Love and Death Cast Guide: Meet the Actors Behind the True Crime Story

The miniseries Love and Death brought a shocking true story from a Texas suburb back into the spotlight. This character-driven drama explores the events leading to a violent crime and the trial that followed. The show’s power comes from its deep look into the people involved, brought to life by a strong group of actors. From Elizabeth Olsen as the central figure, Candy Montgomery, to Jesse Plemons and Lily Rabe as the couple whose lives she entered, the cast works hard to show the real humans behind a famous case. This guide details the actors who played these roles, their well-known previous work, and how they prepared for this intense true crime project.

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Elizabeth Olsen as Candy Montgomery

Elizabeth Olsen takes on the lead role of Candy Montgomery, a Texas housewife whose search for excitement leads to tragic consequences. Olsen is widely recognized for playing Wanda Maximoff, also known as the Scarlet Witch, in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, including the series WandaVision. For this very different role, Olsen aimed to understand Candy’s state of mind. She listened to real voice recordings of Candy Montgomery to perfect the Texas accent needed for the part.

In talking about the role, Olsen pointed out the show’s specific tone and setting. She described it as being about “small-town people meaning well under absurd circumstances”. Her performance shows Candy not just as a headline figure, but as a complex person. She is a mother and friend who feels a deep emptiness in her seemingly perfect life.

Jesse Plemons as Allan Gore

Playing Allan Gore, the man Candy chooses for an affair, is actor Jesse Plemons. Plemons is known for his skill in playing complex characters in serious dramas. His notable roles include Ed Blumquist in Fargo and the unsettling Todd Alquist in Breaking Bad. He was also nominated for an Oscar for his work in The Power of the Dog.

To prepare to play Allan, Plemons read the source material, the book Evidence of Love, and related articles. He brought a quiet and layered performance to the role of a man caught between duty and desire. Plemons felt that, in the story, Candy and Allan shared “a friendship more than anything and a space to be honest”.

Lily Rabe as Betty Gore

Lily Rabe portrays Betty Gore, Allan’s wife and Candy’s friend. The role required showing Betty’s struggles with depression and the pain of suspecting her husband’s betrayal, before her life ends violently. Rabe is a versatile actress best known for playing multiple characters across many seasons of American Horror Story.

In Love & Death, the storytelling tries to give Betty a full history. She is shown not just as a victim but as a person with her own challenges and life. This approach allows Rabe to build a more complete picture of the woman at the center of the tragedy.

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Patrick Fugit as Pat Montgomery

Candy’s husband, Pat Montgomery, is played by Patrick Fugit. Pat is an electrical engineer who stands by Candy during her trial, despite the strain on their marriage. Fugit is best known for his breakout role as teenage music journalist William Miller in the beloved film Almost Famous. He has also appeared in Gone Girl and provided voice and motion capture for the video game The Last of Us Part II.

In real life, after the trial in 1980, Pat and Candy Montgomery left Texas and moved to Georgia. They divorced four years later.

Key Supporting Cast and Characters

The story of Love & Death extends into the community around Candy, with a talented group of actors playing friends, legal teams, and family members.

• Krysten Ritter plays Sherry Cleckler, Candy’s close friend and business partner. Ritter is famous for playing the title role in the Marvel series Jessica Jones and for her role as Jane Margolis in Breaking Bad.
• Tom Pelphrey takes on the role of Don Crowder, the civil lawyer who represents Candy in her murder trial. Pelphrey received significant praise for his emotional performance as Ben Davis in the Netflix series Ozark.
• Elizabeth Marvel appears as Jackie Ponder, a reverend at Candy’s church. Marvel is known for her roles in political dramas like House of Cards and Homeland.
• Keir Gilchrist plays Ron Adams, the pastor at the Methodist Church in the community. Gilchrist is best known for starring as Sam Gardner in the Netflix coming-of-age series Atypical.

Other important supporting roles include Brian d’Arcy James as psychiatrist Dr. Fred Fason, who uses hypnosis on Candy during the trial. Mackenzie Astin plays District Attorney Tom O’Connell, who argues the case against Candy. Veteran actor Bruce McGill portrays Judge Tom Ryan, who presides over the highly publicized trial.

The True Story Behind the Series

Love & Death is based on real events that happened in Wylie, Texas, in 1980. The story is adapted from the nonfiction book Evidence of Love: A True Story of Passion and Death in the Suburbs by Jim Atkinson and John Bloom. This was the third time this story was adapted for television, following a 1990 TV movie and the 2022 Hulu series Candy starring Jessica Biel.

The real Candy Montgomery was acquitted of murder on October 30, 1980, after her defense team successfully argued she acted in self-defense. Following the trial, she and her family left Texas. Reports indicate that Candy Montgomery, now in her 70s, lives in Georgia.

Where to Watch Love & Death

Love & Death first premiered on HBO Max on April 27, 2023. The series became available for a wider audience when it began streaming on Netflix in the United States on December 1, 2023. The show continues to be available on Max as well. This move to Netflix introduced the chilling story to many new viewers who may have missed it during its first release.

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