Who Played in Knives Out: A Complete Cast Guide

Knives Out features an ensemble cast led by Daniel Craig as private detective Benoit Blanc, with Janelle Monáe as maid Purnell, Ana de Armas as detective Marta Cabrera, and Chris Evans as former filmmaker Ransom Drysdale. The mystery brings wealthy family members and staff into focus, supported by Michael Shannon, Don Johnson, Jamie Lee Curtis, Lakeith Stanfield, Kathryn Hahn, and Jeffrey Wright. Below is a breakdown of main cast, characters, and crediting details that remain accurate across releases and streaming availability.

Lead Cast and Character Roles

The center of the film is the intersecting web of the Thrombey family and the staff who serve them, anchored by Blanc. Each principal actor aligns with a narrative function, from investigator to insider. These roles scale in screen time and narrative weight, which shapes how often audiences see them across the film’s investigation.

Key Protagonists and Investigators

• Daniel Craig as Benoit Blanc — the linguistically sharp private detective hired to investigate Harlan’s death.
• Janelle Monáe as Purnell — the meticulous housekeeper whose note-taking becomes a clue.
• Ana de Armas as Marta Cabrera — the nurse and Harlan’s companion, whose moral decisions drive much of the plot.

Family Members and Inheritors

• Chris Evans as Ransom Drysdale — the filmmaker and estranged grandson perceived as self-absorbed.
• Jamie Lee Curtis as Linda Drysdale — the family lawyer and longtime executor.
• Michael Shannon as Jay Arondekar — the husband of Linda Drysdale and a medical equipment executive.
• Don Johnson as Enzo Drysdale — the volatile patriarch, father of Linda, with a checkered past.

Extended Cast and Supporting Roles

• Jeffrey Wright as Wadih — the family butler and longest-tenured staff member.
• Lakeith Stanfield as Jacob Thrombey — the brother of Harlan Thrombey (victim).
• Kathryn Hahn as Helen Brand — the marriage counselor and Jacob’s wife.
• Edi Patterson as Fran — the assistant and co-conspirator within the Drysdale firm.

Actor Credits and Character Names

Screen credit order and billing position can differ from narrative importance, and the order below reflects common recognition while mapping each actor to a specific role within Harlan Thrombey’s household and the investigation. Accurate credits matter for downstream discovery, from casting research to legal or estate documentation.

Principal Cast Table

Notes on Billing and Availability

While some actors appear briefly in key scenes, the listed cast above represents principal performers credited for the majority of detective, familial, and service roles. Promotions and streaming front covers sometimes elevate certain names, but the defined roles remain consistent across theatrical, Blu-ray, and streaming versions. If you’re tracing a specific scene or dialogue attribution, cross-referencing the table with timestamped credits will help confirm identity and context amid cast overlap.