Your Guide to the Crack-Obsessed Characters of ‘Snowfall’

By Kayla Cobb @kaylcobb

Published July 5, 2017, 4:15 p.m. ET

**Franklin Saint**
**Played by:** Damson Idris
**Where do I know him?** Idris has starred in *City of Tiny Lights* with Riz Ahmed
.What's his role? Young, ambitious, and immediately in over his head, Franklin is the heart of *Snowfall*. The 19-year-old is a known drug dealer, but when he risks his life and reputation to sell cocaine, his life immediately changes for the worse. Photo: FX

**Cissy Saint**
**Played by:** Michael Hyatt
**Where do I know her?** Hyatt is one of the show's most well known actors and has starred in everything from *Nightcrawler* and *The Wire* to *True Detective* and *Crazy Ex-Girlfriend*.
**What's her role?** Like any mother, Cissy only wants what's best for her son. However, that's hard to accomplish when you live in the projects, work for a slumlord, and your son is a too-ambitious drug dealer. Cissy is a pragmatic, hard-working, and loving mother, but their financial situation and her son's choices often test that love. Photo: FX

**Jerome Saint**
**Played by:** Amin Joseph
**Where do I know him?** Joseph has been in *Dope*, *The Expendables*, and the *Baywatch* movie.
**What's his role?** Once a big-time dealer, Jerome transitioned to just selling pot. He initially starts off the series as the voice of reason for his overly ambitious nephew, but when the money starts pouring in, he has a change of heart. Photo: FX

**Aunt Louie**
**Played by:** Angela Lewis
**Where do I know her?** Primarily a TV actress, Lewis has been in everything from *The Good Wife* to *Code Black*.
**What's her role?** You may be able to take the girl out of the party, but it's hard to take the party from the girl. Before her life with Jerome, Aunt Louie used to have a wild life. When Franklin appears with his new plan to sell cocaine, this less risk averse relative immediately steps in to help. Photo: FX

**Leon Simmons**
**Played by:** Isaiah Jones
**Where do I know him?** This is Jones' first major acting role.
**What's his role?** Once best friends, Franklin and Leon have now drifted ways in their late teenage years. When Franklin was in school in the Valley, Leon was in juvie. However, Leon sees Franklin's latest plan as a chance to attach himself to a rising drug dealing star, and he becomes loyal right-hand man to Franklin. Photo: FX

**Kevin Hamilton**
**Played by:** Malcolm Mays Where do I know him? Mays has been in *Rebel* and *Southpaw*.
**What's his role?** Another one of Franklin's childhood friends, Kevin wants into his buddy's new company. However, Franklin worries too much about his temperament to let Kevin completely in. Photo: FX

**Avi Drexler**
**Played by:** Alon Aboutboul
**Where do I know him?** Aboutboul is one of the better known actors in this FX series. He's been in everything from *The Dark Knight Rises* and *London Has Fallen* to *Body of Lies* and *Rambo III*.
**What's his role?** What's a drug-filled drama without a crazy drug lord? That's what Avi is for *Snowfall*. An Israeli expatriate, the eccentric dealer takes a chance on Franklin. Not only does he end up changing his new employee's life; he inadvertently changes the course of history. Photo: FX

**Luica Villanueva**
**Played by:** Emily Rios
**Where do I know her?** There's a good chance you already know Rios. She's appeared in everything from *True Detective* and *Breaking Bad* to *Friday Night Lights* and *Scandal*.
**What's her role?** The daughter of a pot-dealing Mexican drug lord, Lucia sees the same thing that Franklin does -- an opportunity for money. Photo: FX

**Gustavo "El Oso" Zapata**
**Played by:** Sergio Peris-Mencheta
**Where do I know him?** Prior to his time on the FX series, Zapata has mostly been a Spanish-language actor. He's starred in everything from *Isabel* to *The Borgia* and *Resident Evil: Afterlife*.
**What's his role?** Gustavo is a Mexican wrestler who has always felt like an outsider. However, when he finds a crime family who likes his perchance for violence, his loyalty is challenged. Photo: FX

**Teddy McDonald**
**Played by:** Carter Hudson
**Where do I know him?** Hudson is primarily a New York stage actor. He's starred in *The Effect*, *The Substance of Fire*, and *Abyss* as well as HBO's *The Night Of*.
**What's his role?** There are a lot of people who can be blamed in this fictional retelling of the crack epidemic, but this morally questionable CIA operative is easily one of the top five most guilty players. After a mysterious mistake landed him in trouble, Teddy was banished to LA. He's willing to do anything to get his former life. Photo: FX

**Alejandro Usteves**
**Played by:** Juan Javier Cardenas
**Where do I know him?** Primarily a television actor, Cardenas has had appearances on *NCIS: Los Angeles*, *Law & Order: SVU*, and *Scandal*.
**What's his role?** A Nicaraguan contra soldier, Alejandro is willing to do anything to get back the life he lost. Unfortunately, anything includes partnering up with a corrupt CIA operative to change the LA drug scene forever. Photo: FX

If drugs weren’t already a part of your summer, that’s about to change. Tonight marks the premiere of FX’s latest drama, Snowfall. Created by John Singleton, the series tells a fictionalized story of the crack epidemic that swept Los Angeles in the mid-1980s. It’s a slow-burn series that switches between the high-stakes drama and violence of prestige TV and a drifting tone that characterizes both creator Singleton’s work (Boyz N the Hood) and LA itself.

As Breaking Bad and Narcos have taught us, shows about drugs almost always make for great watches, and Snowfall in particular has the potential to be a sleeper summer hit for FX. However, one of the most exciting elements of this new show is its cast. Instead of relying on an assortment of recognizable faces, Snowfall is told through a cast of relatively unknown, but incredibly talented, actors. From Damson Idris‘ subtle yet wide-eyed take on a young drug dealer in over his head to Emily Rios‘ ever-fearless portrayal of an ambitious daughter of a Mexican drug lord, it’s Snowfall‘s characters instead of its plot that drives this story. But as is the case with any large ensemble show filled with new faces, it can be a bit hard to remember who’s who and which side of this cocaine-fueled ride they’re on. That’s where we come in.

Consider this your guide to the many characters of Snowfall. From new drug dealers to corrupt members of the law and everyone in between, this cheat sheet will help you remember which anti-heroes to root for and who you need to keep an eye on.

Season 1 of Snowfall premieres on FX Wednesday, July 5 at 10 p.m.

Stream Snowfall on FX