The detective story in Stephen King‘s Mr. Mercedes hinges on a retired cop pulled back into a nightmare. Bringing this from page to screen required a team of actors who could embody the intense personalities from King’s Bill Hodges trilogy. The show, which ran for three seasons from 2017 to 2019, is built around the dynamic between a worn-out detective and the brilliant, disturbing killer who haunts him.
For audiences discovering the series on streaming or revisiting it, understanding the cast is key to following the complex plot. The main group of actors forms the core of the story, with characters appearing and evolving across different seasons.
The Central Duo: Retired Detective and His Tormentor
At the heart of the series is the cat-and-mouse game between the investigator and the criminal. Their conflict drives the entire story.
- Brendan Gleeson as Bill Hodges: The Irish actor brings a powerful presence to the role of the retired detective. Bill Hodges is a man defined by his one unsolved case, living a life of frustration and heavy drinking until the killer makes contact. Gleeson portrays Hodges as gruff and worn down, but also sharp and relentlessly determined. Gleeson is known globally for playing Alastor “Mad-Eye” Moody in the Harry Potter film series.
- Harry Treadaway as Brady Hartsfield: The antagonist of the show’s first two seasons is Brady Hartsfield, the man who committed the mass murder with a stolen Mercedes. Treadaway plays Brady as a chillingly intelligent and manipulative psychopath who works at an electronics store. His performance shows a character who is calm and calculating on the surface but deeply disturbed. Fans might recognize Treadaway from his role as Victor Frankenstein in the series Penny Dreadful.
Hodges’s Investigative Team and Key Allies
Hodges does not work alone. He gathers a small, unconventional team to help him pursue Brady and, later, other criminals.
- Justine Lupe as Holly Gibney: One of the most important characters in the entire story is Holly Gibney. Introduced in Season 1 as the cousin of a victim, Holly has OCD and sensory processing disorder. Lupe portrays her with a unique brilliance; Holly is incredibly observant, methodical, and becomes Hodges’s indispensable investigative partner. Lupe is also known for playing Willa Ferreyra on the HBO series Succession.
- Jharrel Jerome as Jerome Robinson: Jerome is Hodges’s tech-savvy young neighbor who gets pulled into the case. He uses his skills to help the retired detective navigate the digital side of the investigation, from retrieving deleted videos to technical surveillance. Jerome provides both vital assistance and a more youthful perspective. The actor won an Emmy for his role in the Netflix series When They See Us.
- Holland Taylor as Ida Silver: Ida Silver is Hodges’s neighbor and love interest. Taylor plays her as witty, outspoken, and a source of much-needed support and grounding for Hodges. While not involved in the investigations, she represents a connection to a normal life. Taylor is a veteran actress famous for roles like Professor Stromwell in Legally Blonde.
The Supporting Network and Key Figures
The story is filled with characters who provide crucial context, from victims’ families to the killer’s own disturbing world.
- Mary-Louise Parker as Janey Patterson: Parker plays Janey Patterson, the sister of Olivia Trelawney, the woman whose Mercedes was stolen for the massacre. Janey partners with Hodges early on, seeking justice for her sister’s death and becoming a key ally in the first season. Parker is well-known for her lead role as Nancy Botwin in the series Weeds.
- Kelly Lynch as Deborah Hartsfield: Lynch portrays Deborah Hartsfield, Brady’s alcoholic mother. Their relationship is deeply troubled and inappropriate, offering viewers a window into the origins of Brady’s psychology. Her role is central to understanding the antagonist’s background in Season 1.
- Breeda Wool as Lou Linklatter: Wool plays Lou Linklatter, Brady’s coworker at the electronics store Supreme Electronix. Lou is one of the few people in Brady’s life who could be considered a friend, and her scenes help illustrate his day-to-day disguise as a normal person.
New Faces in Later Seasons
The series adapts three Stephen King novels, introducing new major characters with each season to expand the story.
- Gabriel Ebert as Morris Bellamy: In Season 3, a new primary antagonist emerges. Gabriel Ebert plays Morris Bellamy, a volatile criminal and obsessed fan of a reclusive author. His violent actions create a new case that draws in Hodges and Holly.
- Jack Huston as Felix Babineau: Also appearing in Season 3 is Jack Huston as Felix Babineau, a skilled neurosurgeon with a connection to the ongoing plot.
- Bruce Dern as John Rothstein: The legendary actor Bruce Dern appears in Season 3 as John Rothstein, the famous and reclusive author whom Morris Bellamy idolizes.
Series Background and Where to Watch
Mr. Mercedes was developed for television by David E. Kelley, with Jack Bender serving as a primary director. The series originally aired on the AT&T Audience Network, with its three seasons concluding in November 2019.
Following the shutdown of the Audience Network, the series became available for streaming. It first moved to Peacock in September 2020. More recently, the complete series has been added to Netflix, introducing Stephen King’s thriller to a new and wider audience.
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