The following is a list of recurring characters who have appeared in at least three episodes of a season or in at least two episodes of two different seasons. The characters are listed in the order they were first credited in the series.
Helen Walker Played by
Afton Williamson,
Helen Walker is the wife of Tom Walker. After learning of Tom's terrorist affiliations, Helen initially agrees to cooperate with the CIA to apprehend her husband. However, at a critical moment, she tips off Tom, allowing him to narrowly escape.
Maggie Mathison Played by
Amy Hargreaves,
Margaret "Maggie" Mathison is Carrie Mathison's sister. Maggie is usually the person that Carrie goes to for support when having personal problems. As a medical doctor (though not a psychiatrist), Maggie secretly obtains medication for Carrie to control her bipolar disorder. Maggie also strives to remain in touch with her family, letting her and Carrie's father Frank stay in her home, and herself having a husband and two kids. In season 4, once Carrie gives birth to her daughter, Franny, Maggie is largely responsible for taking care of the child, given Carrie's enduring commitment to her intelligence work. Maggie calls Carrie while she is in Islamabad to tell her that their father Frank has died of a stroke, and organizes a memorial for him that Carrie and several colleagues attend. In season 7, Carrie and Franny move in with Maggie after Carrie is fired from her job at the White House. However, Carrie's increasing inability to look after her child, as well as the repeated trauma to which she exposes Franny because of her field work, leaves Maggie no choice but to seek custody of Franny. At the custody hearing, Carrie accepts an agreement allowing her to see Franny every other weekend.
Latif Bin Walid Played by Alok Tewari,
Latif Bin Walid is the majordomo for Prince Farid who is an agent of Abu Nazir.
Raqim Faisel Played by
Omid Abtahi,
Raqim Faisel, along with his girlfriend Aileen Morgan, is a low-level al-Qaeda operative living in the United States. He is a professor at Bryden University in Washington D.C. As part of an al-Qaeda plot, Morgan and Faisel are assigned to purchase a house within sniper range of a
Marine One landing pad. The CIA discovers the house, sending them on the run. Faisel is murdered by unknown assailants while he and Aileen are hiding out at a motel.
Aileen Morgan Played by
Marin Ireland,
Aileen Morgan, along with her boyfriend Raqim Faisel, is a low-level al-Qaeda operative living in the United States. Morgan was born in the U.S. but took on an anti-American perspective while living her teenage years in Saudi Arabia, where she met Faisel. As part of an al-Qaeda plot, Morgan and Faisel are assigned to purchase a house within sniper range of a
Marine One landing pad. The CIA discovers the house, sending them on the run. Faisel is killed, and Morgan is arrested in Mexico by Saul Berenson. In exchange for Faisel receiving a Muslim burial, she identifies the al-Qaeda accomplice who had been sent to her house as ex-Marine Tom Walker. Morgan later commits suicide after a lengthy stay in solitary confinement.
Danny Galvez Played by
Hrach Titizian,
Danny Galvez is a Muslim-American CIA officer with a Lebanese mother and a Guatemalan father who assists Carrie in most of her cases. He is attacked in one of his missions and shot, and takes a few weeks to recover. He is then believed to be a mole by Carrie, but her suspicions are proven wrong when he presents his alibi for leaving the compound. He is among those killed when a bomb planted by al-Qaeda explodes at the CIA building.
Frank Mathison Played by
James Rebhorn,
Frank Mathison is Carrie Mathison's father. Like Carrie, Frank also has
bipolar disorder, but is able to manage it more effectively than his daughter due to his commitment to therapy and medication. Frank eventually dies in his sleep from a stroke while Carrie is working overseas; Carrie returns home to arrange his funeral. Frank's death was written to reflect the real-life passing of Rebhorn in 2014.
Lauder Wakefield Played by
Marc Menchaca,
Lauder Wakefield is a disabled, alcoholic ex-Marine who served in the same platoon as Nicholas Brody, Tom Walker, and Mike Faber. When Brody returns, Lauder is antagonistic towards him. Mike beats him up for telling the truth about what was going on between him and Brody's wife, Jessica. He later comes to suspect that Brody was involved in the death of Tom Walker and enlists Mike's help in investigation, but Mike's efforts are shut down by the CIA.
Tom Walker Played by
Chris Chalk,
Tom Walker is a Marine who was in active duty along with Nicholas Brody when they were both captured by al-Qaeda forces. Brody was led to believe he beat Walker to death, but Walker was secretly turned into an al-Qaeda agent as well. Both men are dispatched to the United States with roles in an impending terrorist attack. Walker's cover is blown when he is identified by Aileen Morgan, triggering a national manhunt. Walker successfully carries out his part in the attack, assassinating Elizabeth Gaines and causing a mass evacuation into the State Department, where Brody is to detonate a suicide vest to kill Vice President Walden and his national security team. Brody relents, and Walker confronts him with Nazir listening; Brody argues he can advance al-Qaeda's interests through his role as U.S. Congressman and close proximity to Walden; Nazir accepts his proposition and commands Brody to kill Walker, due to Walker's exposed identity. Brody complies. Walker's death is subsequently covered up as a CIA operation.
Roya Hammad Played by
Zuleikha Robinson,
Roya Hammad is a television news reporter who secretly works for al-Qaeda, acting as an intermediary between Abu Nazir and Brody. She is eventually arrested, along with her
cell, when Brody gives the CIA information regarding their planned attack on a soldiers' homecoming event. During her interrogation by Carrie, Roya boasts that al-Qaeda "does not run", making Carrie realize that Nazir is still hiding in the power plant where he kept Carrie captive.
Joy Mendez Played by
Valerie Cruz, Major
Joy Mendez is a military intelligence officer who accompanies Carrie on her mission to Beirut to obtain key intelligence from the wife of a Hezbollah commander. She later serves as the head of the security detail protecting the Brody family in a safehouse after Abu Nazir threatens them.
Finn Walden Played by
Timothée Chalamet,
Finn Walden is the wealthy, spoiled son of Vice President Walden. He meets Dana in private school and goes on to date her. He perpetrates a fatal hit and run on a date with Dana when he is driving recklessly, and then insists that Dana keep it a secret. He is listed among those killed when a bomb goes off outside his father's memorial service.
Cynthia Walden Played by
Talia Balsam,
Cynthia Walden is the wife of Vice President William Walden. When Brody is elected as a U.S. Representative, Cynthia befriends and takes Jessica Brody under her wing. When her son Finn causes a car accident that results in the death of a pedestrian, Cynthia orchestrates a cover-up. Cynthia, along with her son Finn, is killed in the bombing that took place at the CIA Headquarters during her husband's memorial.
M.M. Played by
Mido Hamada,
M.M. is the alias given to Abu Nazir's munitions expert, who is first seen meeting with Roya Hammad. M.M. later leads an assault on the
Gettysburg tailor shop where Brody's suicide vest was manufactured, killing several CIA agents and injuring several others, in order to retrieve a large case hidden behind the walls. Saul visits Aileen Morgan hoping she can identify M.M., but she names a former classmate to deceive Saul into negotiating her transfer out of solitary confinement. M.M. and Roya later transport Brody to a meeting with Nazir, who arrives undercover in the U.S. M.M. is ultimately arrested alongside the rest of his cell by the CIA while transporting equipment to bomb a veterans' homecoming ceremony.
Scott Ryan Played by
Tim Guinee,
Scott Ryan is the chief of special operations at the CIA. He oversees the operation to eliminate Majid Javadi's terrorist network in Iran, as well as the operation (led by Brody) to assassinate IRGC Chief Danesh Akbari. Years later, he assists Saul in negotiating peace talks between the U.S. and Afghanistan, and unsuccessfully attempts to save Anna Pomerantseva, Saul's highly valuable Russian asset, from capture by the GRU.
Leo Carras Played by
Sam Underwood,
Leo Carras is Dana's boyfriend who she meets while in therapy. After Dana is released, she continues sneaking into the hospital to see Leo, and the two of them soon run away together. Jessica and Mike investigate and learn that Leo was only placed in psychiatric care to cover up his possible involvement in his brother's death, which he claimed was a suicide to Dana. Dana confronts Leo after seeing news reports on their disappearance name Leo as a suspect in his brother's death. Leo confesses that his brother died while the two of them were playing
Russian Roulette with their father's gun at Leo's suggestion. Dana abandons Leo and turns herself in.
Paul Franklin Played by
Jason Butler Harner,
Paul Franklin is an associate of Leland Bennett, whose law firm represents clients funding terrorist activities (including IGRC deputy chief Majid Javadi). Franklin arranges to have Carrie released from psychiatric detention and introduces her to Bennett. When he and Bennett are led to believe that the CIA has discovered the Langley bomber, Franklin arrives at the motel where he had been hiding out, and kills him.
Majid Javadi Played by
Shaun Toub,
Majid Javadi is the Deputy Intelligence Chief of Iran, who financed the bombing of the CIA headquarters (for which Nicholas Brody was publicly framed). Javadi had worked with Saul in the past but betrayed him when he killed several American hostages who Saul was attempting to extradite from Iran during the
Iranian Revolution in 1979. In retaliation, Saul helped Javadi's wife and son escape to the United States. After the bombing, Javadi attempts to turn Carrie against the CIA, but the plan fails and he is blackmailed into becoming a CIA asset after Saul and Fara Sherazi find that he had embezzled millions from his own nation to fund the attack. On his way to meet with Saul, Javadi takes a detour to the new residence of his ex-wife and daughter-in-law, and brutally murders them both before surrendering himself to Carrie and Quinn (who are too late to arrive). Saul has Javadi return to Iran as the CIA's asset; Javadi complies, given that his only alternative is to return to his country as an enemy of the state. Saul engineers a special operation to have Brody assassinate Danesh Akbari, Javadi's superior, allowing Javadi to become the IRGC's Intelligence Chief and help advance American interests in the Middle East. In season 6, Saul covertly meets with Javadi in the
West Bank amid rumors in Washington that Iran is running a parallel nuclear program with
North Korea, thereby violating the terms of their agreement with the IAEA. Javadi denies it, and later comes to the U.S. himself, seeking political asylum after his dealings with the Americans are leaked to the Iranian government. Saul promises Javadi protection if he confirms with President-elect Keane that Iran is not contravening the nuclear treaty. Javadi agrees, but reverses course at the meeting with Keane, stating that Iran is indeed running an underground nuclear program. He explains to Saul that he made a deal with Dar Adal for his own protection, but Dar ultimately betrays Javadi to
Mossad, who capture him. Carrie later finds Javadi's phone at the scene of his extraction, which contains footage from an interrogation of an Iranian Mossad asset who confirms that Iran is not violating the treaty.
Alain Bernard Played by
William Abadie,
Alain Bernard is an apparent friend of Mira Berenson, revealed to be having an affair with her. He was later found to be an Israeli intelligence agent working for Lockhart, using Mira to get close to Saul, who he was spying on. Saul visits Alain in federal custody and has him send his contacts in Mossad to aid a CIA operation in Tehran.
Michael Higgins Played by
William Sadler,
Michael "Mike" Higgins is the White House Chief of Staff. At a hunting retreat, Higgins announces that Senator Lockhart will become the new director of the CIA. Later, when Brody's unit during his Iranian infiltration mission is ambushed by Kurdish forces, Higgins proposes using
hellfire missiles to wipe out the platoon, but Saul and Carrie overrule him.
Aayan Ibrahim Played by
Suraj Sharma,
Aayan Ibrahim is a medical student studying in
Islamabad. He is one of the survivors of a CIA drone strike intended for his uncle, Taliban leader Haissam Haqqani, which instead struck a wedding that killed several civilians including Aayan's mother and sister. Aayan discovers a video he recorded on his phone of the wedding at the moment of his explosion, which his friend Rahim leaks to the Pakistani press. Aayan is later threatened by the ISI to no longer talk to the media, but Carrie, posing as a journalist, offers Aayan safe passage to London to continue his studies in exchange for his participation in her "news story". Aayan is unaware that it is a ruse intended to get him to disclose the whereabouts of his uncle Haqqani, to whom he is covertly delivering medical supplies. Carrie seduces Aayan as part of her recruitment process, causing him to fall in love with her. Carrie ultimately leads Aayan to a drone-monitored rendezvous with Haqqani, who executes him for leading him into the CIA's trap. An enraged Carrie nearly orders a strike on Haqqani despite him holding Saul Berenson hostage as a human shield, but is talked down. In season 5, Carrie hallucinates Aayan while off her medication and surveying her past field reports to deduce who ordered a hit on her, becoming tormented by guilt over the numerous civilian deaths she has been responsible for.
John Redmond Played by
Michael O'Keefe,
John Redmond is a CIA agent stationed in Islamabad, who was named acting station chief after the death of his predecessor, Sandy Bachman. However, Carrie maneuvers to get herself placed as the Islamabad station chief. Redmond is initially resentful of the decision and copes using alcohol, but eventually becomes Carrie's trusted ally in her hunt for Taliban leader Haissam Haqqani. Redmond is ultimately killed during an RPG attack on a CIA convoy returning from a prisoner exchange between the American and Pakistani governments.
Rahim Played by Akshay Kumar,
Rahim is Aayan Ibrahim's friend and roommate in medical school. He leaks a video Aayan recorded of the wedding that was bombed in a drone strike ordered by the CIA, leading to protests in Islamabad. He later attends a protest against Taliban leader Haissam Haqqani after drone footage of Haqqani executing Aayan is published online.
Kiran Played by Shavani Seth,
Kiran is Aayan's girlfriend, whose parents disapprove of their relationship. Aayan enlists Kiran to hide a bag of stolen medical supplies for his ailing uncle, Taliban leader Haissam Haqqani; Kiran's father discovers the drugs and reports Aayan to his school, getting him expelled. Peter Quinn later approaches Kiran and gives her leaked drone footage of Haqqani executing Aayan, which he asks her to post online to incite protests that would draw Haqqani out and give Quinn the chance to assassinate him. Kiran attends the protest until Quinn asks her to leave to steer clear of the pipe bomb he planted, which he ultimately does not detonate.
Dennis Boyd Played by
Mark Moses,
Dennis Boyd is an international studies professor at a university in Islamabad. He is married to U.S. Ambassador Martha Boyd, and was secretly sharing classified intelligence with the CIA's Islamabad station chief, Sandy Bachman, which allowed the CIA to eliminate various high-value Taliban outposts. After Sandy's death, Dennis is blackmailed by ISI agent Tasneem Qureishi into becoming the ISI's mole inside the U.S. embassy. He breaks into Carrie's apartment and replaces her bipolar medication with a powerful hallucinogen that causes her to suffer a psychotic episode, and tells Tasneem about the secret entrance to the U.S. embassy, which Taliban leader Haissam Haqqani uses to storm the embassy and kill 36 Americans. Dennis begs Martha to allow him to commit suicide in his prison cell using his belt, arguing it would save her career, but later relents and is last seen being taken away by a CIA transport.
Aasar Khan Played by
Raza Jaffrey,
Aasar Khan is a colonel in the ISI, loyal to his country but largely kept out of the loop in the Pakistani government's dealings with the Taliban. He provides shelter for Carrie as she recovers from a severe psychotic episode induced by the ISI having her bipolar medication swapped for a powerful hallucinogen. Khan later learns from ISI agent Tasneem Qureishi that the poisoning was engineered to get Carrie transferred out of Islamabad, but that his intervention foiled their plans. Khan continues to help Carrie afterwards, providing her the name of Dennis Boyd as the ISI's mole inside the U.S. embassy. During the Taliban's attack on the embassy, Carrie calls Khan to send in backup, but Tasneem stops him, revealing to him her allegiance with the Taliban. Khan later stops Carrie from assassinating Haqqani, alerting to her to Dar Adal's presence in Haqqani's entourage.
Bunran Latif Played by
Art Malik,
Bunran "Bunny" Latif is a general in the Pakistani army and the former head of the ISI. He is an old friend and colleague of Saul's who has since developed a deep animosity for the United States due to their foreign policy decisions after 9/11,
which he believes to have been a hoax. Under his leadership, the ISI helps the Taliban undermine U.S. presence in Islamabad, which culminates in an attack on the American embassy that results in the U.S. pulling out of the region. Years later, in season 8, Latif passes on leadership of the ISI to his stepdaughter, Tasneem Qureishi, who proved instrumental in helping the Taliban initially succeed.
Astrid Played by
Nina Hoss,
Astrid is a German intelligence officer working for the
BND. She shares years of on-again, off-again sexual history with Peter Quinn, for whom she has unrequited romantic feelings. For a time, Astrid is stationed in Islamabad, where she helps Quinn track down Haissam Haqqani; she meets Carrie along the way, repeatedly referring to her as Quinn's "girlfriend". Two years later, Astrid is embroiled in the controversy that results from the CIA and BND's covert surveillance program being leaked. She helps Carrie and Saul uncover the Russian government's infiltration of the CIA's Berlin station. When Quinn is captured by a jihadist cell and used as a test subject for a planned sarin gas attack, Astrid helps Carrie track down the location of the compound where Quinn was being held, ultimately rescuing him. Astrid also forces dissident American journalist Laura Sutton to publicly denounce a terror suspect detained by the BND in exchange for allowing Numan, a hacker who stole classified CIA documents, to remain in Germany. In season 6, Astrid breaks Quinn out of a New York psychiatric facility, bringing him to a remote cabin on Dar Adal's behalf and looking after him. However, a traumatized Quinn distrusts Astrid and repeatedly lashes out at her, and later empties the bullets out of Astrid's gun while she is away. That night, a rogue assassin from Dar Adal's black ops group ambushes the cabin and kills a defenseless Astrid. Quinn, feeling immense guilt over Astrid's death, eventually tracks down the assassin and brutally murders him as revenge.
Numan Played by Atheer Adel,
Numan is a hacker operating out of Berlin, where he immigrated from Turkey after being declared an enemy of the state. Numan and his partner Armand Korzenik uncover a trove of CIA documents revealing at the CIA and the BND violated the privacy of German citizens as part of a counterterrorism effort. Numan leaks one of the documents to journalist Laura Sutton, who publishes them, causing a national scandal. He later contacts Laura personally to give her the rest, but learns that Korzenik sold them to Russian intelligence officers. Numan later finds that the Russians murdered Korzenik and his girlfriend. Laura introduces Numan to Carrie, who he helps investigate the Russian government's infiltration of the CIA's Berlin station. He is eventually arrested by the BND, but Astrid makes a deal with Laura to publicly denounce a terror suspect detained by the BND, threatening to deport Numan to Turkey otherwise. Laura is forced to cut contact with Numan afterwards.
Armand Korzenik Played by Sven Schelker,
Armand Korzenik is a hacker operating in Berlin alongside his partner, Numan. The two uncover CIA documents revealing mass violations of the privacy of German citizens by the American and German governments. Korzenik attempts to sell copies of the documents to Russian intelligence, but they torture him for the location of the other copies before killing him and his girlfriend.
Etai Luskin Played by
Allan Corduner,
Etai Luskin is an Israeli ambassador and Saul's longtime friend. Etai has Saul extracted from CIA custody under the guise of defection after the CIA unduly suspect Saul of working against them. Etai brings Carrie to the safehouse he prepares for Saul, allowing the two of them to uncover the Russians' infiltration of the CIA's Berlin station. Months later, Etai detains Saul on his way back from the
West Bank, inquiring about a covert meeting Saul held (which, unbeknownst to Etai, was with Majid Javadi). However, Etai is forced to release Saul after reports emerge about a bombing in New York City.
Ivan Krupin Played by
Mark Ivanir,
Ivan Krupin is a high-ranking Russian intelligence officer in the
SVR. Years ago, Ivan blackmailed CIA officer Allison Carr into becoming a mole for Russia and spent the subsequent decade grooming her as an asset, receiving vital state secrets in exchange for information that would advance Allison up the ranks of the CIA. Ivan works as Allison's handler during her tenure as station chief in Berlin, and orders a hit on Carrie due to her association with one of Allison's former assets (who was also working with Russia). Ivan is eventually apprehended by the CIA during a sting operation to expose Allison's betrayal. He agrees to give Saul details on the SVR's plan to extract Allison from Germany in exchange for witness protection in the United States. Saul later visits Ivan in
Wyoming, where is staying under witness protection, to inquire about possible Russian interference with the administration of President Elizabeth Keane. Saul names Yevgeny Gromov, a GRU operative known for his disinformation efforts; Ivan feigns ignorance, but later comes out of witness protection to confront Yevgeny himself, who considers Ivan the product of a bygone era of Russian espionage. Yevgeny and his men later intercept Ivan during a planned rendezvous with Saul and drown him, leaving evidence of his death for Saul to find.
Qasim Played by Alireza Bayram,
Qasim is a young, inexperienced recruit to an ISIS cell operating out of Berlin, led by Qasim's cousin Bibi Hamed. Qasim becomes doubtful about the jihadists' mission after learning that it involves a chemical attack on Berlin. While being held captive, Quinn persuades Qasim to help stop the attack. When the jihadists use Quinn as a test subject for their sarin gas chamber, Qasim discreetly injects him with an antidote to save his life. On the day of the attack, which is to occur at the Berlin train station, Carrie finds Qasim and convinces him to stop Bibi from launching the weapon. Qasim confronts Bibi, who kills him before being shot dead by Carrie, thus thwarting the attack.
Bibi Hamed Played by
René Ifrah,
Bibi Hamed is the leader of a
jihadist cell operating out of Berlin. After learning that Bibi's uncle is an influential emir in Syria's terrorist network, Quinn decides to accompany the jihadists to Syria, posing as a mercenary. However, Bibi reveals that his plan never was to go to Syria, but rather launch a chemical attack on Berlin itself. The jihadists hold Quinn prisoner and use him as a test subject for their sarin chamber. Bibi's cousin Qasim saves Quinn's life by injecting him with an antidote; Bibi frames and kills another member of the team as punishment, knowing Qasim was responsible but refusing to kill a family member. At the train station where the attack is to take place, Carrie convinces Qasim to stop Bibi from releasing the weapon. When Qasim confronts his cousin, Bibi kills him, only to be shot dead himself by Carrie, thus stopping the attack.
Franny Mathison Played by an uncredited baby actress in season 4, twins Luna and Lotta Pfitzer in season 5, and Claire and McKenna Keane in seasons 6 and 7,
Frances "Franny" Mathison is the daughter of Carrie Mathison and Nicholas Brody, born after her father's death. Carrie initially avoids taking care of her daughter, leaving the infant Franny to stay with Maggie while away in Kabul, and nearly drowning the child in a bathtub while spending a day watching over her. Carrie eventually embraces motherhood after returning from Islamabad, and takes Franny with her to stay in Berlin. After discovering that someone ordered a hit on her, Carrie has Franny sent back to the U.S. for her own safety. Months later, Carrie and Franny live in New York. Carrie allows Quinn, who is recovering from a stroke, to stay in the lower floor of her apartment. During this time, Quinn bonds with Franny and protects her when a crowd of protestors and press swarm the apartment. However, this leads to a tense standoff with the authorities, leading child services to take Franny away, deeming Carrie a risk to her daughter. Carrie negotiates to reclaim custody of Franny and moves with her to Maggie's house after leaving her job at the White House. After an argument with Maggie, Carrie takes Franny with her, and the two struggle to find a place to stay until Dante Allen offers them his apartment as temporary living quarters. Carrie accepts despite suspecting Dante to be a Russian agent; the two have sex while Franny is asleep, but Saul's men burst in and apprehend Dante, traumatizing Franny. While picking up Franny from school, Carrie abruptly leaves to save Dante from being eliminated by the Russians, and nearly hits Franny with her car on the way out. Maggie, considering Carrie's treatment of her daughter to be negligent and abusive, files for custody of Franny. Carrie gives up the custody battle, accepting a visitation agreement that allows her to see Franny every other weekend.
Rob Emmons Played by
Hill Harper,
Rob Emmons is President-elect Elizabeth Keane's trusted chief of staff. He is eventually killed in a car explosion intended for Keane.
Jamie McClendon Played by
Robert Knepper, General
Jamie McClendon is a corrupt military officer who leads a faction of Dar Adal's black ops group in a conspiracy to assassinate President-elect Keane, planning to frame Quinn as the culprit. After the plot is thwarted, McClendon is sentenced to life in prison. However, he dies from poisoning as soon as he enters custody, and is later found to have been assassinated by the Russians in an attempt to sabotage the Keane administration.
Ray Conlin Played by
Dominic Fumusa,
Ray Conlin is an FBI agent who initially clashes with Carrie over his investigation into Sekou Bah. Carrie uses a recording of Conlin pressuring his informant Saad Mahsud to entrap Sekou in order to negotiate Sekou's release. After Sekou dies in a car bombing for which he is framed, Conlin begins helping Carrie investigate a possible conspiracy behind the attack. He trails a vehicle belonging to a suspicious man living across from Carrie's apartment to a mysterious private corporation hiring former federal employees. Soon afterwards, he is assassinated in his home by the man he was investigating, who was in fact one of Dar Adal's operatives.
Reda Hashem Played by
Patrick Sabongui,
Reda Hashem is a lawyer and the head of Fair Trial, a New York City nonprofit defending the civil liberties of Muslims. He and Carrie work together to clear the name of Sekou Bah, a teenager detained by the FBI on terrorism charges, only for Sekou to later die in a car bombing for which he is framed. Reda also represents Carrie in a court hearing with child services, who take her daughter Franny away after deeming Carrie a risk to her safety.
Sekou Bah Played by
J. Mallory McCree,
Sekou Bah is a Muslim teenager living in New York City who alerts the FBI's attention after posting a series of online videos denouncing U.S. foreign policy in the Middle East and sympathizing with Al-Qaeda. Carrie works with her nonprofit to get Sekou released from jail. The next day, Sekou dies in an explosion from a bomb planted in his work van. He is publicly named as the perpetrator of the attack, but Carrie and Quinn discover that Dar Adal's cabal planted the bomb and framed Sekou.
Aby Bah Played by
Zainab Jah,
Aby Bah is the mother of Sekou Bah and his sister Simone.
Simone Bah Played by
Ashlei Sharpe Chestnut,
Simone Bah is the daughter of Aby Bah and the sister of Sekou Bah. She used to date Sekou's friend Saad, unaware that he is an FBI informant. Simone and Carrie later pressure Saad to admit he is an informant.
Saad Mahsud Played by Leo Manzari,
Saad Mahsud is a friend of Sekou Bah who secretly works as an informant for FBI agent Ray Conlin. After being arrested as part of gang roundup in Pittsburgh, Saad was recruited as an FBI informant and pressured into helping the FBI entrap Sekou on false charges. Carrie uses a recording of Conlin ordering Saad to entrap Sekou to secure Sekou's release, but Sekou then posts a video online outing Saad as an FBI informant. Saad later helps Conlin confirm that Sekou was not responsible for the car bombing in which he and two other civilians were killed.
Porteous Belli Played by
C.J. Wilson,
Porteous Belli is the alias of a shadow operative working for Dar Adal's black ops group. He initially spies on Carrie from an apartment across the street from her. Quinn soon begins to suspect Belli and starts following him, learning he was responsible for planting the car bomb that killed Sekou Bah and two other civilians (for which Sekou was framed). Belli eventually goes rogue and ambushes Quinn and Astrid at a lakeside cabin, killing Astrid. Quinn confronts Dar, who learns that Belli was sent by a splinter faction within the black ops group. Quinn tracks Belli to a house used to plan black ops missions and watches the house from nearby. Belli ambushes Carrie when she investigates the house, but Quinn intervenes and brutally murders Belli as revenge for Astrid's death. He later finds evidence that Belli's black ops team, led by General McClendon, is planning to assassinate President-elect Keane.
Farhad Nafisi Played by
Bernard White,
Farhad Nafisi is an Iranian banker who secretly worked as a Mossad asset. Saul interrogates him to learn about Iran's possible underground nuclear program, unaware that it was a ruse orchestrated by Mossad (alongside Dar Adal) to manipulate President-elect Keane's military policy. Majid Javadi eventually finds and tortures Nafisi into admitting that Iran has no underground program. Nafisi is later eliminated by Mossad.
Christine Lonas Played by
Marin Hinkle,
Christine Lonas is a social worker dispatched by
child services to take custody of Carrie's daughter Franny following a hostage situation at Carrie's home involving Quinn. Christine is later revealed to have received a tip regarding Franny's safety from Dar Adal. Carrie negotiates with Christine to reclaim custody of Franny. Christine later testifies at a custody hearing between Carrie and her sister Maggie regarding who should take care of Franny.
Sharon Aldright Played by
Lesli Margherita.
Sharon Aldright is Brett O'Keefe's girlfriend and a producer on his show. Following President Keane's crackdown on anyone associated with the government after a failed assassination attempt, O'Keefe and Aldright go on the run, although they continue to transmit videos to the former's followers. O'Keefe and Sharon are taken to a safe house where he continues broadcasting and he meets a group of supporters who hang on his every word. Once Saul and his forces find them, and attempts to convince O'Keefe to come quietly fail, Sharon decides to cooperate and turns herself in.
Sam Paley Played by
Dylan Baker,
Sam Paley is a
United States senator leading an investigation into President Keane after her arrest of 200 federal employees. He initially works with Carrie to obtain insider information that will help his investigation. After the assassination of General Jamie McClendon, Paley subpoenas Simone Martin, girlfriend of chief of staff David Wellington, to testify before Congress. Carrie soon learns that her source, FBI agent Dante Allen, is a Russian asset (alongside Simone), working to sabotage the Keane administration by implicating Wellington in the McClendon assassination. Saul and Wellington disclose their findings on the Russian infiltration plot to a stunned Paley, who initially believes them, only to reverse course after Dante's death, believing Keane is using Russia as a scapegoat to cover up her own crimes. Paley amasses votes among Keane's staff to invoke the
25th Amendment to remove her from office. When Paley learns that Saul is on a mission to extract Simone from Russia, he allows his chief of staff to notify Russian ambassador Viktor Makarov to sabotage the mission, but acting president Ralph Warner forces Makarov to order Russian authorities to allow Saul and his team to leave the country, over Paley's protests. After Simone is successfully exfiltrated and testifies regarding the GRU's plot to bring down Keane, Paley is arrested as a co-conspirator for his attempts to stop the exfiltration. Keane visits him in prison; he begs for her amnesty for his family's sake, but she spits on him in contempt and leaves.
Janet Bayne Played by
Ellen Adair,
Janet Bayne is Senator Sam Paley's chief of staff and trusted confidante. She and Paley help Carrie obtain information regarding President Keane's sweeping arrest of federal employees. Paley later informs Janet that the Russian government is working to undermine the Keane administration, but reneges after the death of FBI agent Dante Allen, a Russian mole who was set to be a key witness. Janet visits Clint Prower, an analyst on Saul's Russia task force, and threatens him into revealing that Saul and Carrie are on a mission to exfiltrate Simone Martin from Russia.
Bill Dunn Played by
Mackenzie Astin,
Bill Dunn is Maggie Mathison's husband and Carrie's brother-in-law. An employee of the Keane administration, Bill frequently clashes with Carrie, who he increasingly views as a nuisance in his household. Bill and Maggie eventually take custody of Carrie's daughter Franny.
Simone Martin Played by
Sandrine Holt,
Simone Martin is a captain in the GRU, Russia's intelligence agency, and a key player in their plot to sabotage the Keane administration. Simone makes a series of money transactions that enable the assassination of General Jamie McClendon in federal prison, and later attempts to testify in Congress implicating White House Chief of Staff David Wellington, her occasional lover, as the orchestrator. When Carrie and Saul learn of Simone's role in the Russians' subterfuge, they attempt to recover her from witness protection, but she is extracted by GRU operatives led by Yevgeny Gromov, her actual lover. Yevgeny sends Simone back to Russia, but Saul and Carrie manage to exfiltrate her back to the U.S. to testify about her role in the conspiracy.
Thomas Anson Played by
James D'Arcy,
Thomas Anson is a former CIA field operative who worked with Carrie during her tenure as Kabul station chief. Anson and Carrie had an affair which led to the dissolution of his relationship, though the two remain friends. Carrie recruits Anson alongside a team of other former colleagues from the Middle East in a mission to uncover a Russian conspiracy to undermine President Keane's administration. Anson leads both efforts to track down Simone Martin (in Washington D.C. and later Russia), as well as helping find evidence of Dante Allen's role in the conspiracy. Carrie also has Anson steal files from Maggie Mathison's clinic attesting to her theft of psychiatric medication for Carrie, which Carrie plans to use as leverage in her custody battle with her sister regarding the care of her daughter Franny. However, Carrie ultimately decides against it.
Sandy Langmore Played by
Catherine Curtin,
Sandy Langmore is a former CIA officer who was demoted to teaching at the academy after the leaked documents scandal in Berlin. Saul recruits Sandy, an expert on Russia, to his covert task force investigating a Russian conspiracy to sabotage the Keane administration.
Clint Prower Played by
Peter Vack,
Clint Prower is a young but capable analyst from
DARPA that Saul recruits to his task force to investigate Russian interference in the Keane administration. Clint is soon found and threatened by Senator Paley's chief of staff Janet Bayne into disclosing that Saul is on a mission to exfiltrate Simone Martin from Russia.
Ralph Warner Played by
Beau Bridges,
Ralph Warner is the
Vice President of the United States under President Elizabeth Keane, and later inherits the presidency following Keane's resignation. In season 8, only months into his tenure, Warner dies in a helicopter crash alongside Afghan President Daoud while returning from a combat outpost in Afghanistan where he announces the end of the war. The presidents' death becomes the focal point of a protracted standoff between the United States and Pakistan, until it is later revealed through the helicopter's flight recorder that the crash simply occurred due to a mechanical failure.
Viktor Makarov Played by
Elya Baskin,
Viktor Makarov is Russia's ambassador to the United States. Saul negotiates with Viktor for Carrie's release after her detainment during the mission to exfiltrate Simone Martin. Saul later attempts to bargain with Viktor again for the flight recorder on President Warner's helicopter.
Sergei Mirov Played by
Merab Ninidze,
Sergei Mirov is the head of the GRU and Yevgeny Gromov's superior. He is present at a diplomatic meeting between U.S. and Russian officials, which unbeknownst to him is a ruse to lure Yevgeny away from GRU captain Simone Martin so that she can be extracted to the U.S. to testify regarding her role in the Russian plot against President Keane. In season 8, Mirov keeps custody of the flight recorder on President Warner's crashed helicopter, sending Yevgeny to bargain for the identity of Saul's deeply-embedded asset in the Kremlin in exchange for the recorder. Mirov learns that his interpreter, Anna Pomerantseva, is in fact Saul's asset, and orders her arrest, but Anna commits suicide to avoid capture. Mirov then upholds Russia's end of the deal by announcing at a
United Nations summit that the helicopter crash that killed Presidents Warner and Daoud was due to mechanical failure.
Abdul Qadir G'ulom Played by
Mohammad Bakri, General '''Abdul Qadir G'ulom''' is the Vice President (and later President) of Afghanistan. Known to be an aggressive, strongman leader, G'ulom's first act as president is to publicly blame Haissam Haqqani for the deaths of Presidents Warner and Daoud, then round up hundreds of Taliban prisoners in a stadium and threaten their execution unless Haqqani turns himself in. He persuades the inexperienced new U.S. President Benjamin Hayes into siding with his course of action. Once Haqqani turns himself in to American authorities, G'ulom arranges for a speedy trial in which Haqqani is sentenced to death, then executed by a firing squad.
Jenna Bragg Played by
Andrea Deck,
Jenna Bragg is a young, novice CIA agent stationed in Kabul. Station chief Mike Dunne has her shadow Carrie, who he suspects of being a Russian asset. Jenna forms a bond with Carrie during her tenure in Kabul despite her suspicions about Carrie's allegiance. While searching for the flight recorder from President Warner's helicopter, Carrie has Jenna disclose the location of a safehouse used by CIA operatives hunting Carrie and Yevgeny Gromov, lying to Jenna that she plans to turn herself in. She instead has Yevgeny arrange the operatives' arrest. Jenna, feeling betrayed, nonetheless implores Carrie not to disclose her aiding and abetting of Carrie's evasion of the CIA. When the American and Pakistani governments negotiate the operatives' release, Jenna travels to the Pakistan border to greet the soldiers. However, Jalal Haqqani sends one of his lieutenants to carry out a suicide bombing at the border, killing all the prisoners and injuring Jenna. Jenna returns to the U.S. to testify against Carrie in an FBI investigation, but relents and instead agrees to help Carrie track down Saul's Russian asset (whose identity the Russians are willing to trade for the flight recorder). After procuring a crucial lead for Carrie, Jenna decides to quit the CIA, disillusioned with the job for what it demands of her.
Mike Dunne Played by Cliff Chamberlain,
Mike Dunne is the CIA's station chief in Kabul during peace talks between the U.S. and Afghanistan. He is deeply suspicious of Carrie, who he believes may have been turned by the Russians. His suspicions are seemingly corroborated when Carrie lies about the contents of a discussion she had with Yevgeny Gromov out of the CIA's listening range. Carrie later turns herself in at the Kabul station, and Mike has her detained to an interrogation room before handing off the investigation to the FBI.
Jalal Haqqani Played by Elham Ehsas,
Jalal Haqqani is the last living son of Haissam Haqqani. Surrounded by war during his upbringing, Jalal is a firm believer in the Taliban's cause, and staunchly opposes his father's plans to broker peace with the U.S. After his father exiles him for conspiring with the ISI, Jalal is found and nursed back to health by ISI director-general Tasneem Qureishi. When the elder Haqqani is wrongly sentenced to death for causing the helicopter crash that killed Presidents Warner and Daoud, Jalal takes Max Piotrowski as a hostage to negotiate his father's release. When his father is executed, Jalal kills Max and takes control of the Taliban himself, falsely claiming credit for bringing down the helicopters and using his inflated credibility to significantly bolster the ranks of the Taliban. Tasneem attempts to persuade Jalal to go into hiding, but reverses course and decides to protect him after witnessing how large the Taliban has grown under his leadership. Jalal frequently clashes with Balach, one of his father's trusted lieutenants who advised him regarding peace in the region. He eventually punishes Balach by forcing him to carry out a suicide bombing at the Afghanistan-Pakistan border where a number of CIA operatives are being released from custody.
Balach Played by Seear Kohi,
Balach is one of Haissam Haqqani's most trusted lieutenants, and plays a key role in convincing him to seek an end to the war in Afghanistan. After Haqqani is executed by Afghan authorities, his son Jalal takes over the Taliban. The younger Haqqani's warmongering ways frequently put him at odds with Balach, who begrudgingly follows Balach's orders. Jalal eventually forces Balach to carry out a suicide attack on the Americans, threatening to murder his family if he does not comply. Balach reluctantly drives to the Afghanistan-Pakistan border where a number of CIA operatives are being released from custody, and detonates a bomb rigged to his car, killing all the operatives as well as himself.
Vanessa Kroll Played by
Karen Pittman,
Vanessa Kroll is an FBI agent leading the task force investigating the death of President Warner. She arrives with a team in Kabul to survey the CIA station, and places Carrie under arrest when she turns herself in but refuses to cooperate with the investigation.
Benjamin Hayes Played by
Sam Trammell,
Benjamin Hayes is the Vice President of the United States under Ralph Warner, having been selected from the opposing party in a show of bipartisanship. Hayes inherits the presidency following Warner's death in a helicopter crash. Impulsive and inexperienced, Hayes frequently makes decisions based on what would earn him the most political capital, which allows him to be easily manipulated. When Afghan President Abdul Qadir G'ulom rounds up hundreds of Taliban prisoners in an attempt to draw out Haissam Haqqani, White House Chief of Staff David Wellington advises Hayes to talk down G'ulom. However, G'ulom manipulates the inexperienced Hayes into siding with his aggressive course of action. Hayes then hires John Zabel as his advisor on Afghanistan, but Zabel, eager to send the U.S. into another war in the Middle East, uses a leaked video of Jalal Haqqani claiming responsibility for President Warner's death to persuade Hayes into antagonizing Pakistan. The two countries reach the brink of war until it is proven that the President's helicopter crashed due to mechanical failure, forcing Hayes to stand down.
John Zabel Played by
Hugh Dancy,
John Zabel is President Hayes' foreign policy advisor on Afghanistan, brought in following the death of President Warner. Despite his lack of experience in the military, Zabel is a brash and ardent advocate for war, and works to manipulate Hayes into escalating tensions with the Pakistan government in hopes of launching an invasion in the area. His plans are eventually thwarted when it is revealed that Warner's helicopter crashed due to a mechanical failure rather than an attack by the Taliban. ==Guest characters==