List of Orphan Black characters explained

Orphan Black is a Canadian science fiction television series broadcast on Space in Canada and on BBC America in the United States.[1] [2] The series' first season stars Tatiana Maslany, Dylan Bruce, Jordan Gavaris, Kevin Hanchard, Michael Mando, and Maria Doyle Kennedy, with the addition of Evelyne Brochu to the regular cast in the second season, Kristian Bruun and Ari Millen in the third, and Josh Vokey in the fourth. Orphan Black revolves around the main character of Sarah Manning as she discovers the existence of several of her genetic identicals.[3] Numerous actors appear in the series as recurring cast members, but some guest actors are featured in only a few. Particularly, Skyler Wexler often recurs as Sarah's daughter Kira.[3]

Appearances

Overview of starring and supporting appearances
PortrayerCharacter(s)Number of appearances
width=40pxS1width=40pxS2width=40pxS3width=40pxS4width=40pxS5width=40pxTotal
Starring
Tatiana MaslanySarah Manning50
Cosima Niehaus49
Alison Hendrix42
Helena38
Rachel Duncan231
Elizabeth "Beth" Childs1118
Krystal Goderitch3317
Veera "M.K." Suominen17
Pupok (voice)55
Katja Obinger11
Tony Sawicki11
Jennifer Fitzsimmons11
"Church Clone"11
Camilla Torres11
OVERALL50
Ari MillenMark Rollins818
Ira Blair13
Rudy110
Styles Miller16
Seth22
Parsons11
OVERALL833
Felix "Fee" Dawkins 47
Siobhán "S" Sadler 40
Donnie Hendrix 6 9 colspan="1" 40
Arthur "Art" Bell 36
Josh VokeyScott Smith 3 7 9 36
Delphine Cormier 6 2 5 28
Paul Dierden 22
Victor "Vic" Schmidt 3 9
Supporting
Skyler Wexler Kira Manning 9 9 4 7 10 39
Cynthia Galant Young Rachel Duncan / Charlotte Bowles 4 2 6 7 19
Gracie Johanssen 7 8 2 17
Gemma Hendrix 4 5 5 1 1 16
Angela "Angie" Deangelis 8 6 1 15
Kyra Harper Virginia Coady 9 6 15
Calwyn Shurgold Hell-Wizard 1 6 8 15
Susan Duncan 2 8 3 13
Aldous Leekie 5 4 1 1 11
Gavin (or Mike) Hardcastle 8 1 2 11
Drew Davis Oscar Hendrix 4 5 1 10
Ferdinand Chevalier 3 3 2 8
Adele 4 4 8
Sarah Stubbs 4 2 2 8
Gord Rand Martin "Marty" Duko 8 8
Nicholas Rose Colin 5 1 2 8
Evie Cho 8 8
Ryan Blakely Reverend Mike 1 1 3 2 7
Aynsley Norris 5 1 1 7
Alan Nealon 1 6 7
Percival "P.T." Westmorland/John Paterick Mathieson 7 7
Andrew Moodie Simon Frontenac 7 7
Benjamin Kertland 4 3 7
Daniel Rosen 1 5 6
Bonnie Johanssen 4 2 6
Andrew Gillies Ethan Duncan 5 1 6
Cal Morrison 5 1 6
Géza Kovács The Messenger 3 3 6
Detective Maddy Enger 6 6
Shay Davydov 6 6
Eileen Sword Sister Irina 6 6
Marci Coates 5 5
Miranda Edwards Roxie 5 5
Mud 5 5
Sirena Gulamgaus Aisha Yasin 5 5
Tomas 3 1 1 5
Henrik Johanssen 5 5
Olivier Duval 4 1 5
Diana Salvatore Bobby 1 1 2 1 5
Kendall Malone 2 3 5
Ian Van Lier 3 2 5
Raj Singh 3 1 4
Tom Barnett David Benchman 4 4
Jason Kellerman 4 4
Carlos Gonzalez-Vio Dr. Silva 4 4
Stuart Hughes Cooper 4 4
Dizzy 4 4
Anika Johnson The "Blood Ties" pianist 3 1 4
Barbara Johnston Kelsey 3 1 4
Homa Kameh Aisha's Mother 4 4
Trina 4 4
Ian Matthews Frank 4 4
Alex OzerovRamone 1 1 1 1 4
Priya Rao Meera Kumar 3 1 4
Janis Beckwith 3 1 4
Alexis McGann 1 2 3
Charity Simms 2 1 3
Sarain Boylan Astrid 1 2 3
Christy Bruce Young Susan Duncan 2 1 3
Tony Cianchino Pouchy Pouzihno 1 2 3
Raven Dauda Yvonne 3 3
Marion Bowles 3 3
Elie Gemael Hashem Al-Khatib 3 3
Victor Gomez Salvador 3 3
Paul 3 3
Chad Norris 2 1 3
Alexander 3 3
Vera 3 3
Allen Keng Painmaker 1 2 3
Danny MacDonald Martin Funt 3 3
Earl "Bubba" McLean Teddy 1 1 1 3
Andrew Musselman Yanis "The Creature" 3 3
Bulldog 3 3
Troy Collier 3 3
Vas Saranga Amar 3 3
Kent Sheridan Conrad 3 3
David Vena João 1 2 3
Jesse 1 1 2
Michelle Arvizu La Camarera 2 2
Marqus Bobesich Rockabilly Bob 2 2
Henry Bosch 2 2
Jamila Fleming Sherry 2 2
Lionel 2 2
Humberly Gonzalez Ana 2 2
Lucie Guest Zoie 1 1 2
Patty 2 2
Amelia 2 2
Louise Nicol Mrs. Chubbs 1 1 2
Jessica SalgueiroLuisa 2 2
Anita Bowers 2 2
Taylor Trowbridge Tabitha Stewart 2 2
Allan Turner Young Ethan Duncan 1 1 2
Ivan Wanis-Ruiz Alonzo Martinez 2 2
Kirsten WilliamsonDetective Lindstein 2 2
Azdin Zaman Mr. Kumar 1 1 2

Main characters

Recurring characters

Acquaintances of Sarah, Felix and Mrs. S
Acquaintances of Beth and Art
Acquaintances of Alison and Donnie
Acquaintances of Cosima and Scott
Acquaintances of Helena
Acquaintances of Krystal
Acquaintances of M.K.
Project Leda (including The Dyad Institute, Topside, BrightBorn and Revival)
The Proletheans
Project Castor and associated characters
Civilian NeolutionistsWhile the Neolution movement is most notable represented by the scientists and businesspersons connected to Projects Leda and Castor, the Neolution ideas and ideals are also shared by many civilians, hoping to improve their lives in one way or another using its methods and technique, ranging from body modification to medical treatment.
Minor recurring castAdditionally, real-life news anchor Janette Luu appeared as a reporter in the series' pilot episode as well as the fourth-season finale. Season one also included Dom Fiore as a police captain and Ivan Sherry as an agent of the Internal Affairs, both serving at Beth's precinct, as well as Joanne Reece as Beth's lawyer. In season two Allison Wilson-Forbes appeared as a trauma nurse caring for Helena, and in season three Monica Dottor portrayed as a soccer mom buying drugs from Alison. During season four Jonathan Purdon appeared as an associate of Benjamin Kertland, and Francisco Trujillo played the surgeon operating on Alonzo Martinez. While they all were credited for their roles, and appeared in two episodes each, their parts were very limited.

Guest characters

Clones

By the end of the first season, 10 clones are revealed. They are of various nationalities and stations in life. Additional clones are revealed in the second season, including Jennifer, who died from the same respiratory illness that affected Katja and Cosima.[11] In episode 8 of season 2, Tony, a transgender clone is introduced.[12] In the season one finale, Cosima discovers each clone has a different DNA tag based on ASCII coded basepairs. In addition to the identification code is the text "THIS ORGANISM AND DERIVATIVE GENETIC MATERIAL IS RESTRICTED INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY" followed by a series of patent numbers. Sarah is given a photograph whose caption suggests that the cloning project that produced her was called "Project Leda". In the season 2 finale, Charlotte, an 8-year-old clone with a leg disability, is introduced. At the start of Season 3 a non self-aware clone, Krystal, was almost kidnapped by the military. In Season 3 episode 8, a Polish clone is revealed to have recently died from the clone illness.

Season 2's finale reveals that the military carried on with a male cloning project called Project Castor, which created Mark (the Prolethean), Miller (the soldier clone), Rudy (a male clone held in the home of Marion Bowles), Seth (a mustachioed clone) and Parsons a clone kept barely alive by the military to study the cognitive defect. All of the Project Castor clones are self-aware of their clone nature[13] and were raised together in a military-like environment.[14]

In the Season 3 premiere it is revealed in 2006 Ferdinand of Topside was involved in the execution of six self-aware Project Leda clones in the Helsinki area. All were believed to be dead within 24 hours with another 32 people killed as collateral damage. Comics depicting the event would later clearly place it during 2001.

In the third episode of Season 3 it is revealed the originals for Projects Leda and Castor were brother and sister, making all the clones genetic siblings.

It is also revealed the DNA of the original Castor donor was stolen by Henrik Johanssen who wanted a son. This created Abel Johanssen who died as an infant.

The Castor and Leda original genetic source is revealed at the end of season three. It is Siobhan's mother, Kendall Malone, a genetic chimera who provided DNA for both the Leda and Castor lineages of clones, explaining the clones' relationship as genetic brother and sister.

In August 2015, at the conclusion of the Orphan Black comic book, a survivor of Helsinki was revealed: Veera Suominen. She will star in her comic series starting in November 2015 called Orphan Black: Helsinki [15] and then appear in Season 4 of the show in 2016.

In March 2016, the new Castor clone Ira was revealed on the website for the show.

The seventh episode of Season 5 mentions a Leda clone, Lisa Glynn, in Rachel's childhood flashback and reveals another, Miriam Johnson, in young adulthood. Miriam was a homeless artist sick with the Leda defect; Rachel arranged her death so research into the illness could progress. The ninth episode of the season shows an unnamed Leda clone praying in a church, the first one Helena killed.

The final episode of the series reveals there are 274 Leda clones in the world. Stephanie Loyd and Gillian West are mentioned directly while other names are seen briefly on a list. The final clone of the series is Camilla Torres, seen being cured by Delphine.

External links

Notes and References

  1. BBC AmericOrders Original Sci-Fi Adventure 'Orphan Black'. June 26, 2012. December 29, 2014. BBC America.
  2. Web site: Orphan Black. Space. December 29, 2014. dead. https://web.archive.org/web/20150315232735/http://www.space.ca/OrphanBlack.aspx. March 15, 2015.
  3. Web site: About the Show. March 21, 2013. BBC America.
  4. Orphan Black star Tatiana Maslany talks choking and spanking in the season premiere. April 18, 2015. April 18, 2015. Entertainment Weekly.
  5. Web site: BBC America Renews 'Orphan Black' for Season 3 . The Hollywood Reporter . Philiana . Ng . December 29, 2014 . July 9, 2014.
  6. Orphan Black Review . https://archive.today/20141229191931/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0,,20809630,00.html . dead . December 29, 2014 . Entertainment Weekly . Jeff . Jensen . June 19, 2014 . December 29, 2014.
  7. https://www.wired.com/2014/05/orphan-black-musical/ Wired.com: That Crazy Musical in Orphan Black? Yeah, It Exists in Real Life
  8. Web site: Q&A with Michelle Forbes. BBC America. January 22, 2014. December 29, 2014.
  9. Web site: 'Orphan Black' Season 3 Spoilers: Plot, Cast, Premiere Date, And Everything Else We Know So Far . Fashion & Style . Jess . Goodwin . December 9, 2014 . December 29, 2014 . dead . https://web.archive.org/web/20141229165010/http://www.fashionnstyle.com/articles/34726/20141209/orphan-black-season-3-spoilers-plot-cast-premiere-date-and-everything-else-we-know-so-far.htm . December 29, 2014 .
  10. Web site: Orphan Black: "Things Which Have Never Yet Been Done" . A. V. Club . Caroline . Framke . June 14, 2014 . December 29, 2014.
  11. 'Orphan Black': Meet the new clone! – EXCLUSIVE VIDEO . Entertainment Weekly. Dalton . Ross . March 13, 2014 . March 13, 2014.
  12. Web site: 'Orphan Black' creators dish on Tony the trans clone, Tatiana Maslany's latest masterpiece' . Zap2it . Jean . Bentley . June 7, 2014 . June 8, 2014.
  13. 'Orphan Black' scoop: The Castor clones are self-aware . Entertainment Weekly . Natalie . Abrams . January 10, 2015 . January 16, 2015.
  14. Web site: Orphan Black: First Look at 2 Clone Clubs, Project Leda and Project Castor. People.
  15. Web site: IDW's November 2015 Solicitations Include 'Orphan Black: Helsinki,' 'Our Expanding Universe & More. Comic Book Resources. 19 August 2015. https://web.archive.org/web/20150820110034/http://www.comicbookresources.com/article/idws-november-2015-solicitations-include-orphan-black-helsinki-our-expanding-universe-more . 20 August 2015.