HBO's The Last of Us adaptation is largely a faithful retelling of the story originally told in the PlayStation gaming, released in 2013. In reinterpreting the post-apocalyptic tale of Joel and Ellie however, it will make a few interesting decisions in tweaking and expanding on existing characters, as well as adding completely new ones.
Pedro Pascal and Bella Ramsey star as Joel and Ellie, respectively. The initial actors who portrayed them, Troy Baker and Ashley Johnson, also appear in supporting roles. Joining them are Jeffery Piece, who played Tommy hanging around, as well as Merle Dandridge, who reprises her role as Marlene.
Here is a handy guide to the cast of the HBO adaptation of The Last of Us, as well as a bit about the characters they play. If you watch the show, no doubt you'll recognise someone you may remember from another thing these were in – and hopefully, this guide will help you out.
For further analysis and reading on the HBO adaptation of The Last of Us, you should check out the next articles:
- A spoiler-free overview of the whole first season of The Last of Us HBO TV series
- The Last of Us HBO Tv show: Cast and Character Guide
- The Last of Us interview: Henry and Perry actors examine their work
Episode recaps and analysis:
- The Last of Us – Episode 1 Recap – ‘When You’re Lost in the Darkness’
- The Last of Us – Episode 2 Recap – ‘Infected’
- The Last people – Episode 3 Recap – ‘Long, Long Time’
- The Last of Us – Episode 4 Recap – ‘Please Hold to My Hand’
- The Last of Us – Episode 5 Recap – 'Endure and Survive'
Behind-the-scenes podcast recaps:
- HBO’s The Last of Us Podcast – Episode 1 Recap – ‘When You’re Lost within the Darkness’
- HBO’s All of the Us Podcast – Episode 2 Recap – ‘Infected’
- HBO’s All of the Us Podcast – Episode 3 Recap – ‘Long, Long Time’
- HBO’s All of the Us Podcast – Episode 4 Recap – ‘Please Hold to My Hand’
The Last of Us has become streaming on HBO Max in the US, and Binge in Australia.
The Last people HBO – Listing of Cast and Characters
- Pedro Pascal as Joel Miller
- Bella Ramsey as Ellie Williams
- Gabriel Luna as Tommy Miller
- Anna Torv as Tess Servopoulous
- Merle Dandridge as Marlene
- Nick Offerman as Bill
- Murray Bartlett as Frank
- Storm Reid as Riley
- Nico Parker as Sarah Miller
- Lamar Johnson as Henry
- Keivonn Woodward as Sam
- Melanie Lynskey as Kathleen
- Jeffrey Pierce as Perry
- Troy Baker as James
- Scott Shepherd as David
- Ashley Johnson as Anna Williams
- Elaine Mile as Florence
- Graham Greene as Marlon
Pedro Pascal as Joel Miller
Pedro Pascal plays Joel Miller, one of the two central protagonists of The Last people. Joel is a survivor within the post-apocalypse, who undergoes significant emotional turmoil after losing his teenage daughter at the outset of the outbreak. He's tasked by Marlene, the best choice of the Fireflies resistance group, with escorting Ellie across the United States from Boston, where the story begins.
Pedro Pascal is the well-known Chilean actor that has held a number of significant roles recently, most notable because the titular character of The Mandalorian on Disney+ (though you would be forgiven for not realising it, with the helmet and all) in addition to starring roles in Narcos and also the fourth season of HBO's Game of Thrones.
He's got quite the number, too, taking on comedic roles in films like the Nicholas Cage satire The Unbearable Weight of Massive Talent, and a villainous role in Wonder Woman 1984.
The Last people is not his first video game project – he also voiced the character of Paolo in Dishonored 2 from Arkane Studios.
Bella Ramsey as Ellie Williams
Bella Ramsey plays Ellie Williams, a teenage orphan who has been bitten by an infected person, but is somehow safe from the virus that turns people into zombie-like creatures. Consequently, she's been directed to accompany Joel to hopefully reach a laboratory, where she can be examined, and hopefully a remedy can be found.
Bella Ramsey is best noted for her role in HBO's Game of Thrones, where she played Lyanna Mormot in Season 6 onwards. She also had the starring role within the Lena Dunham-directed film, Catherine Called Birdy, where she literally daughter of a noble family trying to dodge various arranged marriages.
You might have also seen Ramsey in shows like His Dark Materials, Becoming Elizabeth, or maybe you're a younger viewer, The Worst Witch.
The Last of Us is also not Ramsey's first video game-related project – she voiced Freya in Doctor Who Infinity.
Gabriel Luna as Tommy Miller
Gabriel Luna plays Tommy Miller, the brother of Joel. Tommy is by using Joel and Sarah the night the outbreak occurs. During the era of The Last people, Tommy went missing, and is one of the main reasons Joel wants to travel beyond the bounds of the Boston Quarantine Zone. Within the narrative from the game and also the TV show, Tommy is a former person in the Fireflies resistance group.
Gabriel Luna is probably most widely known as playing Ghost Rider (Robbie Reyes) in Marvel's television series, Agents of S.H.I.E.L.D., in addition to being the main antagonist in Terminator: Dark Fate. You may even have experienced him in Season 2 of HBO's True Detective.
Luna has additionally done some voice work in the video game industry, for Blacksite: Area 51, a game created by Harvey Smith, who'd later will continue to design the Dishonored series.
Anna Torv as Tess Servopoulous
Anna Torv plays Tess, Joel's partner in crime during the era of The Last of Us. When we first encounter Tess during both game and also the HBO Tv show, she has been ripped off by another smuggler named Robert, and her quest to return at him is what leads Joel and Tess to Ellie. Actually, Tess may be the one that convinces Joel to take on the Ellie job, despite his hesitation.
Anna Torv is an Australian actress that has held a number of fantastic roles. International audiences might know her best from the J.J. Abrams sci-fi series Fringe, where she played the leading role of Olivia Dunham. She also played Wendy Carr in the Netflix murderer series, Mindhunter.
On Australian screens, she recently literally lead role of Helen Norville in the ABC series The Newsreader. Further back, she appeared on The Secret Life of Us.
Like her colleagues on The Last of Us, this show isn't her first foray in to the world of video games. Torv played the lead role in Heavenly Sword, the action-adventure game produced by Ninja Theory for that Ps3, which also starred Andy Serkis (The Lord from the Rings, Andor, Planet of the Apes).
Merle Dandridge as Marlene
Merle Dandridge plays Marlene, the best choice of the Fireflies resistance group in Boston. The Fireflies are a democratic group working to overthrow FEDRA, who they see as a fascist organisation oppressing those who still survive and reside in the post-apocalyptic quarantine zones. When Marlene discovers that Ellie is immune to the virus that turns people into zombie-like creatures, she sets a plan in motion to move Ellie to a facility that can properly examine her, and employ the data to produce a cure.
Merle Dandridge reprises the role of Marlene in the gaming form of The Last of Us – the only real actor to do so. But The Last of Us is not Dandridge's most iconic video game-related role by a long shot.
Dandridge literally role of Alyx Vance within the critically acclaimed gaming series, Half-Life, developed by Valve Software. She also plays the roles of both Legion Commander and Winter Wyvern in Valve's ever-popular multiplayer game Dota 2, and played Kate Collins in Everybody's Attended the Rapture – a role which she won a BAFTA for.
Elsewhere, Dandridge has had a number of roles on Broadway shows, including Rent, Aida, Tarzan, and Monty Python's Spamalot. On screen, she's had recurring roles on shows like Sons of Anarchy, Station 19, Honestly, Greenleaf, and The Night Shift, among many others.
Nick Offerman as Bill
Nick Offerman plays Bill, a survivalist – okay, doomsday prepper – who resides in their own little gated town, which he protects for an alarming degree with deadly traps, and an extreme collection of firearms. In the game, Bill helps Joel and Ellie acquire a car battery to assist them to on their journey, however the HBO adaptation of The Last of Us requires a very different method of the story of Bill.
Nick Offerman is the iconic comedic actor who rose to fame as Ron Swanson in the sitcom Parks and Recreation. Since then, he's had countless roles both in comedic and dramatic roles, including in films and TV shows like Fargo, Devs, The Resort, The truly amazing North, Sing and Pam & Tommy, to name some recent examples. He's also really into woodworking.
Offerman's role in The Last of Us is definitely a dramatic one, and quite possibly one of his best yet.
Murray Bartlett as Frank
Murray Bartlett plays Frank, the partner of Bill who we simply saw a very brief peek at in The Last people video game – should you may even call it that – but whose character and relationship with Bill is explored inside a much deeper fashion within the HBO adaptation.
Murray Bartlett is definitely an Australian actor who won a 2023 Emmy Award for his memorable role in season One of the HBO series, The White Lotus. Previous to that, you may have seen him in the HBO series Looking, the Netflix miniseries Tales from the City, or on Apple TV+'s Physical, among a number of other roles.
Bartlett can also be starring in the upcoming miniseries Welcome to Chippendales, for which he continues to be nominated for a Critic's Choice Television Award.
Storm Reid as Riley
Storm Reid plays Riley, the very best friend of Ellie. Their relationship is explored in an episode from the HBO adaptation of The Last of Us that reimagines the era of the Left Behind expansion content for the gaming. Within the story, Riley has gone missing, but returns to go to Ellie one night. They spend time together in an abandoned mall, and talk about the future.
Storm Reid is a relative newcomer, but continues to be incredibly busy previously couple of years. You will probably have seen her in the HBO series Euphoria, the Ava DuVernay Disney film A Wrinkle over time, or in 12 Years a Slave, one of her first roles. Reid also were built with a role in the Leigh Whannell horror film, The Invisible Man, in addition to a minor part in James Gunn's The Suicide Squad.
She was also in a Jay-Z music video, which is very cool.
Nico Parker as Sarah Miller
Nico Parker plays Sarah Miller, Joel's teenage daughter, whose story includes a significant effect on who Joel is as an individual, and just how he interacts with Ellie over the course of the series.
Nico Parker is really a relative newcomer, with only a few credits to her name. They include her first credit role in Disney's live-action adaptation of Dumbo, a role in HBO series The Third Day (where she coincidentally played a personality called Ellie), and the sci-fi film Reminiscence, starring Hugh Jackmaan and directed by Lisa Joy (Westworld).
Lamar Johnson as Henry
Lamar Johnson plays Henry, the older brother of Sam, each of whom encounter Joel and Ellie in an attempt to escape Kansas City. The story of Sam and Henry is certainly one of the more memorable ones within the video game form of The Last people, and the HBO series puts its own unique spin on it.
You may have seen Johnson in the long-running dance series The Next Step, or more recently within the Bryan Cranston show, Your Honor. He's also had roles in films like The Hate U Give, coupled with a little role playing the smoothness of Match in X-Men: Dark Phoenix.
Keivonn Woodard as Sam
Kevionn Woodard plays Sam, younger brother of Henry, who get together with Joel and Ellie to try to escape Might. The HBO adaptation of The Last people changes the smoothness of Sam quite dramatically – he's now deaf, and also the two brothers communicate with sign language, in addition to a reusable drawing pad.
Kevionn Woodward is really a relative newcomer to acting – The Last people is his first major role, though he is credited inside a film about Andrew Jackson Foster, a united states pioneer of deaf education.
Woodward is, actually, deaf himself.
Melanie Lynskey as Kathleen
Melanie Lynskey plays Kathleen, a new character introduced in the HBO adaptation of The Last people. She's the leader of the citizen's militia which has overthrown the FEDRA government forces that ran the Might quarantine zone, and quickly shows herself to be a ruthless leader, despite her unassuming and sweet demeanour.
Melanie Lynskey is a New Zealand actress who has enjoyed increased popularity in recent years, thanks to a standout role within the thriller series Yellowjackets, which she won a Critic's Choice Award for, plus an Emmy nomination. She also had a role in the Netflix comedy, Don't Look Up, alongside Leonardo DiCaprio and Cate Blanchett, and it has performed in several other films and tv shows.
They include shows like Mrs. America, Castle Rock, Togetherness, and Two . 5 Men, as along with films like Flags of our Fathers, The Perks of Being A Wallflower, Up in the environment, and Away We Go. She had her debut within the 1994 Peter Jackson film, Heavenly Creatures.
Jeffrey Pierce as Perry
Jeffery Pierce plays Perry, another new character who's Kathleen's right-hand man within the Kansas City militia. Pierce was the actor who originally played Tommy, Joel's brother, in the gaming form of The Last people and The Last people Part II.
Pierce has provided his voice and motion capture talents to some quantity of other video games, especially the Call of Duty series of military game, along with the Medal of Honor series, which credits Steven Spielberg since it's creator.
On TV, he's had recurring roles in shows like Castle Rock and The Tomorrow People, as along with The Nine, and the lead role in sci-fi series, Charlie Jade.
Troy Baker as James
Troy Baker plays James, who's the right-hand man of David, the leader from the Silver Lake community, who Ellie has an encounter with on her behalf journey.
Troy Baker, of course, was the original actor to portray Joel in The Last of Us video game and it is sequel. Within the HBO adaptation, it's entertaining to determine him portray this specific character – if you know the storyline of Silver Lake in the games, you will have a concept of why.
Baker is, of course, very well known in the video game industry for portraying countless characters in starring roles. Some recent these include Higgs from Death Stranding, Batman in Telltale's Batman episodic series, Bruce Banner in The Avengers, Sam Drake in Uncharted 4, Revolver Ocelot in Metal Gear Solid V: The Phantom Pain, and Kanji in Persona 4.
He's also done a lot of voice operate in animation and anime projects, including Naruto Shippuden.
Scott Shepherd as David
Scott Shepherd plays David, the charismatic leader from the Silver Lake community, who Ellie has several close encounters with.
You may have seen Scott Shepherd in TV shows like The Young Pope, Wormwood, True Detective, and Bluff City Law.
He's also had roles in films such as Bridge of Spies, El Camino: A Breaking Bad Movie, and also played the father of Jean Grey in Dark Phoenix.
Ashley Johnson as Anna Williams
Ashley Johnson plays Anna Williams, mom of Ellie within the HBO version of The Last people. The fun connection here, obviously, is the fact that Ashley Johnson portrayed Ellie in the video game form of The Last people.
Johnson was awarded two BAFTA awards on her performance as Ellie in The Last of Us, and The Last people: Left Behind, apparently alone to ever win the award more than once.
Elsewhere, Johnson has largely worked in animation voiceover, for a number of animated series including Recess, Ben 10, and Infinity Train among many, many more.
She's also had various live action roles on television, though she's most frequently seen on Critical Role, a live-action web series which is all about Dungeons & Dragons campaigns.
Elaine Miles as Florence
In one of the later instances of The Last people, Ellie and Joel encounter a Native American couple living in the wilderness, who they struggle to coerce for information, with great difficulty. It's a great scene, and also the couple are hilarious. And for good reason, too.
Elaine Miles plays Florence, so if you feel of sufficient age, you'll likely recognise her from her role as Marilyn Whirlwind around the long-running and popular Tv show, Northern Exposure.
She hasn't been too active on screen since, apart from a few independent films, but continues to do in dance and stand-up comedy.
Graham Greene as Marlon
Graham Green plays the husband of Florence in The Last people, and he's also had quite the career.
An Indigenous Canadian, he rose to fame for his Academy Award-nominated role in Dances With Wolves, and appeared in several films for example The Green Mile, Transamerica, and Die Hard with a Vengeance.
You might have also seen him in a minor role as Whisky Jack in American Gods.
Green also voiced the character of Rains Fall within the Rockstar gaming, Red Dead Redemption 2.
The Last of Us begins streaming on HBO Max in the US on 15 January 2023, and Binge in Australia on 16 January 2023.
