When How to Get Away with Murder premiered on ABC back in 2014, it wasn't just another legal procedural. Shonda Rhimes—along with creator Peter Nowalk—caught lightning in a bottle. They didn't just cast actors; they assembled a volatile mix of veteran powerhouses and then-unknowns who would eventually become household names. Looking back now, the how to get away with murder show cast feels less like a TV ensemble and more like a masterclass in career longevity.
Viola Davis. That's the name that changed everything. Before Annalise Keating, Black women in lead roles on network TV were often relegated to "the supportive best friend" or "the tough-but-fair boss." Viola broke that. She was messy. She was brilliant. She was occasionally a terrible person. Honestly, she redefined what a protagonist could look like. And the kids? The "Keating Five"? They weren't just background noise for Viola's Emmy-winning performances. They were the engine of the show's chaotic, high-stakes drama.
The Force of Nature: Viola Davis as Annalise Keating
You can't talk about the how to get away with murder show cast without starting—and perhaps ending—with Viola Davis. She didn't just play Annalise; she lived her. Remember the scene where she removes her wig and makeup? That wasn't in the script. That was Viola. She told The New York Times that she didn't want to play a "TV version" of a woman. She wanted the reality.
Davis was already an Oscar nominee when she took the role, but HTGAWM made her a global icon. She became the first Black woman to win the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series. Think about that. 2015. It took that long. Her performance as the alcoholic, traumatized, genius defense attorney provided the emotional gravity that kept the show’s more "soap opera" moments grounded. Without her, the show might have spiraled into absurdity. With her, it was prestige television.
Meet the Keating Five: Where Are They Now?
The students were the audience’s entry point. We were supposed to be them—ambitious, terrified, and way out of our depth.
Alfred Enoch as Wes Gibbins
Wes was the "puppy." Coming off the Harry Potter films as Dean Thomas, Enoch had to shed his British accent and play the moral (and sometimes deeply immoral) center of the group. His "death" in season three remains one of the most controversial pivots in modern TV history. Fans were livid. Honestly, some still are. Enoch has since moved on to projects like Foundation on Apple TV+, showing he’s got the range for high-concept sci-fi.
Aja Naomi King as Michaela Pratt
Michaela was the overachiever. The one who wanted to be Michelle Obama. Aja Naomi King brought a sharp, brittle vulnerability to the role that made you root for her even when she was doing something incredibly selfish. King has remained a fashion darling and appeared in Lessons in Chemistry, proving her staying power beyond the halls of Middleton University.
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Jack Falahee as Connor Walsh
Connor was arguably the breakout character for a younger generation. He was confident, sexually active, and unapologetic—until the trauma of the murders started chipping away at his soul. Falahee’s chemistry with Conrad Ricamora (who played Oliver) created "Coliver," one of the most beloved LGBTQ+ ships in television history. Post-show, Falahee has dipped his toes into music and theater, staying relatively low-key compared to some of his peers.
Karla Souza as Laurel Castillo
Laurel was the dark horse. You thought she was the quiet one, then you found out her dad was basically a supervillain. Souza, a massive star in Mexico, brought an international flair to the how to get away with murder show cast. She’s since starred in Home Economics, showing a comedic side that HTGAWM rarely allowed her to explore.
Matt McGorry as Asher Millstone
Asher was the comic relief until he wasn't. McGorry, who was simultaneously appearing in Orange Is the New Black during the early seasons, played the "bro" with a heart of gold (and a lot of family baggage). Today, McGorry is as well known for his activism as he is for his acting, often using his platform to discuss social justice issues—ironically echoing some of the themes the show touched upon.
The Supporting Players Who Stole the Spotlight
You've got the students and the mentor, but the orbit around Annalise was populated by actors who frequently out-acted everyone else on screen.
- Liza Weil (Bonnie Winterbottom): Coming off Gilmore Girls, Weil was a revelation. Bonnie was tragic. There’s no other word for it. Her codependent relationship with Annalise was the show's most disturbing and compelling element.
- Charlie Weber (Frank Delfino): The fixer. Weber brought a rugged, dangerous energy. His chemistry with basically every female lead was palpable, but his loyalty to Annalise was his defining trait.
- Conrad Ricamora (Oliver Hampton): Originally meant to be a guest star, Ricamora was so charming that the writers couldn't let him go. He became the moral compass of the show, which is hilarious considering he eventually became a master hacker and accomplice.
Why the Casting Worked When Others Failed
Most ensemble dramas struggle with balance. Usually, you have one lead you care about and five people you wish would stop talking. HTGAWM didn't have that problem. Why? Because the how to get away with murder show cast was built on the idea of friction.
Every character was designed to clash with the others. Michaela and Connor’s competitive friendship. Bonnie and Frank’s shared trauma. Annalise and... well, everyone. The casting directors, Linda Lowy and Will Stewart, leaned into actors who could handle "the turn"—that moment where a character goes from relatable to monstrous in a single scene.
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It’s also worth noting the diversity. This wasn't "token" casting. The show dealt with race, class, and sexuality in ways that felt integral to the plot, not like a checked box. When Annalise argued a case about the mass incarceration of Black men in the Supreme Court (the Scandal crossover), it felt earned because of the history the actors had built over the previous seasons.
The Impact of the Scandal Crossover
Speaking of crossovers, the "How to Get Away with Scandal" event was a peak TV moment. Seeing Viola Davis and Kerry Washington share the screen? Incredible. It solidified the "Shondaland" universe as a place where powerhouse performances were the baseline, not the exception. It also showed that the how to get away with murder show cast could hold their own against the established veterans of a show that had been on the air for years longer.
Life After the Finale: The Cast's Legacy
The show ended in 2020, but its influence hasn't faded. You see it in how new legal dramas are cast. There’s a "Keating Five" archetype in almost every procedural now—the diverse group of brilliant but flawed youngsters.
Viola Davis went on to win her Oscar for Fences and has become one of the few actors to achieve EGOT status (Emmy, Grammy, Oscar, Tony). She is, quite simply, acting royalty. But the rest of the how to get away with murder show cast hasn't exactly been idle.
- Liza Weil returned to the Gilmore Girls revival and has appeared in various prestige dramas.
- Aja Naomi King is a mainstay in both independent film and major streaming series.
- Alfred Enoch has become a respected stage actor in the UK, taking on Shakespearean roles that utilize his classical training.
Common Misconceptions About the Production
A lot of people think the cast knew the ending from the start. They didn't. Peter Nowalk was notorious for keeping the scripts close to his chest. Most of the actors found out about the big twists (like who was under the sheet in season three) only a few days before filming. This created a real sense of anxiety on set that translated perfectly to the screen.
Another misconception is that the show was entirely filmed in Philadelphia. Nope. While it’s set there, most of the production happened in Los Angeles. The cast had to work hard to maintain that chilly, East Coast academic vibe while filming in the California sun.
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Nuance in the Narrative
One of the limitations of the show, which some critics pointed out, was the "burn rate" of plot. By season four, some felt the stories were becoming too convoluted. However, the cast’s performances never wavered. Even when the plot was doing backflips, the emotional truth provided by the actors kept the audience invested. You might not have understood the legal technicality of why they weren't in jail, but you understood why Connor was having a panic attack.
Actionable Insights for Fans and Aspiring Actors
If you're looking to dive deeper into the world of the how to get away with murder show cast, or if you're an actor studying their craft, here are a few ways to engage with their work:
- Watch the "Wig Scene" commentary: Viola Davis has spoken extensively in interviews about the decision to show Annalise’s natural hair. It’s a lesson in character building and taking risks.
- Follow the cast’s current projects: Many of them, like Aja Naomi King and Matt McGorry, are heavily involved in social causes. Their work off-screen often reflects the themes of justice explored in the show.
- Binge the series with an eye on "The Turn": Watch how the actors transition from their "public" faces to their "private" selves. The show is essentially a study in code-switching and masks.
- Check out the scripts: If you can find the pilot script online, compare the written descriptions of the characters to how the actors eventually portrayed them. The differences show how much "life" a great cast adds to the page.
The show was a moment in time. It captured a specific kind of high-octane, diverse, and unapologetic storytelling that defined the mid-2010s. The how to get away with murder show cast remains the gold standard for how to build an ensemble that is both individually brilliant and collectively unstoppable. Whether you're re-watching for the third time or just discovering the chaos of Annalise Keating, the talent on display is undeniable.
To truly understand the impact of the show, one must look at the landscape of television before and after its run. It pushed boundaries of what was acceptable on network TV, specifically regarding sex and violence, but always centered the humanity of its characters. The cast didn't just play roles; they created icons that still resonate in the cultural zeitgeist today.
Next Steps for the Superfan
If you've finished the series and are feeling that Annalise-shaped hole in your life, your best bet is to follow the individual trajectories of the actors. Viola Davis's memoir, Finding Me, offers incredible insight into her mindset during the filming of the show. For a deeper dive into the technical side, look for interviews with the show’s cinematographers, who used specific lighting to differentiate the "flash-forwards" from the present day—a technique the cast had to adapt their acting styles to match.
The legacy of How to Get Away with Murder isn't just in its twists; it's in the faces of the people who made us believe they could actually get away with it.