Matlock Cast & Character Guide

The Matlock cast of characters includes a captivating group of actors capable of reviving Andy Griffith’s 1980s and ’90s legal courtroom drama, one of the best procedural TV shows ever. Griffith’s series utilized his folksy exterior to mask his sharp legal mind, and Bates’ reboot will adopt the same premise. Kathy Bates will star in the series as Madeline “Matty” Matlock, a retired lawyer who returns to practicing law to support her family. Bates has held leading roles in TV series like Netflix’s stoner comedy Disjointed and NBC’s Harry’s Law, but the Matlock reboot is remarkable.

Kathy Bates said she “had one foot out the door,” believing she could land something like Matlock at her age in a Conversations Between Stars interview with CBS ahead of the Matlock series premiere. In that way, the septuagenarian identifies with a significant theme of the Matlock reboot: that aging people in society are often treated like they’re invisible. While Bates is far from invisible, and her impressive career has shown no signs of slowing down, the Matlock series has the potential to elevate even a prominent star. A charming supporting cast will join Bates in Matlock.

Kathy Bates As Madeline “Matty” Matlock

Date of Birth: June 28, 1948

Actor: Born in Memphis, Tennessee, Kathy Bates’ first feature film was Taking Off in 1971, but she has a mammoth career nearly impossible to encapsulate. Bates is a decorated actor, including an Academy Award for Best Actress garnered for her performance in Rob Reiner’s Misery in 1990, based on Stephen King’s 1987 novel. In addition to Kathy Bate’s best movies, the actor has recently been in the zeitgeist for her many performances in American Horror Story and her role in A Family Affair in 2024 with Zac Efron and Nicole Kidman.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

Character: Kathy Bates plays Madeline Matlock, a retired lawyer who uses her elderly demeanor to get an edge in the legal world.

Skye P. Marshall As Olympia

Date of Birth: October 21, 1985

Actor: Born in Chicago, Illinois, and a veteran of the United States Air Force, Skye P. Marshall gained recognition on The CW series Black Lightning with a 10-episode run in the series’ first season in 2018. She continued her TV streak with recurring roles as Mambo Marie in Netflix‘s Chilling Adventures of Sabrina in 2020 and Dr. Lex Trulie in Good Sam in 2022. Leading up to Matlock, Marshall played Asia in the 2023 drama film To Live and Die and Live.

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Character: Skye P. Marshall plays Olympia, Madeline Matlock’s younger boss at her new law firm, Jacobson Moore, to whom she must prove herself.

David Del Rio As Billy

Date of Birth: September 29, 1987

Actor: Born in Miami, Floria, David Del Rio made it big as Kolio in Pitch Perfect in 2012 and followed it up by taking on the role of Putzie in Grease Live!, an American television special that aired in January 2016. David Del Rio followed up his musical performances with a role in ABC’s The Baker and the Beauty in 2020. While the romantic comedy only ran for one season, Del Rio returned to TV shortly after that as Ben in the Hulu series Maggie in 2023.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

Character: David Del Rio plays Billy, an associate who works closely with Madeline Matlock at Jacobson Moore.

Leah Lewis As Sarah

Date of Birth: December 9, 1996

Actor: Born in Shanghai, China, but raised in Windermere, Florida, Leah Lewis gained attention for playing Spoon in Fred 3: Camp Fred, with Lucas Cruikshank as Fred Figglehorn. Lewis had a steady stream of movie and TV roles, and in 2020, she starred in Netflix’s The Half of It, which is Certified Fresh with a 97 percent Rotten Tomatoes score. Leading up to her Matlock role, Lewis played the voice role of Ember in Elemental in 2023 and was on The CW’s Nancy Drew from 2019 to 2023.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

Character: Leah Lewis plays Sarah, another associate who works closely with Madeline Matlock at Jacobson Moore and is determined to make a name for herself.

Jason Ritter As Julian

Date of Birth: February 17, 1980

Actor: Hailing from Los Angeles, California, Jason Ritter’s first regular role was as Kevin Girardi in ABC’s family drama Joan of Arcadia from 2003 to 2005, and he has many movie and television performances. He played Mark Cyr in NBC’s Parenthood, for which he was nominated for an Emmy Award, and voiced the Dipper Pines character in the first two seasons of Gravity Falls. Ritter recently appeared as himself in a morbidly comical feature in The Boys’ Gen V spinoff.

Notable Movies & TV Shows:

Character: Jason Ritter’s Julian character, the son of the head of the Jacobson Moore law firm and Olympia’s ex-husband.

Matlock Supporting Cast & Characters

Beau Bridges as Senior: Beau Bridges is known for his work in feature films, such as The Fabulous Baker Boys, Max Payne, The Descendants, and Hit and Run. In Matlock, Bridges will play Senior, the head of the law firm where Madeline Matlock works.

Aaron D. Harris as Alfie Kingston: A budding professional actor, Aaron D. Harris launched his career in 2023, and his role alongside Bates is his first. Harris will also join the cast of Tiny Fugitives alongside Johnny Knoxville. In Matlock, Harris plays Madeline Matlock’s grandson.

Eme Ikwuator as Elijah: Eme Ikwuator is known for the TV series Inhumans and On My Block. He has featured in the films Moonfall with Halle Berry and The Gray Man with Ryan Gosling, both in 2022. In Matlock, Ikwuator plays Elijah, who is associated with Madeline’s law firm.

Jordyn Weitz as Kathryn: A child actor, Jordyn Weitz featured in the TV series Roar in 2022 and the film Condition of Return in 2023, leading up to her role in Matlock. Weitz will play the Kathryn character in CBS’ Matlock.

Henry Allen as Courtney (Court) Lawrence-Markston: Another child star, Henry Allen, has featured in the short The Legend of Yi and an episode of Grey’s Anatomy. Allen will play Courtney “Court” Lawrence-Markston in Matlock.

Source: CBS