Apple TV+’s Manhunt Cast & Real-Life Character Comparison Guide

There is a brand new historical drama coming to Apple TV+ called Manhunt, and not only does the series include characters that audiences will immediately recognize, like the 16th president, Abraham Lincoln, but it also has a cast of well-known stars. Manhunt is a miniseries following the intense real life search for John Wilkes Booth, led by Secretary of War Edwin Stanton after Abraham Lincoln’s assassination in 1865. The first two episodes of the series premiered on March 15, 2024, and the show will include seven episodes in total.

Because Manhunt is based on true American history, its cast of characters is full of familiar names. The protagonist of the series is Secretary Edwin Stanton, who was a close confidante of Abraham Lincoln and his Secretary of War, which is notable since the Civil War ended mere days before Lincoln’s assassination.

Thus, the miniseries documents Booth’s sudden rise and fall.

Tobias Menzies As Edwin Stanton

Tobias Menzies is 50 years old

Tobias Menzies plays Secretary of War Edwin Stanton in Manhunt. Menzies was born in Hammersmith, London and grew up attending schools for the arts. His acting career began in 1998, but his big break didn’t come until 2005, when he portrayed Marcus Junius Brutus in the HBO/BBC historical drama Rome. Nowadays, Menzies is known for roles like Jonathan ‘Black Jack’ Randall in Outlander and Prince Philip in The Crown. In Manhunt, Menzies plays the American historical figure Edwin Stantion, who was best known for his leadership during the Civil War and the role he played in tracking down John Wilkes Booth.

Anthony Boyle As John Wilkes Booth

Anthony Boyle is 29 years old

Anthony Boyle plays John Wilkes Booth in Manhunt. Boyle was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and trained at the Royal Welsh College of Music and Art, where he graduated in 2016. Though Boyle’s career started on the stage, as he originated the role of Scorpius Malfoy in Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, his on-screen breakthrough came in 2019 when he appeared in the film Tolkien. More recently, Boyle has been noticed for his role as Harry Crosby in Apple TV+’s Masters of the Air. Boyle will play John Wilkes Booth, the man who assassinated Abraham Lincoln in 1865.

Lovie Simone As Mary Simms

Lovie Simone is 25 years old

Lovie Simone plays Mary Simms in Manhunt. Simone was born and raised in New York, and attended acting school, which led to her receiving a role in a nationally broadcast JCPenny commercial. Simone’s big break occurred in 2016 when she played the role of Zora Greenleaf in the Oprah Winfrey Network series, Greenleaf. She has gone on to earn roles in projects like The Craft: Legacy and Power Book III: Raising Kanan. Simone plays Mary Simms, an enslaved Black woman who ran into John Wilkes Booth during his escape.

Will Harrison As David Herold

Will Harrison is 27 years old

Will Harrison plays David Herold in Manhunt. Harrison was born in Ithaca, New York, and began his acting career by appearing in various short films, starting in 2015. Harrison’s best known role and his breakout was Graham Dunne in 2023’s miniseries, Daisy Jones and the Six. Harrison is playing David Herold, a young pharmacist’s assistant who is a friend and ally to John Wilkes Booth and his assassination plot.

Brandon Flynn As Edwin Stanton Jr.

Brandon Flynn is 30 years old

Brandon Flynn portrays Edwin Stanton Jr. in Manhunt. Flynn was born and raised in Miami, Florida and spent his childhood attending notable schools for the arts. Though Flynn’s acting career began in 2016, he did not truly break out until 2017 when he played the recurring role of Justin Foley in Netflix’s popular drama, 13 Reasons Why. Later, he became recognized for his role in True Detective season 3. Flynn plays Edwin Stanton Jr. who is Secretary of War Edwin Stanton’s son.

Damian O’Hare As Thomas Eckert

Damian O’Hare is 46 years old

Damian O’Hare is Thomas Eckert in Manhunt. O’Hare was born in Belfast, Northern Ireland, and his acting career began in 2002. One year later, he had his acting break when he earned the role of Lieutenant Gillette in Pirates of the Carribean: Curse of the Black Pearl, which he went on to reprise in 2011’s Pirates of the Carribean: On Stranger Tides. Since then, O’Hare has garnered various small roles in television and movies, including many voice acting roles. O’Hare plays Thomas Eckert, who was the Chief of the War Telegraph Staff.

Glenn Morshower As Andrew Johnson

Glenn Morshower is 64 years old

Glenn Morshower plays President Andrew Johnson in Manhunt. Morshower was born in Dallas, Texas, and kickstarted his acting career in 1976. Morshower’s most notable role was Secret Service Agent Aaron Pierce in 24. He has also appeared in a number of notable movies and TV series, including the Transformers film franchise as Colonel Morshower, X-Men: First Class, and Bloodline. Morshower plays Andrew Johnson, who was Abraham Lincoln’s vice president, and thus, became President of the United States after Lincoln’s assassination.

Patton Oswalt As Lafayette Baker

Patton Oswalt is 55 years old

Patton Oswalt plays Lafayette Baker in Manhunt. Oswalt was born in Portsmouth, Virginia and began his notable career in stand-up comedy in 1988. When it comes to the screen, Oswalt’s breakout role came in 1998 when he received the recurring role of Spence Olchin on the sitcom, The King of Queens. From there, he went on to earn roles in comedies like 22 Jump Street and the Pixar animated film, Ratatouille. Oswalt plays Lafayette Baker, an investigator and spy who served under the Lincoln and Johnson administrations during the 1860s.

Matt Walsh As Samuel Mudd

Matt Walsh is 59 years old

Matt Walsh is portraying Samuel Mudd in Manhunt. Walsh was born in Chicago, and did not begin pursuing entertainment until the 1990s, when he started performing comedy at local clubs. His big break came in the early 2000s when he played supporting roles in films like Road Trip and Old School. Since then, he has become best known for his role as Mike McLintock in Veep. Walsh plays Samuel Mudd, a doctor who aided John Wilkes Booth in his escape from the law after the assassination.

Hamish Linklater As Abraham Lincoln

Hamish Linklater is 47 years old

Hamish Linklater is Abraham Lincoln in Manhunt. Linklater was born in New York City, and began taking on small Shakespeare roles at the age of 8. However, his true career began when he earned a role in 2000’s Gideon’s Crossing. He went on to play roles in Fantastic Four, The New Adventures of Old Christine, and Midnight Mass. Linklater plays Abraham Lincoln, who was the 16th President of the United States and was assassinated in April 1865.

Manhunt Supporting Cast & Characters

Lili Taylor as Mary Todd Lincoln: Lili Taylor plays Mary Todd Lincoln, Abraham Lincoln’s wife, in Manhunt. She earned fame in the 1980s after appearing in films like Mystic Pizza and Say Anything. She also appeared in notable television series like The X-Files and Six Feet Under.

Josh Stewart as Wallace: Josh Stewart plays Wallace in Manhunt. Stewart got his break after appearing in the series Third Watch. Later, he appeared in The Dark Knight Rises, The Walking Dead: Cold Storage, and The Punisher.

C.J. Hoff as Louis J. Weichmann: C.J. Hoff plays Louis J. Weichmann in Manhunt. Hoff got his break in 2016’s Outcast. He has since appeared in Chemical Hearts, The Rookie: Feds, and It’s Always Sunny in Philadelphia. Louis J. Weichmann was a store clerk who was a key witness in the case of Abraham Lincoln’s assassination.

Larry Pine as William H. Seward: Larry Pine portrays William H. Seward in Manhunt. Pine got his start in theater but broke out on-screen in Vanya on the 42nd Street and a number of Wes Anderson movies, including The Royal Tenenbaums and The Grand Budapest Hotel. William H. Seward was the Secretary of State at the time of Lincoln’s assassination.

Anne Dudek as Ellen Stanton: Anne Dudek plays Ellen Stanton in Manhunt. Dudek got her start in the British series The Book Club, and went on to appear in a number of notable TV series including, House, How I Met Your Mother, Mad Men, and The Flash. Ellen Stanton was Edwin Stanton’s wife.

Spencer Treat Clark as Lewis Powell: Clark is Lewis Powell in Manhunt. Clark debuted in the 1999 movie, Arlington Road, and from there, earned roles in projects like Gladiator, Cymbeline, Mad Men, Animal Kingdom, and Chilling Adventures of Sabrina. Lewis Powell was a Confederate soldier who attempted to assassinate Secretary of State William H. Seward.

Carrie Lazar as Mary Surratt: Carrie Lazar plays Mary Surratt in Manhunt. Lazar had a break in 2016 when she played Leni Frankel in The Magnificent Seven. Her other notable projects include The Big Short and Preacher. Mary Surratt was a boarding house owner who aided in the conspiracy to kill Abraham Lincoln.

Betty Gabriel as Elizabeth Keckley: Betty Gabriel plays Elizabeth Keckley in Manhunt. Gabriel’s big break came in 2016 when she played the leading role in The Purge: Election Year. After that, she took on roles in Westworld, Defending Jacob, Clickbait, and Jack Ryan. Elizabeth Keckley was Mary Todd Lincoln’s confidante and seamstress.

Joshua Mikel as John Surratt: Joshua Mikel plays John Surratt in Manhunt. Mikel has had a number of minor roles in countless productions, however, he got his start playing a minor role in The Walking Dead. His other best known roles include The Righteous Gemstones and Ozark. John Surratt was Mary Surratt’s husband.