Main •
Poppy Montgomery as Detective Carrie Wells, an enigmatic former Syracuse police detective. Carrie has hyperthymesia, a rare medical condition that gives her the ability to visually remember everything she has seen or heard, which is helpful to investigations she conducts with her team. When she was eight years old, her older sister Rachel was murdered, which drove her to become a cop. She graduated from South Syracuse Prep in 1993, and in high school her nickname was "Scary Carrie". From 1997 to 2002, she worked for the Syracuse Police Department (she became a detective in 1999), but after her sister's murder investigation was shut down, Carrie wanted a new life and moved to New York City. Since then, Carrie has tried to put her past behind her, but in the pilot, she joined the New York City Police Department's 117th Precinct in Queens when her former lover and detective partner, Detective Al Burns, asks her for help with solving a case. The move allows her to try to find out the one thing she has been unable to remember: the man that was responsible for her sister's murder. In season two, she and Al transfer to the Major Crimes Section. In "Past Tense" (season 2, episode 5), Carrie is nominated by Eliot Delson for the
NYPD Medal for Valor for talking down and apprehending an
Afghanistan War veteran with post-traumatic stress disorder. In "Blast from the Past" (season 4, episode 1), Carrie is mentioned as having an unprecedented 100% case closure rating thanks to her hyperthymesia. In the same episode, it is revealed that after leaving Syracuse, she went to
Daytona Beach, Florida where she spent six weeks married to Eddie Martin (
Skeet Ulrich), a Daytona Beach police officer, whom she never officially divorced until now. •
Dylan Walsh as Lieutenant Al Burns, the Commander of the 117th Precinct's Detective Squad. He was also Carrie's partner and lover when she worked at the Syracuse Police Department. After he comes to her for help, Carrie and Al decide to work together once again to solve various cases. Although no longer in a relationship, they are still good friends, and Al is very protective of Carrie. In season 2, he and Carrie transfer to the Major Crimes Section. In "Behind the Beat" (season 4, episode 3), it is mentioned that Al attended
Ithaca College, where he learned how to play jazz trombone. As seen in "With Honor" (season 1, episode 5), Al is a recipient of the US Flag Bar,
NYPD Meritorious Police Duty, NYPD Excellent Police Duty, and NYPD Unit Citation. •
Michael Gaston as Detective Mike Costello (season 1), another one of Carrie and Al's co-workers at the 117th Precinct and Al's right-hand man. •
Kevin Rankin as Detective Roe Sanders (season 1), a junior detective who is one of Carrie and Al's co-workers at the 117th Precinct. He tends to make good-natured jokes about Carrie's ability and he is fond of a female techno-geek who aids the group with their cases. Roe also tends to have doubts about most cases. •
Daya Vaidya as Detective Nina Inara (season 1), another one of Carrie and Al's co-workers at the 117th Precinct, Nina is a sassy, street-smart cop. •
Jane Curtin as Dr. Joanne Webster (seasons 1–3), the gifted but crusty Chief Medical Examiner of New York •
Dallas Roberts as Eliot Delson (main seasons 2–3, guest season 4), Special Deputy to the
Mayor of New York City and the new boss of the Major Crimes Section of the NYPD •
James Hiroyuki Liao as Detective Jay Lee (seasons 2–4), a former decorated FBI agent, who begins working for the Major Crimes Section of NYPD •
E. J. Bonilla as Detective "Denny" Padilla (season 4), a young detective who has a penchant for Carrie •
Alani "La La" Anthony as Dr. Delina Michaels (season 4), the new medical examiner •
Kathy Najimy as Captain Sandra Russo (season 4), the new captain of the Major Crimes Section of the NYPD
Recurring •
Deanna Dunagan as Alice Wells, Carrie's mother, who has early-onset Alzheimer's disease and is living at a recovery home •
Britt Lower as Tanya Sitkowsky, a technology expert who works with the group •
Omar Metwally as ADA Adam Gilroy, a persistent assistant DA who is unaware that Carrie has hyperthymesia; he has assisted the squad with some cases ==Production==