Will Trent is the sort of crime drama that creeps up on you in the best way. In three seasons, it has captured the hearts and attention of audiences with its killer storylines, incredibly memorable characters, and top-notch performances from the cast. The series, based on Karin Slaughter’s best-selling book series, follows Special Agent Will Trent as he navigates high-stakes cases, personal demons, and haunting remnants of his past.
Leading the cast is Ramon Rodriguez, who brings captivating gravitas to the title character. On television or in a film, Rodriguez has the ability to bring any character to life exceptionally, and Will Trent is no exception. He’s supported by a talented cast ,which includes Erika Christensen as Angie Polaski, Will’s love interest; Iantha Richardson as Faith Mitchell, his partner in the force; and Jake McLaughlin as Michael Ormewood. Together, they deliver heart, tension, and precisely the right edge to a show that has us returning for more.
Ramon Rodriguez as Will Trent
Ramon Rodriguez plays Wilbur “Will” Trent, a Georgia Bureau of Investigation (GBI) agent. Spendinghis formative years in foster care and battling dyslexia has significantly shaped how he sees the world. With a uniquely retentive memory and an ability to visualize real-life situations, Will became famous as an agent, particularly thanks to his ability to solve cases that seem impossible, Despite his high success rate, he prefers to work alone in order to keep his dyslexia a secret, invariably making him the least favorite amongst his colleagues. Rodriguez plays every shade of Will with a quiet intensity and vulnerability that makes the character both complex and deeply relatable.
As an actor, Rodriguez has proven time and again that he is brilliant in any given role. He made his screen debut in 2005 with minor roles in films and TV series like Carlito’s Way: Rise to Power, Rescue Me, Law & Order: Special Victims Unit. He also notably played Bakuto in Iron Fist and The Defenders and appeared in Gang Related as Ryan Lopez, a member of the LAPD Gang Task Force. Will Trent, however, remains his most well-known role, and it’s not hard to see why.
Erika Christensen as Angie Polaski
Fans of the show will know Angie as Will’s long-time, on-again, off-again girlfriendand a detective with the Atlanta Police Department. Her relationship with Will dates back to their childhood, having grown up in the same foster home and forming a bond back then. Like Will, she is haunted by demons from her past, quietly struggling with an addiction instigated by childhood trauma.
Angie is played by Erika Christensen, who has been an actress since 1997 with her first role as a supporting actress in Leave It To Beaver. She appeared in several other TV shows for the rest of the decade and by 2000, was featured in the crime drama film Traffic, which became one of the actress’s most notable performances. Christensen also starred How to Rob a Bank (2007), The Tortured (2010), and The Case For Christ (2017). On Will Trent, her performance adds heart, grit, and complexity to Angie’s character.
Iantha Richardson as Faith Mitchell
Faith Mitchell, played by Iantha Richardson, is Will Trent’s partner in the Force. Raised by a family of law enforcement officers, Faith has endurance and grit to match her quick wit. She’s also a teenage mother who had her baby at 14, and she’s worked her way up through a combination of resiliency and determination. Working with Will is no easy task, but she knows that this is a chance for her to prove herself and leave her mark.
As an actress, Richardson’s career started at Fordham University’s The Ailey School. Moving to Los Angeles offered her several opportunities, which further propelled her acting career to where it is now. She is known for playing Tolu Eze in 2019’s TV series Good Trouble and Caroline in 2024’s Don’t Tell Mom the Babysitter’s Dead.
Jake McLaughlin as Michael Ormewood
Michael Ormewood is an experienced, grizzled detective who works with Angie at the APD. A combat-hardened soldier, he returned from an injury and found himself in law enforcement. Raised with the angst-filled, hard-tough cops of the past as his models, Michael now lives that hard reality, though it’s coupled with plenty of personal baggage piled onto his personality.
It goes without saying that Jake McLaughlin’s life is no less intriguing. He’s a U.S. Army veteran who eventually decided to follow his passion for acting. Needless to say, his military background shines through in the roles he’s played over the years. McLaughlin has worked alongside notable names in the industry, including Priyanka Chopra in Quantico and Paul Walter Hauser in Black Bird. Many would agree that, as the vulnerable yet intense Ormewood, he delivered quite an impressive performance.
Sonja Sohn as Amanda Wagner
Amanda Wagner is the tough-as-nails head of GBI — and Will’s boss. She’s sharp, tough, and commanding, but it’s clear she has a soft spot that kicks in whenever the need arises. Working her way up the chain of command from her humble beginnings at Atlanta PD, Amanda’s journey is one of hard work, integrity, and occasional flashes of surprising vulnerability.
The actress behind the role, Sonja Sohn, started out as a spoken-word poet and then moved over to acting. She largely owes her breakthrough to the Indie drama Slam, which made quite a splash when it was released. But she’s also arguably best known for Det. Kima Greggs on The Wire. Having won a number of awards and being forceful to reckon with onscreen, Sohn perfectly embodies the nuances of Amanda Wagner.
Gina Rodriguez as Marion Alba
A new cast addition in Season 3, Marion Alba, adds some major drama — and much-obliged tension — to the show. With her introduction as Will’s new love interest, her presence throws a wrench in the long-brewing Will-Angie relationship. Avid readers of the book might’ve seen it coming, but for TV audiences, Marion’s arrival signals big developments — and a few emotional repercussions along the way.
Gina Rodriguez began acting at the age of 13 and studied theater at Columbia College. She graduated with a BFA and got her start on the TV show Law & Order. Down the line, she appeared on shows like Army Wives and The Mentalist. However, she’s best known for her role as the titular character in Jane the Virgin. In more ways than one, she shows another side to herself on Will Trent — complex, romantic, and stubborn.
Mark-Paul Gosselaar as Paul Campano
Paul Campano is an intricate figure from Will’s history. A fellow ward of the state, Paul emerges in Will’s life at troubled times—his daughter is kidnapped, and Will’s investigation brings their mutual history into the spotlight. His presence adds depth of emotion and moral nuance to Season 1. While his future on the show was uncertain, there’s no doubt that his narrative was crucial to Will Trent’s emotional depth.
Mark-Paul Gosselaar, who plays Paul, will always be remembered by most as Zack Morris on Saved by the Bell. But his credits go far beyond that, with appearances on Mixed-ish, NYPD Blue, Found, and the Saved by the Bell reboot. His role as Paul Campano adds layers and nostalgia to Will Trent’s already impressive cast.
Cora Lu Tran as Nico
Nico is Will’s pet-sitter, but their role in his life is much deeper than that. A convicted addict and suspect with a checkered past of their own, Nico bonds with Will based on empathy, pain, and resilience. Their scenes show a softer, more human side of Will, proving that even the most stoic characters can drop their guard.
Cora Lu Tran has been building their career since the late 2010s, with previous appearances on Annabelles Box and Criminal Minds. They also bagged a role in Paradise as Cha Cha, and while their contribution on Will Trent is minimal, it’s really impactful.
Greg Germann as James Ulster
James Ulster is basically everyone’s worst nightmare in the flesh. A serial killer and a figure from Will’s past life, his return to the series brings past trauma to light and forces Will to confront suppressed pain. Ulster’s manipulative nature and unnerving demeanor make him a dark and compelling addition to the series.
Greg Germann’s screen career spans decades, from Ned & Stacey to his iconic appearance as Richard Fish on Ally McBeal. More recently, he stepped into the shoes of Dr. Tom Koracick on Grey’s Anatomy. His portrayal of Ulster is unsettling, captivating, and unforgettable.
LisaGay Hamilton as Evelyn Mitchell
In Will Trent, Faith’s mother, Evelyn Mitchell, is so much more than just that; she’s a veteran APD captain with a career spanning over 30 years. Perhaps even more important is the fact that she has made her mark on her daughter’s life. While we don’t see much of her, her presence is felt throughout the series, and when she does appear, best believe it’s important.
LisaGay Hamilton is a stage-trained presence, holding degrees from NYU’s Tisch and Juilliard. She’s appeared in more than a handful of shows in her day, and it shows in the way she carries herself. From ER to The Gilded Age, and from The Boogeyman, she brings seriousness and poise to every role — including Evelyn.
Scott Foley as Dr. Seth McDale
Just when Will gets himself a new love interest, someone comes along for Angie, too. Enter Dr. Seth McDale, a handsome ER Doctor. He injects some new emotional energy into the show, and his confidence brings out another side of Angie.
Scott Foley‘s TV career is undeniably impressive, with prominent roles in Felicity, The Unit, and Scandal. He’s also ventured behind the camera, directing the movie Let’s Kill Ward’s Wife. In Will Trent, Foley’s niceness and charm gifts the series a fresh gust of life.
