A Deep Dive Into ‘The Shards’ Cast: Where You’ve Seen Them Before
Ryan Murphy is dipping his toes in Bret Easton Ellis‘ world with The Shards. Based on the 2023 book of the same name, the FX series follows a group of privileged teenagers during their senior year at an elite prep school in 1981 Los Angeles.
Bret (Igby Rigney) is an aspiring writer with a detective’s eye who is caught off guard by the mysterious new student Robert Mallory (Homer Gere). As Robert assimilates himself in Bret’s tight-knit social circle, which includes Susan Reynolds (Kaia Gerber), Thom Wright (Graham Campbell), and Debbie Schaffer (Hayes Warner), Bret becomes increasingly concerned that Robert is hiding something.
On top of typical teenage angst and wild parties, a serial killer known as The Trawler begins targeting teenagers across the City of Angels. High school can be rough, right?
The Shards has assembled a cast of incredible rising stars to play the roles Bret Easton Ellis created, and two of them are connected through their parents. Gerber’s mom, Cindy Crawford, and Gere’s father, Richard Gere, were once married. TV Insider has your complete cast guide to The Shards. Find out where you’ve seen the stars before and more.
The Shards, Series Premiere, August 5, 9/8c, FX and Hulu
Igby Rigney as Bret Ellis
The Shards is told through Bret’s eyes, so we’ll get to see and hear the most from Rigney. Prior to the FX series, the 26-year-old was best known for his work in the Mike Flanagan universe, notably playing Warren Flynn in Midnight Mass. He also starred in Flanagan’s The Midnight Club and The Fall of the House of Usher.
Kaia Gerber as Susan Reynolds
Gerber stars as glamorous and ultra-cool Susan Reynolds. (She’s also one of the show’s producers!) The actress is no stranger to the spotlight as the daughter of supermodel Cindy Crawford, and she started out in modeling like her mom. In recent years, Gerber has shifted her focus toward acting. She first entered the Ryan Murphy Universe in 2021 with American Horror Stories and American Horror Story: Double Feature. She made her feature film debut in the 2023 film Bottoms. Gerber’s also had roles in Palm Royale and Overcompensating before being cast in The Shards. In addition to modeling and acting, Gerber also runs a book club called Library Science.
Homer Gere
Gere stars as the enigmatic Robert Mallory in the FX series. He is new to the acting scene, but it’s in his blood. He’s the son of two very talented actors: Richard Gere and Carey Lowell. He graduated from Brown University in 2024 before turning his attention to acting. His first on-screen role was playing Dylan in the final season of Euphoria. He’ll be making his feature film debut in Oliver Stone’s White Lies.
Hayes Warner
Warner stars as the stylish and uber-wealthy Debbie Schaffer. The Shards marks Warner’s TV debut. She’ll also be contributing original music to the series. Warner is a pop singer, with hit singles like “Predator” and “Zip.”
Graham Campbell as Thom Wright
Campbell is making his television debut as Thom Wright, the school heartthrob who seemingly has it all. He made his first-ever stage appearance in the 2023 Broadway production of Appropriate, which starred Ryan Murphy favorite Sarah Paulson. Campbell’s first film, Late Fate, starring Willem Dafoe, will be released on August 7.
Wes Bentley as Terry Schaffer
Wes Bentley is returning to the world of Ryan Murphy as Terry Schaffer, Debbie’s father, in The Shards. After five seasons playing Jamie Dutton in Yellowstone, Bentley is stepping into the role of the wealthy film producer with too many secrets to count. He previously starred in the Freak Show, Hotel, and Roanoke seasons of American Horror Story.
Evan Rachel Wood as Liz Schaffer
Evan Rachel Wood stars as the tempestuous Liz Schaffer, Debbie’s mom and Terry’s wife. The Shards is Wood’s first project in the world of Ryan Murphy. The actress has been working in Hollywood since she was a child, most recently in the film Backspot and the TV series Westworld.
Jordan Roth as Steven Reinhardt
The Tony Award-winning Jordan Roth plays the mysterious Steven Reinhardt in The Shards. The FX series is the first TV role for the prolific Broadway producer.
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