Snowfall cast and characters: Here's who brought the FX crime drama to life 

Snowfall premiered on FX on July 5, 2017. The crime drama is set in 1980s Los Angeles. It focuses on the start of the crack-cocaine epidemic.

The series was created by John Singleton, Eric Amadio, and Dave Andron. It ran for six seasons and ended in April 2023. The show has a total of 60 episodes.

At its heart, Snowfall follows many people whose lives connect. Their stories collide as the drug epidemic grows. The show explores crime and drugs. It also explores family, ambition, power, and survival. The story shows a city that is changing quickly.

However, the power of the show comes from its ensemble cast. The characters are very different, but their paths are tied together. The actors fully step into their roles.

Let’s explore who played in this FX TV series and brought it to life.

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Who brought Snowfall to life: The cast & characters

Below is the list of the main cast of Snowfall:

Damson Idris plays Franklin Saint. Franklin is the main character of Snowfall. He is a smart young man from South Central Los Angeles. He starts by selling small amounts of weed and later builds a large crack-cocaine empire.

Damson Idris shows Franklin’s ambition and slow moral decline. He also shows his fear, desperation, and final downfall. At first, Franklin only wants to lift his family out of poverty. Over time, his dream turns dark. His empire is built on violence and betrayal. The choices he makes lead to serious and painful consequences.

Carter Hudson plays Theodore “Teddy” McDonald, also known as Reed Thompson. Teddy is a secret CIA agent. He is one of the most morally mixed characters on the show. He uses the name Reed Thompson as a cover. His hidden mission adds a new layer to the story. It brings in the idea of government links to the crack epidemic.

Through Teddy, the show explores how some agents justify harmful actions. They see drug dealing as collateral damage in larger world politics. This adds political depth to the crime story of Snowfall.

Sergio Peris-Mencheta plays Gustavo “El Oso” Zapata. He is a former Mexican luchador. He later becomes a cartel enforcer. His character brings the cartel story to life. He connects the cartel to street dealers. He shows how global drug networks reach local neighborhoods.

Through Gustavo, the show shows the cartel’s power. It shows threats and violence. It also shows the hard loyalties of the drug world.

Emily Rios plays Lucia Villanueva. Lucia is the daughter of a Mexican crime boss. She is also his heir. Villanueva is a key part of the cartel story. In Seasons 1 and 2, her choices change the family business. The operation shifts from marijuana to cocaine.

Lucia works in a world ruled by men. This adds themes of gender and power to the show. She also faces strong inner conflict. After Snowfall Season 2, her fate becomes mysterious.

Isaiah John plays Leon Simmons. Leon is Franklin’s closest childhood friend. He is also his business partner at first. Over time, Leon grows tired of the drug trade. He wants to change his life and find redemption. He sees his community fall apart from drugs and violence.

Isaiah John gives Leon quiet emotional depth. This makes Leon one of the most tragic characters. Leon’s story feels very human. While others chase money and power, Leon sees the damage they have caused. His inner struggle becomes the conscience of Snowfall.

Amin Joseph plays Jerome Saint. Jerome is Franklin’s uncle. He brings Franklin into the drug world and teaches him about street life. Jerome is a former hustler. He has deep roots in the neighborhood. He is one of the wildest and charming characters.

Amin Joseph shows Jerome’s charm, anger, violence, and loyalty. As the empire grows, Jerome is pulled in two directions. He loves his wife, Louie. He is also loyal to Franklin. This inner conflict grows stronger. Jerome’s downfall becomes one of the most shocking and emotional moments of Snowfall.

Angela Lewis plays Aunt Louie. Louie starts as a supportive partner. Over time, she becomes a strong and ambitious drug leader. Angela Lewis shows her as both soft and smart. As the seasons go on, Louie wants more power and control. This slowly puts her at odds with Franklin and Jerome.

Her rise shows how cruel ambition can be in the drug world. It also shows how hard it is for women to survive in a male-led criminal world.

Michael Hyatt plays Cissy Saint. Cissy is Franklin’s mother. She starts as his moral guide. She wants him to choose school and a better life. Michael Hyatt shows her as a strong and caring woman.

Over time, her dreams for her family fall apart. She is changed by loss and violence. She grows emotionally tough. Her bond with Franklin slowly breaks down. She must face the monster her son becomes. Their story ends in one of the most powerful finales in TV drama history.

Gail Bean plays Wanda Bell. Wanda starts as a lively girl from the neighborhood. She later becomes a crack addict. This becomes one of the show’s saddest stories.

Gail Bean shows addiction in a real and painful way. Wanda later works to recover and survive. Her journey shows the true human cost of the drug epidemic.

Kevin Carroll plays Alton Williams. Alton is Franklin’s father. He is distant from his son. He is a former Black Panther. He is also a recovering alcoholic. Kevin Carroll gives a calm and thoughtful performance.

Alton is very different from the violent world around him. He understands politics and power. His strong morals put him against the secret forces behind the drug trade in Snowfall.

Alon Aboutboul plays Avi Drexler. Avi is an international arms dealer. He sells weapons across countries and wars. His story takes Snowfall beyond U.S. streets. It shows the global crime network. Avi stands for the war-for-profit economy behind many real conflicts.

DeRay Davis plays Peaches. Peaches is Franklin’s bodyguard. He is also his loyal soldier. Later, Peaches suddenly disappears. He also betrays Franklin. This event pushes Franklin closer to his final collapse.

Devyn A. Tyler plays Veronique Turner. Veronique is Franklin’s last romantic partner. She is also his business equal. Their relationship is complicated. It is built on love, distrust, ambition, and survival.

Reign Edwards plays Melody Wright. Melody is Franklin’s childhood love. Crack addiction destroys her life. Her story is one of the most painful examples of the drug crisis in Snowfall.

Together, all of these characters shape the heart of Snowfall. They drive the emotions and the story forward. Their journeys turn the show into one of FX’s darkest and most gripping dramas.

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What is Snowfall about?

Snowfall is based on the real crack cocaine epidemic of the 1980s. This crisis badly hurt many American cities, and Los Angeles was one of them. Cheap and highly addictive crack spread fast in poor Black neighborhoods. It changed communities through addiction and violence. It led to mass arrests and caused long-lasting family trauma.

Unlike many crime shows, Snowfall does not glamorize drugs. The story is told like a tragedy. Every rise in power leads to a serious loss. Characters lose family, safety, innocence, or their sense of who they are.

The creator, John Singleton, grew up in South Central Los Angeles. He used his real-life experiences to shape the show. This made the story feel personal and real. Snowfall also explores claims that U.S. intelligence agencies helped fuel the drug crisis through foreign drug ties. This idea is shown through Teddy’s story.

The show’s tone changes over time. Early seasons focus on how drugs are sold and how people survive. Later seasons focus on fear and betrayal. They show mental breakdowns and deep loss. By the final season, Snowfall asks what is left after ambition destroys everything.

Snowfall ended in April 2023. Some viewers were divided on the ending. But it stayed true to the show’s tragic message. Franklin’s final fate sends a clear warning. Money built on destruction cannot save you. The true cost of the drug world is not just money. It is identity. It is family. It is a legacy.