It was supposed to be the next big thing. A Southern Gothic soap opera dripping with scandal, religion, and enough money to make a Kardashian blush. When Filthy Rich premiered on Fox in 2020, people weren't just looking for another drama—they were looking for the return of Kim Cattrall. Honestly, the buzz was huge. You had the creator of The Help, Tate Taylor, at the helm and a premise that felt like Dynasty met a televangelist convention.
But then, poof. Cancelled after just five episodes aired.
Even though the show was short-lived, the filthy rich tv show cast brought a weirdly perfect energy to the screen that still has fans digging through IMDB years later. It wasn't just a "Kim Cattrall vehicle." It was an ensemble of Broadway stars, MMA-trained newcomers, and seasoned character actors who actually made you believe in the messy, hypocritical world of the Sunshine Network.
The Matriarch and the Mystery: Kim Cattrall and Gerald McRaney
You can't talk about this show without starting at the top. Kim Cattrall played Margaret Monreaux, the "Oprah of the South." After years of being Samantha Jones, Cattrall traded the Cosmopolitans for sweet tea and a Bible-thumping empire. She wasn't just acting; she was producing. Margaret was fierce. She was also deeply vulnerable. Cattrall told AARP back during the launch that she loved the "reconfiguration of family" the show explored. Basically, she wasn't just playing a rich lady; she was playing a woman trying to hold a crumbling legacy together with hairspray and grit.
Then there’s Gerald McRaney. The man is a legend. As Eugene Monreaux, he was the patriarch who seemingly died in a plane crash in the first ten minutes. But, spoiler alert (if you can spoil a five-year-old show), he survived. Watching McRaney go from the "perfect Christian man" to a guy with three illegitimate kids and a massive secret life was the engine that drove the plot.
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The Illegitimate Heirs: Breaking Down the Newcomers
The real chaos started when Eugene’s will revealed three "extra" children. This is where the filthy rich tv show cast got interesting because it pulled talent from everywhere—from the octagon to the stage.
Melia Kreiling as Ginger Sweet
Ginger was the breakout. Played by Melia Kreiling, she was the daughter of a Vegas cocktail waitress and ran her own adult website. She was the antithesis of everything the Monreaux family stood for. Kreiling, who grew up in Athens and has a background in contemporary dance, brought a physical sharpness to Ginger. She wasn't just a "bad girl"—she was a businesswoman. Her rivalry with Margaret was the best part of the show. One minute they were trying to ruin each other, the next they were realizing they were exactly the same person.
Benjamin Levy Aguilar as Antonio Rivera
If Antonio looked like he actually knew how to fight, that’s because he did. Benjamin Levy Aguilar grew up in Guatemala and was trained in Krav Maga. The showrunners actually changed his character from a traditional boxer to an MMA fighter once they saw what he could do. He played a single dad just trying to give his son, Jesus, a better life. Fun fact: Aguilar actually spent time babysitting the twin babies who played his son on set to build a real bond. They ended up calling him "Papi" in real life. That’s the kind of detail you don't get with a "standard" TV production.
Mark L. Young as Jason Conley (or was he?)
This was the weird one. Mark L. Young played Jason, a Colorado weed farmer. Except, he wasn't Jason. He was Mark, the adoptive brother of the real Jason, who was in a coma. It was classic soap opera nonsense, and Young played it with the perfect amount of "I shouldn't be here" energy.
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The "Legitimate" Kids: Broadway Meets the Bayou
To balance out the outsiders, you had the "golden" children, Rose and Eric.
- Corey Cott (Eric Monreaux): Cott is a Broadway heavy-hitter (Newsies, Bandstand). He played the dutiful son who desperately wanted his father's approval. The writers knew he could sing, so they worked it into the script, even though Eric wasn't a professional performer. Cott has talked about how the TV pace was a "humbling" shift from the years-long development of a stage musical.
- Aubrey Dollar (Rose Monreaux): Rose was the artistic daughter who just wanted to design clothes. Dollar, a North Carolina native, felt right at home in the Southern setting. She famously mentioned that on her first day of filming, she had to wear gold platform shoes that were two sizes too small. Her feet fell asleep, but she kept going. Professionalism, right?
Why the Cast Couldn't Save the Show
It’s tempting to blame the filthy rich tv show cast for the cancellation, but that’s just not fair. The show was a victim of timing. It was originally supposed to air in the spring of 2020. Then, the world shut down.
When it finally premiered in September 2020, the marketing was a mess. People were stressed out, and a show about ultra-wealthy hypocrites felt a bit "too soon" or maybe just out of touch with the mood of the country. Ratings started okay but dropped fast. Fox pulled the plug five episodes in, though they did allow the full 10-episode season to finish its run.
What the Cast is Doing Now
If you miss these faces, they didn't go far. Benjamin Levy Aguilar moved on to a massive role in Chicago P.D. as Dante Torres. Kim Cattrall, of course, eventually made her way back to the Sex and the City universe for a cameo in And Just Like That... and starred in How I Met Your Father.
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Corey Cott returned to his theater roots but continues to pop up on screen. The chemistry of this group was undeniable, even if the network didn't see the long-term value.
Actionable Insights for Fans
If you're looking to dive back into the world of the Monreaux family, here is what you should do:
- Check the International Version: The show was actually based on a New Zealand series of the same name. If you want more "rich people behaving badly," track down the original.
- Follow the New Career Paths: Specifically, watch Benjamin Levy Aguilar in Chicago P.D. to see how his MMA background translated into a high-stakes police drama.
- Stream the Full Run: Don't just watch the first five episodes. The back half of the season (which stayed on Hulu and Fox platforms) actually wraps up some of the Eugene mysteries, including the "18:20" conspiracy.
The Monreaux family might be gone, but the talent behind the filthy rich tv show cast is still very much in the game. It remains a fascinating "what if" in the history of 2020 television.