10 Best Supporting Stars Of ‘Succession’, Ranked

In the series ‘Succession’, power dynamics change swiftly, and it’s the strong ensemble cast that maintains the pace. These characters, including corporate troubleshooters, external investors, in-house legal advisors, and media manipulators, influence every board meeting, secretive text message, and on-air news decision at the family’s media empire. Collectively, they provide the tactical tools that drive the world of the Roys-contracts, financial data, crisis hotlines, and bargaining power.

As a cinephile, I’d like to highlight ten remarkable actors whose characters significantly influence events at Waystar Royco, shaping acquisitions, proxy battles, government investigations, and media scuffles that reshape the company’s destiny. You’ll discover their on-screen personas, the positions they occupy within or around Waystar Royco, and the decisive actions they take that ignite the chain reactions driving the show’s most dramatic plot twists.

Alan Ruck — Connor Roy

In a different wording: Alan Ruck portrays Connor Roy, the eldest sibling of the Roy family, who generally stays away from the company’s operational aspects, yet owns a substantial share. His plotline follows his independent political campaign, his romance with playwright Willa Ferreyra, and his endeavors to leverage family prestige for government-related opportunities, such as seeking diplomatic positions.

Connor’s campaign influences Waystar Royco’s affairs through various channels, such as donations, news coverage, and expectations during election nights on ATN. His decisions have repercussions for the Roy Company’s image, play a role in discussions with influential politicians, and raise concerns about the appearance and potential risks of a family-controlled media empire engaging in national politics.

Fisher Stevens — Hugo Baker

Fisher Stevens takes on the role of Hugo Baker, a skilled communications strategist who navigates market stories during mergers, leadership upheavals, and regulatory crises. He operates within corporate communications under Karolina Novotney, collaborating with investor relations and legal teams to draft statements, key points, and strategic leaks during critical periods.

Hugo’s tasks involve crafting messages based on due diligence results, executive transitions, and potential legal risks. His internal presentations, off-the-record advice, and the timing of public disclosures are utilized to impact stock market reactions, maintain a steady board stance, and establish the company’s viewpoint during merger negotiations.

Dagmara Domińczyk — Karolina Novotney

Dagmara Domińczyk portrays Karolina Novotney, the chief of corporate communications at Waystar Royco. Her responsibilities involve managing press strategies during various crises such as workplace scandals, government investigations, or leadership changes. She also organizes how executives present themselves in public settings, which range from casual earnings-related interviews to important conferences with high stakes.

Karolina’s job duties involve creating legally sound statements, handling access for reporters, and ensuring messaging is consistent with the board’s strategy during mergers and asset sales. Essentially, she juggles various stakeholders – employees, investors, regulatory bodies, and media – to ensure the company retains a strong negotiating position while avoiding any potential disclosure errors.

Peter Friedman — Frank Vernon

Peter Friedman is known by the name Frank Vernon, a seasoned associate who holds the position of vice chair and brings a wealth of historical knowledge from past corporate conflicts. He offers guidance on the technical aspects of voting procedures, committees, and leadership transitions, while also serving as a reliable intermediary between board members and top-level executives.

Frank’s connections with creditors, legal advisors, and other board members are instrumental during proxy fights and takeover attempts as they aid in gathering and securing votes. In times of urgency, he assists in arranging temporary leadership structures, drafts critical board resolutions under tight deadlines, and bolsters communication with investors when unexpected changes might impact market trust.

David Rasche — Karl Muller

As a fellow movie enthusiast, I’d put it this way: In the world of cinema, I’ve come across David Rasche’s captivating portrayal of Karl Muller – the financial maestro at Waystar Royco. He’s got his hands on our company’s finances, managing capital structures, ensuring debt agreements are met, and modeling potential acquisitions. When turbulence hits in terms of revenue fluctuations or lawsuits that might sway our projections, Karl is there to provide insightful risk assessments, keeping us on track.

Karl’s financial analysis plays a crucial role in determining whether to accept or decline external proposals, shaping forecast presentations, and timing strategy adjustments that meet lender requirements and address rating agency sensitivities. During our tech-focused mergers and acquisitions drive, Karl’s valuation expertise on synergies, cash flows, and regulatory situations aids the board in determining transaction prices and organizing disclosure sequences.

Arian Moayed — Stewy Hosseini

Arian Moayed takes on the role of Stewy Hosseini, a seasoned private-equity investor who has been working alongside Kendall Roy for years. His financial contributions to the company, Waystar Royco, grant him decision-making rights. As he increases his ownership, he sometimes collaborates with activist partners to propose changes at the executive level by influencing the board of directors.

In simpler terms, Stewy’s terms and conditions play a crucial role in deciding key battles about the company’s leadership and selling options. By negotiating board seats, trading votes with other shareholders, and forming coalitions, he shapes the company’s fate-whether it fights, restructures, or sells-and defines the terms of these outcomes.

Nicholas Braun — Greg Hirsch

In simpler terms, Nicholas Braun portrays Greg Hirsch, the grandnephew of Logan Roy who joins the company at an entry-level position. He manages to establish connections with key figures in the management team. During investigations or internal changes in power, he acts as a go-between for various departments, legal teams, and top management, thereby disseminating information across these groups.

During the cruises scandal and following government investigation, control over Greg’s custody of documents became crucial as it provided leverage to those handling his records and testimony. This later led him to establish contacts with the GoJo camp, share confidential details, and assist during the ATN election-night operation where corporate objectives and editorial decisions overlapped.

J. Smith-Cameron — Gerri Kellman

In simpler terms, J. Smith-Cameron plays the role of Gerri Kellman, a long-term legal advisor who temporarily takes on senior operational responsibilities during leadership vacancies. Her duties include managing regulatory risks, interacting with the Department of Justice, and creating strategic moves to ensure the company stays compliant while maintaining flexibility.

Gerri provides guidance to up-and-coming executives on what is acceptable by boards and regulators. She creates strategies for crisis management and handles the legal aspects of sales and acquisitions. Her advice determines how the company responds to subpoenas, handles executive misconduct, and adjusts disclosures to ensure significant transactions can withstand examination.

Alexander Skarsgård — Lukas Matsson

Alexander Skarsgård portrays Lukas Matsson, the visionary CEO and founder of tech firm GoJo. His proposal to buy Waystar Royco sets off a series of critical negotiations. He engages directly with members of the Roy family to negotiate price, company structure, and post-acquisition roles. Through public announcements and private promises, he works to keep the deal on track.

Matsson’s agreement necessitates regulatory approval, guarantees for financing, and verification of subscriber data that goes through thorough scrutiny. Internal discussions regarding management positions and integration strategies lead to a board decision approving the sale. Following this, he chooses a local CEO to manage the existing business under GoJo’s control post-acquisition.

Matthew Macfadyen — Tom Wambsgans

Matthew Macfadyen portrays Tom Wambsgans, a character who climbs from divisional leadership to the highest corporate position by adapting to various influential forces. His marriage to Siobhan Roy ties him to the family, while his roles span from overseeing parks and cruises to managing ATN during crucial nights.

Tom takes care of legal issues related to the cruise company crisis, testifies under oath during difficult situations, and serves as a main point of contact for the new owner during the merger process. After the sale is finalized, he becomes the American CEO of Waystar under GoJo, collaborating with the new parent company on editorial risk management, executive hiring, and post-merger priorities.

Share your picks for the best supporting players in ‘Succession’ in the comments!

2025-09-09 23:16