Fun
Frisky
Nostalgic
Intense
Adventurous
Choked Up
Curious
Romantic
Weird‘True Detective’ Season 3: Your Guide to the Characters
By Kayla Cobb
@kaylcobb
Published
Jan. 10, 2019, 3:00 p.m. ET
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Here's who you need to know in this sprawling crime drama.
Photo: HBO ; Illustration: Dillen Phelps
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Wayne Hays
Played By: Mahershala Ali
A state police detective from Northwest Arkansas, Wayne Hays can divide his life into two halves: before the Purcell case and after it. He's a veteran who's incredibly skilled at hunting both animals and people. We experience the Purcell case through three periods of his life, when the Purcell children first disappeared, when the case was reopened 10 years later, and when a documentary crew looks into it 10 years after that. He has a loving wife and two kids. Where Have I Seen Him Before? He's Mahershala Ali, so anytime there's a great project you can bet he's there. Ali has starred in House of Cards, Luke Cage, and most recently won a Golden Globe for The Green Book.
Played By: Mahershala Ali
A state police detective from Northwest Arkansas, Wayne Hays can divide his life into two halves: before the Purcell case and after it. He's a veteran who's incredibly skilled at hunting both animals and people. We experience the Purcell case through three periods of his life, when the Purcell children first disappeared, when the case was reopened 10 years later, and when a documentary crew looks into it 10 years after that. He has a loving wife and two kids. Where Have I Seen Him Before? He's Mahershala Ali, so anytime there's a great project you can bet he's there. Ali has starred in House of Cards, Luke Cage, and most recently won a Golden Globe for The Green Book.
Photo: HBO
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Roland West
Played By: Stephen Dorff
Wayne's partner, Roland is a State Investigator for Arkansas. His life is also forever altered by the disappearance of the Purcell children. Unlike in other seasons of this series, Roland trusts his partner completely. Where Have I Seen Him Before? Dorff is probably best known for starring in the sci-fi action thrillers Blade and Immortals. He also starred in Sofia Coppola's Somewhere.
Played By: Stephen Dorff
Wayne's partner, Roland is a State Investigator for Arkansas. His life is also forever altered by the disappearance of the Purcell children. Unlike in other seasons of this series, Roland trusts his partner completely. Where Have I Seen Him Before? Dorff is probably best known for starring in the sci-fi action thrillers Blade and Immortals. He also starred in Sofia Coppola's Somewhere.
Photo: HBO
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Amelia Reardon
Played By: Carmen Ejogo
An Arkansas school teacher, Amelia becomes forever connected to this 1980 missing children case. As the series progresses she also starts to develop a deep relationship with Wayne. Where Have I Seen Her Before? Ejogo is perhaps best known for her work in Selma. But she's also starred in It Comes at Night, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and Away We Go.
Played By: Carmen Ejogo
An Arkansas school teacher, Amelia becomes forever connected to this 1980 missing children case. As the series progresses she also starts to develop a deep relationship with Wayne. Where Have I Seen Her Before? Ejogo is perhaps best known for her work in Selma. But she's also starred in It Comes at Night, Fantastic Beasts and Where to Find Them, and Away We Go.
Photo: HBO
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Henry Hays
Played By: Ray Fisher
Wayne's son in the third, modern-day timeline, Henry spends much of his time taking care of his aging father. As the series continues and Wayne spends more time with the documentary crew he becomes worried that his dad is being pushed too far. Where Have I Seen Him Before? Fisher is pretty new to mainstream Hollywood, but he already has a huge role under his belt. The actor played Cyborg in both Justice League and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Played By: Ray Fisher
Wayne's son in the third, modern-day timeline, Henry spends much of his time taking care of his aging father. As the series continues and Wayne spends more time with the documentary crew he becomes worried that his dad is being pushed too far. Where Have I Seen Him Before? Fisher is pretty new to mainstream Hollywood, but he already has a huge role under his belt. The actor played Cyborg in both Justice League and Batman v Superman: Dawn of Justice.
Photo: Getty Images
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Tom Purcell
Played By: Scoot McNairy
The father of the missing Purcell children, Tom has been haunted by this case for over 10 years. But it's his relationship with his wife that's the most toxic. Where Have I Seen Him Before? McNairy is best known for starring in Argo. He's also been in Monsters, 12 Years a Slave, and narrated Narcos: Mexico.
Played By: Scoot McNairy
The father of the missing Purcell children, Tom has been haunted by this case for over 10 years. But it's his relationship with his wife that's the most toxic. Where Have I Seen Him Before? McNairy is best known for starring in Argo. He's also been in Monsters, 12 Years a Slave, and narrated Narcos: Mexico.
Photo: HBO
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Lucy Purcell
Played By: Mamie Gummer
The mother of the missing Purcell children, she's deeply connected to this case. But as the investigation continues it becomes clear this matriarch wasn't the head of a perfect childhood home. Where Have I Seen Her Before? Gummer is best known for starring in the Meryl Streep movie Ricki and the Flash. She's also starred in Side Effects and The Ward.
Played By: Mamie Gummer
The mother of the missing Purcell children, she's deeply connected to this case. But as the investigation continues it becomes clear this matriarch wasn't the head of a perfect childhood home. Where Have I Seen Her Before? Gummer is best known for starring in the Meryl Streep movie Ricki and the Flash. She's also starred in Side Effects and The Ward.
Photo: HBO
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Jim Dobkins
Played By: Josh Hopkins
A private attorney for Fayetteville, Arkansas, Jim appears in the middle timeline. He's tasked with re-opening the Purcell case 10 years after it happened. Where Have I Seen Him Before? Remember The Perfect Storm and Without a Trace? Then you've seen Hopkins' work. He played Captain Darryl Ennis.
Played By: Josh Hopkins
A private attorney for Fayetteville, Arkansas, Jim appears in the middle timeline. He's tasked with re-opening the Purcell case 10 years after it happened. Where Have I Seen Him Before? Remember The Perfect Storm and Without a Trace? Then you've seen Hopkins' work. He played Captain Darryl Ennis.
Photo: Getty Images
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Lori
Played By: Jodi Balfour
Lori is a long-tem love interest of Investigator Roland West. Where Have I Seen Her Before? Balfour is likely best known for starring as Jackie Kennedy in Netflix's The Crown.
Played By: Jodi Balfour
Lori is a long-tem love interest of Investigator Roland West. Where Have I Seen Her Before? Balfour is likely best known for starring as Jackie Kennedy in Netflix's The Crown.
Photo: Getty Images
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Becca Hayes
Played By: Deborah Ayorinde
Wayne's younger child, Becca is estranged from her family. Whereas her brother Henry still takes care of their father, Becca moved away. Where Have I Seen Her Before? Ayorinde has starred in Marvel's Luke Cage as Candace. She also starred in Girls Trip as Simone.
Played By: Deborah Ayorinde
Wayne's younger child, Becca is estranged from her family. Whereas her brother Henry still takes care of their father, Becca moved away. Where Have I Seen Her Before? Ayorinde has starred in Marvel's Luke Cage as Candace. She also starred in Girls Trip as Simone.
Photo: Getty Images
