A Guide to the Major White House Staff and Suspects in The Residence

Uzo Aduba stars as the series’ protagonist, Cordelia Cupp, a consultant with the Metropolitan Police Department.

“She has the memory of a steel trap,” Aduba told Shondaland. “So every single thing, every letter every word, every single detail that someone brings to her, she files it away and listens to or for a contradiction.”

While many of us first came to know of Aduba through her portrayal of Crazy Eyes in Netflix’s Orange Is The New Black (2013-19), which earned her several accolades including two Emmys and SAG awards, the actor has appeared in a number of other TV series and films.

From American Horror Story (2018), to The Handmaid’s Tale (2019–2021), Mrs. America (2020), Hillbilly Elegy (2020) Godmothered (2020) and more, Aduba’s more recent works include Painkiller (2023), Magicampers (2024), and Roofman.

Susan Kelechi Watson appears as Jasmine Haney, a the White House Assistant Usher who is on the rise.

“Jasmine is the assistant usher, but she’s trying to be chief usher, and this was supposed to be her time to shine, but then A.B. says he’s not leaving. She’s devastated that she’s not going to take on this role,” Watson told Shondaland about her character.

Prior to The Residence, Watson is best known for playing Janet in Louie (2012-14) and as Beth Pearson in This Is Us (2016-22). She has also starred in The Following (2013–2014), Happyish (2015), A Beautiful Day in the Neighborhood (2019), The Five (2016), For Life (2020–2021), The Righteous Gemstones (2023), and more.

Jason Lee plays Tripp Morgan, the president’s brother, who is “in the White House against his will and he’s trying to take full advantage of it. He doesn’t really get along much with his brother the president, so there’s a lot of tension there.”

Lee began his acting career in the mid-1990s with his role in Mallrats (1995). Since then, he’s starred in a number of much-loved TV series and films including Chasing Amy (1997), Dogma (1999), Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (2001), My Name Is Earl (2005–2009), several Alvin and the Chipmunks films (2007-2015), The Second Coming (2018), This Is 40 (2012), and Memphis Beat (2010–2011).

Joining the cast of The Residence is Kylie Minogue. The popstar makes a cameo as herself.

While many of us know Minogue as being a global sensation, the “Can’t Get You Out of My Head” singer began taking on small acting roles before her music career took off. Her most notable TV roles include: The Delinquents (1989), Neighbours (1986–1988), The Split (2019), Holy Motors (2012), The Voice (UK, Australia, and more, 2014–2021), and Blue: The Truth Behind the Colour (2019).

Edwina Findley takes on the role of Sheila Cannon, one of the many butlers within the White House.

Findley first garnered recognition after starring in The Wire (2004–2008), Treme (2010–2013), and If Loving You Is Wrong (2014–2020). Since then, she's appeared in The New Edition Story (2017), Saints & Sinners (2016–2021), The Family Business (2018–present), The Banker (2020), and All American (2021–present).

Ken Marino stars as the president’s chief adviser, Harry Hollinger. “[He’s a bull in a china shop, he never is happy in any scene that he is in. He’s a loud mouth who has no filter. It’s always fun to have an asshole and do a scene full of people,” Marino told Shondaland in a video.

Marino is an actor, producer, and comedian. Some of his acting and screenplay works include: The State (1993), The Ten (2007), Diggers (2006), Role Models (2008), and Wanderlust (2012).

Randall Park portrays Edwin Park, an FBI special agent who’s assigned to help Detective Cupp on the case. “She doesn't need help so she feels like Park is just there to watch her, to make sure she doesn’t get into any trouble. At first it starts out a little antagonistic,” he said.

Park has starred in a number of successful TV shows and films including The Office (2013), The Interview (2014), Fresh Off the Boat (2015–2020), Veep (2014–2019), Ant-Man and the Wasp (2018), Aquaman (2018), WandaVision (2021), Ant-Man and the Wasp: Quantumania (2023), Shortcomings (2023), and Aquaman and the Lost Kingdom (2023).

Molly Griggs stars as Lilly Schumacher, the president’s social secretary, and is effectively in charge of planning all parties at the White House.

Prior to starring in The Residence, Griggs has also appeared in the likes of Succession (2018), Prodigal Son (2019-20), Servant (2020-22), and Dr. Death (2021).

Dan Perrault portrays Colin Trask, the head of the presidential detail for the Secret Service. “He loves pop culture, bread, and Kylie Minogue. Part of Trask’s job is to protect the president, so if he’s out there doing something, I might be by his side,” Perrault said of his character’s role in the show.

Not just an actor, Perrault is best know for being the co-creator of American Vandal, a series which makes mockumentaries of true crime documentaries including Serial and Making a Murderer.