Linney led the series as teacher Cathy Jamison and won the 2013 limited-series lead-actress Emmy for The Big C: Hereafter.

Her later television role as Wendy Byrde on Ozark brought further Emmy nominations. She has also continued a film and Broadway career marked by Oscar and Tony nominations.

Platt portrayed Cathy's husband, Paul, throughout the series. His wide character-actor career includes Bulworth, Frost/Nixon, and recurring television roles.

In the 2020s he became familiar to audiences as Dr. Daniel Charles on Chicago Med and Uncle Jimmy in The Bear.

Basso played Cathy and Paul's teenage son Adam. After the series he appeared in Super 8 and The Kings of Summer, then took on more adult dramatic leads.

Netflix's conspiracy thriller The Night Agent made him the center of a global streaming series.

Hickey played Cathy's brother Sean, an environmentalist living outside conventional routines. His stage work earned a 2011 Tony for The Normal Heart.

Later television credits included Manhattan, In Treatment, and the 2025 film Lilly, alongside directing work for theater.

Sidibe played Cathy's student Andrea, later becoming a series regular. She entered television after an Oscar-nominated film debut in Precious and subsequently held prominent roles on American Horror Story and Empire.

Sidibe has also directed episodes and a feature, expanding her work behind the camera.

Somerville played Marlene, Cathy's initially difficult but increasingly important neighbor. Her screen credits also included Little Children, The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, and the series Outsiders.

A respected stage performer as well, Somerville died in 2020; this is a completed career retrospective.

Scott portrayed Cathy's oncologist, Dr. Todd Mauer, during the early seasons.

He later became best known as political operative Dan Egan on Veep, sharing in the ensemble's comedy awards recognition. His film work includes both Venom features and Late Night.

Nixon recurred as Cathy's college friend Rebecca. Her career-defining television role remains Miranda Hobbes in Sex and the City and its continuation And Just Like That....

She has also won major stage awards and appeared in Ratched and The Gilded Age.

Dancy joined season two as Lee Fallon, another patient whose path intersects with Cathy's.

His later television work includes the lead partnership of Hannibal, the legal drama The Path, and a regular role on Law & Order. He has also maintained film and stage credits.

Elba guest-starred as painter Lenny and received an Emmy nomination for the role. His broader television landmarks include Stringer Bell on The Wire and detective John Luther.

Film work has ranged from Beasts of No Nation to major action franchises, alongside producing and music projects.

Alda played specialist Dr. Atticus Sherman during the third season. Decades earlier he became a television icon as Hawkeye Pierce on M*A*S*H, earning Emmys as actor, writer, and director.

Later work included The West Wing, Marriage Story, and science-communication projects.

Sarandon recurred as motivational figure Joy Kleinman. Her film career includes Thelma & Louise and the Best Actress Oscar-winning Dead Man Walking, with later television roles in Feud and Monarch. She has remained active across film, voice, and guest work.

Susan Sarandon — Joy Kleinman is one of the hj featured in this gallery.

Holbrook appeared as Mykail, a romantic interest in Andrea's storyline. He later gained broad recognition through Narcos, Logan, The Sandman, and Indiana Jones and the Dial of Destiny.

Those projects moved him from an early television supporting role into major film and streaming productions.

Socha played Mia, Adam's girlfriend, in a recurring storyline.

Her career has combined television with Broadway and off-Broadway work, including the original Broadway production of Spring Awakening and the musical Head Over Heels. Screen credits include Red Oaks and later guest roles.

Cox guest-starred as Cathy and Sean's father, Donald. His long stage and screen career spans Manhunter, Braveheart, the Bourne films, and many classical roles.

In the 2010s and 2020s, Logan Roy on Succession brought a new defining television performance and an Emmy win.