If you’ve spent any time at all watching Sam and Jay struggle to renovate a crumbling New York estate, you know the real stars aren't the living. They're the dead. Honestly, the cast of Ghosts—the American version on CBS, specifically—is one of those rare ensembles where every single person feels essential. You take one out, and the whole house of cards (or house of spirits) just collapses.
It’s weirdly wholesome. A show about death shouldn't be this comforting, yet here we are. When Samantha (Rose McIver) took that tumble down the stairs and started seeing the previous tenants, we all expected a few jump scares. Instead, we got a crash course in history through the lens of a Viking, a "finance bro" without pants, and a hippie who met her end via a bear hug. Literally.
The Anchors of Woodstone Mansion
Rose McIver and Utkarsh Ambudkar have a thankless job. They have to play the "straight men" to a group of eccentric spirits, but they do it with so much heart. Sam is the bridge. Without her, the cast of Ghosts is just a bunch of invisible people shouting into the void. Jay, played by Ambudkar, is perhaps the most relatable character on television right now. Think about it. He can’t see them. He can’t hear them. He just has to trust his wife that there is a Revolution-era captain judging his cooking. That takes a specific kind of comedic timing—reacting to nothing and making it feel like something.
The Captain and the Lady of the House
Brandon Scott Jones as Captain Isaac Higgintoot is a masterclass in repressed longing. Isaac is a Continental Army officer who died of dysentery—which is gross, but he makes it funny. His rivalry with Alexander Hamilton is a recurring bit that never gets old. It’s the nuance that Jones brings, though. The way he slowly comes to terms with his sexuality over the seasons is actually one of the most moving arcs in modern sitcoms.
Then there’s Hetty. Rebecca Wisocky plays Hetty Woodstone with this stiff-backed, Gilded Age elitism that should be annoying, but it’s just... perfect? She’s Sam’s great-great-great-great-grandmother. She hates "the poors" and Irish people (initially), but watching her discover things like washing machines and female empowerment is a riot. Wisocky uses her voice like an instrument, hitting these high, aspirated notes that make Hetty feel like she’s constantly one step away from a fainting couch.
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Breaking Down the Cast of Ghosts
Let's talk about the others because this is where the variety really shines. You have Richie Moriarty as Pete Martino. He’s the scout leader who died with an arrow through his neck in the 80s. Pete is the "nice guy," but the show smartly gives him flaws—he’s a bit of a pushover, and his eternal optimism is often a mask for a very lonely existence.
Then you have Trevor. Asher Grodman plays the 90s Wall Street guy who died without pants. Fun fact for those who don't know: the reason he has no pants isn't just a random gag; it was actually a weirdly noble gesture to help a friend. Trevor is the "bro" we all love to hate, but he’s also surprisingly protective of the other ghosts. He’s the one who interacts with the physical world the most, usually by typing very slowly on a computer or pushing a vase.
- Sasappis (Román Zaragoza): A Lenape man from the 1500s. He’s the cynical observer. While everyone else is panicking, "Sas" is usually just there for the drama. He loves gossip. It's his fuel.
- Flower (Sheila Carrasco): The 60s hippie. She's flighty, forgetful (mostly because she was high when she died and stayed that way), and has a surprisingly dark backstory involving a cult and a bank robbery.
- Alberta (Danielle Pinnock): A Prohibition-era jazz singer. She has the biggest personality in the house and one of the most interesting "how I died" mysteries that spans the early seasons.
- Thorfinn (Devan Chandler Long): The Viking. He’s been there the longest—over a thousand years. He likes "cod" and "land-ship." He’s the muscle, even though he can’t actually hit anything.
Why This Specific Ensemble Works
Comedy is hard. Ensemble comedy is harder. The cast of Ghosts succeeds because they don't fight for the spotlight. They share it. It’s a rhythmic thing. One scene might be Alberta and Isaac bickering about fame, while the next is a quiet moment between Pete and Sasappis.
The chemistry is palpable. In interviews, the cast often talks about how they’ve become a legitimate family off-screen. That’s not just PR talk. You can see it in the "ghost hive mind" scenes where they all react to Sam’s news at once. The timing is surgical. If one person is off by half a second, the joke dies. But they never are.
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Addressing the British Elephant in the Room
We have to mention the original UK version. Usually, when Americans adapt a British hit, it’s a disaster. (Remember the US Skins? Exactly.) But the US cast of Ghosts took the DNA of the original and evolved it. They didn't just copy the characters. They localized them. Instead of a disgraced MP, we got a corrupt Lehman Brothers type. Instead of a caveman, we got a Viking. It respects the source material while carving out its own identity.
The US version is also much longer. Network TV requires 22 episodes a year (usually), whereas British "series" are often only six episodes. This gives the American cast more room to breathe. We get "bottle episodes" where nothing happens except the ghosts talking in the basement, and honestly, those are often the best ones.
The Secret Ingredient: Guest Ghosts
The recurring cast adds so much flavor. We can't forget the "Basement Ghosts"—the cholera victims. They’re led by Nancy (Betsy Sodaro), who is absolute chaos. Whenever the upstairs ghosts get too big for their boots, the basement ghosts show up to remind them that they’re all just rotting spirits in a big house.
And then there's the "attic ghost," Stephanie the mean-girl prom queen from the 80s, and the British soldiers in the shed. This expanded universe makes Woodstone feel lived-in. Or died-in. It creates a hierarchy that mirrors real-world social structures, which adds a layer of satire that keeps the show from being too "sweet."
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Nuance in Performance
Take Danielle Pinnock as Alberta. She could have played Alberta as a caricature—the "sassy" singer. But she doesn't. She brings this vulnerability to the role, especially when she's talking about her father or the struggles of being a Black woman in the 1920s music industry. It’s grounded.
Similarly, Devan Chandler Long could have just been "loud Viking man." But his Thorfinn is obsessed with reality TV and environmentalism (he’s very concerned about the "global warming"). It’s these subversions of tropes that make the cast of Ghosts so refreshing. They aren't who they look like.
Actionable Takeaways for Fans
If you’re looking to get the most out of your Ghosts obsession, there are a few things you should do. First, pay attention to the background. Because the ghosts can't interact with the world, the actors are often doing incredible physical comedy in the corner of the frame while Sam and Jay are talking.
- Rewatch the Pilot: Now that you know the backstories, the first episode hits differently. Watch Trevor's reactions—he's much more observant than he lets on.
- Follow the Socials: The cast (especially Richie Moriarty and Danielle Pinnock) post a lot of behind-the-scenes content on Instagram and TikTok. It shows you just how much work goes into the "ghost effects," like making sure no one accidentally sits on a chair that's supposed to be empty.
- Check Out the UK Version: If you haven't seen the BBC original, do it. It’s darker and shorter, but seeing the "counterpart" characters (like The Captain vs. The Captain) is fascinating for any TV buff.
- Look for the "Power" Clues: Each ghost has a specific ability (Isaac's smell, Thorfinn's electricity, etc.). The writers are very careful about when they use these. Try to spot the foreshadowing before a power is used to solve a plot point.
The show isn't just about being funny; it's about the fact that we’re all stuck together, regardless of when we lived or what we believed. The cast of Ghosts represents different eras of the American experience, forced to share a living room for eternity. If they can figure out how to get along, maybe there's hope for the rest of us.
To really appreciate the depth of the show, look into the historical consultants they use. The production team actually works with experts to ensure the Lenape representation for Sasappis is accurate and that Isaac’s military uniform (and his specific grievances about the war) makes sense for the time period. This attention to detail is why the show has such a loyal following—it’s smart, it’s layered, and it’s genuinely well-acted.
Next Steps for Deep Diving
- Research the Lenape: Learn about the actual history of the indigenous people in the Hudson Valley to see how well Román Zaragoza’s character aligns with historical reality.
- Explore Gilded Age Etiquette: Look up the rules Hetty would have lived by; it makes her "scandalous" moments in the show much funnier when you realize just how repressed she was supposed to be.
- Track the "Sucked Off" Count: Keep a running list of every ghost who has "moved on" (the show calls it being "sucked off," much to the ghosts' chagrin) to see if you can spot the pattern of what allows a spirit to find peace.