Snowfall Cast and Characters: The Complete Guide to the Actors Who Made the FX Drama

The FX crime series Snowfall presented a powerful story about the start of the crack epidemic in 1980s Los Angeles. The show ran for six seasons from July 5, 2017, to April 19, 2023. Its lasting impact comes from the complex characters and the actors who played them. Their stories show ambition, family conflict, and the heavy cost of chasing power.

Main Cast and Their Characters

Damson Idris played the central character, Franklin Saint. Franklin starts as a young man selling small amounts of marijuana. He later builds a large crack cocaine empire in South Central Los Angeles. Idris shows Franklin’s change from an ambitious teenager to a feared kingpin who loses almost everything. His performance tracks Franklin’s slow moral decline and final downfall.

Carter Hudson played Theodore “Teddy” McDonald, who also uses the name Reed Thompson. Teddy is a CIA operative. His secret mission links the U.S. government’s activities in Nicaragua to the drug trade appearing in Los Angeles. Hudson portrays a morally complicated character who believes his harmful actions are justified by larger political goals.

Sergio Peris-Mencheta was Gustavo “El Oso” Zapata. He is a former Mexican wrestler who becomes an enforcer for a drug cartel. His story connects international cartel operations to the local street-level drug trade in the show.

Michael Hyatt played Cissy Saint, Franklin’s mother. She begins as his moral guide, hoping he will choose a different path. Over time, she must face the violent person her son becomes. Her character shows a mother’s struggle between love and horror.

Amin Joseph played Jerome Saint, Franklin’s uncle. Jerome brings Franklin into the drug business and teaches him how it works. Joseph shows Jerome as a charismatic but volatile figure. He is caught between loyalty to his family and his own desires.

Angela Lewis played Louanne “Louie” Saint. She starts as Jerome’s supportive girlfriend but grows into a powerful and ambitious figure in the drug trade herself. Her rise to power creates major conflict within the family.

Isaiah John played Leon Simmons, Franklin’s best friend and his business partner in the early days. Leon’s character often serves as the moral conscience of the story. He becomes increasingly troubled by the damage their business causes to their community.

Key Supporting Characters and Actors

The world of Snowfall was filled with memorable supporting characters who added depth to the story.

Emily Rios played Lucia Villanueva in the first two seasons. She is the daughter of a Mexican crime boss. Her decisions help shift the cartel’s focus from marijuana to cocaine.

Gail Bean played Wanda Bell, who later becomes Wanda Bell-Simmons. Wanda’s painful story shows the human cost of the drug epidemic. She develops a strong addiction to crack cocaine before working to recover. Bean and Isaiah John’s characters are set to return in a planned spinoff series.

Kevin Carroll played Alton Williams, Franklin’s estranged father. A former member of the Black Panthers, Alton is a recovering alcoholic. His political understanding and morals put him in direct conflict with the forces behind the drug trade.

Devyn A. Tyler joined in later seasons as Veronique Turner, Franklin’s girlfriend. She is a non-practicing lawyer who uses her real estate knowledge to help Franklin’s business.

Reign Edwards played Melody Wright, Franklin’s on-and-off girlfriend. Her struggle with addiction is one of the show’s most heartbreaking personal stories.

Other important figures include Alon Aboutboul as the international arms dealer Avi Drexler, and DeRay Davis as Peaches, Franklin’s loyal bodyguard whose sudden betrayal has serious consequences.

The Legacy and Future of the Snowfall Story

Snowfall was created by John Singleton, Eric Amadio, and Dave Andron. Singleton, who grew up in South Central Los Angeles, used his experiences to make the show’s setting feel authentic. The series did not glamorize the drug trade. Instead, it played out as a tragedy, showing how the pursuit of money and power led to the loss of family, safety, and identity.

The series concluded its six-season story in April 2023. However, the story continues. A spinoff series is in development, focusing on the characters Leon Simmons and Wanda Bell-Simmons. Actors Isaiah John and Gail Bean will return for this new chapter, which is expected to premiere in 2026.

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