Very few shows can make a splash like Matlock, but a splash was definitely made. There’s at least one incredible new cast every year, and we were lucky enough that this one had the legendary Kathy Bates.
She’s not alone either, as industry vet and America’s favorite grandpa, Beau Bridges, is joining her. But what about the rest of the cast and characters?
We already know all we need about Kathy Bates and Beau Bridges. Now it’s time to figure out where some of these other familiar faces in Matlock are from.
There will be no leading the witness here — just straight, hard facts.
What do you say we stop jury tampering and get right to some opening statements?
I’m also out of lawyer jargon, so let’s get to it.
Olympia Lawrence
If you’re looking for big, bad, boss energy, you’ve come to the right place. There isn’t a courtroom on the East Coast that can handle Miss Lawrence.
She’s intelligent, resourceful, and mad as hell at the state of the world and the blatant misuse of the justice system. But don’t let her hardened exterior deter you.
Underneath that ice queen is a heart as big and beautiful as the wall of impenetrable pantsuits that guards it. At twelve-hundred dollars an hour, this lawyer is worth every penny.
When she isn’t reconciling with her charming ex-husband, soon to be without the “ex,” Olympia is doing what she can to bring solace and peace to her clients.
Could she be the one Matty is looking for? Olympia wasn’t always a lawyer who led with her heart. The corporate ladder is high for women, and sometimes, it means bending the rules to make it to the top.
Skye P. Marshall
There are actors with range, and then there is this incredible lady with the skills of a chameleon. Miss Skye P. Marshall has the acting chops to carry Matlock almost as much as Kathy Bates.
Don’t believe me? Imagine Olympia Lawrence but as a Voodoo High Priestess. You don’t have to imagine hard because you can turn on Netflix and see Skye as Mambo Marie Leveau on The Chilling Adventures of Sabrina.
Funnily enough, this would make it Kathy Bates’s second time working with an actress who played Marie Leveau after Angela Bassett portrayed the historical figure in American Horror Story: Coven.
With just fifteen years in the industry, Marshall has proven she isn’t going anywhere. You can also catch the actor in works like East New York, Black Lightning, and The Fix.
Julian Markston
Forget everything you’ve ever heard about lawyers being bloodsucking agents of evil — just in this case, though. Julian Markston is not your average everyday run-of-the-mill take-the-cash-and-run kind of attorney.
No, any clients lucky enough to find Julian as their counselor are in for a capable and trustworthy man. He will do whatever it takes to not only right the wrong but put a smile on your face in the process.
Sure, he had a rocky marriage with his ex-wife, Olympia Lawrence, but that’s all in the past. If you talk to the soon-to-be reinstated missus, she’d have nothing but praise for the man.
Despite being split up, Julian went out of his way to help Olympia on a number of cases. He’s never asked for anything in return and has been given unconditional support in and out of work.
And he’s such a great leader that he can spot talent and where it needs to be from a mile away.
We have Julian Markston to thank for finally getting Matty to the belly of the beast, where she can burn it all down. Thanks, Julian!
Jason Ritter
There are quite a few people who like to make big talk about how nepo babies in the industry have an unfair advantage. I agree, but sometimes, they use that advantage the right way.
Take Jason Ritter, for example. He is the son of the late, great John Ritter. While his dad certainly made a name for himself, Ritter Senior’s son has inherited his dad’s talent for acting.
The actor has worked in one genre or another for over thirty years. You would be shocked to see the variety of characters he has played, including Frederick Bellacourt on Another Period.
The series is hysterical, just like Downton Abbey, if the Maggie Smith-led series were doused in LSD and Whoopee Cushions.
Yes, Jason Ritter comes from Television prestige but has managed a humble yet long-lasting career, having been in shows like Gen V, The Last of Us, Accused, and Superstore.
Billy Martinez
Sometimes, you meet a lawyer with a heart of gold that makes you want to ask, “Why in the world would you choose to be a bloodsucking parasite?” That’s a fair question.
Believe it or not, some people really do go into law to help others. Billy is such a character; he always has a smile, and his default setting is to empathize with people.
If you threw pastels and a bucket hat on Billy, he’d be Elsbeth Tascioni. Sure, they say nice guys finish last, but at least they finish. Billy is as nice as they come. Let’s hope the law doesn’t change him.
If nothing else, Billy serves an all-important task: keeping Sarah from overloading. It’s a thankless job, but someone has to do it. The character is basically everyone’s big brother.
Billy Martinez may not be on the path to becoming a cutthroat lawyer, but at least he has a healthy work-life balance to go home to at the end of the day — what was his girlfriend’s name again?
Oh, right, Sar — I mean Claudia.
David Del Rio
Can you believe we have a triple-hyphenated talent on Matlock? And no, I’m not talking about the iconic Miss Kathy Bates, although she certainly set the bar pretty high.
No, the triple threat I’m referring to is David Del Rio, actor, director, and producer. You may have even seen some projects he’s directed, like Road Head and Sick for Toys.
If he stays with the show as long as some viewers would like, the actor may even don his director hat for an episode or two of Matlock. Crazier things have happened.
At this point, your brain is likely trying to place where you know this familiar face from. Don’t worry — TV Fanatic has you covered.
David has made the television rounds, so you likely saw this talented man in shows such as The Good Doctor, The Baker and the Beauty, NCIS: Los Angeles, and Southland.
Sarah Franklin
Why, is that the sound of a thousand butt cheeks clenching? Nope, that’s just Jacobson Moore’s most ambitious law associate eagerly making her way up the corporate ladder.
The character of Sarah has a level of OCD that feels unreal, but we love watching her talk herself into a stressed-out frenzy. It’s like seeing a car wreck on the side of the road. You can’t look away.
That said, Sarah has undergone the most transformation out of every character in Matlock. Although the process is slow, she’s getting there one baby step at a time.
Now that she has a crush — possibly her very first — in the workplace, Miss Franklin may be singing a sweeter tune from here on out. Anyone who can keep Sarah’s intensity low is a welcomed addition.
Then again, it would be so like Sarah to channel all of her overanalytical tendencies into her budding romance with Kira. Lord only knows what’s going on in that girl’s head.
Leah Lewis
Now, here is an actress in good company. Leah Lewis’s star has steadily been rising for almost two decades. Can you imagine all the things she’s likely learning from Kathy Bates?
And you read that right — Leah has been in the entertainment industry for almost twenty years. If you’ve only started noticing her in numerous shows, you’re not alone.
Miss Lewis somehow managed to go from the typical child roles to bopping around teen shows before finally finding herself surrounded by industry vets like Beau Bridges.
Are you ready for a crazy random fact about this talented young actor? She competed on The Voice during blind auditions. Apparently, Leah has some pipes on her. That’s useful in law, right?
Even though her character, Sarah, can be a bit much for some viewers, Leah manages to infuse her with enough charm that Sarah is not only tolerable but also a pleasant addition to the series.
Leah Lewis has been building her filmography for quite some time now. The actor has been involved in a number of popular shows, such as Nancy Drew, Station 19, Charmed, and The Gifted.
With a cast and characters like these, it’s no wonder people of every age love CBS‘s Matlock. We’re not even through Matlock Season 1, and fans are already itching for more.
It’s a good thing the series was given a renewal. There would’ve been anarchy in the streets that yours truly would have led. Catastrophe averted.
Did you recognize any of these actors from their previous roles?
Who’s an actor you think would do great on a show like Matlock?
Please drop a comment below to let me know what you think, and join me again when I bring you more insights on Matlock!
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