Death by Lightning season 1 cast and characters: Meet the stars behind the series and the roles they play

Death by Lightning season 1 on Netflix revisits the story of President James A. Garfield, tracing his unexpected rise to power, his reform-driven presidency, and his assassination in 1881. The four-part limited series examines a pivotal period in U.S. history marked by political change and personal ambition.

Created by Mike Makowsky and produced by David Benioff and D.B. Weiss, the show reconstructs Garfield’s brief presidency and the circumstances surrounding his death. Through its historical focus, Death by Lightning season 1 explores how politics, loyalty, and power intersected during a transformative era that shaped the nation’s path toward modernization and civil service reform.

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Who plays who in Death by Lightning season 1?

Michael Shannon as President James A. Garfield

Michael Shannon (Image via Getty)

Shannon portrays Garfield, the humble congressman who unexpectedly rises to the presidency before his term is cut short by tragedy. The two-time Oscar nominee is known for his performances in Revolutionary Road, Nocturnal Animals, The Shape of Water, and Boardwalk Empire.

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Matthew Macfadyen as Charles Guiteau

Matthew Macfadyen (Image via Getty)

Macfadyen takes on the role of Garfield’s assassin, Charles Guiteau. He is an unstable political hopeful who becomes obsessed with the president.

The Succession star, who earned two Primetime Emmy Awards for his role as Tom Wambsgans, channels Guiteau’s delusions. His past projects include Pride & Prejudice, Ripper Street, and Anna Karenina.

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Betty Gilpin as First Lady Lucretia “Crete” Garfield

Betty Gilpin (Image via Getty)

Betty Gilpin portrays the intelligent and steadfast First Lady, who supports her husband amid his rapid political ascent and subsequent turmoil. Gilpin is known for her roles in GLOW and Mrs. Davis.

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Nick Offerman as Vice President Chester A. Arthur

Nick Offerman (Image via Getty)

Offerman, best known for Parks and Recreation and The Last of Us, portrays Chester Arthur, Garfield’s political rival turned vice president. His arc from party loyalist to unexpected reformer mirrors the moral shifts of the era.

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Bradley Whitford as Senator James Blaine

Bradley Whitford (Image via Getty)

Bradley Whitford, a familiar face from The West Wing and The Handmaid’s Tale, plays Senator Blaine, Garfield’s political ally and former rival. Blaine’s influence shapes much of the power play surrounding the presidency.

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Shea Whigham as Senator Roscoe Conkling

Shea Whigham (Image via Getty)

Shea Whigham portrays Conkling, the powerful senator and leader of the Republican “Stalwarts.” He is known for Boardwalk Empire and American Hustle.

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Vondie Curtis-Hall as Frederick Douglass

Vondie Curtis-Hall (Image via Getty)

Curtis-Hall plays the renowned abolitionist Frederick Douglass, whose presence adds depth to the political landscape of Death by Lightning season 1. As a historical figure and moral compass, Douglass supports Garfield’s campaign for reform. Curtis-Hall is known for his roles in Daredevil and Justified: City Primeval.

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Supporting and Guest Cast

• Barry Shabaka Henley as Senator Blanche Bruce
• Tuppence Middleton as Kate Chase Sprague
• Kyle Soller as Robert Todd Lincoln
• Željko Ivanek as Dr. Bliss
• Shaun Parkes as Dr. Charles Purvis
• Laura Marcus as Mollie Garfield
• Paula Malcomson as Franny Scoville
• Ben Miles as George Scoville
• Archie Fisher as Joe Brown

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What is Death by Lightning season 1 all about?

Death by Lightning season 1 retells the true story of President James A. Garfield’s short presidency and the events leading to his assassination in 1881. The series follows the political conflict between Garfield and his assassin, Charles Guiteau, highlighting themes of power, reform, and ambition in post–Civil War America.

Garfield’s campaign against government corruption and his efforts to reform the spoils system form the series’ central narrative. Guiteau’s fixation on Garfield shows how personal ambition and instability influence history.

Created by Mike Makowsky, the series adapts Destiny of the Republic by Candice Millard. Its title references Garfield’s remark: “Assassination can be no more guarded against than death by lightning.” The show also depicts the medical efforts surrounding Garfield’s final days, featuring figures such as Alexander Graham Bell and Dr. Bliss.

Set during the Gilded Age, Death by Lightning season 1 presents a factual account of political reform, public service, and the cost of leadership.

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Death by Lightning season 1 is now streaming exclusively on Netflix.

Edited by Bea Melisse Ibañez