The Sympathizer cast features Hoa Xuande, Robert Downey Jr. and Toan Le. This info article contains minor spoilers and cast/character summaries for Park Chan-wook and Don McKellar’s 2024 HBO Max miniseries. Check out more streaming guides in Vague Visages’ Know the Cast category, and then browse complete soundtrack song listings in the Soundtracks of Cinema section.

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The Sympathizer chronicles the experiences of a Vietnamese spy. When a Saigon police captain flees to America with numerous associates, he secretly colludes with North Vietnamese comrades. The narrative follows the focal antihero as he bonds with refugees in the United States. Here’s every actor and character in The Sympathizer, an adaptation of Viet Thanh Nguyen’s 2015 novel.

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

The Sympathizer Cast: Hoa Xuande as The Captain

Character Profile: A Saigon police captain. He is a biracial and bilingual man who works as a mole for his North Vietnamese comrades. The Captain tries to maintain appearances while beginning a new life in America.

Xuande’s Resume: Elvin in Ronny Chieng: International Student (2017), Khoa in Hungry Ghosts (2020), Lin in Cowboy Bebop (2021), Hamish in A Stitch in Time (2022), Romeo in Last King of the Cross (2023)

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

The Sympathizer Cast: Robert Downey Jr. as Claude, Niko, Professor Hammer and Ned Godwin

Character Profile: A CIA agent. He colludes with The Captain. Downey Jr. also portrays a professor, a filmmaker and a congressman.

Downey Jr.’s Resume: Julian in Less Than Zero (1987), Charles Spencer Chaplin in Chaplin (1992), Tony Stark in the MCU (2008-), Sherlock Holmes in Sherlock Holmes (2009), Lewis Strauss in Oppenheimer (2023)

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

The Sympathizer Cast: Toan Le as The General

Character Profile: A general in South Vietnam. He searches for a flight to America with his family. The General worries about a mole within his inner circle.

Le’s Resume: Ban Nguyen in Simply Fobulous (2005), Sam in Apart from That (2006), Uncle Bill Nguyen in Bullets, Blood & a Fistful of Ca$h (2006), Fellow Tunt in Visioneers (2008), Alex in Bigfoot (2012)

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

The Sympathizer Cast: Fred Nguyen Khan as Bon

Character Profile: The Captain’s friend. He requests a staff list for the secret police. Bon climbs the professional ladder in Vietnam while The Captain sends messages through international contacts.

Khan’s Resume: Jake in Hotel Limbo (2020), Lee in Slim & Wren (2020), Code Blue Medic in Fatherhood (2021), Mr. Conor in Transplant (2022), Patchy in Tales of Melee Island (2022)

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

The Sympathizer Cast: Duy Nguyễn as Man

Character Profile: The Captain’s friend. He struggles in America after losing family members. Man lives with The Captain in California.

Nguyễn’s Resume: Passerby in Transplant (2022), Young Man in Night from the 4th to the 5th (2022), Étienne Bolduc in The Night Logan Woke Up (2022), Paul in Ghosts (2023)

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

The Sympathizer cast also includes:

• Vy Le as Lana
• Tom Dang as Skinny Timid RTO
• Scott Ly as Hefty Gunner Dao
• Tien Pham as The Petulant Captain
• Nguyen Cao Ky Duyen as Madame
• Kieu Chinh as Crapulent Major’s Mother
• VyVy Nguyen as Crapulent Major’s Wife
• Sandra Oh as Sofia Mori
• Kayli Tran as Communist Spy
• Diem Truong as Captain’s Mother
• Phanxine as The Major
• Quinn Hoàng as Commandant
• La Thanh Thanh as Linh
• Siena Werber as Violet
• Maxwell Whittington-Cooper as The Idol

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