Here's Where You Know The Cast Of Search Party From
When "Search Party" starts, an aimless millennial named Dory sees a familiar face on a Missing Persons poster and realizes that she knew the girl in college. Along with her hapless boyfriend Drew and her self-obsessed friends Elliott and Portia, Dory sets off on a wild, genre-bending adventure to find Chantal.
The ever-changing show, which aired its fifth and final season in January 2022, is a bona-fide cult hit, but that wasn't always the case. When it premiered on TBS in 2016, the cable network burned the entire first season off in one week. Star Alia Shawkat recalled to Entertainment Weekly, "I remember after we shot the pilot, I was like, 'Well nice working with you. I'm never going to see you again.'" Still, the show came back for a second season the following year... and then the whole thing seemed to go dormant. Finally, three years later, our favorite narcissistic millennials returned as an HBO Max Original. Widespread popularity followed. "It was all very corporate and kind of over our heads," series co-creator Charles Rogers told EW. "...So it was really like a blessing that it ended up being HBO Max and not like some weird thing that like didn't end up mattering."
Over the years, many actors have come and gone on the show, so viewers revisiting the series may be wondering how they know the cast. We've sent a search party of our own into the depths of IMDb, so read on!
John Reynolds' Stranger Things audience is different
Dory's on-again, off-again boyfriend Drew is played by John Reynolds, an actor whom fans may recognize from his starring role in "Save Yourselves!," a 2020 film about an alien invasion. Reynolds is otherwise best known for playing Officer Callahan on Netflix mega-hit "Stranger Things." Though the role isn't a major one, Reynolds admits that he often gets recognized for it anyway, because the "Stranger Things" fanbase is so massive. During an event at the Paley Center for Media, Reynolds told the host that his role on that show endears him to a much younger audience than his role on "Search Party." He said, "I'm sort of in 'Stranger Things,' and I get so many DMs from 14-year-olds who are like, 'I need to meet Millie Bobby Brown today!'"
As for his star turn in "Search Party," at least one member of his family is not a fan. "My grandma tried to watch Season 1," he said at a BUILD Series event. "And in the very first episode, [Alia Shawkat and I] have a sex scene, and my grandma just said 'I don't think I like John's show very much.' So I already lost a viewer." Reynolds is happy for the show's move to HBO Max and the wider audience it brings, telling Entertainment Weekly, "I live in Brooklyn and there was a noticeable change going outside after [seasons] three and four. So everyone finally watched the show."
Alia Shawkat learned a lot from Dory
On "Search Party," Alia Shawkat plays Dory Sief, the show's main character. Dory is the friend who first becomes obsessed with the missing Chantal, sparking the entire series' driving plot. Shawkat told The AV Club that she has especially appreciated the way the show has grown and changed over time. "I love how each season is different," she said. "It's not just another girl goes missing and I have to find her. It's different genres and different characters. Dory especially changes so much every time."
Shawkat first rose to fame as the precocious teenager Maeby Fünke on "Arrested Development." She told The Playlist that acting on the cult comedy as a kid prepared her for the industry. "...I was very young and taking it as it was," she said. "It helped build my creative timing, how to read scripts, those kinds of things." However, she added that her role on "Search Party" has helped her even more. "I've been acting since I was really young, but I grew the most on this show. I directed my first episode of TV on this show. I've done the most challenging scenes as an actor on the show."
In addition to roles in films as varied as "Green Room" and "Cedar Rapids," fans may recognize Shawkat as one of the "I Love Lucy" writers in Aaron Sorkin's 2021 film "Being the Ricardos," or as Ilana Glazer's doppelgänger on a memorable episode of "Broad City."
John Early officiated Amy Schumer's wedding
John Early is a comedian perhaps best known for his role on "Search Party," where he plays Elliott. The group's resident attention-seeker, Elliott has had quite the rollercoaster of an arc; he lied about having had cancer in the show's first season, and that wasn't the craziest thing he's done, considering his Season 4 stint as a right-wing cable news host opposite "SNL's" Chloe Fineman.
Of the show's Season 5 shift into satirizing wellness culture, Early mused about the reflection of real-life trends for UPROXX. "Do you expect people to suddenly become selfless and learn how to share, as all of our resources are shrinking?" he proposed. "No. People are going to become monsters and I think 'Search Party' does a good job of showing how our current culture, the way our society is structured, turns people into true monsters."
Early is also well-known for his character sketch comedy, including (fittingly) on an episode of Netflix's "The Characters." His alter ego "Vicky With a V" was so well-received in the comedy world that he was asked to officiate Amy Schumer's wedding in-character. On "Late Night With Seth Myers," Early described initially agreeing as himself before being relieved when Schumer suggested he do it as Vicky. "I was like, 'This is perfect because I feel like I can strike the right balance of funny, but also, sincerity," he said, adding, "It's easier to tell the truth when you're wearin' a wig."
Meredith Hagner is nothing like Portia
On "Search Party," Meredith Hagner plays Portia Davenport, the group's self-obsessed actor who ultimately means well but just can't seem to realize how other people are perceiving her. Thankfully, though, Hagner herself knows full well how Portia comes across, and though she says she took inspiration from her own life, she's quick to emphasize their differences. "People tell me I'm nothing like my character, thank god!" Hagner, who is married to actor Wyatt Russell, joked to W magazine. She added, "She's been such a joy to play. I joke that she's a cautionary tale of a path I didn't go down. There are shadow bits of myself in her, as in any character, that are really cathartic to play."
Since breaking out on "Search Party," Hagner's star has been on the rise, but she was already well-known to fans of soaps: in 2009, she picked up a Daytime Emmy Nomination for her role as Liberty Ciccone on "As the World Turns." Audiences may also recognize Hagner for her turn in two Hulu Original films: "Palm Springs," where she played the girlfriend of a time-looping Andy Samberg, and "Vacation Friends," where she was John Cena's wife. On "The Tonight Show With Jimmy Fallon," Hagner said the latter film "Reminds me of, like, old-school comedies in a way that's refreshing." The film went on to be Hulu's biggest original film of all time (via Deadline).
Cole Escola's wig comedy prepared them for Search Party
Cole Escola plays Chip, a "twink" who becomes obsessed with Dory in Season 4 and keeps her captive in a basement. ("People still sometimes point at me on the street and say, 'The twink,'" Escola told Entertainment Weekly.) Escola, who uses they/them pronouns, is known online for their wig-based comedy videos, where they take on various melodramatic personas depending on the hairpiece. In one Youtube sketch, they embody Bernadette Peters seeking help on her taxes; they also perform wig comedy in their role on "Inside Amy Sedaris."
Fans may know Escola from their work on Hulu's cult hit comedy "Difficult People," where they played conniving, histrionic coffee shop worker Matthew, a constant thorn in Billy Eichner's side. Series creator Julie Klausner told The New York Times that the role was written for Escola and that it was "a challenge to use Matthew sparingly," though Escola didn't mind. "I would much rather be in something for two minutes and have it be great than do those supporting-character parts that are like, 'How did the date go?'" they said.
On "Search Party," Escola got to show off their skill in female impersonation, considering Chip's penchant for dressing up like his aunt (played by Susan Sarandon). "I also had to think about, 'How do I think Susan might portray this character?'" Escola told IndieWire. "I thought she would probably play it a little sultry, a little boozy, and I think I was right."
Jeffery Self likes the validation
In "Search Party," Elliott's on-again, off-again partner Marc is played by comedian and writer Jeffery Self. The pair's disastrous wedding in Season 3 is one of the show's most howlingly-funny, cringiest episodes, and in Season 5, they decide to adopt a child together.
Fans wondering where they know Self from might have seen him play the titular Jeffery in Logo's "Jeffery & Cole Casserole" sketch show, alongside fellow "Search Party" star Cole Escola. Self told HuffPost, "We just make the show we want to make, and it just so happens we're really queer and we're on a queer network." Aside from various single-episode guest stints on shows like "Desperate Housewives" and "Difficult People," Self is best known for playing a character again named Jeffery, a hapless receptionist on Jonathan Van Ness' hit Funny or Die web series "Gay of Thrones."
He's also known for his online comedy presence, which he elaborated on in a Vulture interview about a YA novel he authored. "I'm definitely a deeply needy person who relies on the validation of others," Self admitted. "Sometimes that's good and motivating, and sometimes that's debilitating."
Shalita Grant is a third-season superstar
On "Search Party" Season 3, Shalita Grant plays Dory's flamboyantly fashionable lawyer Cassidy Diamond, defending her client against murder charges in what is actually her first-ever court case. Grant told the Los Angeles Times that working on the show was delightful, especially compared to some of her career disappointments. "My light was so welcome," she said, contrasting the environment on "Search Party" with her years-long stint on "NCIS: New Orleans."
Some audiences may know that Grant is also a Tony nominee, having been recognized in 2013 for her work in "Vanya and Sonia and Masha and Spike." When her nomination was announced, she told DailyActor that she was surprised by the nod because the play was her Broadway debut. "Oh my god I've been on Broadway two months and I'm 24 and I was the last person to think that this was going to happen," she gushed. "So yeah, I'm really excited."
Fans will recognize Grant from her role on the third seasons of two other hit streaming shows, Netflix's "Santa Clarita Diet," where she was a government agent investigating an undead Drew Barrymore, and "You," where she played nosy neighbor Sherry Conrad. Grant described her "You" character to Oprah Daily, explaining, "She's the glue of the town but she's also spiky and protective about what happens in that inner circle. No monarch is purely good or evil. She's a really complex character."
Brandon Micheal Hall likes the contrasts in his career
Brandon Michael Hall played Dory's reporter ex-boyfriend Julian on 24 episodes of "Search Party." Julian is a well-meaning character whose investigative skills are directly at odds with the main foursome's goal of, well, not getting caught for murder.
Early in "Search Party's" run, Hall also led the cast of "The Mayor," a single-season sitcom co-starring Lea Michele, about a rapper who finds himself elected mayor. Hall told Town & Country that his role on "Search Party" helped him prepare for the network sitcom. "If it wasn't for 'Search Party,' I wouldn't be as confident in comedy as I am now because working with that cast meant being very playful on set," he said. "So, they're not alike in that they're two different roles, but when you think about the comedy, I'm absolutely pulling a bit from 'Search Party' and sprinkling it on 'The Mayor.'"
Viewers may also know Hall as the lead of two-season CBS sitcom "God Friended Me." He told TV Insider that the contrast between all of his various television roles has been rewarding. "What's great about this trajectory of my career has been, I've been able to play roles that are completely different than the last. [CBS was] very open for me to continue with this journey [on 'Search Party'], which is nice 'cause I don't think many people would have been," he explained.
Ron Livingston knew Office Space would take time
In the first season of "Search Party," Dory has an affair with Ron Livingston's character Keith, a detective who is also searching for the missing girl. He — spoiler — ends up dead at the end of the finale, kicking off the plot of the remainder of the series. Livingston told Entertainment Weekly that he particularly enjoyed acting out his character's death. "I remember being way more into [the fight and death scene] than I probably have any right to be," he said. "I never had a big action career, so whenever I get to do that stuff, I feel like a kid."
Though he works regularly, having appeared in projects such as "The Conjuring" and "Boardwalk Empire," most viewers will recognize Livingston for his role in "Office Space." In an interview with "Today" in 2018, Livingston joked about the movie's slow start, despite the fact that the comedy is a major cult classic today. "It was my first lead in a studio film," he recalled, "so it was a big deal. It was a huge break. I thought it was gonna be the biggest thing I'd done so far. And I think it was." He remembered seeing the movie at an advance screening and realizing that something was up, because the studio hadn't really promoted it. "I was like, 'This movie is terrific. My parents are gonna love this when it's playing for a dollar at the second run theater in five years," he quipped.
Dory's Disciples are up-and-comers
In Season 5, a number of up-and-coming comedians, writers, and actors joined the cast (via Deadline) as the eccentric disciples of a newly-spiritual Dory, giving a whole new meaning to the millennial quest for "followers." Here they all are!
Joe Castle Baker ("Marty") is a comedian known for his videos of exaggerated characters on TikTok and Instagram. In an Interview profile, his "Search Party" co-star John Early called him "the Mr. Bean of Bushwick."
Angela Trimbur ("Elodie") has been in a number of horror movies, including "The Final Girls" and "Trespassers." She was also open online about her breast cancer diagnosis, telling Vogue, "It's a hard lesson to ask for help and let people know you're feeling vulnerable. But it's kind of nice to have to ask for it and see how easy it is to receive it."
Greta Titelman ("Leonora") is a stand-up comic best known as Melanie Gibbons on HBO's "Los Espookys." She told DuJour, "I get to work with my brilliant friends on one of the most original and creative shows I have ever seen."
Grace Kuhlenschmidt ("Pepper") is known for her front-facing comedy videos; she was featured in Vulture's roundup of "Comedians You Should And Will Know" in 2021.
Larry Owens ("Ritchie") is an acclaimed New York theater performer who told Playbill he developed his one-man show "Sondheimia" during the COVID-19 lockdown.
Finally, Michelle Badillo ("Winnie") is primarily a writer for shows such as "One Day at a Time" and "The Bold Type."
Jeff Goldblum is Search Party's most famous face
Aside from Susan Sarandon's arc in Season 4, Season 5 guest star Jeff Goldblum is the biggest name to join the cast of "Search Party." He plays a billionaire tech philanthropist named Tunnel Quinn, a man who becomes interested in Dory's "enlightenment" and her shift to wellness influencing. It seems the cast enjoyed having him on set, according to Alia Shawkat, who explained Goldblum's hiring to TVLine. "Jeff Goldblum is the only person who could play this part so gracefully and so funny," she said. "I don't think he had seen the show before we offered him the part. Then he watched a couple of seasons and loved it so much, and was so congratulatory towards us and supportive. He was just so game, and always such a professional."
Fans will recognize Goldblum from numerous blockbusters, most famously "Jurassic Park" and "Independence Day." Goldblum's hit Disney+ show "The World According to Jeff Goldblum" takes him around the globe meeting people, teaching science and history to viewers. Goldblum explained the show's genesis to DigitalTrends, recalling, "I knew I could trust the editing to make me sound coherent, and I could just gab away to the camera and to people, and take left turns and tangents here and there. And that's what we wound up doing. I enjoyed it to no end."
Kate Berlant worked with her best friend
In the early seasons of "Search Party," Kate Berlant played Nia Carpourtalas, Elliott's book publisher. She and John Early are real-life best friends, and she talked about working with Early on "Search Party: The Podcast," joking, "He is a tyrant. Puts me in my place." Getting semi-serious, she admitted, "No, it's so fun just to be able to watch him work." The comedic duo have collaborated together on a number of creative projects, including the show "555." They also starred together in the unsettling short film "Rachel," which they co-wrote with director Andrew DeYoung, based on a real-life experience; the short was named a Vimeo Staff Pick of the Month.
Berlant is extremely memorable to fans of HBO Max comedy "The Other Two" as Pitzi Pyle, a potential agent for that show's lead character Cary Dubek (Drew Tarver). She uttered the instantly-iconic, memeable line "I'm gagging for you, f***ot," perfectly skewering "allies" who feel perhaps too comfortable around gay people. In addition, Berlant has appeared in films including "Once Upon a Time... In Hollywood" and "Sorry to Bother You," and she will next entertain viewers as one of the leads in the upcoming "A League of Their Own" TV show.
The multi-hyphenate actor-writer-comedian is also a podcaster; alongside Jacqueline Novak, Berlant hosts "Poog," a podcast dedicated to satirizing wellness culture.
Clare McNulty is Search Party family
Clare McNulty plays Chantal Witherbottom, the missing millennial the first season was constructed around finding. Chantal and Dory knew of each other in college, and Dory — quickly becoming obsessed with the sense of purpose that being (relatively) close to a tragedy gave her — exaggerates their relationship to anyone who will listen. McNulty appeared on "Search Party: The Podcast" to discuss her role, agreeing with host Bowen Yang, who called the character "bewildering." McNulty laughed, "She was really confusing for me, I think, for a lot of the time that I was playing her." She said it took her a few seasons, but ultimately the actor decided, "I didn't understand what it felt like to enjoy feeling things. ... My thing about Chantal has been allowing myself to enjoy the more extreme and irrational feelings that she has."
"Search Party" is McNulty's biggest role to date, though HBO fans may recognize her from an episode of "High Maintenance." She also starred in the 2014 film "Fort Tilden," written and directed by "Search Party" creators Sarah-Violet Bliss and Charles Rogers; Bliss told The Moveable Fest that she and McNulty knew each other at Oberlin, and Bliss had "always loved her."
Ann Dowd is the perfect foil to Cole Escola
In Season 4, Ann Dowd's nosy neighbor Paula Jo goes toe-to-toe with Cole Escola's Chip, in drag as his aunt, while he keeps Dory trapped in the basement. The suburban divas match wits, but crucially, Paula Jo doesn't seem to notice anything is amiss with Chip's gender presentation. Alia Shawkat told Junkee that one particular experience filming with Dowd wound up being one of her favorite scenes in the entire season.
Dowd is the ultimate character actor and will be recognizable to fans for many reasons. Most famously, she has appeared in audience and critical favorites including "The Handmaid's Tale," "The Leftovers," "Hereditary," and "Masters of Sex." When she won an Emmy for her role on "The Handmaid's Tale," Dowd's acceptance speech became instantly-iconic for the way she pronounced "Hulu," "adorably," TV Guide recalled.
In 2021, Dowd won critical acclaim (and a number of awards) for her role in "Mass," a drama about the parents of students involved in a school shooting. She called getting into character in that film (via GoldDerby) "a remarkable experience... a spiritual one."