13 Reasons Why: The Complete Guide to the Cast and Characters of the Hit Netflix Show

The series 13 Reasons Why created a major talking point when it landed on Netflix. It told a difficult story about a teenager named Hannah Baker and the thirteen people she said played a role in her decision to end her life. While the story started with Hannah’s tapes, it grew into a larger look at the lives, secrets, and struggles of the students at Liberty High School over four seasons. The show’s success was powered by a group of talented actors who brought these complex characters to life. This guide covers the main cast, the characters they played, and what they have done since the series ended.

The Core Characters and Their Stories

The story of 13 Reasons Why is built around a group of students whose lives are intertwined by tragedy, secrets, and their connection to Hannah Baker.

Dylan Minnette played the central role of Clay Jensen. Clay is the person who receives the box of cassette tapes Hannah recorded before her death. As he listens, he learns the hidden truths about his school and the people in it. Clay’s journey involves grief, anger, and a determined search for justice, which takes a heavy toll on his mental health, especially in the final season. Minnette was 23 during the show’s run and had been acting since he was a child, with roles in series like Drake & Josh and Lost.

Katherine Langford starred as Hannah Baker, whose story is told through the tapes she leaves behind. Hannah arrives at Liberty High as a new student, hopeful about making friends, but faces a series of betrayals, rumors, and traumatic events that lead to her suicide. Langford’s performance earned her a Golden Globe nomination. She was 24 at the time and chose to pursue acting professionally instead of attending college.

Alisha Boe portrayed Jessica Davis, who starts as Hannah’s friend. Jessica’s own story involves surviving a sexual assault by Bryce Walker. Her character’s path is one of recovery and empowerment; she eventually starts a club for survivors and becomes the student body president. Boe was 23 during the series and noted that the show’s ending felt like a graduation for her as well.

Brandon Flynn played Justin Foley, a popular basketball player from a difficult home life. Justin’s action of spreading a rumor about Hannah sets in motion the chain of events that hurts her reputation. His character is one of the most complex, battling addiction and shame before finding stability when he is adopted by Clay’s family. Flynn was 26 and a graduate of Rutgers University’s acting program.

The Supporting Students of Liberty High

Beyond the central figures, Liberty High was filled with other students whose actions and stories were crucial to the plot.

Christian Navarro was Tony Padilla, Clay’s loyal friend who is entrusted with the second set of Hannah’s tapes to ensure they are passed along. Tony serves as a guide and confidant for Clay throughout the series. At 28, Navarro was one of the older main cast members.

Justin Prentice took on the role of the antagonist, Bryce Walker. Bryce is a popular athlete from a wealthy family who is revealed to be a serial rapist, having assaulted both Jessica and Hannah. His murder in the third season becomes a central mystery. Prentice was 26 during the show.

Miles Heizer played Alex Standall, another of Hannah’s first friends at Liberty High. Alex creates a “Best of” list that names Hannah, contributing to her humiliation. In later seasons, Alex is involved in Bryce Walker’s death. Heizer was 26 and had previously starred in the series Parenthood.

Ross Butler portrayed Zach Dempsey, a kind-hearted athlete and friend to Justin and Bryce. Zach has a quieter role but is involved in key events, including a brutal assault on Bryce. At 30, Butler was the oldest of the original main teen cast.

Devin Druid was Tyler Down, a shy student who is severely bullied. Tyler’s trauma, including a sexual assault, leads him to plan a school shooting in the second season, which Clay stops. Druid was the youngest of the main cast at 22.

Timothy Granaderos played Montgomery “Monty” de la Cruz, a bully with a violent temper. Monty, who is secretly gay, commits a brutal assault against Tyler. At 33, Granaderos was the oldest in the cast when he became a series regular.

The Adults in the Room

The adult characters often represented the systems that failed the teenagers, or they provided what support they could.

Kate Walsh and Brian d’Arcy James played Hannah’s grieving parents, Olivia and Andy Baker. They drive the lawsuit against the school district in season two, seeking answers and accountability for their daughter’s death.

Derek Luke was Mr. Kevin Porter, the school guidance counselor whom Hannah reaches out to for help in a final, failed attempt.

Amy Hargreaves played Lainie Jensen, Clay’s mother and an attorney. She represents the school in the Baker lawsuit before starting her own firm, often struggling to balance her professional duties with her son’s deteriorating mental state.

New Faces in Later Seasons

As the story expanded beyond Hannah’s tapes, new characters were introduced to drive the narrative forward.

Grace Saif joined in season three as Ani Achola, a new student who lives in Bryce Walker’s house and becomes the narrator for that season. Her relationships with both Clay and Jessica create tension as she knows secrets about Bryce’s death.

The third season is narrated through her conversation with Deputy Standall. Tensions rise when Clay and Jessica find out that Ani slept with Bryce.

The fourth season introduced characters like Winston Williams (Deaken Bluman) and Charlie St. George (Tyler Barnhardt), who become involved with the main group during their final year of high school.

Where the Cast Is Now

Since the series concluded on June 5, 2020, the actors have moved on to new projects.

• Dylan Minnette has focused on his music career with his band Wallows, which has performed at major festivals like Lollapalooza.
• Katherine Langford starred in the Netflix series Cursed and has appeared in films like Knives Out and Love, Simon.
• Alisha Boe and Brandon Flynn worked together on the short film Binge after the show ended.
• Ross Butler continues to act in film and television, having been part of the DC Universe in Shazam! and the Arrowverse.
• Miles Heizer has appeared in films and also served as a judge on RuPaul’s Drag Race.

The series 13 Reasons Why is available to stream in its entirety on Netflix.

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