Empire An empire is a "political unit" made up of several territories and peoples, "usually created by conquest, and divided between a dominant center and subordinate peripheries". The center of the empire (sometimes referred to as the metropole) ex ...

'' is an American

musical Musical is the adjective of music. Musical may also refer to: * Musical theatre, a performance art that combines songs, spoken dialogue, acting and dance * Musical film and television, a genre of film and television that incorporates into the narr ...

drama television series created by Lee Daniels and Danny Strong which debuted on January 7, 2015, on

Fox Foxes are small to medium-sized, omnivorous mammals belonging to several genera of the family Canidae. They have a flattened skull, upright, triangular ears, a pointed, slightly upturned snout, and a long bushy tail (or ''brush''). Twelve sp ...

. Although filmed in Chicago, the show is based in New York City and it centers on a fictional hip hop music and entertainment company, Empire Entertainment, and the drama among the members of the founders' family as they fight for control of the company.

Main characters

;

Lucious Lyon Lucious Lyon (born Dwight Walker) is a fictional character from the Fox drama series ''Empire'', portrayed by Terrence Howard. Lucious is the main protagonist and anti-hero of the series. Created by Lee Daniels and Danny Strong, Lucious is the fo ...

( Terrence Howard (original cast), 2015–2020) :A former drug dealer turned hip hop mogul and the founder and long-time CEO of Empire Entertainment whose life begins to cave in around him after his past sins come back to haunt him when allegedly diagnosed with

ALS Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), also known as motor neuron disease (MND) or Lou Gehrig's disease, is a neurodegenerative disease that results in the progressive loss of motor neurons that control voluntary muscles. ALS is the most com ...

. ; Loretha "Cookie" Holloway Lyon (

Taraji P. Henson Taraji Penda Henson ( ; born September 11, 1970) is an American actress. She studied acting at Howard University and began her Hollywood career in guest roles on several television shows before making her breakthrough in '' Baby Boy'' (2001). Sh ...

(original cast), 2015–2020) :

's outspoken wife and mother of his three sons, who served a 17-year stretch in prison for

drug dealing The illegal drug trade or drug trafficking is a global black market dedicated to the cultivation, manufacture, distribution and sale of prohibited drugs. Most jurisdictions prohibit trade, except under license, of many types of drugs throug ...

. She sees herself as the sacrificial lamb for Empire Entertainment, which she built with Lucious, but then took the fall for when she was arrested for running the drugs that financed Lucious' early career. Upon her return from prison, she is determined to bring the Lyon family back together and reclaim her share of Empire Entertainment. In the second season, Cookie leaves Empire and starts her own record label, Lyon Dynasty. After allowing Empire Entertainment to acquire Lyon Dynasty, she returns to Empire as co-CEO with Lucious and Head of A&R. Cookie's love interests are Malcolm DeVeaux, Laz Delgado (Season 2) and Angelo DuBois (Season 3). ; Andre Lyon (

Trai Byers Trai Byers (born July 19, 1983) is an American actor. He is best known for playing Andre Lyon in the Fox television series ''Empire'' (2015–2020). Early life Trai Byers was born in Kansas City, Kansas. After a year of high school in Kansas Ci ...

(original cast), 2015–2020) :The eldest son of the Lyon family and CFO of Empire Entertainment. He is

Wharton Wharton may refer to: Academic institutions * Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania * Wharton County Junior College * Paul R. Wharton High School * Wharton Center for Performing Arts, at Michigan State University Places * Wharton, Ch ...

educated, power hungry, and suffers from

bipolar disorder Bipolar disorder, previously known as manic depression, is a mental disorder characterized by periods of depression and periods of abnormally elevated mood that last from days to weeks each. If the elevated mood is severe or associated with ...

. He is married to his college sweetheart, Rhonda. He plans to run Empire, but is in a battle for the head chair with his younger brothers. In the second season, Andre initially helps Cookie and Hakeem set up Lyon Dynasty, but later returns to Empire. Lucious later promotes Andre to President of Gutter Life Records, a sub-division of Empire Entertainment consisting of mainly urban rappers, such as Freda Gatz. In Season 3 & 4, he loses his wife and becomes Nessa, Charlotte & Pamela's new lovers. ;

Jamal Lyon Jamal Joseph Lyon is a fictional character from the American musical drama, ''Empire'' on Fox. Portrayed by Jussie Smollett, Jamal is the middle son of hip-hop mogul Lucious (Terrence Howard) and his wife Cookie (Taraji P. Henson). Jamal, a talen ...

( Jussie Smollett (original cast), 2015– 2019) :The middle son of the Lyon family, an openly gay singer-songwriter who despises the corporate aspect of the music industry. He is estranged from his father who considers him the "

black sheep In the English language, black sheep is an idiom that describes a member of a group who is different from the rest, especially a family member who does not fit in. The term stems from sheep whose fleece is colored black rather than the more comm ...

" of the family. Jamal is Cookie's favorite and has a strong relationship with his brother Hakeem. At the end of the first season, Lucious appoints Jamal as his successor and, later, interim CEO when he is arrested. He later relinquishes control of Empire back to Lucious. After being shot accidentally by Freda Gatz in Season 2, Jamal begins to present symptoms of PTSD and reliance on painkillers. His addiction ultimately leads to a visit to rehab. ;

Hakeem Lyon Hakeem Lyon is a fictional character from the original FOX musical drama ''Empire'' played by Bryshere Y. Gray. Hakeem, one of the main characters within the series, is the youngest and once-favorite son of hip-hop mogul Lucious (Terrence Howar ...

(

Bryshere Y. Gray Bryshere Yazuan Gray (born November 28, 1993), also known by the stage name Yazz the Greatest or simply Yazz, is an American actor and rapper, best known for his role as Hakeem Lyon in the Fox primetime musical drama television series ''Empire'' ...

(original cast), 2015–2020) :The fame-obsessed youngest son of the Lyon family and Lucious's favorite child, who is a hip hop star on the rise. Hakeem starts to find feelings for his mother, Cookie, and has a great relationship with Jamal. He has relationships with Tiana Brown, Camilla Marks, Anika Calhoun, Valentina, and Laura. ;Anika Calhoun Lyon (

Grace Byers Grace Byers (née Gealey; born July 26, 1984) Note: While some sources give her birthplace as the Cayman Island, Gealey says she was born in Butler, Pennsylvania. See interview in LumiereMagazine.com, below. is a Caymanian actress, known for her r ...

(original cast), 2015–2018) :Initially the ambitious head of Empire Entertainment A&R who becomes engaged to Lucious, but they eventually separate. After leaving Empire, Anika begins to sleep with Hakeem, leading to Anika's pregnancy. Fearful of Rhonda's pregnancy and the unborn child's claim to being the Heir of Empire, Anika pushes Rhonda down a set of stairs, leading to the death of her unborn child. Cookie and Anika share an extreme dislike for one another, with Cookie referring to Anika as the derisive nickname " Boo Boo Kitty". Anika meets her demise in the Season 4 finale after Andre drugs her to guilt her for all the wrong she's done. Like Andre, Anika hallucinates Rhonda and tries to run from her, but she accidentally falls over a balcony and onto a table full of wine glasses, killing her. ;Vernon Turner (

Malik Yoba Abdul-Malik Kashie Yoba (born September 17, 1967) is an American actor. He is known for his starring role as NYPD Detective J. C. Williams on the Fox police drama ''New York Undercover'' and as Yul Brenner in the film '' Cool Runnings''. ...

(original cast), 2015) :

's longtime friend and business partner, and chairman of Empire Entertainment. He was accidentally murdered by Rhonda in the season one finale. ;Rhonda Lyon (

Kaitlin Doubleday Kaitlin Janette Doubleday (born July 19, 1984) is an American actress. She played a number of supporting film roles in her early career, including in '' Waiting...'' (2005) and ''Accepted'' (2006). From 2015 to 2016, she starred as Rhonda Lyon in ...

(original cast), 2015–2016, 2018) : Andre's wife. She is extremely fierce and loyal, and sticks by Andre's side as he tries to gain control of Empire. In the first-season finale, she finds out that she is pregnant, but the baby eventually dies in the second season spring premiere, after Anika violently pushed her down the stairs in the second season fall finale. After her recovery, Rhonda begins to work for Empire's fashion label, ''Antony and Cleopatra'', initially headed by Camilla Marks-Whiteman. After Camilla's suicide, Rhonda is appointed Creative Director of Antony and Cleopatra. In the third-season premiere, she falls off of a building and lands onto a car, leading to her death, after attacking Anika. She makes a few appearances in the first half of the third season as a "ghost"; appearing to Andre due to his hallucinations. In the Season 4 finale, she returns as a hallucination to Anika this time as a result of Andre drugging her; leading up to her own tragic death in a similar scenario Rhonda faced. "Rhonda" gazes upon the dying Anika and vanishes before her eyes. ;Rebecca "Becky" Williams ( Gabourey Sidibe (original cast), 2015–2020) :Executive assistant to

at Empire Entertainment. After Jamal's promotion to vice-chairman, Jamal promotes Becky to A&R at Empire and its sub-label, Gutter Life Records. ;Porsha Taylor ( Ta'Rhonda Jones, 2015–2020) :

Cookie Lyon Loretha "Cookie" Lyon (née Holloway) is a fictional character from the American musical drama ''Empire'' on Fox. Portrayed by Taraji P. Henson, Cookie is one of the main characters within the series, the queen bee and the wife of former drug d ...

's executive assistant. ;Tiana Brown ( Serayah, 2015–2020) :An artist at Empire Entertainment who becomes

's girlfriend for some time. In Season 2, she leaves Empire for Lyon Dynasty. She also starts to get jealous of the relationship Hakeem has with Laura. In Season 3, her and Hakeem reconcile. At the season 4 finale, she reveals that she is pregnant with Hakeem's child and they plan to be a family. In Season 5, two years later they are still together and have a son named Prince Lyon. ;Tariq Cousins (Morocco Omari, 2016–2017) :An FBI agent and

's paternal half-brother. He was stabbed in the neck by Leah in Toil and Trouble Part 1. ;Leslie "Shine" Johnson ( Xzibit, 2016–2018) :Described as "100 percent wolf and 100 percent gangsta," he is a rival of

. In season 4, He was shot and killed by Webb for trying to kill Lucious in the Season 3 finale. ;Giselle Sims-Barker ( Nicole Ari Parker, 2017–2020) :The beautiful trophy ex-wife of Eddie Barker. ;Maya ( Rhyon Nicole Brown, 2018–2020) :The daughter of Poundcake,

Silicon Valley Silicon Valley is a region in Northern California that serves as a global center for high technology and innovation. Located in the southern part of the San Francisco Bay Area, it corresponds roughly to the geographical areas San Mateo County ...

genius-turned-label executive; business wunderkind.

Ivy League The Ivy League is an American collegiate athletic conference comprising eight private research universities in the Northeastern United States. The term ''Ivy League'' is typically used beyond the sports context to refer to the eight schools ...

-educated with an edge and a dark secret. He is later revealed to be the illegitimate son of Lucious, something he reveals in to the entire Lyon Family while shaming his father to the public. In the season finale, Kingsley commits suicide.

Recurring characters

This is a list of recurring actors and the characters they portrayed in multiple episodes, which were significant roles, sometimes across multiple seasons. The characters are listed by the season in which they first appeared. ;Carol Holloway (

Tasha Smith Tasha Smith (born February 28, 1971) is an American actress, director and producer. She began her career in a starring role on the NBC comedy series ''Boston Common'' (1996–97), and she later appeared in numerous movies and television series. ...

, 2015–2020) :

's younger sister from

Philadelphia Philadelphia, often called Philly, is the largest city in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, the sixth-largest city in the U.S., the second-largest city in both the Northeast megalopolis and Mid-Atlantic regions after New York City. Sinc ...

, Pennsylvania. She is a recovering drug addict. ;Juanita (Claudette Burchett, 2015–2020) :

's housekeeper. ;Chicken (

AzMarie Livingston Ashley Marie "AzMarie" Livingston (born December 28, 1986) is an American fashion model, actress, singer and DJ who rose to fame after appearing on '' America's Next Top Model: British Invasion'' in 2012. Livingston was cast to play the role of ...

, 2015–2020) :A member of

's crew and a DJ. ;Steve Cho (

Mike Moh Mike Moh (born August 19, 1983) is an American actor and martial artist of Korean descent. A sixth degree black belt in American Taekwondo, Moh is perhaps best known for his roles as martial arts legend Bruce Lee in the 2019 film '' Once Upon a ...

, 2015–2017) :Public relations employee at Empire. ;Michael Sanchez ( Rafael de la Fuente, 2015–2016) :Chef and

's former boyfriend. They separate in season 1, but reunited sometime before the premiere of season 2. Michael eventually cheats on Jamal with Chase One, and they end their relationship. ;Camilla Marks Whiteman ( Naomi Campbell, 2015–2016) :Fashion designer and

's lover but then leaves him, later on she is announced as the wife of Mimi Whiteman in the second season. Camilla uses her connection to Mimi and seizes Empire to give it to Hakeem but he rejects her for Laura. Camilla later poisons Mimi and is caught by Lucious who records her act, he gives her the chance to commit suicide and she drinks the same poison and dies off-screen. ;Veronica (

V. Bozeman Veronika Jean Bozeman (born January 9, 1988) is an American singer and actress best known for her recurring role as Veronica in the Fox primetime musical drama television series ''Empire''. Bozeman began her career vocal producing songs such as ...

, 2015–2017) :An artist formerly signed to Empire Entertainment. ;Ryan Morgan (

Eka Darville Eka Darville (born 11 April 1989) is an Australian actor. He is best known for his roles as Scott Truman in ''Power Rangers RPM,'' Pip in ''Mr. Pip'', Malcolm Ducasse in ''Jessica Jones'' and Diego in '' The Originals''. Biography Early life ...

, 2015) :Documentary filmmaker, who eventually becomes a fling of Jamal's. ;Agent Harlow Carter (Nealla Gordon, 2015) :

FBI The Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) is the domestic Intelligence agency, intelligence and Security agency, security service of the United States and its principal Federal law enforcement in the United States, federal law enforcement age ...

agent, working with

. ;Marcus "Bunkie" Williams (

Antoine McKay Antoine McKay (born August 10, 1970) is an American actor, director and educator who appears as “Bunkie” in the hit TV primetime drama ''Empire'' and "Uncle Spike" in South Side. Early life McKay was born in Inkster, Michigan to Ivory and J ...

, 2015) ;2019 (flashback) :

's cousin who is killed by Lucious. ;Malcolm DeVeaux (

Derek Luke Derek Nathanial Luke (born April 24, 1974) is an American actor. He won the Independent Spirit Award for his big-screen debut performance as the titular character in the 2002 film ''Antwone Fisher'', directed and produced by Denzel Washington. ...

, 2015) :Head of Security at Empire and love interest of

. ;Billy Baretti ( Judd Nelson, 2015–2019) :Owner of Creedmoor Entertainment and

's rival who oversaw the early years of Lucious' career. ;Reverend L.C. Price (Charles Malik Whitfield, 2015, 2018) :Pastor who helps Andre. ;Leonard Bernstein (Will Kinnear, 2015–2018) :Empire board member. ;Edna Bunnin (Sara Sevigny, 2015–2018) :Empire board member. ;Leah Mary Walker (

Kelly Rowland Kelendria Trene Rowland (born February 11, 1981) is an American singer, actress, and television personality. She rose to fame in the late 1990s as a member of Destiny's Child, one of the world's List of best-selling girl groups, best-selling girl ...

, 2015–2016 (flashbacks);

Leslie Uggams Leslie Marian Uggams (born May 25, 1943) is an American actress and singer. Beginning her career as a child in the early 1950s, Uggams is recognized for portraying Kizzy Reynolds in the television miniseries ''Roots'' (1977), earning Golden Glob ...

, 2016–2020) :

's presumed dead mother, who turned out to be living in a nursing facility. She is eventually brought to New York City by Andre, and is now living with Lucious. ;Mimi Whiteman ( Marisa Tomei, 2015) :

Forbes ''Forbes'' () is an American business magazine owned by Integrated Whale Media Investments and the Forbes family. Published eight times a year, it features articles on finance, industry, investing, and marketing topics. ''Forbes'' also re ...

billionaire and venture capitalist, who is asked by

and Andre Lyon to invest $250 million in order to complete the hostile takeover of Empire. However, she instead sides with Lucious. She eventually betrays Lucious, resulting in her and her wife Camilla receiving control of Empire. She withdraws her stocks and funding from Camilla after a sex tape of her and Hakeem's affair is exposed. This results in Mimi being murdered by Camilla, who afterwards immediately commits suicide, giving Hakeem full control of Empire. ;Candace Holloway-Mason ( Vivica A. Fox, 2015–2020) :

's well-behaved but snobby and judgmental older sister. She lives in Blue Bell, Pennsylvania, with her husband, Kevin (who is

white White is the lightest color and is achromatic (having no hue). It is the color of objects such as snow, chalk, and milk, and is the opposite of black. White objects fully reflect and scatter all the visible wavelengths of light. White on ...

), and their two children, Brianna and Franklin. She is a

realtor A real estate agent or real estate broker is a person who represents sellers or buyers of real estate or real property. While a broker may work independently, an agent usually works under a licensed broker to represent clients. Brokers and agen ...

. ;Roxanne Ford (

Tyra Ferrell Tyra Ferrell (born january 28, 1962) is an American actress. She is known for her roles in films ''Boyz n the Hood'' (1991), ''Jungle Fever'' (1991), ''White Men Can't Jump'' (1992), and ''Poetic Justice'' (1993). On television, she had starring ...

, 2015) :Prosecutor. ;Thurston "Thirsty" Rawlings ( Andre Royo, 2015–2019) :

's sharp lawyer who has unethical moves and a shady past. ;Freda Gathers\"Freda Gatz" (Bre-z, 2015–2019) :Rapper, who becomes a surrogate daughter to Lucious after the murder of her father, Frank Gathers. Lucious later sets up Freda to become Hakeem's rival. ;Derek "D-Major" Major (

Tobias Truvillion Tobias Truvillion (born October 1, 1975) is an American actor. Career In 2006, he received his first major role on ABC series '' One Life to Live'', playing Vincent Jones. He is also known for his roles on ''Empire'' (2016–17) and ''In Con ...

, 2015–p2017) :Music producer, who is secretly gay and Jamal's love interest. ;Laz Delgado (

Adam Rodriguez Adam Michael Rodriguez (born April 2, 1975)"Adam Rodriguez" (2006). ''Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television''. Vol. 71. Detroit: Gale. Accessed via ''Biography in Context'' database, August 7, 2016. is an American actor, screenwriter and ...

, 2015) :Concert promoter and love interest of

, until it was revealed that he had involvement in a series of scare tactics and money schemes against Lyon Dynasty. ;Laura Calleros (

Jamila Velazquez Jamila Velazquez (born November 27, 1995) is an American singer and actress, best known for her recurring roles as Sarita in the ABC Family series '' Twisted'' (2013–2014) and as Laura Calleros on FOX's primetime musical-drama series ''Empire' ...

, 2015–2016) :Lead singer of Mirage à Trois, who left

at the altar. ;Jameson Henthrop ( William Fichtner, 2015–2016) :Influential music marketing executive who helps Jamal in part because they are both representatives of the gay community. ;Angelo DuBois (

Taye Diggs Scott Leo "Taye" Diggs (born January 2, 1971) is an American stage and film actor. He is known for his roles in the Broadway musicals ''Rent'' and '' Hedwig and the Angry Inch'', the TV series ''Private Practice'' (2007-2013), ''Murder in the ...

, 2016–2017) :A well-respected city councilman with a

Harvard Harvard University is a private Ivy League research university in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Founded in 1636 as Harvard College and named for its first benefactor, the Puritan clergyman John Harvard, it is the oldest institution of higher le ...

law degree and a wealthy background. He was romantically involved with

. He later breaks up and willingly follows his mother to plot against the Lyons. He tries to kill his cousin Warren for betraying the family and siding with the Lyons, then Jamal only to be fatally shot when Jamal tries to defend himself. ;Diana DuBois (

Phylicia Rashad Phylicia Rashad ( ) (née Ayers-Allen; born June 19, 1948) is an American actress, singer and director who is dean of the College of Fine Arts at Howard University. She is best known for her role as Clair Huxtable on the NBC sitcom ''The Cosby S ...

, 2016–2017; 2018) :Angelo DuBois' mother, a powerhouse from one of New York's oldest and most prominent African-American families. She came from an impoverished background, and is a graduate of the

University of Pennsylvania The University of Pennsylvania (also known as Penn or UPenn) is a private research university in Philadelphia. It is the fourth-oldest institution of higher education in the United States and is ranked among the highest-regarded universitie ...

. She was arrested for her involvement in the kidnapping of Bella Lyon. ;Xavier Rosen ( Samuel Hunt, 2016) :A&R representative at Empire. ;Nessa Parker (

Sierra McClain Sierra Aylina McClain (born March 16, 1994) is an American actress and singer. As an actress, she was first recognized for her role as Sierra in ''Daddy's Little Girls'' (2007). She had her breakthrough as Nessa Parker in ''Empire'' (2016–2018), ...

, 2016–2018) :Shine's loyal protégé, who is eventually signed to Empire's roster. Andre's new lover. ;Philip (Juan Antonio, 2016–2017) :Runs PTSD support group and helps Jamal. Dates Jamal. ;Gram ( Romeo Miller, 2016) :Musician who dates Tiana and then accused of hacking Empire. ;Guiliana "Giusi" Green (

Nia Long Nia Talita Long (born October 30, 1970) is an American actress. Best known for her work in Black cinema, Long rose to prominence after starring in the film ''Boyz n the Hood'' (1991), and for her portrayal of Beullah "Lisa" Wilkes on the NBC sit ...

, 2017) :Queenpin who runs a club in

Las Vegas Las Vegas (; Spanish for "The Meadows"), often known simply as Vegas, is the 25th-most populous city in the United States, the most populous city in the state of Nevada, and the county seat of Clark County. The city anchors the Las Vegas ...

and make brash moves in the gangster underworld of New York City to secure a deal with Empire. She is sleek, sexy, and cold-blooded and rubs elbows with Lucious and is expected to go toe-to-toe with

Cookie A cookie is a baked or cooked snack or dessert that is typically small, flat and sweet. It usually contains flour, sugar, egg, and some type of oil, fat, or butter. It may include other ingredients such as raisins, oats, chocolate chips, n ...

. ;Charlotte Frost (

Eva Longoria Eva Jacqueline Longoria Bastón ( Longoria; March 15, 1975) is an American actress, producer, and director. After a number of guest roles on several television series, she was recognized for her portrayal of Isabella Braña on the CBS daytime ...

, 2017) :Director of the all-powerful state gaming commission which has the power to determine the fate of Lucious's goal of expanding Empire to

. Andre's ex lover. ;Tory Ash ( Rumer Willis, 2016–2018): :A singer-songwriter who bonds with Jamal during his time in rehab. She is a musician and was a big star, until she stripped down in Dealy Plaza and almost overdosed in a dingy motel room. Tory was introduced a smart mouth and begins to go toe to toe with Cookie Lyon. She has made many references to her past drugs life and says many drug jokes that Jamal Lyon doesn't find funny. She dies in the hospital after an overdose. ;Warren Hall (Terrell Carter, 2017–2019) :The attorney-musician nephew of the duplicitous Lyon-hater Diana DuBois, that she sent to seduce

Jamal Jamal ( ar, جمال ''/'') is an Arabic masculine given name, meaning "beauty",Jamal
at BehindTheName.com and a surna ...

. How will Diana react when Warren (inevitably) develops real feelings for Jamal and what will Jamal do when he discovers that his new boyfriend is actually a dreaded Dubois? ;Pamela Rose (

Teyonah Parris Teyonah Parris ( ) is an American actress. Her first prominent career role was playing secretary Dawn Chambers in the AMC drama series ''Mad Men'' (2012–2015) and starring in the 2014 independent film ''Dear White People''. Since that, Parris st ...

, 2017) :An NYPD detective and liaison. She is first seen at a bar and has sex with Andre before she is later revealed as NYPD liaison and seen with the Vegas Metro detectives about Guiliana Green's disappearance. She and Andre engage in a sexual relationship, but when he reveals he ordered the car bomb to kill Lucious, she reveals she is really with Vegas Metro and played him all this time, leading to a scuffle where Andre inadvertently kills her. Then Pamela is revealed to be a complete hallucination caused by psycho-active drugs given to by his therapist, who was secretly in league with the DuBois family. ;Eddie Barker (

Forest Whitaker Forest Steven Whitaker (born July 15, 1961) is an American actor. He is the recipient of List of awards and nominations received by Forest Whitaker, various accolades, including an Academy Award, a Golden Globe Award, a British Academy Film Award ...

, 2017–2018) :A charismatic music icon and bona fide hitmaker, who gave

his first radio airplay. ;Maya Landry-Lyon ( Rhyon Nicole Brown, 2018–2020) :The daughter of Poundcake,

's fellow inmate. Maya was born in prison, stolen from her mother's arms, and adopted by upper middle-class parents. A classically trained dancer, she's beautiful, graceful, and headstrong. In Season 5 she becomes Jamal's executive assistant, and later in Season 6 she becomes Andre's executive assistant. Also in Season 6 Maya and Hakeem start a friendly relationship and take a trip to Las Vegas; they get drunk and wake up the next day to find out they secretly got married overnight. They remain married for the rest of the series ;Mercedes (Porscha Coleman, 2018) :Porsha's sexy and ambitious cousin. She has a street-hustle mentality and looks to exploit any avenue she can to jumpstart her budding singing/rap career. ;Renee Holloway (

Alfre Woodard Alfre Woodard (; born November 8, 1952) is an American actress. She has received various accolades, including four Primetime Emmy Awards (tying the record for the most acting Emmys won by an African-American performer, along with Regina King), ...

, 2018) :

’s estranged mother, who returns for a turbulent reunion. She is a photographer and a college instructor. ;Kai Eugene Givens (

Toby Onwumere Toby Onwumere (born February 1, 1990) is a Nigerian and American actor known for the role of Capheus in the second season of the Netflix original series ''Sense8''. Early life Onwumere was born in Nigeria, and raised in Mansfield, Texas. Befo ...

, 2018) :A war correspondent and

's love interest. ;Quincy ( Skylan Brooks, 2018) :A young man wrongfully convicted incarcerated who develops a relationship with Andre Lyon. ;Teri (

Meta Golding Meta Golding is a Haitian-American actress. Life and career Golding was born in Port-au-Prince, Haiti. Her parents were international aid workers and she was raised in several countries. Besides the United States, Golding also lived in India, H ...

, 2018) :The mother of the wrongfully convicted Quincy. She is a heartfelt beauty who works with Andre Lyon while they fight to free her son. ;Treasure (Katlynn Simone, 2018) :A prison social worker whose life is turned around by

when sees her star potential. ;Damon Cross ( Wood Harris, 2018) :International money launderer who crosses path with Lucious and

. ;Dr. Paula Wick (

Keesha Sharp Keesha Ulricka Sharp ( née Fletch; born June 9, 1973) is an American actress and film / television director. She began her career appearing on television dramas, before her regular role as Monica Charles Brooks in the UPN/The CW comedy series, ...

, 2019) :Smart, insightful woman who offers endless compassion but doesn't take crap from anyone. ;Melody (

Alexandra Grey Alexandra Grey (born January 4, 1991), also known by her stage name Alexa Grey is an American actress, singer, songwriter and producer. She is best known for her roles as Melody Barnes on the Fox music drama series ''Empire'' (2015–2020), E ...

, 2019) :Transgender singer and songwriter who was signed to Empire records by Lucious Lyon. ;Lala ( Diamond White, 2019) :Soft-spoken

SoundCloud SoundCloud is an online audio distribution platform and music sharing website that enables its users to upload, promote, and share audio. Founded in 2007 by Alexander Ljung and Eric Wahlforss, SoundCloud is one of the largest music streaming se ...

singer who sounds great online but is plagued with performance anxiety and cursed by an inability to sing in front of a crowd.

Guest stars

The following is a supplementary list of guest stars, some recurring, who appear in lesser roles. The characters are listed, in alphabetical order by actor, by the season in which they first appeared. ;Dwayne "Puma" Robinson (

Cuba Gooding, Jr. Cuba Mark Gooding Jr. (born January 2, 1968) is an American actor. He is the recipient of an Academy Award, a Screen Actors Guild Award, and an Emmy nomination. After his breakthrough role as Tre Styles in ''Boyz n the Hood'' (1991), he appeare ...

, 2015) :Songwriter and old associate of Lucious and

. ;Olivia Lyon ( Raven-Symoné, 2015) :Background singer and former wife of

. ;Jermel Stubbs (

DeRay Davis Antoine DeRay Davis (born February 26, 1982) is an American stand-up comedian and actor.Todd Davis (February 2, 2008)Steph Jones: Heart & Soul ''HHNLive''. Accessed July 18, 2008. Life and career Davis was born in Chicago, Illinois. He began ...

, 2015) :Cousin of

, who was paid to kill a former associate of the family. ;Delphine ( Estelle, 2015; 2017) :Superstar singer who gets signed to Empire by Lucious. ;Elle Dallas ( Courtney Love, 2015) :Multi-platinum rock artist and Empire Entertainment royalty, who battles with drug addiction. She is in dire need of a comeback. ;Angie (

Mary J. Blige Mary Jane Blige ( ; born January 11, 1971) is an American singer, songwriter, and actress. Often referred to as the " Queen of Hip-Hop Soul" and " Queen of R&B", Blige has won nine Grammy Awards, a Primetime Emmy Award, four American Music Award ...

, 2015) :A woman from

's past. ;Michelle White ( Jennifer Hudson, 2015) :Music therapist and gospel singer ;Frank Gathers (

Chris Rock Christopher Julius Rock (born February 7, 1965) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, and filmmaker. Known for his work in comic film, television and stage, he has received multiple accolades, including three Grammy Awards for best come ...

, 2015) :Drug kingpin who Lucious and

worked for in the past. ;Officer McKnight ( Ludacris, 2015) :Security guard at Lucious' prison. ;Clyde (

Petey Pablo Moses Barrett III (born July 22, 1973), known by the stage name Petey Pablo, is an American rapper from Greenville, North Carolina. He is best known for his 2003 Crunk hit single "Freek-a-Leek". Biography Born in Greenville, North Carolina, Barre ...

, 2015) :Prison-mate of

. ;Valentina Galindo ( Becky G, 2015) :Aspiring singer and fling of

. ;Skye Summers (

Alicia Keys Alicia Augello Cook (born January 25, 1981), known professionally as Alicia Keys, is an American singer, songwriter, and pianist. A classically trained pianist, Keys started composing songs when she was 12 and was signed at 15 years old by Col ...

, 2015) :Pop singer and fling of

. ;Jezzy ( Da Brat, 2015) :One of

's prison-mates. ;Pepper O'Leary ( Rosie O'Donnell, 2015) :

's former cellmate for over a decade. ;Vaughn Cooper (

French Montana Karim Kharbouch (Arabic: æɾiːm χɑɾbuːʃ born November 9, 1984), better known by his stage name French Montana, is a Moroccan-American rapper. Born and raised in Morocco, he emigrated to the United States with his family when he was 13. ...

, 2016) :Entertainment mogul and acquaintance of

. ;Kitty (

Mariah Carey Mariah Carey (; born March 27, 1969) is an American singer, songwriter, actress, and record producer. Referred to as the " Songbird Supreme", she is noted for her five-octave vocal range, melismatic singing style and signature use of the whi ...

, 2016) :Superstar singer who works with Jamal. ;Carlotta Brown (

Queen Latifah Dana Elaine Owens (born March 18, 1970), known professionally as Queen Latifah, is an American rapper, actress, and singer. Born in Newark, New Jersey, she signed with Tommy Boy Records in 1989 and released her debut album ''All Hail the Que ...

, 2017) :The owner of an Atlanta beauty salon, who worked with Mary Davis in the R&B duo Mixed Harmony back in the 1990s. She becomes a surrogate mother to the three girls, even though she doesn't approve of their musical dreams. At the end of the first season, she takes over as manager from Jahil. Carlotta is a friend of Lucious's from back in the day. ; Haven Quinn ( Cassie Ventura, 2018) :A movie star that Hakeem briefly dates to make Tiana jealous. ;Tracy Kingsley (

Amanda Detmer Amanda Jeannette Detmer is an American actress. She made her big screen debut playing Miss Minneapolis in 1999 comedy film '' Drop Dead Gorgeous'', and later had a supporting role in ''Final Destination''. In early 2000s, Detmer had starring r ...

, 2018–2020) :Jeff Kingsley's estranged mother and a recovering drug addict who is also a former flame of Lucious. After disowning Jeff, the latter of which commits suicide, Tracy is forced to have her son's heart transplanted into Andre. She unfortunately blames Lucious for causing his death and soon plots to take her revenge on him. While holding Lucious and Cookie at gunpoint as he signs divorce papers, Andre walks in and quickly disarms Tracy, allowing Cookie to shoot her in self defense, killing Tracy and ending her vendetta against Lucious. Additionally,

Snoop Dogg Calvin Cordozar Broadus Jr. (born October 20, 1971), known professionally as Snoop Dogg (previously Snoop Doggy Dogg and briefly Snoop Lion), is an American rapper. His fame dates back to 1992 when he featured on Dr. Dre's debut solo single, " ...

, Sway Calloway, Anthony Hamilton, Fantastic Negrito, Gladys Knight, Rita Ora, Juicy J,

Patti LaBelle Patricia Louise Holte (born May 24, 1944), known professionally as Patti LaBelle, is an American R&B singer, actress and businesswoman. LaBelle is referred to as the " Godmother of Soul". She began her career in the early 1960s as lead singe ...

Charles Hamilton Charles Hamilton may refer to: People in Canada * Charles Hamilton (bishop) (1834–1919), Anglican bishop of Ottawa * Charles Edward Hamilton (1844–1919), Canadian politician * Sir Charles Hamilton, 2nd Baronet, of Marlborough House (1767–184 ...

Pitbull Pit bull is a term used in the United States for a type of dog descended from bulldogs and terriers, while in other countries such as the United Kingdom the term is used as an abbreviation of the American Pit Bull Terrier breed. The term was f ...

, Timbaland,

Sharon Carpenter Sharon Lee Carpenter (born 2 March 1982) is a British broadcast journalist, television host, and producer. She has worked as an on-air personality for a number of top American television networks including CBS, BET, Sean "Diddy" Combs' REVOLT ...

, Ne-Yo, Funkmaster Flex,

Nicole Richie Nicole Camille Richie (; born September 21, 1981) is an American television personality, fashion designer, socialite, and actress. She came to prominence after appearing in the reality television series ''The Simple Life'' (2003–2007), in whic ...

, Joel Madden,

Jason Derulo Jason Joel Desrouleaux (born September 21, 1989), known professionally as Jason Derulo (; formerly stylized as Derülo), is an American singer and songwriter.

, Lee Daniels,

Montana of 300 Montana () is a state in the Mountain West division of the Western United States. It is bordered by Idaho to the west, North Dakota and South Dakota to the east, Wyoming to the south, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columb ...

, Birdman,

Remy Ma Reminisce Mackie ( Smith; born May 30, 1980), known professionally as Remy Ma, is an American rapper. Discovered by Big Pun, she came to prominence for her work as a member of Fat Joe's group, Terror Squad. In 2006, she released her debut stu ...

Sticky Fingaz Kirk Jones (born November 3, 1973), better known by his stage name Sticky Fingaz, is an American hardcore rapper, record producer, and actor best known as a member of multi-platinum hardcore rap group Onyx. Sticky Fingaz was discovered by Jam ...

Chaka Khan Yvette Marie Stevens (born March 23, 1953), better known by her stage name Chaka Khan (), is an American singer. Her career has spanned more than five decades, beginning in the 1970s as the lead vocalist of the funk band Rufus. Known as the " Qu ...

, Ty Dolla Sign and Sevyn Streeter make appearances as themselves.

References

{{Empire

Empire (2015 TV series)