The new Apple TV+ series Severance already has fans hooked. The show follows a group of employees at a corporation who undergo a procedure to sever their memories at work from their memories at home. Though the mind-bending premise offers a lot of intrigue, it is the amazing ensemble that really sells it.
The show is filled with plenty of actors fans will recognize from iconic and beloved roles as well as some relatively new faces they might have seen before. As viewers explore this new series, they can also catch up on the projects where they’ve seen the cast of Severance before.
10 Britt Lower – Man Seeking Woman (2015-2017)
Helly, played by Britt Lower, is the first character audiences are introduced to in Severance. Her strange awakening on a conference room table kick starts the show on a bizarre and creepy note. From there, she comes something of an audience surrogate as she tries to make sense of her world.
Lower seems like an actor who is drawn to bizarre shows with a comedic edge as she also appeared in the underrated series, Man Seeking Woman. The series starred Jay Baruchel as a heartbroken young man searching for love in surreal circumstances with Lower playing his protective sister.
9 Michael Chernus – Spider-Man: Homecoming (2017)
A clever idea that is introduced in the first episode of Severance is that sometimes the social aspects of a person’s life are the ones they might not want memories of. Such is the case when Mark is forced to attend a “no food” dinner party hosted by his well-meaning yet obnoxious brother-in-law, Ricken, played by Michael Chernus.
Chernus is the kind of actor who often pops up in small yet funny roles in a lot of different projects. Likely his biggest project was Spider-Man: Homecoming where he played the villainous Tinkerer who was a member of Vulture’s crew.
8 Jen Tullock – Before You Know It (2019)
Though Mark seems to live a very lonely life outside of work, his sister Devon is perhaps the one positive relationship at the beginning of the show. She is there to push him and support him during his difficult time. The two also share a charming relationship filled with dark and sarcastic humor that is also obviously loving.
Jen Tullock gives a great performance as Devon and Severance is the biggest role in her career thus far. However, Tullock also received attention as co-star and co-writer of the indie comedy-drama Before You Know It about two sisters who find out the mother they thought was dead is actually a soap opera star.
7 Yul Vazquez – Seinfeld (1989-1998)
Part of the intrigue that kicks off the show is the mystery surrounding the character of Petey, played by Yul Vazquez. A fellow employee of Mark and the others, Petey suddenly doesn’t show up at work only to reappear on the outside world to warn Mark that things at the company are not as they seem.
Vazquez is a veteran character actor who has appeared in countless movie and television projects over the years. His most famous project was a recurring role as the flamboyant thug, Bob, on Seinfeld who had numerous run-ins with Kramer.
6 Zach Cherry – Shang-Chi And The Legend Of The Ten Rings (2021)
Dylan, played by Zach Cherry, is one of the employees at the company. He is not an overly friendly member of the team and seems only motivated by the cheap and insignificant incentives the company offers its top performers.
Cherry is another comedic actor who is known for his small roles in many big projects. He is also a recurring player in the MCU as he played a small role as a bystander in Spider-Man: Homecoming before playing the more memorable role of a bus passenger in Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings.
5 Tramell Tillman – Dietland (2018)
While Mark and his coworkers operate in their own isolated office, their work is overseen by their superiors. Milchick, played by Tramell Tillman, serves as a sort of corporate henchman who ensures that everything runs smoothly. He is by-the-book and his fake enthusiasm towards the workers adds to the creepy vibe of the entire office.
Tillman is another actor who seems to have found his breakout role in Severance after small roles in a number of projects. However, he did have a role in the short-lived series Dietland. Set in the fashion industry, it follows a woman dealing with her weight loss goals with Tillman appearing as a cafe owner she befriends.
4 John Turturro – Barton Fink (1991)
Another one of the colorful characters who make up the team of “severed” employees is Irving, played by John Turturro. Irving seems like the most loyal of the crew, always abiding by the rules of the office and constantly trying to get noticed by the executives.
Turturro is an actor of incredible range which he has shown in his many roles in various projects from the Coen Brothers. His role in Barton Fink as a struggling screenwriter gives him the opportunity to show his vulnerable side, comedic side, and a rare lead role.
3 Christopher Walken – Pulp Fiction (1994)
Bert, played by Christopher Walken, is introduced in the second episode of the show and adds another intriguing element to the series. He is an older employee at the company who seems to have a bit of a negative reputation yet strikes up a quick bond with Irving.
Walken is the biggest legend in the cast with a career spanning several decades and including some truly iconic movies. So impressive has his career been that it is hard to narrow his most famous role to just one. However, his one-scene performance in Pulp Fiction delivering one of Quentin Tarantino’s best monologues shows the brilliance of Walken as an actor in even a brief role.
2 Patricia Arquette – True Romance (1993)
Overseeing the operations for the company in Severance is Harmony Cobel, played by Patricia Arquette. She is a very brash and unfriendly employer who carries a sense of unpleasantness and intimidation in all of her conversations with Mark at the office.
Arquette is another actor with a long and impressive career featuring more than a few stand-out roles. Perhaps her most beloved among fans is True Romance. The violent crime story stars Arquette as a sex worker who joins her new husband on the run after he kills her pimp and steals his drug money.
1 Adam Scott – Parks And Recreation (2009-2015)
Adam Scott gets a terrific lead role in Severance as Mark. He is the character who introduces the audience to this strange world as they follow him from his diligent and hard-working role in the office to his aimless life outside of it.
Scott’s most popular role to date is as Ben Wyatt in the beloved sitcom Parks and Recreation. Joining the show in its second season, Scott quickly became an integral part of the series and was at the center of the fan-favorite romance between Ben and Leslie.
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