Every season of American Horror Story has a different theme, and as a result, also has a different cast.
Cocreator Ryan Murphy has his favorite actors — Sarah Paulson, Evan Peters, Jessica Lange and Angela Bassett, to name a few — which means the same performers often appear across seasons as different characters.
There are also the times when one actor will play multiple roles during one season. Paulson, for example, played Cordelia Goode, Billie Dean Howard and Wilhemina Venable over the course of Apocalypse‘s 10 episodes. It’s a lot for fans to keep up with, especially now that seasons have started to crossover and the show has spawned a spinoff called American Horror Stories.
Paulson and Peters are the show’s biggest mainstays, having appeared in every season except 1984 (season 9). In 2021, the Carol actress admitted that she regrets saying “yes” to Roanoke (season 6), arguably the show’s weakest season.
“I just don’t care about this season at all,” the American Crime Story alum told The Hollywood Reporter. “I was so underwhelmed by the whole experience because I felt like I had entered into a new place inside of myself in terms of what I thought possible, in terms of what I might be willing to see if I can do. … As much as it’s my home, and I’ve loved it always, it was the first time I felt like I wish I could have gone to Ryan and said, ‘Please let me sit this one out.’”
Peters, who also appeared in the Murphy-produced show Pose, sat out 1984 because he was still recovering from his role in Cult (season 6). “He really suffered while making it,” the Glee cocreator told Entertainment Weekly in 2019. “It took him, I don’t know … two years to recover? … It got under his skin in a really hard, long way. I loved him in it.”
In 2021, both Paulson and Peters made their glorious return to AHS in Double Feature, the show’s 10th season. Few details were initially revealed about the new episodes, but returning cast members also included Frances Conroy, Billie Lourd, Leslie Grossman, Adina Porter, Finn Wittrock, Lily Rabe, Denis O’Hare and Angelica Ross.
“We’re working on an idea for season 10 that I think people will love because it’s about reuniting fan-favorite actors to come back — because it might be our last season,” Murphy told Deadline in 2019. “It’s the last season we have contracted. So, I’ve been quietly reaching out to various people. Some people I haven’t reached out to yet because I was like, ‘Do I have a role for them?’ So far, everybody I reached out to said, ‘Yes,’ so that’s been great.”
Keep scrolling for a guide to who’s played which characters on American Horror Story:
While she’s only appeared in season 1, Murder House, Connie Britton’s Vivien Harmon is a fan favorite. (She later reprised the role in an episode of Apocalypse.) Courtesy of FX
After making his debut as a series regular in season 1 as Dr. Ben Harmon, Dylan McDermott went on to appear in five episodes of season 2, Asylum, as Johnny Morgan. He also reprised the role of Dr. Ben Harmon in Apocalypse and appeared in 1984. In the AHS spinoff American Horror Stories, he played Ben again in the "Game Over" episode, in which a character creates a video game called Escape From Murder House. Courtesy of FX
Peters has been in all but one season of American Horror Story, playing the following characters: Tate Langdon in Murder House, Kit Walker in Asylum, Kyle Spencer in Coven, Jimmy Darling in Freak Show, James Patrick March in Hotel, Edward Phillippe Mott and Rory Monahan in Roanoke, Kai Anderson in Cult and four different characters, including Tate and James Patrick March, in Apocalypse. He's set to return for Double Feature. In 2021's Double Feature, he played murderous author Austin Sommers. Courtesy of FX
In Coven, Kathy Bates made her first appearance as Delphine LaLaurie. She went on to appear as Ethel Darling in Freak Show, Iris in Hotel, and The Butcher and Agnes Mary Winstead in Roanoke. She did not appear in Cult but returned as Ms. Meade in Apocalypse. Courtesy of FX
Paulson has also appeared in all but one season of American Horror Story, playing multiple characters in multiple seasons. After appearing briefly as Billie Dean Howard in Murder House, she went on to be a regular in every season, playing the following: Lana Winters in Asylum; Cordelia Foxx in Coven; Bette and Dot Tattler in Freak Show; Sally McKenna and Billie Dean Howard in Hotel; Shelby Miller, Audrey Tindall and Lana Winters in Roanoke; Ally Mayfair-Richards and Susan Atkins in Cult; and Cordelia, Billie Dean Howard and Venable in Apocalypse. For Double Feature, Paulson donned another set of fake teeth as a character named Tuberculosis Karen. Courtesy of FX
Making her debut in Murder House, Lange led seasons 1 through 4 before hanging up her hat. She played Constance Langdon in Murder House, Sister Jude Martin in Asylum, Fiona Goode in Coven, and Elsa Mars in Freak Show. While she left for seasons 5 through 7, she returned as Constance in Apocalypse. Courtesy of FX
After starring as Violet Harmon in the first season of American Horror Story, Taissa Farmiga has only appeared in Coven as Zoe Benson and briefly in Roanoke as Sophie Green. She reprised the roles of Violet and Zoe in Apocalypse. Courtesy of FX
Bassett made her American Horror Story debut as Marie Laveau in Coven. She then went to appear as Desiree Dupree in Freak Show, Ramona Royale in Hotel, and both Lee Harris and Monet Tumusiime in Roanoke. She also reprised the role of Marie Laveau in Apocalypse. Courtesy of FX
When she made her debut in Coven as Madison Montgomery, Emma Roberts became an American Horror Story favorite. She took on the role of Maggie Esmeralda in Freak Show and Serena Belinda in Cult. She reprised her role as Madison in Apocalypse and starred as Brooke Thompson in 1984. Courtesy of FX
Never afraid to take on a daring role, Conroy made her debut in season 1 as recurring cast member Moira O’Hara. She landed a recurring role again in Asylum as Shachath. She was brought on as a series regular as Myrtle Snow in Coven, and Gloria Mott in Freak Show. She made a guest appearance in Roanoke as Mama Polk, and Cult as Bebe Babbitt. She returned as Myrtle and Moira in Apocalypse and Belle Noir in Double Feature. Courtesy of FX
O'Hare was part of the original cast of Murder House, taking on the role of Larry Harvey. He did not appear in season 2 but went on to appear in the next four consecutive seasons: He played Spalding in Coven; Stanley in Freak Show; Liz Taylor in Hotel; and Dr. Elias Cunningham and William van Henderson in Roanoke. After playing Holden Vaughn in Double Feature, O'Hare made his American Horror Stories debut in 2022, appearing in the first episode of season 2. Courtesy of FX
Another Ryan Murphy regular, Rabe began as a guest star in Murder House as Nora Montgomery. With the exception of Cult, she has starred in every season: In Asylum, she played Sister Mary Eunice McKee; in Coven, Misty Day; in Freak Show, Sister Mary Eunice McKee; in Hotel, Aileen Wuornos; and in Roanoke, Shelby Miller. Rabe also played Misty in Apocalypse and returned for 1984 as Lavinia Richter. In Double Feature, she played Doris, the unfortunate wife of an overambitious screenwriter. Courtesy of FX
Queenie forever! Gabourey Sibide played Queenie in Coven and Hotel, and brought her back for Apocalypse. She also appeared briefly in Freak Show as Regina Ross and has a role lined up in season 2 of American Horror Stories. Courtesy of FX
Making his first appearance in Freak Show, Finn Wittrock scared everyone as Dandy Mott. He went on to appear as Tristan Duffy and Rudolph Valentino in Hotel, Jether Polk in Roanoke and Bobby Richter in 1984. In Double Feature, Wittrock played a vampiric writer named Henry. Courtesy of FX
The actor, a close friend of Murphy’s, appeared as Andy in Freak Show and Donovan in Hotel. In the first two episodes of American Horror Stories, Bomer played Michael, who moves into the infamous Murder House sometime after the events of season 1. Courtesy of FX
After making his debut as Will Drake in Hotel, Jackson played Sidney Aaron James in Roanoke and Dr. Rudy Vincent in Cult. He also appeared in Apocalypse as John Henry Moore. Courtesy of FX
Following Scream Queens, Lourd made her AHS debut as Winter Anderson and Linda Kasabian in Cult. She played Mallory in Apocalypse and Montana Duke in 1984. She also appeared in the "BA'AL" episode of American Horror Stories and 2021's Double Feature. Courtesy of FX
Appearing as Chad Warwick, a guest star on Murder House, Zachary Quinto went on to play the horrifying Dr. Oliver Thredson in Asylum. Courtesy of FX
The actress played Sally Freeman in Murder House, then did not appear again until Roanoke, taking on the role of Lee Harris. She played Beverly Hope in Cult, Dinah Stevens in Apocalypse and Chief Burleson in Double Feature. Courtesy of FX
Appearing as a twisted version of herself in Coven, Nicks returned again in Apocalypse. Courtesy of FX
The actress joined the AHS universe in Cult and returned for Apocalypse and 1984. She's also slated to return for Double Feature. In Double Feature, Grossman appeared as the Hollywood agent Ursula, who helped Wittrock's Henry carry out his nefarious deeds. KIswarienko/20thCenturyFox/Kobal/Shutterstock
The American Crime Story alum played a pivotal role in Apocalypse, then returned to the fold for 1984 as Xavier Plympton, an aerobics instructor who gets a summer job at Camp Redwood. In 2021, he appeared as Stan in the "Feral" episode of spinoff American Horror Stories, returning to the spinoff for season 2 the following year. 20th Century Fox/Kobal/Shutterstock
The Big Sky star terrified viewers as Twisty the Clown in Freak Show and later reprised the role in Cult. He also appeared in Apocalypse and played real-life serial killer John Wayne Gacy in Cult. In the "Drive In" episode of American Horror Stories, he starred as Larry Bitterman, the director of an extremely violent (fictional) movie called Rabbit Rabbit. FX Networks/YouTube
The Grammy winner made her AHS debut in season 5 as the Countess in Hotel, and returned to season 6 as a witch named Scáthach. Prashant Gupta/Fx/Kobal/Shutterstock
The Hunger Games alum debuted in Freak Show as Edward Mordrake, a ghost who terrorizes the carnival cast on Halloween. He later returned for Hotel and Roanoke. Frank Ockenfels/Fx/Kobal/Shutterstock
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