Then & Now: The Sons Of Anarchy Cast Has Only Gotten Hotter

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The following article contains spoilers for "Sons of Anarchy" and a brief mention of suicide.

It has been more than a decade since the FX drama "Sons of Anarchy" rode off into the sunset in 2014, but the iconic series continues to be part of the pop culture conversation. Chronicling the exploits of a motorcycle club in the fictional town of Charming in California's Central Valley region, the at-times-brutal Kurt Sutter-created drama was a ratings hit that earned five Primetime Emmy nominations across its seven-season run, from 2008 to 2014.

Along the way, it made actors like Charlie Hunnam and Ryan Hurst stars while adding new chapters to the Hollywood stories of screen veterans like Katey Sagal, Ron Perlman, and Jimmy Smits. In 2026, those performers and other "Sons of Anarchy" cast members returned to the headlines with the news that FX had ordered the limited series "Legends." The Hunnam brainchild blurs the lines between life and art and will see the cast reunite as fictionalized versions of themselves to combat a "real-world" threat at a fan convention.

However, Hunnam and company have changed a lot since "Sons of Anarchy" — one might even say they've aged like fine wine. Here's an update on some of the "Sons'" main cast members and what they look like today.

English actor Charlie Hunnam is the driving force behind the meta-return concept of "Sons of Anarchy." He was also the heart and soul of the original series as Jax Teller of the Sons of Anarchy Motorcycle Club, Redwood Original, or SAMCRO. His character's journey across the show's seven seasons — from idealist and leader to morally compromised leader and, finally, redeemed martyr following his death in the series finale, "Papa's Goods," — was practically Shakespearean.

Meanwhile, Hunnam's own evolution as a performer was unlocked by his time on the show. "Frankly, it gave me a career," he told People in 2020 about the impact the series had on his livelihood. "And it gave me the ability to have confidence that I was going to be able to make [acting] work as a lifelong career."

In the years since "Sons of Anarchy" went off the air, Hunnam — who's now well into his 40s — continued to be busy, starring in films like 2016's "The Lost City of Z," 2017's "King Arthur: Legend of the Sword," and 2019's "The Gentlemen," to name a few. More recently, he played serial killer Ed Gein on the Netflix anthology series "Monster." Now he has provided the narrative basis for the "Sons of Anarchy" reunion, with what FX Entertainment president Nick Grad described as an "inspired idea" (via Bleeding Cool).

Veteran actor Ron Perlman played Clay Morrow — Jax's stepfather and SAMCRO's second president — in "Sons of Anarchy" from the pilot until his character's death in the Season 6 episode, "Aon Rud Persanta." Morrow schemed, ruined lives, and murdered people, including his own best friend and Jax's father, John "JT" Teller. In the end, though, Perlman still managed to elicit fan sympathy for the character when Clay gets his comeuppance.

Since "Sons of Anarchy" ended, Perlman has maintained his presence in the pop culture zeitgeist via roles on projects including the Amazon Prime Video drama series "Hand of God," Crackle's "StartUP," and films like 2021's "Nightmare Alley," 2023's "Transformers: Rise of the Beasts," and 2026's "The Saviors," to name a few. As of this writing, his IMDb page boasts well over 200 screen credits.

Now in his 70s, Perlman has described his decades-long show business career as "weirder than any I've ever witnessed from anyone else," explaining in a 2026 interview with Adam Lupis (via Instagram), "I would do a mind-blowing gig and then for three years, nothing. And during those three years, you're looking at losing your house. You're looking at having to take your kids out of school. You're looking at losing everything; maybe your marriage is gonna fall apart."

Few actors could ever hope to play a legendary character across several seasons of an iconic series. However, Katey Sagal managed the feat thrice: first as Peg Bundy in the Fox sitcom "Married... with Children," then as Leela on the Fox-Hulu animated series "Futurama," and later as Gemma Teller Morrow in "Sons of Anarchy." A woman who will do anything to protect her family and the motorcycle club, she resorts to heinous acts to meet her goals, some of which alienate her from the people she wants to protect. This ultimately results in her death in the Season 7 episode "Red Rose."

For Sagal, playing a character who resorted to such viciousness stretched her abilities as a performer. "I guess the overall challenge of it was playing somebody that was so very different from myself," Sagal told Collider in 2014 about Gemma. "Her maternal instincts are similar to mine, but her ways and means of doing things were something very foreign to me. I don't live in an outlaw world and I don't carry a gun."

Sagal, who's married to "Sons of Anarchy" creator Kurt Sutter, is now in her 70s. She still works regularly, providing Leela's voice and playing Louise Goldufski-Conner on ABC's "The Conners" until its 2025 conclusion. Sagal and Sutter also host the podcast "PIE with Kurt Sutter and Katey Sagal." 

As with the aforementioned, Kim Coates was part of "Sons of Anarchy" from its pilot episode, portraying Tig Trager, SAMCRO's brutal enforcer. Initially a staunch devotee and trusted ally of Clay Morrow, he's eventually forced to come to terms with his friend's brutal actions and his own guilt. He's one of a handful of key figures to survive the bloodshed at the end of the series and a fan favorite due to his complexity.

Like other "Sons of Anarchy" cast members, Coates has gained a greater appreciation for the show and its incredible impact in the years since it went off the air by rewatching episodes and interacting with fans. "I now get it. I get what a big hit it was," he told Michael Rosenbaum on "Inside of You Clips" in 2022. "I was, 'Oh, you're the guy from 'Black Hawk Down.' Oh, you're that guy from 'Open Range.' Oh, you're the guy on 'Goon."' ... But then you do a show like 'Sons' ... and the level of what a hit that thing was, and what a crazy show it was. I became Kim Coates."

In recent years, Coates has played memorable roles in films like 2026's "Solo Mio" and on TV shows such as Netflix's "American Primeval," in which he plays Mormon leader Brigham Young. More recently, he completed work on the upcoming film "Exit Right," alongside Susan Sarandon, William H. Macy, and Marcia Cross.

Maggie Siff portrayed Tara Knowles, the wife of Charlie Hunnam's Jax Teller and a doctor at Charming's St. Thomas Hospital, in "Sons of Anarchy." Knowles' death at the hands of Katey Sagal's Gemma during the show's sixth season finale, "A Mother's Work," went down as one of the most shocking events in television history. It elicited visceral reactions from "Sons" fans and the actors who brought the scene to life. 

"Watching it was really hard," Siff said at an FX screening of the episode (via Today). "Shooting it was really hard. Because the character kind of ends, so my experience shooting was feeling everything around me: Katey and then Charlie and that was really painfully hard. I was so aware of their loss. It wasn't about me. It was about them and at the same time digesting that this character I've been (playing) so long is gone."

After "Sons of Anarchy," the now-quinquagenarian Siff appeared in the 2016 sci-fi invasion film "The 5th Wave" and became a main cast member on the long-running Showtime drama series "Billions," in which she portrayed Wendy Rhoades. Siff also played Rachel Menken on AMC's "Mad Men."

Another of the show's proverbial OGs, Scottish actor Tommy Flanagan played Chibs Telford on "Sons of Anarchy." The character begins the series as a former soldier and IRA member, eventually becoming something of a surrogate father to Jax Teller. By the end of the series, he assumes the mantle of SAMCRO leadership, guiding the club into its post-Teller era.

More recently, Flanagan appeared as Ser Roderick Dustin in Season 3 of "Game of Thrones" spin-off "House of the Dragon" and on the Starz crime drama "Power Book IV: Force." However, he's also a veteran of some bona fide Hollywood hits, including 1995's "Braveheart," 2000's "Gladiator," and 2017's "Guardians of the Galaxy: Volume 2."

While Flanagan has appeared in critically lauded films, blockbuster hits, and some of the biggest franchises in film and television, his "Sons of Anarchy" experience and the connection he maintains with his castmates are on another level. "That's a friendship that'll stay. You know? That's not going anywhere," he told Michael Rosenbaum on "Inside of You Clips" in 2022, adding that "Sons" co-star Ron Perlman is "such a beautiful human being." 

"Titans" alum Ryan Hurst portrayed Opie Winston on "Sons of Anarchy" from the series premiere until the Season 5 episode "Laying Pipe," when the character sacrificed himself to save his fellow club brothers from a prison gang in one of the show's most heartbreaking deaths. Prior to his demise, Opie endures a failed return to civilian life after incarceration, the murders of his wife and father, and disillusionment with Clay Morrow's leadership.

Hurst made headlines throughout 2026 for his involvement in Amazon Prime Video's live-action adaptation of "God of War," in which he was originally cast to play Kratos. However, after working to transform his body for the role and even beginning production, he was forced out after suffering an on-set injury. Dave Bautista ultimately assumed the role, much to the chagrin of Hurst's fans.

Hurst's other recent projects include Christopher Nolan's 2026 adaptation of "The Odyssey" (in which he played Mentor), the 2024 horror-sci-fi film "Desert Road," and a recurring stint on the Kurt Sutter-created Netflix western series "The Abandons." He previously played Beta in AMC's "The Walking Dead" franchise.

In "Sons of Anarchy," Theo Rossi portrayed Juice Ortiz — SAMCRO's tech expert who conceals his Black ancestry. Law enforcement officials blackmail him, threatening to reveal the truth about his parentage. His tragic downfall culminates during the Season 7 episode, "Red Rose," in which he's killed in prison.

Rossi got the internet talking with his description of the upcoming "Legends" show, telling Entertainment Weekly in 2026: "Charlie had this idea, and it's one of those that is just so crazy it might work. Charlie's such a great writer, and he has so much passion for how he wanted to do this. It's like 'Galaxy Quest' meets 'Curb Your Enthusiasm.' It's this heightened, crazy world."

Outside the "Sons of Anarchy" universe, Rossi — who's now in his 50s — appeared in multiple episodes of the HBO DC spin-off series "The Penguin" as Dr. Julian Rush. He has also appeared in films such as 2022's "Emily the Criminal," 2024's "Carry On," and 2026's "Bruton." After working with multiple "Sons" castmates on a variety of projects over the years, he teamed up with Ron Perlman in the 2026 psychological thriller "Come With Me."

Another actor who has appeared in numerous iconic film and television franchises — and played memorable characters along the way — Jimmy Smits joined "Sons of Anarchy" in its fifth season to play Nero Padilla. Nero is a former gang leader who owns the escort service Diosa. He becomes Gemma Teller's lover and a friend and confidante to Jax, ultimately caring for the latter's children and ex-wife, Wendy (portrayed by Drea de Matteo), after his death.

Prior to his "Sons of Anarchy" run, Smits was best known for his roles as attorney Victor Sifuentes on the NBC legal drama "L.A. Law" and Detective Bobby Simone on the ABC police procedural "NYPD Blue." Other memorable roles include Bail Organa in the "Star Wars" prequels and Disney+'s "Obi-Wan Kenobi" and Matt Santos on NBC's "The West Wing." He also appeared in the big screen adaptation of 
"In the Heights."

More recently, the now-70-something Smits appeared in an episode of Paramount+ with Showtime's "Dexter: Resurrection." He has also returned to the stage, starring alongside his wife, Wanda De Jesús, in a production of Arthur Miller's "All My Sons."

Jax Teller's first wife and the mother of his eldest son, Abel, Wendy Case was played by Drea de Matteo in "Sons of Anarchy." At the beginning of the series, she's contending with substance misuse and is at odds with Jax and his mother, Katey Sagal's Gemma Teller. However, Wendy recovers, returns to Charming, and is ultimately charged with caring for Jax's children alongside Nero after he accepts his fate.

After achieving success on HBO's "The Sopranos," Matteo starred in series like the NBC crime drama "Shades of Blue" and Amazon Prime Video's "Paradise City" following "Sons of Anarchy." More recently, she appeared in the 2025 Netflix family drama-comedy film "Nonnas." She made headlines in 2023 when she launched an OnlyFans account.

Matteo is making no apologies for her decision to join the platform, telling Jamie Kennedy on "HTBITY" in 2026, "In some ways, the OnlyFans page was almost like a political statement on my part in a way. It was like, 'F**k you. I don't have to work ... for your f**king corporation.'" Meanwhile, she told Fox News Digital that she had no interest in being a career actor after "The Sopranos" ended.

Before landing his role as Happy Lowman on "Sons of Anarchy," David Labrava was practically unknown as an actor. In fact, Labrava was initially hired as a technical advisor due to his knowledge and experience with motorcycle culture; he was once a patched member of the Hells Angels. Prior to his involvement with the show, he worked for a time as a camera operator for the Zalman King Company.

Labrava's Happy served as one of SAMCRO's enforcers; a brutally violent but unflinchingly loyal character, whose story extends beyond the series finale. Although several of "Sons'" primary cast members made token appearances on the FX spin-off series "Mayans M.C.," Labrava appeared in multiple episodes spanning several seasons.

Following "Sons'" finale, Labrava also appeared in an episode of the Fox-Netflix drama series "Lucifer" and the 2022 action film "Shadows." In 2018, he announced via Instagram the tragic death by suicide of his son, Tycho, at the age of 16. In the post, he implored his fans to "communicate with your loved ones," as "there might not be any signs." More recently, he penned the novel "Trust Issues."

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Niko Nicotera played Ratboy Skogstrom on "Sons of Anarchy," debuting in the Season 4 episode "Out" and continuing to appear on the series through its finale episode, "Papa's Goods." Despite taking on a low-key, unassuming air in the beginning, Ratboy's character trajectory sees him become a fully patched SAMCRO member who survives to help foster the club's post-Teller iteration. 

Nicotera had already been appearing in films and television series dating back to the Y2K era, like 2001's "As If" and 2004's "La Femme Musketeer," before joining "Sons." However, the iconic FX series definitely raised his profile as an actor. More recently, he played Joey Danza in several episodes of CBS' Kathy Bates-led "Matlock" reboot-sequel series. He also had a recurring role on the NBC comedy-drama "Good Girls" and appeared as Peisander in Christopher Nolan's "The Odyssey" in 2026.

Outside of acting, Nicotera has made waves as one half of the recording duo The Fregato Brothers (with Tara Novick), in addition to making his own music.