If you’ve been keeping up with Julian Fellowes’ latest obsession, you know that the "new money" vs. "old money" war isn't just about who has the biggest ballroom. It’s about the people trapped in the middle. Specifically, it's about Harry Richardson. In the hit HBO series The Gilded Age, Richardson plays Larry Russell. He isn't just some rich kid with a nice suit. He's the moral compass of a family that is basically trying to steamroll New York’s social elite.
Most people watch for the hats. The costumes are incredible, honestly. But if you look closer at Harry Richardson's performance, you see something much more nuanced than a typical period drama lead.
Larry Russell represents a massive shift in 1880s New York. While his father, George Russell, is busy crushing competitors and building railroads, Larry is trying to build something else. He wants to be an architect. In that era, for a man of his status, that was kinda scandalous. You were supposed to manage the family money, not get your hands dirty with blueprints and construction sites. Richardson brings a specific kind of soft-spoken defiance to the role that makes the character feel real, rather than just a plot device.
Why the Harry Richardson Gilded Age Casting Actually Works
Casting is everything. If you get it wrong, the whole show feels like a high school play with a massive budget. Richardson has this look. It’s classic but accessible.
When you see him standing next to heavyweights like Carrie Coon or Morgan Spector, he doesn't disappear. That’s hard to do. He plays Larry with a "boyish charm" that hides a very sharp brain. You can tell he’s constantly calculating how to navigate his mother’s insane social ambitions while maintaining his own soul. It’s a tightrope walk.
The chemistry he has with Louisa Jacobson (who plays Marian Brook) is one of the main reasons fans keep coming back. It’s a slow burn. A really slow burn. But it works because Richardson plays it with such sincerity. You believe he actually cares about her, rather than just seeing her as a way to annoy his mother, Bertha Russell.
Actually, the relationship with Bertha is probably the most interesting part of his character arc. Bertha is a force of nature. She’s terrifying. Most sons would either buckle under that pressure or rebel completely. Larry does neither. He manages her. He negotiates.
The Architectural Ambition of Larry Russell
Let’s talk about the architecture. This isn't just a hobby for Larry. It represents the "New America."
In the 1880s, New York was exploding. The Brooklyn Bridge was a brand-new marvel. Skyscrapers were becoming a thing. By choosing architecture, Larry is choosing the future. He’s choosing to build things that will last, unlike the fleeting social standing his mother is obsessed with. Harry Richardson captures this passion really well. When he talks about buildings, his whole energy changes.
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- He studies under real historical figures.
- He advocates for the inclusion of women in the profession, like his interest in the work of Marion Brook’s friend.
- He pushes against his father’s "business first" mentality.
He's basically the bridge between the ruthless capitalism of the 19th century and the professional specialization of the 20th.
Breaking Down the Harry Richardson Performance Style
Richardson isn't new to period pieces. You might remember him from Poldark. He played Drake Carne. He’s got this innate ability to wear a waistcoat without looking like he’s in a costume. It feels like his natural skin.
His acting style is very internal. He doesn't do a lot of big, dramatic monologues. Instead, it’s all in the eyes. A look of disappointment when his father suggests a "better" career path. A subtle smile when Marian walks into a room. It’s understated. In a show that is often "big" and "loud" (the sets, the jewelry, the drama), Richardson provides a necessary grounding.
Without Larry, the Russell family would be too villainous. He’s the reason we root for them. He’s the proof that George and Bertha aren't just monsters; they’ve raised a son who is genuinely kind and progressive.
The Historical Reality Larry Represents
The Gilded Age wasn't just about wealth. It was about the friction between generations.
The kids of the robber barons were often very different from their parents. They had the luxury of education and "passion" because their fathers had already made the millions. Harry Richardson's character is a perfect proxy for this demographic. These were the young men who started philanthropic organizations or went into the arts. They weren't interested in the "blood and guts" of the railroad wars.
They wanted a refined life.
The Larry and Marian "Will They, Won't They"
People are obsessed with this. Honestly, it's the heart of the show for a lot of viewers.
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What makes it compelling is the class divide—not of money, but of vibe. Marian is "old money" but poor. Larry is "new money" but incredibly wealthy. In the eyes of the New York elite (like Aunt Agnes), they shouldn't be together. But Richardson plays Larry as someone who doesn't give a damn about the Social Register. He just sees a person he likes.
It’s refreshing.
What to Expect for Larry Russell in Future Seasons
As the show progresses into the mid-1880s, the stakes for Larry are going to get higher.
The Newport season showed us a lot. We saw him taking more responsibility but also pushing back more. There’s a sense that he’s becoming his own man. We’re likely to see him take on bigger projects—maybe even something related to the World's Fairs or the massive public works projects that defined late-century New York.
Richardson has hinted in interviews that he enjoys the "growth" of the character. He isn't the same kid we met in Season 1. He’s more cynical now, but also more determined. He knows how the world works, and he’s decided he’s going to change it anyway.
Why We Care About the Harry Richardson Gilded Age Journey
Ultimately, we care because Larry Russell is the person we’d want to be in that era.
Most of us wouldn't be the ones at the opera house with a million-dollar necklace. We wouldn't be the ones throwing strikers off their land. We’d want to be the person following a dream, trying to be decent to people, and maybe finding a bit of love in a very cold, calculated world.
Harry Richardson makes that feel possible. He takes a character that could have been a "spoiled rich boy" and makes him the hero.
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If you’re looking to really understand the show, watch the scenes where Larry is alone with his father. Those are the ones that matter. George Russell is a titan, but in those moments, you see him looking at Larry with a mix of confusion and respect. He doesn't understand Larry's world, but he knows Larry is better than him. That’s the core of the show.
How to Follow the Character and the Actor
If you’ve finished binging the latest episodes and need more, there are a few things you can do to stay in the loop. The "Gilded Age" fandom is huge, and there’s a lot of depth to dive into.
Look into the Architecture of the Period
To understand Larry's motivations, look at the work of Richard Morris Hunt or Stanford White. These were the real-life inspirations for the "gentleman architect" of the 1880s. When you see the Breakers or the Metropolitan Museum of Art, you're seeing the world Larry Russell was trying to build.
Watch Richardson’s Earlier Work
Check out Poldark. It’s a very different vibe—more rugged, more "Cornish coast"—but you can see the foundations of the performance he gives in The Gilded Age. It shows his range. He isn't just a "suit and tie" actor.
Follow the Historical Context
Read The Age of Innocence by Edith Wharton. It covers the same social circles but from a different angle. It will give you a much better appreciation for why Larry’s choices were so radical for his time.
Keep an eye on HBO's Production Updates
Season 3 is always the hot topic. Pay attention to casting calls or location scouts in Newport and Troy, New York. These often give away where Larry’s career—and his relationship with Marian—is headed. Troy, in particular, serves as the "Old New York" backdrop that Larry is constantly trying to modernize through his designs.
The evolution of Larry Russell is far from over. As the Gilded Age shifts into the Progressive Era, the tension between his family's wealth and his own social conscience will only grow. Harry Richardson is perfectly positioned to carry that weight. It’s a performance that rewards a second look, focusing less on the grand ballrooms and more on the quiet conversations in the Russell library. That’s where the real history is being made.
Next Steps for Enthusiasts:
- Visit the Newport Mansions in Rhode Island to see the actual scale of the "summer cottages" that characters like Larry Russell would have designed.
- Explore the archives of the New-York Historical Society to see original blueprints from the 1880s, which reflect the exact style Larry advocates for in the show.
- Re-watch Season 2 specifically focusing on Larry's interactions with the "new" Brooklyn—it’s a subtle foreshadowing of how his character will likely bridge the gap between the boroughs in future plotlines.