Angie Gennaro in Gone Baby Gone (2007), Christina Warren in Source Code (2011), Violet in Pixels (2015), Sarah Lane in The Path (2016-18), Jessica Morgan in The Family Plan (2023)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast & Characters: ‘The Last of Us’

True Detective Cast: Michael Potts as Maynard Gilbough

Character Profile: A Louisiana detective. He investigates a series of murders. Maynard interviews Rust and Marty about a past investigation.

Potts’ Resume: Brother Mouzone in The Wire (2003-04), Horatio Emanuel in Damages (2010), Walter Henderson in Show Me a Hero (2015), Slow Drag in Ma Rainey’s Black Bottom (2020), Fraser Robinson in The First Lady (2022)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast & Characters: ‘The White Lotus’

True Detective Cast: Tory Kittles as Thomas Papania

Character Profile: Maynard’s parter. He believes that Rust might be a serial killer. Thomas meets privately with Marty about a murder investigation.

Papania’s Resume: Laroy Wayne in Sons of Anarchy (2008-11), Clarence in Bessie (2015), Broussard in Colony (2016-18), Det. Marcus Dante in The Equalizer (2021-23), Ryan in Those Who Wish Me Dead (2021)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast & Characters: ‘House of the Dragon’

True Detective Cast: Colin Farrell as Ray Velcoro

Character Profile: A Vinci police officer. He is a single father who struggles with addiction issues. Ray meets privately with an underworld figure while investigating a series of murders.

Farrell’s Resume: Jim Street in S.W.A.T. (2003), Sonny Crockett in Miami Vice (2006), Ray in In Bruges (2008), David in The Lobster (2015), Oz/The Penguin in The Batman (2022)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty’

True Detective Cast: Rachel McAdams as Ani Bezzerides

Character Profile: A Ventura County sheriff. She is a single woman who looks after her sister. Ani’s undercover work crosses over with the lifestyle of her hippie father.

McAdams’ Resume: Regina George in Mean Girls (2004), Allie in The Notebook (2004), Lisa Reisert in Red Eye (2005), Irene Adler in Sherlock Holmes (2009), Barbara Simon in Are You There God? It’s Me, Margaret. (2023)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘The Gilded Age’

True Detective Cast: Taylor Kitsch as Paul Woodrugh

Character Profile: A California Highway Patrol officer. He is a U.S. Army veteran who gets put on administrative leave after a road issue involving a female celebrity. Paul hides the truth about his homosexual past.

Kitsch’s Resume: Tim Riggins in Friday Night Lights (2006-11), Remy LeBeau in X-Men Origins: Wolverine (2009), John Carter in John Carter (2012), David Koresh in Waco (2018), Glen Kryger in Painkiller (2023)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Euphoria’

True Detective Cast: Kelly Reilly as Jordan Semyon

Character Profile: The wife of a Los Angeles gangster. She is a loyal woman who tries to get pregnant. Jordan worries about her husband’s mental toughness.

Reilly’s Resume: Caroline Bingley in Pride & Prejudice (2005), Mary Morstan in Sherlock Holmes (2009), Nicole in Flight (2012), Beth Dutton in Yellowstone (2018-), Rowena Drake in A Haunting in Venice (2023)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Bookie’

True Detective Cast: Vince Vaughn as Frank Semyon

Character Profile: Jordan’s husband. He is an underworld figure who discovers that a business partner has been murdered. Frank meets privately with Ray about a series of killings.

Vaughn’s Resume: Trent in Swingers (1996), Beanie in Old School (2003), Jeremy Gray in Wedding Crashers (2005), Bradley Thomas in Brawl in Cell Block 99 (2017), The Blissfield Butcher in Freaky (2020)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast & Characters: ‘White House Plumbers’

True Detective Cast: Mahershala Ali as Wayne Hays

Character Profile: An Arkansas state police detective. He is a Vietnam War veteran who worked as an LRRP agent. Wayne struggles with memory loss while trying to solve a murder mystery decades after his initial investigation.

Ali’s Resume: Richard Tyler in The 4400 (2014-17), Remy Danton in House of Cards (2013-16), Juan in Moonlight (2016), Dr. Donald Shirley in Green Book (2018), G.H. Scott in Leave the World Behind (2023)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast & Characters: ‘Love & Death’

True Detective Cast: Carmen Ejogo as Amelia Reardon

Character Profile: Wayne’s wife. She is a teacher who transforms into a true crime novelist. Amelia writes a book about one of Wayne’s cases.

Ejogo’s Resume: Coretta Scott King in Selma (2014), Eva Sanchez in The Purge: Anarchy (2014), Seraphina Picquery in Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them (2016), Sarah in It Comes at Night (2017), Lee Delamere in Your Honor (2020-)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘How to Screw It All Up’

True Detective Cast: Stephen Dorff as Roland West

Character Profile: Wayne’s partner. He is a good ol’ boy who occasionally bends the rules of his work. Roland reunites with Wayne decades after a friendship-ending situation.

Dorff’s Resume: Deacon Frost in Blade (1998), Scott Strauss in World Trade Center (2006), Johnny Marco in Somewhere (2010), Stavros in Immortals (2011), Sheriff Bill Hollister in Deputy (2020)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Tokyo Vice’

True Detective Cast: Scoot McNairy as Tom Purcell

Character Profile: The father of two missing kids. He worries about his reputation within his community. Tom struggles with mental health issues after learning the truth about his missing daughter.

McNairy’s Resume: Frankie in Killing Them Softly (2012), Joe Stafford in Argo (2012), Brown in 12 Years a Slave (2013), Gordon Clark in Halt and Catch Fire (2014-17), Walt Breslin in Narcos: Mexico (2018-21)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Minx’

True Detective Cast: Ray Fisher as Henry Hays

Character Profile: Wayne’s son. He is a detective who researches a murder case. Henry maintains a romantic relationship with a journalist who interviews his father.

Fisher’s Resume: Captain Edward Dwight in The Astronaut Wives Club (2015), Cyborg
Victor Stone in the DCEU (2016-), Gene Mobley in Women of the Movement (2022), Darrian Bloodaxe in Rebel Moon: Part One – A Child of Fire (2023)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Peacemaker’

True Detective Cast: Jodie Foster as Liz Danvers

Character Profile: A detective in Ennis, Alaska. She speaks little of her mysterious past while raising a rebellious daughter. Liz reunites with a former colleague for a bizarre murder case.

Foster’s Resume: Iris in Taxi Driver (1976), Sarah Tobias in The Accused (1988), Clarice Starling in The Silence of the Lambs (1991), Erica Bain in The Brave One (2007), Bonnie Stoll in Nyad (2023)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Station Eleven’

True Detective Cast: Kali Reis as Evangeline Navarro

Character Profile: An Alaska state trooper. She looks after her sister while thinking about a past murder case. Evangeline teams up with Liz for a serial killer investigation.

Reis’ Resume: A Professional Boxer — Also, Kaylee in Catch the Fair One (2021)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘The Sex Lives of College Girls’

True Detective Cast: Fiona Shaw as Rose Aguineau

Character Profile: A native of Ennis, Alaska. She is a mystic who assists with a murder investigation. Rose’s missing lover is seemingly the father of Rust Cohle from True Detective season 1.

Shaw’s Resume: Father in The Avengers (1998), Aunt Petunia Dursley in Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone (2001), Marnie Stonebrook in True Blood (2011), Carolyn in Killing Eve (2018-22), Maarva Andor in Andor (2022)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Death and Other Details’

True Detective Cast: Finn Bennett as Peter Prior

Character Profile: A police officer in Ennis, Alaska. He assists Liz with a murder investigation. Peter experiences physical and emotional abuse from his father.

Bennett’s Resume: Young James Devereaux in Foyle’s War (2010), Robbie in Hope Gap (2019), Teenager in Surge (2020), Pink Shirt in The Nevers (2021), Marcellus in Domina (2021)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘The Woman in the Wall’

True Detective Cast: Isabella Star LaBlanc as Leah Danvers

Character Profile: Liz’s daughter. She is a teenager who gets in trouble due to her sexual activity. Leah embraces her native heritage despite her mother’s warnings.

LaBlanc’s Resume: Elfrina in Long Slow Exhale (2022), Donna in Pet Sematary: Bloodlines (2023)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Monsieur Spade’

True Detective Cast: John Hawkes as Hank Prior

Character Profile: Peter’s father. He is a police captain who awaits the arrival of a female love interest from Russia. Hank’s sketchy behavior worries friends and colleagues.

Hawkes’ Resume: Teardrop in Winter’s Bone (2010), Patrick in Martha Marcy May Marlene (2011), Mark in The Sessions (2012), Charlie in Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri (2017), Viggo in Too Old to Die Young (2019)

Read More at VV — Know the Cast: ‘Detective Forst’

The True Detective cast also includes:

• Chris Kerson as Nails
• Ritchie Coster as Mayor Austin Chessani
• Sarah Gadon as Elisa Montgomery
• Christopher James Baker as Blake Churchman
• Afemo Omilami as Police Chief Holloway
• James Frain as Lieutenant Kevin Burris
• Brett Cullen as Gerald Kindt
• Mamie Gummer as Lucy Purcell
• JD Evermore as Detective Lutz
• Andy Mackenzie as Ivar
• Dana Gourrier as Cathleen
• Abigail Spencer as Gena Brune
• Michael Irby as Detective Elvis Ilinca
• Timothy V. Murphy as Osip Agronov
• Yara Martinez as Felicia
• Adria Arjona as Emily
• Isaiah C. Morgan as Young Henry Hays
• Madison Wolfe as Audrey Hart
• Alain Uy as Ernst Bodine
• Jon Lindstrom as Jacob McCandless
• Kevin Dunn as Major Ken Quesada
• Jon Tenney as Alan Jones
• Michael Greyeyes as Brett Woodard
• W. Earl Brown as Detective Teague Dixon
• Joe Chrest as Detective Demma
• Rhys Wakefield as Freddy Burns
• Michael Hyatt as Katherine Davis
• Leven Rambin as Athena Bezzerides
• Emily Nelson as Margaret
• Lera Lynn as Singer
• Kennedi Butler as Young Becca Hays
• Dane Rhodes as Detective Favre
• David Katrinarson as Officer Cooper
• Alexandra Daddario as Lisa Tragnetti
• Scott Shepherd as Harris James
• Josh Hopkins as Jim Dobkins
• Lolita Davidovich as Cynthia Woodrugh
• David Morse as Eliot Bezzerides
• Rick Springfield as Dr. Irving Pitlor
• Erin Moriarty as Audrey Hart
• Michael Rooker as Edward Hoyt
• Lili Simmons as Beth
• Shea Whigham as Joel Theriot
• Jodi Balfour as Lori
• Ashley Hinshaw as Lacey Lindel
• Brighton Sharbino as Maisie Hart

Q.V. Hough (@QVHough) is Vague Visages’ founding editor.