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WeirdYour Cheat Sheet to FX’s ‘Snowfall’
By Kayla Cobb
@kaylcobb
Published
July 5, 2017, 4:15 p.m. ET
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SNOWFALL — “Pilot” — Season 1, Episode 1 (Series Premiere, Airs Wednesday, July 5, 10:00 pm/ep) — Pictured: Damson Idris as Franklin. CR: Michael Yarish/FX
Michael Yarish
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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.
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
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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.
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
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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.
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
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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.
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
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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.
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
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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.
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
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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.
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
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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.
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
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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.
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
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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.
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
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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.
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
