List of House of Cards characters

House of Cards title screen

This is a list of characters in the American television series House of Cards.

Main Cast

Cast of House of Cards
Character Portrayed by Season
1 2 3 4 5
Francis J. Underwood Kevin Spacey Main
Claire Underwood Robin Wright Main
Zoe Barnes Kate Mara Main Guest Guest
Peter Russo Corey Stoll Main Guest
Douglas Stamper Michael Kelly Main
Linda Vasquez Sakina Jaffrey Main
Christina Gallagher Kristen Connolly Main Recurring
Lucas Goodwin Sebastian Arcelus Main Recurring
Garrett Walker Michael Gill Main Recurring
Edward Meechum Nathan Darrow Main Recurring
Rachel Posner Rachel Brosnahan Main Recurring
Janine Skorsky Constance Zimmer Main Recurring Guest
Remy Danton Mahershala Ali Main
Nancy Kaufberger Elizabeth Norment Main Recurring
Gillian Cole Sandrine Holt Main Guest
Catherine Durant Jayne Atkinson Recurring Main Recurring Main TBA
Raymond Tusk Gerald McRaney Recurring Main Recurring
Jacqueline Sharp Molly Parker Main TBA
Gavin Orsay Jimmi Simpson Main
Ayla Sayyad Mozhan Marnò Main Recurring
Seth Grayson Derek Cecil Recurring Main TBA
Heather Dunbar Elizabeth Marvel Recurring Main
Thomas Yates Paul Sparks Main Recurring TBA
Leann Harvey Neve Campbell Main TBA
Will Conway Joel Kinnaman Main TBA

Francis "Frank" Underwood

Frank Underwood, (played by Kevin Spacey) is a Democrat from South Carolina's 5th Congressional District that is House Majority Whip in season one, Vice President of the United States in season two, and the 46th President of the United States in seasons three and four. An utterly ruthless and conniving politician, he pursues only his own political agenda and manipulates everyone around him to grab influence and prestige, at the potential cost of destroying everyone else to push himself forward. His name is derived from Francis Urquhart, the protagonist of the BBC version and the novel version of House of Cards, and Oscar Underwood, the first Democratic House whip. Just as Urquhart does in the BBC version, Underwood often breaks the fourth wall by speaking directly to the viewer.

Claire Underwood

Main article: Claire Underwood

Claire Underwood, (played by Robin Wright) is Francis's wife. She runs the Clean Water Initiative, an NGO, in season one before giving it up to become Second Lady of the United States. She often abets Frank's political scheming, and proves to be just as cold, manipulative, and power-hungry as her husband. In season three, she becomes First Lady of the United States and the United States Ambassador to the United Nations. Her equivalent character from the original series is Elizabeth Urquhart.

Douglas "Doug" Stamper

Douglas "Doug" Stamper, (played by Michael Kelly) is Underwood's unwaveringly loyal chief of staff and confidant. He is instrumental in strategizing and carrying out many of Frank's plans. A recovering alcoholic, Stamper prizes discipline and self-control above all else, but loses his poise when he comes into contact with Rachel Posner, who he helps Underwood use as part of his plot to bring down Peter Russo. He relocates her in order to keep her involvement in Russo's death hidden. He is one of the few who knows the truth about Frank's involvement in Russo's death. In Season 2 he feels threatened by the influence of Seth Grayson, The Underwoods' new Press Secretary. He begins to control Rachel's life and becomes increasingly infatuated with her. The end of the second season finds Stamper presumably[1] dead in the woods, Rachel having bashed him repeatedly in the head with a brick. It can be assumed that Stamper was planning to murder Rachel, concerned that she would speak up about her role in Underwood's murder of Peter Russo. At the start of the third season, it is revealed that Stamper survived the attack. He undergoes physical therapy to regain his ability to walk, and becomes obsessed with tracking down Rachel, who has gone into hiding. Devastated when Underwood insists that he take time to recover rather than continuing his work, Stamper relapses in his alcoholism after fifteen years of sobriety. After tracking down and killing Rachel, he returns to his Chief of Staff position. His equivalent from the original series is Tim Stamper.

Rachel Posner

Rachel Posner, (played by Rachel Brosnahan) is a prostitute whom Underwood and Stamper use to bring about Russo's downfall. She is initially with Russo when he is pulled over for drunk driving. Stampers pays her off to keep quiet about the Congressmen and the cover up, then helps her get a job and selling herself. Stamper has her proposition Russo and make him break sobriety. After Zoe Barnes begins to question Rachel's relation to Russo's suicide Stamper forces her to relocate. Stamper becomes obsessed with her and begins to control her life, forcing her to avoid contact with anyone to hide her connection to Underwood. Rachel begins attending church services and enters into a relationship with Lisa Williams, to Stamper's disapproval. Realizing he can no longer control her, Stamper drives Rachel into the woods, presumably to murder her. Rachel responds by bashing his head repeatedly with a rock and leaving him for dead. She flees to New Mexico and begins a new life under an assumed name. Doug tracks her down and ultimately kills her in the season 3 finale in order to prove his allegiance to Francis thus finally tying up the connection between Underwood and Russo. (Seasons 1–3)

Remy Danton

Remy Danton, (played by Mahershala Ali) a lawyer for Glendon Hill and lobbyist who works for natural gas company SanCorp in Season 1 and Raymond Tusk in Season 2. Prior to the start of the show, he worked eight years for Underwood as Press Secretary before leaving to pursue more money rather than Underwood's offer of power. He works together with Jackie Sharp in Season 2, and they begin a sexual relationship that later becomes strained because of their business relationship. In Season 3, he becomes Underwood's White House Chief of Staff, but later becomes disillusioned because of Underwood's treatment of Sharp. At the end of season 3, Remy decides that he no longer wants to work in politics.

Linda Vasquez

Linda Vasquez, (played by Sakina Jaffrey) President Walker's White House Chief of Staff. While she got her position in the White House with Underwood's help and works with Frank as much as she can, also sees into his duplicity more than others. After Frank helps get her son into college she pays him back by helping him become Vice President. In Season 2 she and Frank become more adversarial, fighting over who will be the most influential voice in President Walker's ear. After realizing Frank has won she hands her formal resignation to President Walker. After her surrender frank notes that he has an extremely high level of respect Vasquez. (Seasons 1–2)

Edward Meechum

Edward Meechum (played by Nathan Darrow) is a former Marine, and Capitol police officer, who protects Frank while he is Whip. He is fired from his bodyguard job early on. After getting him reinstated Frank requires unconditional loyalty and asks him to be "a rock" who "absorbs nothing". Frank trusts Meechum with is life and has him promoted to the Secret Service through a specialized training program. Meechum drives Frank around and is often a silent presence in Frank's unethical meetings. His relationship with Frank, who refers to him nearly always as "Meechum" with an exception in only one episode, borders on romantic, and it is insinuated that he, Claire, and Frank were engaged in a polygamous relationship. Doug does not share this same trust and refuses to treat Meechum with respect out of his own devotion to the president. He is killed early in season 4 when he is shot by Lucas Goodwin during an assassination attempt on Frank. Though mortally wounded, he manages to kill Goodwin before succumbing to his injuries. He is subsequently buried at Arlington National Cemetery. (Season 1-3; Main, Season 4; Recurring).

Jacqueline "Jackie" Sharp

Jacqueline "Jackie" Sharp, (played by Molly Parker) a Democratic congresswoman from California, military veteran and the current Deputy Minority Whip tapped by Underwood to succeed him as Majority Whip when he is made vice president. While she claims to work for herself and not be beholden to others, she sees her position constantly tested through her ties to Frank, Claire, and Remy Danton. In season 2, Jackie is apprehensive about Claire Underwood's military sexual assault reform bill, concerned about civilian control over the military. In season 3, she runs for president against Frank Underwood and Heather Dunbar with the intention of dropping out and endorsing Underwood. However, after Underwood betrays her, she endorses Dunbar instead. Jackie is in a romantic relationship with Remy Danton but is married in season 3. She is based on Sarah Harding from the original series. (Season 2–present)

Heather Dunbar

Heather Dunbar (Elizabeth Marvel), an uncompromising lawyer from the family that owns the real-life Dunbar Armored Cars, Inc. and Solicitor General of the United States in the Walker Administration, who is appointed Special Prosecutor in the investigation into money laundering of foreign money via PACs. In season 3, she resigns as Solicitor General after seeing Underwood's manipulation and announces her candidacy for President, challenging Underwood in the Democratic primary. As a presidential candidate, Dunbar takes progressive positions on the issues and is a staunch opponent of Underwood's America Works program. She suspends her campaign in season 4 after controversy arises when word gets out that she had met with Lucas Goodwin prior to Goodwin's assassination attempt on Frank. (Season 2–present)

Garrett Walker

Garrett Walker, (played by Michel Gill) 45th President of the United States, former Governor of Colorado. He trusts Underwood as a close adviser and lieutenant, but remains blind to his machinations. Walker promised Underwood for the Secretary of State position for his help getting Walker elected, and his snub of Frank once he takes office sets the plot of the series into motion. Through Underwood's actions Walker's Vice President steps down. While Underwood vies for the position Walker says he in considering billionaire Raymond Tusk, but he is actually using Tusk to vet Underwood. It is then discovered that Walker and Tusk are longtime friends, and that Tusk has great influence over Waller. After Tusk's money laundering is revealed a false gesture of loyalty from Frank makes Walker decide not to pardon Tusk. In response Tusk implicates Walker in the scandal. With the public believing he is guilty and facing impeachment he resigns in disgrace. He ultimately remains unaware of Frank's treachery. His equivalent from the original series is Prime Minister Henry Collingridge. (Seasons 1–2, 4)

Raymond Tusk

Raymond Tusk, (played by Gerald McRaney) a billionaire businessman with a wide network of influence, although he prefers to live modestly. As a close friend of Walker's for over 20 years, he exerts heavy influence over Walker, and suggested snubbing Underwood for Secretary of State. He later agrees to form a partnership with Frank in exchange for supporting the latter's VP nomination, though this alliance quickly crumbles due to their clashing self interests and degenerates into political war. After Tusk's money laundering is revealed he is confident that Walker will pardon him. Walker does not and in response Tusk falsely implicates Walker in the scandal. In Season 3, it is revealed that Underwood pardoned Tusk. Tusk's character was influenced by billionaire investor Warren Buffett.[2] (Seasons 1–2, 4)

Ayla Sayyad

Ayla Sayyad (played by Mozhan Marnò) is a journalist working for the Wall Street Telegraph. After being forced out of the Press Corp by Seth Grayson, she does investigative journalism to uncover the links in the power triangle between President Walker, Vice-President Underwood and billionaire businessman Raymond Tusk. She was at the center of exposing the money laundering scandal involving Raymond Tusk, Xander Feng, and the White Houser. (Season 2 and 3)

Zoe Barnes

Zoe Barnes, (played by Kate Mara) a reporter for The Washington Herald who forms a correspondence with Underwood. She is extremely ambitious and after an encounter with Frank Underwood she approaches him at his home with a proposal. The two form an arrangement to use each other to advance their respective careers: Underwood uses her to leak stories when he wants that will damage his opponents, while Barnes uses him to get bigger and stories. She forms a personal relationship with him that becomes sexual, often complicated by their mutual struggle for power and services from each other. Barnes later moves to the more web-based Slugline. Later, she becomes increasingly suspicious of Underwood's involvement with Peter Russo. Working with her past Herald coworkers Janine Skorsky and Lucas Goodwin (who she begins a relationship with), she investigates what she soon suspects to be murder. In Season 2, her investigation ultimately leads to her death, as Underwood pushing her in front of a Washington Metro train to protect his own secrets. Her equivalent from the original series is Mattie Storin. In season 4, Zoe, along with Peter Russo, appear in a dream Frank has after an assassination attempt on his life. (Seasons 1–2, 4)

Catherine "Cathy" Durant

Catherine "Cathy" Durant (Jayne Atkinson) is a Democratic Senator from Louisiana who becomes Secretary of State after Frank brings about the downfall of the previous nominee Michael Kern.

Gillian Cole

Gillian Cole, (played by Sandrine Holt), the leader of a grass-roots organization called World Well that provides clean water to developing countries. Through the Clean Water Initiative, she grapples with Frank and Claire's interests. (Seasons 1–2)

Peter Russo

Peter Russo, (played by Corey Stoll) a Democratic Congressman from Pennsylvania's 1st Congressional District. Divorced with two children, he is in an intimate relationship with Christina Gallagher, a member of his staff. Russo is blackmailed into serving Underwood after Underwood "fixes" his arrest for DUI with a prostitute (Rachel Posner) in his car and then holds it over Russo's head. With Underwood's help, he gets sober and runs for Governor of Pennsylvania. However, Underwood eventually contrives to have him relapse in his alcoholism right before an important interview, ruining his career, and then kills him and makes his death look like a suicide. Whereas most characters who were adapted from the UK version of House of Cards were based primarily on a single character, Russo's plotline takes reference from two characters: Mr. Stoat, an MP whose career Francis Urquhart saves after he is caught with a prostitute, and Roger O'Neill, the Conservative Party's cocaine-addicted press secretary, whom Urquhart murders by putting rat poison in his cocaine. In season 4, Peter, along with Zoe Barnes appear in a dream Frank has after a failed assassination attempt on his life. (Season 1, 4)

Thomas Yates

Thomas Yates, (played by Paul Sparks), is a successful author whom Frank asks to write a book about the America Works jobs program (being chosen based on his review of Frank's new hobby, the game Monument Valley). The writing job leads to extended interview opportunities with Underwood and, later, Claire. As a result of this unusual level of access, Yates becomes nearly a friend and one of the primary speechwriters for the Underwood reelection campaign. Yates enters into a romantic relationship with Kate Baldwin, Wall Street Telegraph political reporter, and later an affair with Claire. (Seasons 3 and 4)

Leann Harvey

Leann Harvey (played by Neve Campbell) is a Texas-based political consultant. Introduced in season 4, she is very intelligent and successful at her job, highly praised for her ability to win campaigns. Leann forms a strong bond with Claire when she begins working for her. She later becomes the political campaign manager for Frank and Claire's election bid. Tension builds between Leann and Doug, who does not like the full access she receives to the President and First Lady.

Recurring cast

Recurring cast of House of Cards
Character Portrayed by Season
1 2 3 4
Bob Birch Larry Pine Recurring
Terry Womack Curtiss Cook Recurring
Freddy Hayes Reg E. Cathey Recurring Guest
Michael Kern Kevin Kilner Recurring
Tom Hammerschmidt Boris McGiver Recurring Recurring
Adam Galloway Ben Daniels Recurring
Margaret Tilden Kathleen Chalfant Recurring Recurring
Gene Clancy Lance E. Nichols Recurring
Martin Spinella Al Sapienza Recurring
Jim Matthews Dan Ziskie Recurring
Nathan Green Jeremy Holm Recurring
Hector Mendoza Benito Martinez Recurring
Lisa Williams Kate Lyn Sheil Recurring
Patricia Walker Joanna Going Recurring
Daniel Lanigan Gil Birmingham Recurring
Xander Feng Terry Chen Recurring
Connor Ellis Samuel Page Recurring
Megan Hennessey Libby Woodbridge Recurring
Augustus Underwood Malcolm Madera Guest Recurring
Viktor Petrov Lars Mikkelsen Recurring
Kate Baldwin Kim Dickens Recurring
Gary Stamper Kelly AuCoin Recurring
Hannah Conway Dominique McElligott Recurring
Elizabeth Hale Ellen Burstyn Recurring
Doris Jones Cicely Tyson Recurring
General Brockhart Colm Feore Recurring

Patricia Walker

Patricia "Tricia" Walker, (played by Joanna Going), President Garrett Walker's wife and First Lady of the United States. She befriends Claire during season 2, supporting her legislative moves, while also dealing with marital stress. (Season 2)

Freddy Hayes

Freddy Hayes (played by Reg E. Cathey) the owner of Freddy's BBQ - an eatery frequented by Underwood - and one of Underwood's only true friends and confidants. Frank is forced to end his friendship with Freddy when Raymond Tusk exposes Freddy's criminal past as a gangbanger and served time in prison for the deaths of two people, which causes Freddy to lose out on a franchise opportunity and get forced to sell his own restaurant to bail out his son after his son pulls a gun on a paparazzi photographer. In season 3, upon finding out that America Works sets Freddy up as a lowly dishwasher, Frank takes pity on him and gives him a job as a White House groundskeeper.

Daniel Lanagin

Daniel Lanagin, (played by Gil Birmingham), is a corrupt Native American casino owner in Missouri and a business partner of Raymond Tusk's. (Season 2)

Margaret Tilden

Margaret Tilden, (played by Kathleen Chalfant) the owner of The Washington Herald. She forces Tom Hammerschmidt to resign after he negatively impacts the paper by insulting Zoe on tape and failing to prevent her from resigning. When Hammerschmidt starts piecing together stories of Frank's corruption, Hammerschmidt comes to her for support to write the story, she fully collaborates with Hammerschmidt. (Season 1, Season 4)

Xander Feng

Xander Feng (played by Terry Chen) is a corrupt Chinese businessman and a business partner of Raymond Tusk that serves as a back-channel diplomat. (Season 2)

Terry Womack

Terry Womack (played by Curtiss Cook) is a Democratic Congressman from Missouri's 5th congressional district, the House Minority Whip and former House Majority Leader, and the leader of the Black Caucus, who rises to the position thanks to Underwood.

Adam Galloway

Adam Galloway, (played by Ben Daniels) a British photographer who lives a Bohemian lifestyle in New York City and who is Claire's on-off lover. (Seasons 1–2)

Agent Nathan Green

Agent Nathan Green, (played by Jeremy Holm), is the White House/FBI liaison. (Season 2–present)

Michael Kern

Michael Kern, (played by Kevin Kilner), is a Senator from Colorado and President Walker's original choice for the position of Secretary of State.

Hector Mendoza

Hector Mendoza, (played by Benito Martinez), a conservative Republican Senator from Arizona and the Senate Majority Leader. In the third season, it is speculated that he will be the Republican nominee for president. Meanwhile, despite promising Claire otherwise, he openly challenges her bid for US Ambassador to the UN. He is a great admirer of Ronald Reagan. (Season 2–present)

Tom Hammerschmidt

Tom Hammerschmidt (played by Boris McGiver) is the former editor-in-chief of The Washington Herald. He is fired early on in the show when he insults Zoe Barnes on tape and then fails to prevent her from quitting. As a favor when Lucas is imprisoned, he begins investigating Frank, but finds nothing to support Lucas's claims.

Hammerschmidt does not appear in season 3, but reappears again in season 4 when he's questioned by the FBI about the suicide note Lucas Goodwin wrote before carrying out an assassination attempt on Frank. Hammerschmidt is drawn back in with much skepticism, still believing that Lucas snapped. After a conversation with Kate Baldwin, he later starts investigating and starts piecing together stories of Underwood's corruption, motivating him to investigate further with the full support of the Washington Herald and former boss Margaret Tilden behind him. (Seasons 1–2, 4)

Gene Clancy

Gene Clancy, (played by Lance E. Nichols), the mayor of Gaffney, South Carolina. (Season 1)

Nancy Kaufberger

Nancy Kaufberger, (played by the late Elizabeth Norment) longtime loyal secretary to Frank Underwood and Doug Stamper. (Seasons 1–2)

Connor Ellis

Connor Ellis, (played by Samuel Page), a media consultant who becomes Communications Director for Claire Underwood. (Season 2)

Bob Birch

Bob Birch, (played by Larry Pine), the former Democratic Speaker of the House and current House Minority Leader.

Martin Spinella

Martin Spinella, (played by Al Sapienza), a short tempered lobbyist for the teachers' union. (Season 1)

Lisa Williams

Lisa Williams, (played by Kate Lyn Sheil), a social worker who befriends Rachel and later becomes her girlfriend. She later befriends Gavin Orsay. (Season 2–present)

Megan Hennessey

Megan Hennessey, (played by Libby Woodbridge), is a former U.S. Marine Private who was sexually assaulted by General Dalton McGinnis. As a result, she suffers from post-traumatic stress disorder. When Megan sees a live interview in which Claire admits to being raped by McGinnis, she calls in to tell her story, resulting in McGinnis' downfall. Emboldened, Megan works with Claire and Tricia Walker on sexual assault reform in the U.S. military. However, after being confronted by Jackie Sharp during a live TV interview, her mental health deteriorates and she retreats from the public eye. (Season 2)

Jim Matthews

Jim Matthews, (played by Dan Ziskie), is the first Vice President of the United States under President Walker, and former Democratic Governor of Pennsylvania. (Season 1)

Donald Blythe

Donald Blythe, (played by Reed Birney), a liberal Democrat of Vermont, a respected and long-serving Representative, and Underwood's foil in Congress. His wife suffers from Alzheimer's Disease. In the third season, Underwood selects Blythe as Vice President of the United States to get him out of the way in Congress. When Frank gets shot by Lucas Goodwin in an assassination attempt, the Twenty-Fifth Amendment is invoked, making him Acting President. He is incompetent in this role and relies primarily on Claire's advice on foreign policy matters.

Viktor Petrov

Viktor Petrov, (played by Lars Mikkelsen), the President of Russia who opposes Underwood's involvement in the Jordan Valley conflict and creates controversy when Russia passes anti-homosexual laws (which Petrov admits privately that he does not agree with) and is publicly opposed by members of the band Pussy Riot. Petrov's character shares several similarities with the real-life Russian president Vladimir Putin.[3] (Season 3)

Kate Baldwin

Kate Baldwin, (played by Kim Dickens), chief political reporter of the Wall Street Telegraph who covered the White House after Sayyad was dismissed for protocol violations; she entered into a romantic relationship with Tom Yates (Season 3)

Gary Stamper

Gary Stamper (Kelly AuCoin), Doug Stamper's brother. Despite being somewhat estranged from his brother, Gary is fiercely loyal, and moves in with Doug when he is in recovery. He has two children, Franke and Clinton (who are played by Michael Kelly's real-life children). (Season 3)

Guest / cameo appearances

Real-life media figures who make cameo appearances as themselves include

References

  1. ↑ Katz, Emily Tess (June 11, 2014). "Michael Kelly Unsure If His Character Will Return To 'House Of Cards'". The Huffington Post. Retrieved September 22, 2014.
  2. ↑ Jason, Rosenbaum (March 11, 2013). "On the trail: 'House of Cards' creator talks St. Louis life -- and power in politics". St. Louis Beacon. Retrieved June 14, 2015.
  3. ↑ Dolgov, Anna (March 6, 2015). "Putin vs Petrov — Fact and Fiction in House of Cards". The Moscow Times. Retrieved June 17, 2015.
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