}
The Youngs •
Crystal Fox as Hanna Young. The take-charge, self-assured, demeaning, crooked, unethical and thoughtlessly destructive
patriarch of the Cryer family, and a Savannah
criminal courts judge who has his eyes set on becoming
Governor of
Georgia. A major reason for Jim's rising to where he's at professionally and socioeconomically is because of his wife Katheryn's family. Although a kind-hearted and sensitive man at heart, Jim's urges, vices, greed, and self-preservation often get the better of him and cause him to act rashly, disloyally, destructively inconsiderately, and even abusively as far as his rank and power. Given his position as a wealthy judge in high society, Jim has certain dirty measures at his disposal from which to gain the upper hand on anyone that crosses him, to which he's never above resorting to. •
Reneé Lawless as Katheryn Cryer (née Hargrave). Katheryn is Jim's deeply warm, sensitive, caring but
passive-aggressive wife. Katheryn often displays her anger, hatred, bitterness, and stress in a suppressed but still very detectable fashion. She is filled with melancholy, rancor, and sullen indignation primarily as a result of the various trials and tribulations brought upon her as it relates to her family, particularly her cheating husband to which she regularly spews vitriol. •
Aaron O'Connell as Wyatt Cryer. Very obdurate, Veronica more than proved to be set in her
anti-gay and diabolic ways. It's later learned by the series end that the character was involved with a man (Jeffrey's biological father according to Veronica) who had
come out of the closet during their relationship, providing
backstory elements to her behaviors. Professionally, Veronica is portrayed as an insurmountable attorney with a knack for winning legal cases. •
Gavin Houston as Jeffery Harrington.
Other characters •
Eva Tamargo as Celine Gonzales (Main, Seasons 1–2, 7; Recurring Season 8). Celine is a former maid in the Cryer home and
ex-friend of Hanna. She was originally depicted as a casual, relaxed woman, often fostering a friendly, informal atmosphere. She was also depicted as savvy, well-informed and gossipy, given to divulging useful inside information about life at the Cryers' to Hanna. However, as time passed on and Hanna appeared to become closer to Katheryn and gain favor within the Cryer household, Celine's demeanor changed: she began to take on more jealous, bullying and antagonistic behaviors, largely towards Hanna and later towards Katheryn as well. To boot, it is later learned that Celine is one of Jim's many ex-mistresses, one who slept around with Jim before being disdainfully dismissed by him, much to Celine's dismay. After several seasons of absence, Celine reappears with claims to a son of hers belonging to Jim, regularly enjoining him to assist her with
child support. These efforts have all been disdainfully dismissed by Jim. •
Shari Headley as
D.A. Jennifer Sallison (Season 3; recurring seasons 1–2). The district attorney who has been gunning for the Cryers and the Harringtons for some time. After a striking a deal with Wyatt for immunity for both him and Jeffery at the end of Season 3, she finally manages to arrest the Cryer and Harrington families for tampering with evidence and obstruction of justice. She also succeeds in getting Wyatt's inheritance for him, which is sure to anger his parents. In the Season 3 finale, Katheryn pulls out a gun and fatally shoots Jennifer multiple times, thus killing her. It turns out that Jennifer's body was being disposed of by the Malone family while being wrapped in plastic wrap with a note that says her name and "Cryer Victim". Her body was left at a television station by the Malone's as a way for their head boss and grandmother, Mama Rose, to pressure Jim even harder into tracking down War. •
Allison McAtee as Margaret "Maggie" Day (Season 3; recurring Seasons 1–2). A campaign manager hired by Jim's staff, who has feelings for David. She and her assistant, Landon (who is attracted to David's son Jeffrey), manage to get David released and he learns of Veronica's infidelity. In the mid-season 4 premiere, she was shot multiple times in the stomach by a gunman, being mistaken as Veronica, whom Jim intended to be killed. David witnesses her and the gunman's bodies covered in sheets at the crime scene of the shooting and mistakes her as Veronica. •
Danielle Deadwyler as LaQuita "Quita" Maxwell (Season 3; Guest in Seasons 2, 7; recurring Season 4). Quincy's ill-tempered sister who had been watching over Quincy's son before Benny rescued him. She acts as an antagonist throughout the series' run towards several characters, particularly Candace due to the mysterious absence of her brother Quincy. •
Nicholas James as Justin Lewis (Main, Seasons 3–7; Recurring, season 8). A police officer, who comes to Candace's house, minutes after Quincy had been stabbed, to check out a noise complaint from his mother, Candace's neighbor. Deeply in the closet, he makes it a habit of sexually assaulting men in the back of his squad car. After getting seduced by Jeffrey, they form a purely sexual relationship much to the disgust of Veronica. •
Antoinette Robertson as Melissa Wilson (Main, Season 5; Recurring, Seasons 1–4). A young lady who Veronica arranges to marry Jeffery. Due to her father dying of cancer and her family's inability to afford his treatment, she goes along with this knowing that her potential husband is gay. Due to Veronica's abuse and Jeffrey's obvious uninterest, she begins a brief affair with Benny Young. • Jon Chaffin as Warrick "Warlock/War" Lewis (Season 4; Guest in Season 2, 8; recurring seasons 3, 5). A friend of Candace, who helps extort money from Jim, but learns that Candace lied about the amount. • Presilah Nunez as Erica (Seasons 3–5; guest in season 2, 8). A woman who sold Benny her boyfriend's car after a bad break-up. It turned out that she and Candace were working together as good friends. She aided Candace in interrogating Alliyah Delong and Landon after Oscar stole Candace's money. Beginning a new mark, she becomes a love interest to David (originally as a set-up), igniting a feud between her and his wife Veronica. •
Brock Yurich as Bill Madison (Main, Seasons 7–8; Recurring, Seasons 5–6). A nurse who works at the hospital where David was severely injured. He is also Jeffery's old friend since elementary school. Madison has witnessed Jeffery get into fights with an old bully, Bobby Safeman who was also tormenting him as well. Madison is also openly gay and has feelings for Jeffery.
Recurring characters • Patrick Faucette as Tony Watson (Seasons 1–2). Tony is Benny's estranged father whom he doesn't find out is his father until it is accidentally revealed by his mom. Through Hanna's church, Benny knew of him as "Mr. Watson" before finding out his relation to him. Hanna had a
one-night-stand with Tony, which resulted in her pregnancy with Benny. In the second season, Tony tries to get Benny taken off life support, so that he could have his kidneys, not showing any sincere feelings of remorse and compassion for his son's well-being. In the third season, when Hanna reveals to Benny that Tony tried to take him off life support, Benny had Tony to come over and explain why. Tony, feeling guilty, says he didn't want his son to have to worry about not being able to walk and suffering through pain. • Susie Abromeit as Laura (Season 1). Laura is Wyatt's longtime girlfriend, who he had not seen since rehab. When she and Wyatt reunites, Jeffery becomes jealous and tries to keep her away, and lies to Wyatt, telling him she's dating someone else, whom she hasn't seen since highschool. Once Jeffery is revealed to Wyatt by Laura, Laura calls out Jeffery for his behavior calling him a mean, cruel person. • Medina Islam as Quincy Maxwell (Seasons 1–2; Guest in Seasons 3, 8). Quincy is one of the main antagonists of the Young family. He had once had a romantic relationship with Candace, with whom he share a child, Quincy Delon "Q" Young Jr. •
Robert Pralgo as Professor Cannon (Seasons 1; Guest in Season 2), Candace and Amanda's law professor. • Kristian Kordula as Landon (Season 1–present), a guy who works at the campaign office and has feelings for Jeffery • Leith Burke as Byron (Season 1), a detective • Robert Crayton as Gansta henchman of known Drug Dealer War. • Dasha Chadwick as Darlene (Season 1), an old friend and classmate of Benny's. She works at the county hospital where Benny was placed in by Katheryn. • Jerome Brooks as Michael (Seasons 1–2; Guest in Season 3), Lizzie's grandfather • Gerald Celasco as Carlos (Seasons 1–2), Jim Cryer's estranged son • Philip Boyd as Brandon Wallace / "Oscar Aiden"' (Philip Boyd) (Seasons 2–5, Guest Season 8). Oscar is a strange guy who Candace notices spotting her at the Sarandon Hotel. He shows interest in Candace and wants to get to know her, but she continues to reject him, until he reveals his life story to her, telling her about his wife's death and how after her death, he would sleep with any woman, to keep from mourning. After this, him and Candace start to fall in love with each other. • Maree Cheatham as Pearl (Season 3–present), Justin's mother and Candace's nosy neighbor • Yaani King as Alliyah Delong (Seasons 2–3), a social worker for Child welfare. She helps Hanna get custody of Quincy Jr. •
Quincy Brown as Daylon (Seasons 1–3), a friend of Quita who helps her try to track down Quincy • Fang Du as George (Season 5–present), a
District attorney who takes it upon himself to investigate Jennifer Sallison's murder. His main suspects is the Cryers. •
Rome Flynn as RK (Season 5–6), a friend of Candace who works at the bar of the Artesian Hotel • Quin Walters as Gia (Season 5), a prostitute who is struggling to make a living • Keith Burke as Derrick (Season 5–present), a handyman who works for Katheryn and quickly develops romantic feelings for Hanna •
Geovanni Gopradi as Broderick (Season 5–present), a manager of the Artesian Hotel • Marc Cumpton as Rocky (Season 4–present), a bartender at the Artesian Hotel •
Bree Condon as Sarah (Season 5–present), a prosecutor who works under George in the Jennifer Sallison's murder case • Morgan Findlay as Akil (Season 7-present), one of Jim Cryer's clients • Kwajalyn Brown as News Reporter (Seasons 1, 2 and 5), reporter who announces major news of the day ==Cast diversity==