It shouldn't work. On paper, pairing a 70-something comedy legend like Steve Martin with a former Disney starlet like Selena Gomez sounds like a studio executive's fever dream or a desperate attempt to bridge the generational gap. But then Martin Short slides into the frame, usually wearing a scarf that costs more than my rent, and the alchemy just happens. When people search for the cast of Only Murders in the Building, they usually start with that central trio. However, the brilliance of the show—and the reason it’s still dominating Hulu and Disney+ heading into 2026—is that the Arconia is a revolving door of A-list cameos and character actors who actually have something to do.
The show basically revived the "murder mystery of the week" format but gave it a coat of prestige paint. You’ve got the old-school physical comedy of the Three Amigos era blended with Gomez’s deadpan, millennial cynicism. It’s a vibe.
The Core Trio: The DNA of the Arconia
Steve Martin plays Charles-Haden Savage. He’s a semi-retired actor who is still living off the residuals of a 90s procedural called Brazzos. Honestly, Martin plays the "stiff guy trying to be cool" better than anyone in history. He’s the cautious one. Then you have Martin Short as Oliver Putnam. Oliver is a theater director whose career is a graveyard of flops—mostly Splash! The Musical, which resulted in actual injuries. Short is the high-energy engine of the show. He’s chaotic. He’s loud. He loves dips.
Then there’s Mabel Mora, played by Selena Gomez.
Mabel is the secret weapon. Without her, the show is just two old guys yelling about the past. She provides the emotional stakes and the connection to the actual victims. Gomez’s performance is purposefully understated; she’s the "straight man" to the absurdity surrounding her. The chemistry isn't forced. It’s genuine. You can tell these three actually like each other, which is rare in a business where people usually retreat to their trailers the second the director yells "cut."
The Heavy Hitters and Why They Joined
Why does every Oscar winner in Hollywood want to be in the cast of Only Murders in the Building? It’s the "White Lotus" effect. It’s a limited-time commitment in a beautiful setting with great writing.
Take Meryl Streep.
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When news broke that Streep was joining as Loretta Durkin, a struggling actress who finally gets her big break in her 70s, the internet lost it. She wasn't just a cameo; she became the emotional heart of the third season. Her "Look for the Light" lullaby wasn't just a plot point; it was a reminder that Meryl Streep is, well, Meryl Streep. She brought a vulnerability that balanced Oliver's manic energy.
And Paul Rudd. Playing Ben Glenroy, a Hollywood action star who is secretly a jerk, Rudd got to lean into a side of himself we rarely see. He’s usually the "nicest guy in Hollywood." Seeing him play a prima donna who hates Charles-Haden Savage was a masterstroke. The show uses these stars not as window dressing, but as genuine suspects with layers.
The Unsung Heroes: The Arconia Residents
The building itself is a character, but the people living in it are the ones who give the show its texture. You can't talk about the cast of Only Murders in the Building without mentioning the supporting players who have been there since season one.
- Howard Morris (Michael Cyril Creighton): He started as the guy who loved his cat (RIP Evelyn) and turned into one of the most essential parts of the team. He represents the audience—the obsessive fan who just wants to be part of the inner circle.
- Detective Williams (Da'Vine Joy Randolph): Before she won her Oscar for The Holdovers, Randolph was already stealing scenes as the no-nonsense detective who is secretly a fan of the podcast. Her "I don't have time for this" energy is the perfect foil to the trio’s amateur sleuthing.
- Uma Heller (Jackie Hoffman): The quintessential grumpy New Yorker. Every time she tells someone to "get bent," it feels like a warm hug from the Upper West Side.
- Teddy Dimas (Nathan Lane): Lane brought a Shakespearean gravitas to the show. His relationship with his son, Theo (James Caverly), provided one of the most groundbreaking episodes in TV history—"The Boy from 6B"—which was almost entirely silent.
The Guest Star Strategy: A Lesson in Casting
Most shows fail when they bring in big stars. It feels distracting. Like, "Oh, look, there’s Brad Pitt playing a plumber." But Only Murders handles it differently. They cast people who fit the "theater kid" or "New York intellectual" aesthetic.
Think about Tina Fey as Cinda Canning. She’s a thinly veiled parody of Sarah Koenig from Serial. She’s ruthless, corporate, and perfectly highlights the moral ambiguity of the true-crime industry. Then you have Jane Lynch as Sazz Pataki, Charles’s stunt double. Lynch played the role with such specific physicality—mimicking Steve Martin’s gait and mannerisms—that her character's arc became one of the most devastating turns in the series.
The 2026 landscape of television has seen a lot of copycats, but none can match this specific roster. The show has managed to pull in everyone from Shirley MacLaine to Amy Schumer and Matthew Broderick. Even Sting played himself as a murder suspect. Seriously, Sting.
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Why the Casting Works for SEO and Discovery
Google loves this show because the search intent is constantly shifting. One week people are searching for "who killed Ben Glenroy," and the next they are looking for "where did Mabel get that coat?" The cast of Only Murders in the Building is a goldmine for "E-E-A-T" (Experience, Expertise, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness). The actors bring their own massive fanbases—Selena’s 400+ million Instagram followers, Steve Martin’s comedy purists, and the Broadway crowd that worships Martin Short.
When a new season is announced, the speculation about the cast drives the news cycle. It’s not just about who is in it, but how they fit into the puzzle. The show avoids the "celebrity for celebrity's sake" trap by making sure every guest star has a motive.
Navigating the Plot Twists: Spoilers and Casting Shifts
If you’re just starting your binge, be warned: the cast list is a bit of a minefield. Because it’s a murder mystery, characters die. Often.
The death of Sazz Pataki changed the dynamic of the cast significantly. It moved the stakes from "solving a crime for a podcast" to "solving a crime for a friend." This shift allowed Steve Martin to show a darker, more grief-stricken side of Charles. It also opened the door for new additions like Molly Shannon, Eva Longoria, and Eugene Levy (who basically play heightened versions of themselves or meta-commentary versions of the leads).
The meta-humor is thick. In later seasons, the show even tackles the idea of a movie being made about the podcast, which allows the cast of Only Murders in the Building to double up. You have the "real" characters and the "actors" playing them. It sounds confusing. It’s actually brilliant. It allows the show to comment on its own success while giving us even more cameos to track.
Common Misconceptions About the Cast
A lot of people think Steve Martin and Martin Short have been a duo forever. While they did Three Amigos in 1986 and the Father of the Bride movies, they spent decades doing their own thing before reuniting for their live comedy tours, which eventually birthed this show.
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Another misconception? That Selena Gomez was a second choice. Showrunner John Hoffman has been on record saying she was always the intended "third" to ground the veterans. Her casting wasn't a marketing ploy; it was a structural necessity.
Also, the Arconia isn't a real building you can live in, though the exterior is the Belnord on 86th Street. If you go there, don't expect to see Steve Martin hanging out in the lobby, although the building has become a major tourist spot because of the show's popularity.
What’s Next for the Arconia Crew?
As we look toward future installments, the casting rumors are already swirling. The show has a "wish list" that reportedly includes everyone from Carol Burnett to some of the younger "it" actors of the moment. The beauty of the format is that as long as there is a dead body and a podcast, the cast of Only Murders in the Building can keep expanding.
The show has successfully bridged the gap between old Hollywood glamour and modern digital culture. It’s a rare feat. It’s a show that your grandma loves, your teenage sister watches for the outfits, and critics respect for the tight writing.
If you are looking to dive deeper into the world of the Arconia, start by re-watching season one with a focus on the background characters. Many of the people you see in the "fan club" or the building board meetings end up becoming pivotal players three seasons later. The writers love a long game.
Next Steps for Fans and Researchers:
- Check the Official Socials: Follow the official show accounts on Instagram; they often drop "Easter egg" casting news in the background of set photos.
- IMDb Pro Check: For the most accurate, up-to-the-minute additions to the cast of Only Murders in the Building, use industry databases rather than fan wikis, which can sometimes include "wish-cast" rumors as facts.
- The Soundtrack Factor: Listen to the "Only Murders" theme and the musical episodes (like Death Rattle Dazzle). The cast's vocal performances are often clues to their character's true intentions.
- Watch the "Making Of" Specials: Hulu frequently releases behind-the-scenes clips that explain how the casting directors, Bernard Telsey and Tiffany Little Canfield, pair these wildly different actors together.