While gritty crime series seem like a dime a dozen these days, Netflix's Ozark is considered one of the finest shows on television day, receiving praise and Emmy recognition for its moody style, tonal assurance, sharp direction, and standout performances from its talented ensemble, including Jason Bateman, Laura Linney, and an award-winning performance from Julia Garner. The show will soon come to an end with its forthcoming fourth and final season, so many viewers will be catching up with the series before its sure-to-be intense final moments. If you're in the midst of discovering what all the buzz is about and you find yourself wondering why these actors look familiar, we've here to help. Here's where you've seen the Ozark cast before.
Jason Bateman (Martin "Marty" Byrde)
Playing Martin "Marty" Byrde, a self-employed Chicago-based financial advisor who launders money for a Mexican drug cartel, Jason Bateman serves as a lead actor, director, and executive producer on this acclaimed drama show.
A former child actor seen in Little House on the Prairie, Silver Spoons, The Hogan Family, and Teen Wolf Too, Jason Bateman is better known for leading Fox's beloved comedy series, Arrested Development, which was picked up for two more seasons on Netflix nearly a decade later. Through the success of his Golden Globe-winning performance, Bateman later starred in Juno, Horrible Bosses 1 and 2, Extract, Up in the Air, Hancock, The Gift, and Game Night. He also voiced the male lead in Disney's Oscar-winning Zootopia.
Additionally, Bateman directed and starred in 2014's Bad Words, followed by 2016's The Family Fang. Recently, he directed and played a recurring role in HBO's mini-series, The Outsider.
Laura Linney (Wendy Byrde)
In the role of Wendy Byrde, a public relations operative married to Marty, Laura Linney plays the female lead in this celebrated Netflix drama series. As a four-time Emmy-winning actress, Linney is certainly quite distinguished. Those aforementioned Emmys were won for her performances in the TV film, Wild Iris, the sitcom, Frasier, the HBO mini-series, John Adams, and the Showtime dramedy, The Big C. In addition to these credits, Linney is known for her work on the stage and screen, receiving five Tony nominations and three Oscar nominations throughout her constantly-impressive career.
Her Oscar nominations came from her commendable performances in You Can Count On Me, Kinsey, and The Savages, respectively. Laura Linney is also recognizable for The Truman Show, Mystic River, Love Actually, Primal Fear, Sully, The Squid and the Whale, Nocturnal Animals, Searching for Bobby Fischer, and Lorenzo's Oil — to name a few titles.
Sofia Hublitz (Charlotte Byrde)
As Charlotte Byrde, the teenage daughter of Wendy and Marty, Ozark became Sofia Hublitz's first major television role. Before her time in this streaming show, Hublitz appeared as a contestant on Fox's MasterChef Junior, and she had guest appearances in Louie and Horace and Pete. Earlier this year, Hublitz starred in What Breaks the Ice, which premiered at the Woodstock Film Festival in October. Next, the young actress will star in the action-crime flick, Ida Red, and the dramatic film, Master — both of which are expected to premiere sometime next year.
Skylar Gaertner (Jonah Byrde)
Playing the part of Jonah Byrde, the teenage son of Wendy and Marty, Skylar Gaertner plays a smart, yet introverted, character in this acclaimed streaming series. Prior to this performance, Gaertner was seen in several episodes of Netflix's Daredevil. He also had a brief part in The Americans, as well as guest star appearances in Nurse Jackie, Person of Interest, CSI, Law & Order: SVU, and Lipstick Jungle. Additionally, Gaertner appeared in They Came Together, Sleeping with Other People, I Smile Back, Alex of Venice, and The Ticket.
Julia Garner (Ruth Langmore)
As Ruth Langmore, a woman who is part of a local dangerous crime family, Julia Garner has certainly garnered a lot of praise for her performance — pun intended. Specifically, she has won two Emmys for Best Supporting Actress in a Drama Series, among other accolades.
Prior to this noteworthy performance, Julia Garner was best known for her work in The Americans. She also had prominent film roles in The Perks of Being A Wallflower, Sin City: A Dame to Kill For, Martha Marcy May Marlene, We Are What We Are, and Grandma. Additionally, Garner starred in Netflix's mini-series, Maniac, in 2018, Paramount Network's mini-series, Waco, the same year, and she appears in Bravo's true-crime series, Dirty John. Earlier this year, the actress received some of her finest reviews for her lead performance in The Assistant.
Next, Julia Garner will frontline Shonda Rhimes' new Netflix drama, Inventing Anna.
Jordana Spiro (Rachel Garrison)
In the role of Rachel Garrison, Marty's hesitant business partner, Jordana Spiro starred in the first two seasons of Ozark. Prior to her time on this series, Jordana Spiro was best known for her leading role in the TBS sitcom, My Boys. She also had recurring roles in The Good Wife, Blindspot, Royal Pains, The Mob Doctor, Dexter, and JAG, as well as a leading role in the short-lived series, The Huntress. Her film credits include The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard, Trespass, Alone with Her, Must Love Dogs, and this year's To the Stars.
In addition to her acting credits, Jordana Spiro is the co-writer, executive producer, and director of 2018's indie drama, Night Comes On (which is worth watching on Tubi if you find the chance). Next, Spiro is set to star in the dramedy film, Small Engine Repair.
Jason Butler Harner (Roy Petty)
Playing Roy Petty, an FBI agent on Marty's tail, Jason Butler Harner is seen throughout the first two seasons of Netflix's Ozark. Though he's primarily known for his stage work, Harner has a number of big screen roles on his resume, including The Good Shepherd, Next, Changeling, Non-Stop, Kill the Irishman, 2009's The Taking of Pelham 123, Blackhat, and Jason Bateman's The Family Fang. He also had recurring roles in Ray Donovan, Scandal, The Blacklist, and Homeland. Additionally, he made guest star appearances in Hope & Faith, Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, John Adams, The Good Wife, CSI, The Newsroom, Elementary, This is Us, and High Maintenance.
Nowadays, Jason Butler Harner can be seen on Fox's Next. He's also starring in the new film, The Big Bend.
Esai Morales (Camino "Del" Del Rio)
During Ozark's first season, Esai Morales played Camino Del Rio, better known as "Del," who was a lieutenant for Mexico's Navarro drug cartel. Away from this series, Morales is known for playing Bob Morales in 1987's La Bamba, as well as Lt. Tony Rodriguez in NYPD Blue, Mayor Edward Beck in Jericho, and Joseph Adama in Caprica. His other notable television credits include American Family, Resurrection Blvd., How to Get Away with Murder, Titans, NCIS: Los Angeles, Chicago P.D., Blue Bloods, From Dusk Till Dawn: The Series, Criminal Minds, and Los Americans, which he also produced. He also lent his voice to Dora the Explorer.
Outside of television, Esai Morales' other film credits include 2018's Superfly, Jarhead 2: Field of Fire, Atlas Shrugged II: The Strike, Fast Food Nation, In the Army Now, and 1983's Bad Boys.
Peter Mullan (Jacob Snell)
As Jacob Snell, a local heroin producer, Peter Mullan appeared prominently in the first two seasons of Ozark. The Scottish actor is widely acclaimed for his arthouse powerhouse performances in My Name is Joe, The Claim, and Tyrannosaur. He is also distinguished for his work in Trainspotting, Children of Men, Young Adam, Braveheart, Riff-Raff, War Horse, and the Harry Potter series, wherein he played Yaxley in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows - Part 1 and 2. On television, Mullan starred in Top of the Lake, for which he was Emmy-nominated, Westworld Season 2, Mum, and, most recently, Netflix's Cursed.
Outside of acting, Peter Mullan directed acclaimed, award-winning indie dramas like 2002's The Magdalene Sisters and 2010's Neds. He starred in both of his films as well. Mullan wrote and directed 1998's debut film, Orphans. Most recently, the actor was seen in Marionette earlier this year.
Lisa Emery (Darlene Snell)
In the part of Darlene Snell, the wife of Jacob and his partner in his heroin business, Lisa Emery provides her most prominent on-screen role in this popular Netflix series. Primarily known for her stage work, Emery has starred in several movies and shows, including Unfaithful, Margot at the Wedding, The Night Listener, A Map of the World, Wolf, Admission, Roger Dodger, In & Out, and a recurring role on NBC's Ed. Emery also had guest appearances on Sex and the City, Law & Order: SVU, Fringe, Damages, The Sinner, Elementary, Louie, Netflix's Jessica Jones, and Law & Order.
Next, Lisa Emery stars in Catch the Fair One.
Charlie Tahan (Wyatt Langmore)
Playing the part of Wyatt Langmore, Ruth's cousin, Charlie Tahan has been a series regular on Ozark since Season 2, following a recurring presence in Season 1. Before he appeared in this series, Tahan was best known for Fox's Wayward Pines and Gotham. He also voiced the lead in Tim Burton's Frankenweenie, and provided child performances in I Am Legend, The Other Woman, Nights in Rodanthe, and Charlie St. Cloud. Additionally, Tahan played a recurring role in Law & Order: SVU. In recent years, the former child actor appeared in Wiener-Dog, Super Dark Times, Poms, Blue Jasmine, Love Is Strange, and Life of Crime.
Earlier this year, Charlie Tahan starred in Drunk Bus and episodes of Monsterland and FBI: Most Wanted. Next, he'll star in the mystery-drama, Montauk.
Janet McTeer (Helen Pierce)
Playing Helen Pierce, a Chicago-based attorney who represents the cartel, Janet McTeer was once a recurring character in Ozark Season 2 before she was promoted to series regular in Season 3. A Tony-winning actress for her 1996-1997 performance in A Doll's House, McTeer is also known for her Golden Globe-winning performance in Tumbleweeds, which was also Oscar-nominated, and for her Oscar-nominated performance in Albert Nobbs. Additionally, the award-recognized actress can be seen in The Woman in Black, the Divergent sequels, Maleficient, Songcatcher, Velvet Goldmine, Me Before You, Hawks, Half Moon Street, Songcatcher, and Damages' final season.
Her other television credits include The Governor, Sense and Sensibility, Into the Storm (for which she was Emmy-nominated), The White Queen, Battle Creek, Netflix's Jessica Jones, and, most recently, Facebook Watch's short-lived Sorry for Your Loss.
Tom Pelphrey (Ben Davis)
As Ben Davis, Wendy's brother who's on the run from the police when we first meet him on the show, Tom Pelphrey became a main character during Ozark's third season. Prior to his appearance in this Netflix drama, Pelphrey was best known for his soap opera roles, notably with his Emmy-winning performance in Guiding Light from 2004 through 2009, as well as his work in As the World Turns from 2009 to 2010. His other television credits include a notable part in Banshee and a series regular role in Iron Fist (which was also housed under Netflix). Additionally, Pelphrey can be seen in Law & Order: SVU, CSI: Miami, The Good Wife, Blue Bloods, Chicago P.D., and Blindspot.
On the big screen, Tom Pelphrey starred in Birds of America and The Girl Is In Trouble. Next up, he'll appear in Netflix's Mank and Amazon Prime's Outer Range.
Jessica Frances Dukes (Maya Miller)
In the role of Maya Miller, an FBI forensic accountant who's investigating the Byrdes' casino business, Jessica Frances Dukes was a new addition to Ozark Season 3. This series regular role is easily her most well-known, though Dukes also appeared in several episodes of Netflix's Jessica Jones. The actress has guest star appearances in New Amsterdam, The Good Wife, and NCIS: New Orleans as well. Most recently, she starred in the film, 16 Bars. Prior to that performance, Dukes starred in 2017's Bernard and Huey.
Who is your favorite Ozark actor/character? Be sure to let us know in the comment section!
