‘The Gilded Age’ Gets Grander: Phylicia Rashad, Brian Stokes Mitchell and More Join Season 3 Cast
The HBO drama “The Gilded Age” is getting a major influx of new faces for its upcoming third season. Four actors have been announced as joining the cast: Phylicia Rashad, Jordan Donica, Brian Stokes Mitchell, and Victoria Clark.
The series, created by Downton Abbey mastermind Julian Fellowes, throws a young woman into the heart of New York’s social warfare in the 1880s. Caught between the established elite and ambitious newcomers, she must navigate a world on the cusp of modernity.
Season 2 saw characters like Bertha climbing the social ladder, while Marian pursued a career and Peggy embraced activism. But season 3 promises a complete upheaval. The official logline for season 3 reads “The American Gilded Age was a period of immense economic and social change, when huge fortunes were made and lost overnight. With the old guard officially deposed, New York society finds itself turned upside down, and all must get their house in order. But even those at the helm of this new era may find that change comes at a cost.”
Rashad, a two-time Tony Award winner and Emmy winner, joins the cast as Mrs. Elizabeth Kirkland, a formidable woman from a prominent Black family in Newport. Described as a pillar of her social circle, Mrs. Kirkland has high standards and expects nothing less from her family, particularly her son, Dr. William Kirkland (played by Tony nominee Donica). Dr. Kirkland, a kind and intelligent physician, may not be as rigidly traditional as his mother, hinting at potential conflicts within the Kirkland family.
Tony Award winner Victoria Clark enters the scene as Joan Carlton, a gracious socialite from New York’s established upper class. While details surrounding her character are scarce, it’s clear that Ms. Carlton will find herself embroiled in a situation that challenges her social standing and possibly her morals.
Mitchell, a Tony Award winner himself, portrays Frederick Kirkland, the patriarch of the Kirkland family and husband to Elizabeth. Adding another layer of complexity, Frederick serves as the pastor of a prominent Black church, highlighting the intersection of faith, race, and social status in the Gilded Age.
While the official announcement focuses on the new additions, viewers can expect the core cast to return, including Denée Benton, Louisa Jacobson, Carrie Coon, Morgan Spector, Christine Baranski, and Cynthia Nixon. Season 3 is poised to explore the ramifications of the “new money” elite challenging the established social order, with the returning characters likely navigating this shifting landscape.
The Gilded Age is created, written, and executive produced by Julian Fellowes. Other executive producers include Sonja Warfield, Gareth Neame, David Crockett (who also directs), Michael Engler (director), Salli Richardson-Whitfield and Bob Greenblatt. Erica Dunbar is the historical consultant and a co-executive producer. Casting directors are Bernie Telsey and Adam Caldwell from the Telsey office. The Gilded Age is a co-production between HBO and Universal Television, a division of Universal Studio Group.
