Lazarus on Prime Video: Meet the cast including Oscar-nominee and Peaky Blinders villain
It's another twist-laden Harlan Coben joint
Lazarus has now dropped all six episodes on Prime Video, and this mysterious Harlan Coben series has a cast that’s absolute dynamite.
The latest in an avalanche of TV thrillers from the mind of the award-winning author – see also Netflix’s Fool Me Once and The Stranger – this one reunites him with screenwriter Danny Brocklehurst and Amazon’s streaming service.
Plot-wise, we’re following Joel Lazarus on his return home after dad Dr Jonathan Lazarus ends his own life. The son subsequently begins to experience eerie happenings that cannot be explained. He later becomes entangled in a number of cold-case murders.
Here’s everything you need to know about the delicious cast of Lazarus on Prime Video. It’s headlined by Bill Nighy and Sam Claflin, who previously worked together on 2016 war comedy Their Finest.
Lazarus on Prime Video cast: Bill Nighy plays Dr Lazarus
Who is Dr Jonathan Lazarus? Dr Lazarus is described as a “respected and eminent psychiatrist” in the press materials, whose scenes are mostly executed through flashbacks. For reasons unknown to everyone, the character dies by suicide.
What is Bill Nighy famous for? Surrey-born legend Bill, 75, has been a symbol of quality on our screens for the last quarter of a century. His most significant roles came in Pirates of the Caribbean as Davy Jones – the humanoid crustaceous captain of the Flying Dutchman – and Love Actually. The latter had him bopping around as has-been rocker Billy Mack.
For three Underworld films, Bill played vampiric elder Viktor. But he’s never been more than a stone’s throw away from comedy. Between 2004 and 2013, he appeared in the beloved Three Flavours Cornetto trilogy directed by Edgar Wright – as Philip in Shaun of the Dead, CI Kenneth in Hot Fuzz, and The Network in The World’s End.
The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy, Notes on a Scandal, The Constant Gardener, Valkyrie and The Best Exotic Marigold Hotel are worth honourable film mentions too. He worked with Richard Curtis again on The Boat That Rocked and About Time, while also cameoing as Rufus Scrimgeour in Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows – Part 1. For his performance as the dapper Rodney Williams in 2022’s Living, Bill received his first Oscar nomination in the Best Actor category yet ultimately lost out to Brendan Fraser.
In the world of TV, Bill has credits in Doctor Who, State of Play, Netflix’s Castlevania, and The Man Who Fell to Earth.
Sam Claflin is Joel ‘Laz’ Lazarus
Who is Joel Lazarus? Our protagonist followed his father into the psychiatry profession, but spent the majority of his time running away from the past. When he makes his way back home after the family tragedy, Joel is forced to confront his demons.
What is Sam Claflin famous for? Sam, 39, is a Golden Globe Award nominee boasting various eye-catching titles on his resume.
Firstly, the star’s debut credit came in historical drama The Pillars of the Earth (as Richard of Kingsbridge), and Sam’s attention subsequently shifted towards Hollywood. He joined Johnny Deep in Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides, and was soon cast as Finnick Odair in The Hunger Games: Catching Fire – reprising the character in two sequels.
Between 2014 and 2020, the Ipswich-born actor enjoyed substantial parts in The Riot Club, Me Before You, My Cousin Rachel, The Nightingale, Charlie’s Angels and Enola Holmes. Lastly, Peaky Blinders fans will know him as fascist politician Oswald Mosley.
Killing Eve actress plays Laz’s sister
Who is Jenna Lazarus? Jenna is Joel’s sister and tarot card reader with a diploma in psychological astrology. Since the family lost Jonathan’s wife, she’s stayed close to her dad while the brother went off and did his own thing.
What is Alexandra Roach famous for? The Welsh actress had quite a start in the feature-film world, appearing as a young Margaret Thatcher in The Iron Lady. Alexandra went on to get jobs in Anna Karenina, Cuban Fury, The Huntsman: Winter’s War, and This is Christmas.
From 2010 onward, the 38-year-old has been a regular fixture on British television via standout shows like The IT Crowd, Inside No. 9, Death in Paradise, Killing Eve, and Nightsleeper. In a particularly disturbing instalment of Black Mirror, titled Black Museum, Alexandra’s character had her consciousness zapped into a toy monkey.
Channel 4’s stylish and under-seen thriller Utopia saw her play the feisty Becky. Utopia concerned a group of comic book nerds being hounded across the country by a clandestine and merciless organisation.
Kate Ashfield appears as detective Alison Brown
Who is Alison Brown? DCI Alison Brown is one of the people connected to the cold-case murders that have somehow attracted the attention of Joel. She also works closely with DS McGovern.
What is Kate Ashfield famous for? Actress Kate, 53, is most famous for her performance as Liz in the British classic Shaun of the Dead (she and co-star Bill go way back). In the film, Liz breaks up with lowlife boyfriend Shaun only to be thrown back together amidst a zombie apocalypse.
The Birmingham native played real-life figure Miep Gies on the small screen in 2009’s The Diary of Anne Frank. Miep helped conceal Anne Frank and her Jewish family from the Nazis.
Poirot, Silent Witness, His Dark Materials and Moonflower Murders are some of the other shows she’s worked on. But Kate’s most high-profile turns came via Line of Duty‘s first series and Regency-era drama Sanditon.
She’s also been directed by the mercurial Lars von Trier in Nymphomaniac: Vol II, plus Oscar-winner Neil Jordan in Byzantium.
The Inbetweeners’ David Fynn brings comic relief as Seth
Who is Seth McGovern? Seth the Detective Sergeant happens to be best mates with Joel in the series. He takes his line of work very seriously and does things to the letter of the law, while also remaining a source of laughter throughout.
What is David Fynn famous for? Recognisable to fans of The Inbetweeners for his one-off appearance as mechanic Wolfie, the 43-year-old has gone on to feature in episodes of Peep Show, Life’s Too Short, Game of Thrones, and Sherlock.
Between 2014 and 2016, the British-Irishman portrayed Brett in the NBC sitcom Undateable. He also acted alongside Frauds’ Suranne Jones in historical drama Vanity Fair seven years ago. Armanda Iannucci’s space comedy Avenue 5 and Robert Zemeckis film Here are scribbled onto his CV as well.
More recently, he played Alex in Am I Being Unreasonable? series 1 and 2.
Lazarus cast welcomes Toxic Town’s Karla Crome
Who is Bella Catton? Bella is Joel’s childhood sweetheart and first wife, who could have a major impact as he tries to piece together the past.
What is Karla Crome famous for? Londoner Karla, 37, earned her stripes by getting jobs on BBC stalwarts Doctors and Casualty in her early career. She later progressed to the supporting role of Riley in Paul Abbott’s Hit & Miss, which was a show led by Chloë Sevigny’s transgender assassin.
For 16 episodes of Misfits, the star gave life to Jess, who was cursed with X-ray vision. In the serialised adaptation of Stephen King’s sublime Under the Dome, Karla played Rebecca Pine. In 2015, she joined the cast of You, Me and the Apocalypse.
She’s had Prime Video’s Carnival Row, Am I Being Unreasonable? and Toxic Town keeping her busy of late.
Roisin Gallagher plays Laura in the Harlan Coben series
Who is Laura? In the new series, Laura is a psychotherapist who seeks assistance from Dr Lazarus. Her part in the story is one of the most intricate.
What is Roisin Gallagher famous for? Originating from Belfast, Lazarus cast member Roisin kicked off her career in Doctors as Alicia Hodge. The 38-year-old pushed on from there and grabbed a minor role opposite Gillian Anderson in detective thriller The Fall.
The Dry plonked her in the main role of recovering alcoholic Shiv Sheridan. She’ll return for a third series in the near future. Roisin starred in The Lovers too, a series about a supermarket worker’s unexpected romance with a well-known TV presenter.
Arlo Jones is played by Jack Deam
Who is Arlo in Lazarus? Serial killer Arlo Jones is one of Joel’s patients at the psychiatric facility, notably asking God to “punish” the main character. He has ties to the late Dr Lazarus that gradually unravel over the course of the series.
What is Jack Deam famous for? Manchester-born Jack, 52, has been on our screens since the 80s, and is best known for playing Marty Fisher in C4’s Shameless – a role he played from 2004 to 2013.
DCI Banks fans will know him as DC Ken Blackstone, before he went on to receive a police promotion in Father Brown. He played Inspector Mallory between 2016 and 2022.
Other notable roles include Phil Simmonds in Coronation Street, Kev Leach in Clocking Off, and DI Les Hanley in The Long Shadow.
The full cast for Harlan Coben’s Lazarus:
Bill Nighy plays Dr. Jonathan Lazarus.
Sam Claflin plays Joel Lazarus.
Alexandra Roach plays Jenna Lazarus.
Kate Ashfield appears as Detective Alison Brown.
Roisin Gallagher appears as Laura.
David Fynn plays DS Seth McGovern.
Karla Crome plays Bella Catton.
Jack Deam is Arlo Jones.
Domina’s Ewan Horrocks appears as Young Laz.
Holby City’s Sianad Gregory appears as Cassandra Rhodes.
Lloyd Lai – aka PC Kam in Coronation Street – is Rupert Yuen.
Virdee‘s Charlie Mann is Young Billy.
Newcomer Curtis Tennant is Aidan.
Christy’s Cormac De Bhál is Young Sam Olsen.
FBI: International star Joseph Mason-Coombs is Young Seth.
You actor Cal-I Jonel is Mr. Adebago.
Dig in Diner’s Paddy C Courtney is Mark.
No Man’s Land star Jaouhar Ben Ayed is Harry.
Casualty’s Narinder Samra is Dr Alfie.
Cal Connor – aka Free Runner in The Gathering – is Warren.
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