You know that feeling when you start a show just for background noise and suddenly you’re three seasons deep, emotionally invested in a Viking’s hygiene? That’s the Ghosts effect. It’s rare for a network sitcom to actually land the plane these days, especially a remake of a beloved British hit, but the Ghosts TV show cast somehow managed to make a bunch of dead people feel more alive than most characters on prestige dramas. Honestly, the chemistry is what keeps the lights on at Woodstone Mansion. If the ensemble didn’t click, the whole "I can see dead people" premise would have felt like a dated Sixth Sense parody within two episodes.
Instead, we got a masterclass in character comedy.
Rose McIver and Utkarsh Ambudkar carry the "living" side of things with a massive amount of heavy lifting. Think about it. Utkarsh spends half his screen time talking to thin air because his character, Jay, can't actually see the ghosts. That requires a specific kind of comedic timing where you aren't just waiting for a line; you're reacting to a void. It’s impressive. But let's be real—the reason we all tune in is to see what the resident spirits are up to. From a scout leader with an arrow through his neck to a Wall Street bro missing his pants, the lineup is a bizarre, historical fever dream that actually works.
The Living Breathing Heart of Woodstone
Rose McIver plays Samantha, the freelance journalist who inherits a crumbling estate and a permanent case of hallucinations after a near-death experience. McIver isn't new to the supernatural—fans remember her from iZombie—but here she plays the "straight man" to a house full of chaos. She has to be the bridge. Without her grounded performance, the ghosts would just be a collection of loud caricatures.
Then there’s Jay. Utkarsh Ambudkar is basically the audience surrogate. He’s the guy who just wants to cook a nice meal and watch the game but has to deal with his wife having sidebar conversations with a 19th-century militiaman. His "Ghost FOMO" is one of the best running gags in the show. He wants to be included so badly. It adds a layer of warmth to the Ghosts TV show cast dynamics because it proves the ghosts aren't just nuisances; they're family. Even if he can't see them, he treats them like roommates who don't pay rent.
The Woodstone Ten: Breaking Down the Spirits
The ghosts themselves are where the show’s writers really went to town on historical tropes.
👉 See also: Kate Moss Family Guy: What Most People Get Wrong About That Cutaway
Captain Isaac Higgintoot (Brandon Scott Jones)
Brandon Scott Jones is arguably the breakout star here. Isaac is an American Revolutionary War officer who died of dysentery and is desperately jealous of Alexander Hamilton. It’s such a specific, petty character trait. Jones plays Isaac with this repressed, theatrical energy that makes every "huzzah" feel like a cry for help. His character arc, specifically his journey with his sexuality and his relationship with Nigel (the British ghost in the shed), provides some of the show's most genuinely touching moments. It’s not just jokes about muskets.
Alberta Haynes (Danielle Pinnock)
Alberta is a Prohibition-era jazz singer who died under mysterious circumstances—which, as we found out in later seasons, involved a very dramatic murder plot. Danielle Pinnock brings a massive, room-filling energy to the role. She’s the diva of the house, but she’s also the one with the most street smarts. Her "ghost power" is that she can be heard by living people if she hums or sings, which has come in handy more than once for Sam.
Pete Martino (Richie Moriarty)
Every show needs a "nice guy," and Pete is the ultimate version of that. He’s a 1980s Pinecone Trooper leader who died during a freak archery accident. Yes, the arrow is still there. Richie Moriarty plays Pete with this relentless, sometimes annoying optimism that masks a lot of regret about his life and marriage. He’s the glue. When the ghosts start bickering, Pete is usually there with a whistle and a plan that nobody follows.
Trevor Lefkowitz (Asher Grodman)
The "No Pants" guy. Trevor is the 90s finance bro who died while partying a bit too hard. At first glance, he’s the douchebag of the group. But as the seasons progress, the Ghosts TV show cast reveals Trevor’s heart. He’s actually a pretty good friend, and his lack of trousers is eventually explained in a way that’s surprisingly selfless. Grodman plays the role with a lot of charisma, making you like a character you’d normally avoid at a bar.
Hetty Woodstone (Rebecca Wisocky)
The lady of the manor. Hetty is Sam’s great-great-great-great grandmother and a total 19th-century elitist. Rebecca Wisocky is brilliant at playing "offended." Whether she’s reacting to modern "loose" morals or the existence of washing machines, her comedic timing is sharp as a tack. Her slow evolution from a repressed Victorian woman to someone who (sort of) appreciates independence is one of the show's best long-game stories.
✨ Don't miss: Blink-182 Mark Hoppus: What Most People Get Wrong About His 2026 Comeback
Why This Ensemble Works Better Than the Original
Look, the UK version of Ghosts is incredible. It’s cynical, dark, and very British. When CBS announced an American version, people were skeptical. Usually, US remakes of UK comedies—Skins, The IT Crowd pilot—are disasters.
But the US Ghosts TV show cast succeeded because they didn't try to copy the original characters beat-for-beat. They leaned into American history. We don't have a caveman; we have Thor (Devan Chandler Long), a Viking who landed in North America way before Columbus. We don't have a 1970s politician; we have Trevor. By grounding the characters in specific American eras—the Lenape history with Sasappis (Roman Zaragoza), the hippie movement with Flower (Sheila Carrasco)—the show found its own soul.
It’s also surprisingly educational? Sorta. You learn about the small, weird niches of history through these characters' backstories. Sasappis, for example, offers a perspective on the land that Sam and Jay are "developing," which adds a tiny bit of weight to an otherwise lighthearted show. Roman Zaragoza plays him with a deadpan sarcasm that perfectly balances the more over-the-top ghosts.
Dealing with Cast Departures and Changes
Sitcom fans get nervous when cast members leave. Remember the "Flower" cliffhanger? For a long time, viewers were genuinely worried that Sheila Carrasco was leaving the show. When a ghost "gets sucked off" (their term for moving to the afterlife, not mine), it’s a permanent change to the chemistry.
Losing a member of the Ghosts TV show cast is risky because the show is so dependent on the "found family" vibe. Fortunately, the writers have used these moments to introduce new dynamics. Whether it's the ghosts in the basement (the cholera victims) or the British ghosts in the shed, the world of Woodstone is constantly expanding. It keeps the show from feeling stagnant, which is the death knell for most network comedies.
🔗 Read more: Why Grand Funk’s Bad Time is Secretly the Best Pop Song of the 1970s
How to Keep Up With the Woodstone Crew
If you're trying to stay updated on what the actors are doing outside of the mansion, here’s the best way to navigate the fandom.
- Watch the Specials: CBS often releases behind-the-scenes looks and "blooper" reels. Because the cast is so close in real life, the outtakes are often funnier than the scripted bits.
- Follow the Socials: Brandon Scott Jones and Danielle Pinnock are particularly active on Instagram and TikTok, often posting "day in the life" content from the set. It’s wild to see them in full Victorian or 1920s makeup holding a Starbucks cup.
- Check the UK Version: If you haven't seen the BBC original, do it. It’s a different flavor, but it helps you appreciate the choices the US cast made to differentiate themselves.
- Look for Guest Stars: The show has a habit of bringing in great guest actors to play the ghosts of the week or relatives of the main cast. Keep an eye out for familiar faces from the improv world.
The real magic of the Ghosts TV show cast isn't just the costumes or the special effects that make them walk through walls. It's the fact that they’ve made us care about people who have been dead for two hundred years. You start watching for the jokes, but you stay because you actually want to see Isaac find love or Alberta get justice for her murder.
Next time you’re watching, pay attention to the background. The actors who aren't speaking are usually doing something hilarious in character. That’s the mark of a cast that actually loves the world they’re building. They aren't just saying lines; they're haunting that house for real.
Actionable Next Step: If you're caught up on the latest season, dive into the official Ghosts podcast or hunt down the PaleyCenter panels featuring the cast. Hearing them discuss the technical difficulty of filming "ghost rules" (like not being able to sit on furniture unless they "really believe" in it) gives you a whole new appreciation for the physical comedy involved in every episode.