Ghostbusters: Afterlife Cast, Character & Cameo Guide

Warning: This post contains mild spoilers for Ghostbusters: Afterlife.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife introduces new characters and brings back some familiar faces — here’s a handy cast, character and cameo guide for the film. Directed by Jason Reitman, who steps into his father Ivan Reitman’s shoes to helm the latest franchise installment, Ghostbusters: Afterlife was originally scheduled to be released in the summer of 2020 before being delayed due to the global pandemic. The Ghostbusters sequel, the third installment in the original franchise (not including the 2016 reboot), was pushed back several times before landing on November 2021 release.

The movie is set in the present day and sees Callie Spengler and her children — 12-year-old Phoebe and 15-year-old Trevor — moving to Summerville, Oklahoma following the death of Callie’s father. As they acclimate to the small town, Phoebe, an intrepid and budding scientist, is quickly drawn into the mystery surrounding her grandfather’s farm and what he was preparing to fight against in his final years.

In addition to several franchise newcomers, Ghostbusters: Afterlife sees a few of the original characters from 1984’s Ghostbusters show up as well throughout. Here’s the cast guide for all major characters, who makes a cameo appearance from the original film, and what other movie and TV productions the actors have been in before starring in the Ghostbusters sequel.

McKenna Grace As Phoebe Spengler

Phoebe Spengler is the granddaughter of Egon Spengler and the daughter of Callie. She loves all things science, which often alienates her from making friends. Phoebe is played by McKenna Grace, who is most known for her roles in Gifted alongside Chris Evans, I, Tonya, Young Sheldon, Malignant, The Haunting of Hill House, Ready Player One, Captain Marvel, Fuller House, and Designated Survivor.

Finn Wolfhard As Trevor Spengler

Trevor Spengler is Phoebe’s older brother who dislikes the fact that his family moved to Summerville. Trevor is portrayed by Finn Wolfhard, who is best known for playing Mike Wheeler in Netflix’s Stranger Things. The actor has also starred in It and It Chapter Two, How It Ends, and the animated series Carmen Sandiego.

Carrie Coon As Callie Spengler

Callie Spengler is the daughter of Egon and the mother of Phoebe and Trevor. She grew up not knowing her father, a fact which created feelings of resentment towards him. Callie is played by Carrie Coon in Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Coon has starred in Gone Girl, Avengers: Infinity War, The Leftovers, The Sinner, Widows, and Fargo.

Paul Rudd As Gary Grooberson

Gary Grooberson is Phoebe’s summer school teacher and a seismologist who studies Summerville’s earthquakes in relation to the odd phenomena happening in town. Paul Rudd plays Gary Grooberson, and the actor has been in a plethora of films and TV shows, including Clueless, Ant-Man and its sequel Ant-Man and the Wasp, Avengers: Endgame, I Love You, Man, The Perks of Being a Wallflower, Wet Hot American Summer, Parks and Recreation, This is 40, Wanderlust, Dinner for Schmucks, Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Knocked Up, and Friends.

Logan Kim As Podcast

Podcast is Phoebe’s friend and, as his nickname implies, a podcast host. Logan Kim is a relative newcomer whose only credit before starring in Ghostbusters: Afterlife was in the TV miniseries short Home Movie: The Princess Bride.

Celeste O’Connor As Lucky Domingo

Lucky Domingo is a waitress at the local Spinners diner in Summerville. She’s also the daughter of the local sheriff and Trevor’s love interest. She’s played by Celeste O’Connor, who has starred in films like Selah and the Spades, Irreplaceable You, Freaky, and Wetlands.

Ghostbusters: Afterlife Supporting Cast & Cameo Guide

Bill Murray as Dr. Peter Venkman – Bill Murray reprises his role from the original Ghostbusters, playing Dr. Peter Venkman, one of the four ghost-busting teammates. Murray is most famous for his roles in Lost in Translation, Rushmore, Moonrise Kingdom, Groundhog Day, the live-action The Jungle Book, The Grand Budapest Hotel, Zombieland, Rushmore, Space Jam, and Charlie’s Angels among several other films.

Dan Akroyd as Dr. Raymond “Ray” Stantz – Dan Akroyd shows up in a cameo appearance in Ghostbusters: Afterlife, reprising his original role of Dr. Raymond Stantz. Besides the Ghostbusters franchise, Akroyd has been in Saturday Night Live, 50 First Dates, Christmas with the Kranks, and I Now Pronounce You Chuck & Larry.

Ernie Hudson as Dr. Winston Zeddemore – Ernie Hudson also reprises his 1984 Ghostbusters role as Dr. Winston Zeddemore. Hudson previously starred in L.A.’s Finest, The Family Business, Grace and Frankie, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, Law and Order, Desperate Housewives, and the TV series Oz. He also voiced Agent William Fowler in the animated Transformers Prime.

Harold Ramis as Dr. Egon Spengler – Harold Ramis unfortunately passed away in 2014, but archival footage was used so the late actor could reappear briefly in Ghostbusters: Afterlife as a ghost. The late Ramis’ film credits consist of Groundhog Day, Knocked Up, and Year One.

Sigourney Weaver as Dana Barrett – Sigourney Weaver appears briefly in the mid-credits scene as Dana Barrett from Ghostbusters. The actress is most well-known for Alien, Alien: Resurrection, Avatar, A Monster Calls, Chappie, The Defenders, Wall-E, Heartbreakers, and Galaxy Quest.

Annie Potts as Janine Melnitz – Janine Melnitz returns as the Ghostbusters’ secretary, with Annie Potts appearing in two scenes of Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Potts is best known for Pretty in Pink, Toy Story 4, Young Sheldon, The Fosters, Dangerous Minds, and Love & War.

Bokeem Woodbine as Sheriff Domingo – Sheriff Domingo is Lucky’s father. Bokeem Woodbine has appeared in Spider-Man: Homecoming, Fargo, Queen & Slim, and Underground.

Tracy Letts as Jack – Jack is the local hardware store clerk who sold Egon many of the supplies he used on his dirt farm. Tracy Letts starred in Lady Bird, Ford v Ferrari, Little Women, and The Big Short.

J.K. Simmons as Ivo Shandor – Ivo Shandor is the architect who designed the Manhattan building harboring Gozer. J.K. Simmons is known for playing J. Jonah Jameson in Sam Raimi’s Spider-Man trilogy, Whiplash, Juno, La La Land, Invincible, Veronica Mars, and Zootopia.

Josh Gad as Muncher – Josh Gad voices Muncher, the metal eating ghost Phoebe and Podcast encounter in Ghostbusters: Afterlife. Josh Gad famously voiced the character of Olaf in Frozen and Frozen II. He also starred in the live-action Beauty and the Beast, Murder on the Orient Express, New Girl, and 21.

About The Author

Mae Abdulbaki
(1078 Articles Published)

Mae Abdulbaki is a movie reviews editor with Screen Rant. She previously wrote about a variety of movies and TV shows for Inverse, CinemaBlend, Pajiba, and The Young Folks, where she wrote reviews, features, news pieces. Her other work can be found at The Mary Sue, Film School Rejects, UPROXX, Heroic Hollywood, Looper, The List, and Bam Smack Pow, among others. Mae has also appeared on television segments, podcasts, and panels to discuss all things entertainment.

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