‘The Gilded Age’ Season 4’s Historical Figures vs. the Actors Playing Them

HBO‘s The Gilded Age has always combined history with fiction. While most of the period drama’s main characters are based on American historical figures, there’s a handful of actors playing real people, and more are joining the fold in Season 4.

In The Gilded Age Season 4, Bertha Russell (Carrie Coon) changed Society at a cost. Now, her family must reckon with the consequences as Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski) seizes an opportunity to regain her position. Meanwhile, Marian (Louisa Jacobson) forges a new path for herself, and Peggy (Denée Benton) works to be accepted by her future in-laws. In this new era, you must be careful what you wish for.

Bertha Russell is based on Alva Vanderbilt, the social-climbing wife of William Kissam Vanderbilt. The couple had an infamous divorce, and Season 3 left Bertha and George Russell (Morgan Spector) on the brink of the same fate. However, George is based on Jay Gould, not William Kissam Vanderbilt.

The Russell daughter, Gladys (Taissa Farmiga), in based on Consuelo Vanderbilt, and her brother, Larry (Harry Richardson), is loosely modeled after Cornelius Vanderbilt III. Peggy is inspired by several trailblazing Black women of the time, such as Julia C. Collins and Ida B. Wells.

Jim Gaffigan joins the cast as President Grover Cleveland, who will be the guest of honor at a dinner hosted by Agnes van Rhijn (Christine Baranski). Bill Camp returns as J.P. Morgan and Donna Murphy as Mrs. Astor, and a real-life railroad tycoon, John D. Rockefeller, finally arrives, played by Neal Huff.

Ahead of the premiere this Sunday, November 1, here’s a list of real-life historical figures that will appear or be mentioned in The Gilded Age Season 4 (that we know of so far).

The Gilded Age, Season 4 Premiere, Sunday, November 1, 9/8c, HBO, Streaming on HBO Max