Comedy

Succession Season 4: Who are the key cast and characters this series and who are the contenders to be Logan Roy’s successor?

Discover more about the key cast and characters in HBO’s Succession as the critically-acclaimed series continues on Sky Atlantic - plus who's in the running to be the new Waystar Royco CEO.

Updated: 25 April 2023, 9.45am | 9 min read

Stream Succession Season 4 on Sky Atlantic with NOW on Mondays. Seasons 1-3 streaming

*SPOILERS for Succession Season 4 below*

HBO’s Succession has a terrific ensemble cast, including Brian Cox, Jeremy Strong, Kieran Culkin, Sarah Snook and Alan Ruck - all playing characters you cannot take your eyes off.

And in Succession Season 4, some of the more minor characters come to the fore, including Kerry (Zoë Winters) and Tom (Matthew Macfadyen), who became some of Logan Roy’s closest confidantes.

Following the death of Logan (Brian Cox) in Season 4 Episode 3 ‘Connor’s Wedding’, the phony war of the first three seasons is over and the race to be named Logan's successor - the new CEO of Waystar Royco - is well and truly on.

But who will take up the mantle? Who’s in the running to be named top dog? And does a name on a piece of paper really mean Kendall's in prime position?

Meet the key cast and characters in Succession Season 4, as well as the contenders for the new Waystar CEO.

Succession trivia: Easter eggs and fun facts

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Succession Season 4 cast list

Brian Cox - Logan Roy
Jeremy Strong - Kendall Roy
Sarah Snook - Siobhan ‘Shiv’ Roy
Kieran Culkin - Roman Roy
Alan Ruck - Connor Roy
Matthew Macfadyen - Tom Wambsgans
Nicholas Braun - cousin Greg Hirsch
J. Smith-Cameron - Gerri Kellman
Peter Friedman - Frank Vernon
David Rasche - Karl Muller
Alexander Skarsgård - Lukas Mattson
Fisher Stevens - Hugo Baker
Dagmara Domińczyk - Karolina Novotney
Justine Lupe - Willa Ferreyra
Zoë Winters - Kerry
Hiam Abbass - Marcia Roy
Scott Nicholson - Colin
Jeannie Berlin - Cyd Peach
Arian Moayed - Stewy Hosseini
Juliana Canfield - Jess Jordan
Annabelle Dexter-Jones - Naomi Pierce
Hope Davis - Sandi Furness
Cherry Jones - Nan
Justin Kirk - Jeryd Mencken
Stephen Root - Ron Petkus

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Brian Cox - Logan Roy

Dundee-born Logan Roy is the founder of media conglomerate Waystar Royco and the patriarch of the Roy family.

He’s father to Kendall, Roman, and Shiv Roy with his second ex-wife, British aristocrat Lady Caroline Collingwood (played by Harriet Walter), and also dad to Connor Roy with his first ex-wife, who’s not named in the show.

Logan has always been intensely protective of his media empire, even in the face of his declining health, and has been debating his possible successor since the first season.

In Succession Season 4, Episode 3, titled Connor’s Wedding, Logan dies while on a plane en route to do a business deal in Sweden - not in the dramatic fashion we’d come to expect, but of a cardiac arrest that takes place off-screen.

Eagle-eyed fans will recall that Logan nearly died in the very first episode of Succession after he had a stroke while riding in a helicopter.

But with Logan out of the picture, and no successor named explicitly by him prior to his death, the race for Waystar Royco CEO is officially on.

Where have you seen Brian Cox before?

Braveheart, X-Men 2, The Ring, The Bourne films, Churchill, Nuremberg, Troy, Adaptation

Jeremy Strong - Kendall Roy

Kendall Roy is Logan’s second-oldest son, and has long been primed to lead Waystar when Logan retires. He has two children; daughter Sophie, and son Iverson, with his estranged wife, Rava Roy (Natalie Gold).

At the start of Season 4, Kendall hadn’t gained the full trust of his father, especially after he’d betrayed Logan so intensely in the past.

For example, in the Succession Season 2 finale, Kendall publicly ambushes Logan at a press conference and blames him for cover-ups in Waystar Royco’s cruise ships division.

But, following Logan's death, we discover that he's has named Kendall as Waystar Royco CEO on a piece of paper found in Logan’s private safe (whether Kendall's name is underlined or crossed out, and takes on a different meaning, in a whole different matter).

And, as Frank (Peter Friedman) concurs, Logan has “sometimes” said he wants Kendall to take over as CEO - but has also backtracked on that in the past.

So, with Kendall’s name on the piece of paper, and his siblings’ support, it looks like Kendall is in prime position to take over as CEO - albeit with his younger brother Roman (Kieran Culkin) alongside him.

Or is he? At the end of Season 4, Episode 4, we see Kendall ruthlessly return as leader of the Roy siblings when he goes behind Roman’s back to blackmail Hugo Baker (played by Fisher Stevens).

Kendall is definitely one to watch out for - he can't be trusted and will do all it takes to take over as CEO.

Where have you seen Jeremy Strong before?

Molly's Game, Detroit, The Big Short, The Judge, Selma, Lincoln, Zero Dark Thirty, The Trial of the Chicago 7

Sarah Snook - Siobhan ‘Shiv’ Roy

Siobhan ‘Shiv’ Roy is the youngest child in the Roy family, and Logan’s only daughter. Shiv possesses natural leadership instincts, but would rather wield her talents in politics.

She came close to being CEO in Succession Season 2, but she couldn’t have been further from the top position at the start of Season 4 - having stabbed Logan in the back by trying to block Waystar’s merger with GoJo.

She’s also estranged from husband Tom (Matthew Macfadyen), who chose Logan’s side rather than stick with Shiv and her siblings. So it's not looking good for her.

With Kendall and Roman appointed joint CEOs, Shiv has been pushed out of the picture - but could she come back with a vengeance to vie for the top position?

Where have you seen Sarah Snook before?

Predestination, Steve Jobs, The Dressmaker, Sleeping Beauty, Black Mirror, Sisters of War

Kieran Culkin - Roman Roy

Roman Roy is Logan’s youngest son, and his immaturity has kept him from advancing within the company - although Logan has always admired his son’s youthful bravado.

Roman was part of the siblings’ coup attempt at the end of Season 3, but his relationship with his father has warmed slightly at the start of Season 4 - he confesses he's wished Logan a happy birthday - much to Shiv and Kendall’s disappointment.

In Season 4 Episode 3, Logan even passed on sensitive information about Gerri (J. Smith-Cameron) to Roman before he died, and Roman was visibly in shock after the news about Logan’s passing was relayed to him - displaying his fondness to his dad.

We see Roman step up to the joint CEO position with Kendall at the end of Season 4, but is Kendall playing pretend - and does he want the CEO position all for himself?

Where have you seen Kieran Culkin before?

Father of the Bride, Home Alone, Igby Goes Down, Scott Pilgrim vs. the World,

Alan Ruck - Connor Roy

Connor Roy is Logan’s eldest son (from his first marriage), and the half brother to Kendall, Roman and Shiv.

Compared to the other siblings, Connor is uninterested in the demands of navigating Waystar’s internal politics, instead preferring the libertine lifestyle he leads at his ranch.

In Season 2, Connor made a comment about wanting to be President - and by Season 3, he's trying to make it happen. Could he finally achieve his dream in Season 4?

In his personal life, we're introduced to Connor's love interest Willa (Justin Lupe) - an escort turned playwright - in Season 1.

Although Willa was only written in for three episodes of the show, the writers changed their minds and Willa stuck around as Connor's girlfriend, then fiancée.

Connor and Willa wed in the aptly titled episode Connor's Wedding in Season 4 - against the background of her now-husband's death.

Don't expect him to pitch for the CEO position - he's more interested in nabbing his late father's Manhattan home for himself and his wife.

Where have you seen Alan Ruck before?

Speed, Twister, Ferris Bueller's Day Off, Star Trek: Generations, The Dropout, The Exorcist, Spin City

Matthew Macfadyen - Tom Wambsgans

Tom Wambsgans is Shiv Roy’s estranged husband. In the first few sesons of Succession, we see Tom obsessed with the Roy family’s power and prestige.

Like cousin Greg Hirsch (Nicholas Braun), Tom is desperate for acceptance from the family - he'll do anything for them - sometimes humiliating himself in the process.

But in a shock twist, and seemingly totally out of character for Tom, he betrayed Shiv and the rest of the Roy siblings in the Succession Season 3 finale - siding with Logan instead.

Needless to say, in Succession Season 4, Tom is very much Team Logan and he’s trusted to be a part of Logan’s inner circle.

In fact, it’s Tom that has to relay the information to the Roy siblings that Logan's had a cardiac arrest on board his private jet.

Following Logan’s death, Tom throws his hat into the ring for CEO, which Karl (David Rasche) immediately refutes.

In a reflection of how unlikely it is that Tom will end up as CEO, Karl tells him: "The negative case would go: ‘You're a clumsy interloper and no one trusts you.

“The only guy pulling for you is dead, and now you're just married to the ex-boss' daughter, and she doesn't even like you.

"And you are fair and squarely fu***d.’"

Where have you seen Matthew Macfadyen before?

Quiz, Ripper Street, Pride & Prejudice, Criminal Justice, Frost/Nixon, Stonehouse

Matthew Macfadyen’s top 6 TV and movie roles >

Nicholas Braun - cousin Greg Hirsch

Cousin Greg is Logan’s great-nephew (Greg’s grandfather, Ewan Roy, is Logan’s estranged older brother).

At the very start of Succession, Greg moves to New York to try and leave a positive impression on Logan, and get a stable job within Waystar.

He eventually becomes Executive Assistant to Tom Wambsgans at ATN, Waystar’s news division, and the pair end up becoming something of a comedic double act (later distastefully referring to themselves as the “disgusting brothers”).

Like Tom, Greg is very much Team Logan rather than on the side of the siblings - but after Logan’s death, he doesn’t have any real allies.

It’s later revealed that Greg’s name is written on Logan’s “piece of paper”. It’s unclear why his name is on there, but his inclusion has him excited that he’s on Logan’s radar.

After being told that Kendall might be CEO, Greg tries his hand at putting himself forward to being second-in-command.

Frank’s response? "Nice try, kid.”

Where have you seen Nicholas Braun before?

How to be Single, Sky High, The Perks of Being a Wallflower

J. Smith-Cameron - Gerri Kellman

Gerri Kellman serves as General Counsel of Waystar Royco, and in Season 3, we see her character step up as Interim CEO amid allegations of several corporate-related crimes.

Yet, for some reason, just before Logan's death, he tells Roman (Kieran Culkin) to sack her.

Logan suggested it was due to her poor job at handling the fallout from the Cruises scancal - but this could have just been an excuse, rather than a valid reason.

He also discovered Gerri laughing at the ATN audition tape of Kerry (Zoe Winters), and he was aware of her "relationship" with Roman. So he could have had his reasons.

Needless to say, with Logan out of the picture, Gerri believes she's the best person to take the company forward.

As she says, she managed the role "quite successfully" before.

With the "old guard" Frank (Peter Friedman) and Karl (David Rasche) on her side, Gerri could very well end up reinstated as CEO by the end of the series.

Where have you seen J. Smith Cameron before?

Margaret, Man on a Ledge, You Can Count on Me, Rectify

Peter Friedman - Frank Vernon

Frank Vernon is on the board of Waystar Royco as Vice-Chairman, and former Chief Operating Officer (COO).

He's also one of Logan Roy’s longtime confidants and friends, having been by his side for 30 years.

It's Frank who discovered the piece of paper in Logan's safe, but Frank doesn't seem to want the CEO position for himself - perhaps he thinks the other two members of the Old Guard, Gerri and Karl, have a better shot than him.

But he shows how close he is to the siblings when Kendall comes to him to ask about his name being written down on said piece of paper.

"He was an old bastard," he tells Kendall, "and he loved you".

Expect Frank to come out of this whole debacle unscathed.

Where have you seen Peter Friedman before?

Single White Female, Love & Other Drugs, Paycheck, Animal Attraction, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel

David Rasche - Karl Muller

The third and final member of the Old Guard, Karl Muller is Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of Waystar, and a member of the legal team.

Another close confidante of Logan - he was on the private jet when he died - Karl also puts himself forward as interim CEO.

He's immediately shot down by Gerri, who delivers one of the best backhanded compliments of the series: "I think you're a corporate legend. What you did in the '90s with cable? Huge."

Where have you seen David Rasche before?

In The Loop, United 93, Men in Black 3, Burn After Reading, Veep, Impastor