Last Days of Ptolemy Grey Cast & Character Guide

The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey, Apple TV+’s crime/mystery drama miniseries, brings both veteran actors and fresh faces to the streaming network. Played by Coach Carter‘s Samuel L. Jackson, Ptolemy Grey is a man who’s suffering from a form of dementia that’s progressing quickly and aggressively. An experimental drug with potentially huge drawbacks temporarily allows Ptolemy to remember things from his past and investigate the murder of someone whom he was very close to.

The show’s story is based on crime fiction novelist Walter Mosley’s 2010 book The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey. Mosley adapted his own novel to develop the screenplay for Apple TV+’s The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey. He was also involved in the casting process.

The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey combines light sci-fi, family drama, and murder mystery – a common element in Mosley’s literary work. The result is a unique story that deeply tackles senior mental health and the pursuit of social justice in White America. Here are the primary players in Apple TV+ new miniseries.

Samuel L. Jackson as Ptolemy Grey

One of Quentin Tarantino’s go-to actors, Samuel L. Jackson steps into the role of Ptolemy Grey, a man who’s distanced from his family, haunted by his past, and unable to make sense of the present. Because of his dementia, as well as the drug that’s meant to treat it, Ptolemy switches between being a harmlessly senile old man and being a hardened old war veteran on a mission – a challenge which Jackson rises up to effortlessly. This isn’t surprising, considering how Samuel L. Jackson is the most experienced actor in the cast of The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey. Indeed, Jackson is more popularly known as Coach Carter, Star Wars‘ Mace Windu, the MCU’s Nick Fury, Pulp Fiction‘s Jules, and the xXx series’ Augustus Gibbons. Jackson also has notable roles in Shaft, the Incredibles series, Kill Bill: Vol.2, Black Snake Moan, Deep Blue Sea, The Hateful Eight, and Jackie Brown.

Dominique Fishback as Robyn

Robyn is a teenager who becomes Ptolemy’s new caretaker. While Robyn isn’t technically related to Ptolemy, they develop a bond that’s more tightly-knit than any family as they help each other through their respective struggles. Although Dominique Fishback is the youngest actor in the main cast, she also has an impressive body of work, most notably when she wrote and played all 22 characters in her off-off-Broadway play Subverted. However, Fishback is most famous for being Judas and the Black Messiah‘s Deborah Johnson, and Show Me A Hero‘s Billie Rowan. Fishback also stars alongside Joseph Gordon-Levitt and Jamie Foxx in Project Power.

Walton Goggins as Dr. Rubin

An expert in dementia, Dr. Rubin is primarily interested in using Ptolemy as a test subject for an experimental medication that can temporarily cure Ptolemy’s condition. Dr. Rubin first tries to contact Ptolemy’s nephew Reggie, but he ends up conferring with Robyn instead regarding his treatment plan for Ptolemy. While Dr. Rubin may have questionable ethics and selfish reasons for trying to cure Ptolemy of his dementia, it is Dr. Rubin who enables Ptolemy to reclaim his memories and investigate the murder of a loved one. Walton Goggins is a famous character actor who also appears in films such as Lincoln, Django Unchained, The Hateful Eight, Tomb Raider, Ant-Man and the Wasp, and Maze Runner: The Death Cure. Goggins is perhaps most popular for playing Shane Vendrell on The Shield, Venus Van Dam on Sons of Anarchy, Lee Russell on Vice Principals, Mr. Stone on Community, and Boyd Crowder on Justified.

Damon Gupton as Coydog

Coydog was Ptolemy’s uncle and also served as a father figure to Ptolemy back in Mississippi. In The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey, Ptolemy often sees and speaks with Coydog when Ptolemy hallucinates or has very vivid flashbacks because of his dementia. Ptolemy remembers his father figure fondly as the man who showed him how to do everything. That said, their interactions are often very intense and not exactly friendly. This is because almost every time Coydog appears to Ptolemy, he pushes Ptolemy to remember something that’s extremely important, which Ptolemy slowly recalls thanks to the experimental drug from Dr. Rubin. Actor Damon Gupton also appears in Whiplash, La La Land, and The Last Airbender. However, Gupton is more famous for his roles as Charles Foster in Deadline, Adam Page on The Divide, SSA Stephen Walker on Criminal Minds, and Deputy Chief Henderson in the Arrowverse‘s Black Lightning series.

Cynthia Kaye McWilliams as Sensia

Sensia was the love of Ptolemy’s life. Just like Coydog, Sensia only appears in The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey during Ptolemy’s vivid dementia-driven hallucinations and flashbacks. Every moment in which Ptolemy sees and interacts with Sensia is bittersweet. Even though she’s just in Ptolemy’s head, Ptolemy’s undying love for Sensia is definitely not imaginary. Sensia’s presence is a reminder of everything that Ptolemy has lost and fought for during his younger years. Known for her roles in series such as Prisonbreak, Nashville, and Real Husbands of Hollywood, actor Cynthia Kay McWilliams also appears in The Lake House, Family Practice, Of Boys and Men, Herd Mentality, and One Small Hitch.

The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey Supporting Cast of Characters

Omar Benson Miller as Reggie Lloyd: Reggie is Ptolemy’s nephew and caretaker. He is torn between taking care of his uncle Ptolemy and being a good wife and husband for his family. Actor Omar Benson Miller is also in 2021’s Rugrats revival, The Unicorn, Rise of the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Ballers, House of Lies, and Above Suspicion.

DeRon Horton as Hilly: Also known as Hilliard, Hilly is a younger relative of Ptolemy. He takes over caretaker duties when Reggie becomes unavailable. Actor DeRon Horton is perhaps most recognizable from his roles as Lionel Higgins on Dear White People, Ray Powell on American Horror Story, and Lou Carter on American Vandal.

Marsha Stephanie Blake as Niecie: Ptolemy’s niece Niecie was best friends with Robyn’s mom. She took Robyn in when her mom passed, and is the one who introduces Robyn to Ptolemy in The Last Days of Ptolemy Grey. Actor Marsha Stephanie Blake is most famous for her roles as Vivian Maddox on How To Get Away With Murder and Linda McCray on When They See Us. Blake also has minor roles in The Blacklist, Quantico, and Law & Order.

The Last Days of Prolemy Grey streams Fridays on Apple TV+.

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