List of Orange Is the New Black characters
Updated: 5/20/2026, 8:13:03 PM Wikipedia source
Orange Is the New Black is an American comedy-drama series created by Jenji Kohan that airs on Netflix. It is based on Piper Kerman's memoir, Orange Is the New Black: My Year in a Women's Prison, which chronicles her experiences in a women's prison. The series' protagonist is Piper Chapman, a woman sentenced to 15 months in a women's federal prison for her part in a drug smuggling operation. She was led into this situation by her ex-girlfriend Alex Vause who is first seen in one of the opening scenes, which takes place ten years before the start of the first season. The series follows Piper's experiences in and out of prison along with the experiences of a diverse ensemble.
Tables
· Overview
1
1
Actor
1
Character
2
Seasons
3
Seasons
4
Seasons
5
Seasons
6
Seasons
7
Main cast
Main cast
Actor
Main cast
Taylor Schilling
Taylor Schilling
Actor
Taylor Schilling
Character
Piper Chapman
Seasons
Main
Laura Prepon
Laura Prepon
Actor
Laura Prepon
Character
Alex Vause
Seasons
Main
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Main
Michael J. Harney
Michael J. Harney
Actor
Michael J. Harney
Character
Sam Healy
Seasons
Main
Seasons
Credit only
Seasons
Guest
Michelle Hurst
Michelle Hurst
Actor
Michelle Hurst
Character
Miss Claudette Pelage
Seasons
Main
Kate Mulgrew
Kate Mulgrew
Actor
Kate Mulgrew
Character
Galina "Red" Reznikov
Seasons
Main
Jason Biggs
Jason Biggs
Actor
Jason Biggs
Character
Larry Bloom
Seasons
Main
Seasons
Guest
Seasons
Recurring
Uzo Aduba
Uzo Aduba
Actor
Uzo Aduba
Character
Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" Warren
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Main
Danielle Brooks
Danielle Brooks
Actor
Danielle Brooks
Character
Tasha "Taystee" Jefferson
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Main
Natasha Lyonne
Natasha Lyonne
Actor
Natasha Lyonne
Character
Nicky Nichols
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Main
Taryn Manning
Taryn Manning
Actor
Taryn Manning
Character
Tiffany "Pennsatucky" Doggett
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Main
Selenis Leyva
Selenis Leyva
Actor
Selenis Leyva
Character
Gloria Mendoza
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Main
Adrienne C. Moore
Adrienne C. Moore
Actor
Adrienne C. Moore
Character
Cindy "Black Cindy" Hayes
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Main
Dascha Polanco
Dascha Polanco
Actor
Dascha Polanco
Character
Dayanara "Daya" Diaz
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Main
Nick Sandow
Nick Sandow
Actor
Nick Sandow
Character
Joe Caputo
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Main
Yael Stone
Yael Stone
Actor
Yael Stone
Character
Lorna Morello
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Main
Samira Wiley
Samira Wiley
Actor
Samira Wiley
Character
Poussey Washington
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Main
Seasons
Guest
Seasons
Guest
Jackie Cruz
Jackie Cruz
Actor
Jackie Cruz
Character
Marisol "Flaca" Gonzales
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Main
Lea DeLaria
Lea DeLaria
Actor
Lea DeLaria
Character
Carrie "Big Boo" Black
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Main
Seasons
Guest
Elizabeth Rodriguez
Elizabeth Rodriguez
Actor
Elizabeth Rodriguez
Character
Aleida Diaz
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Main
Jessica Pimentel
Jessica Pimentel
Actor
Jessica Pimentel
Character
Maria Ruiz
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Main
Laura Gómez
Laura Gómez
Actor
Laura Gómez
Character
Blanca Flores
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Main
Matt Peters
Matt Peters
Actor
Matt Peters
Character
Joel Luschek
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Main
Dale Soules
Dale Soules
Actor
Dale Soules
Character
Frieda Berlin
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Main
Alysia Reiner
Alysia Reiner
Actor
Alysia Reiner
Character
Natalie "Fig" Figueroa
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Guest
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Main
Recurring cast
Recurring cast
Actor
Recurring cast
Laverne Cox
Laverne Cox
Actor
Laverne Cox
Character
Sophia Burset
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Guest
Diane Guerrero
Diane Guerrero
Actor
Diane Guerrero
Character
Maritza Ramos
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Recurring
Vicky Jeudy
Vicky Jeudy
Actor
Vicky Jeudy
Character
Janae Watson
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Guest
Annie Golden
Annie Golden
Actor
Annie Golden
Character
Norma Romano
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Guest
Emma Myles
Emma Myles
Actor
Emma Myles
Character
Leanne Taylor
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Guest
Julie Lake
Julie Lake
Actor
Julie Lake
Character
Angie Rice
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Guest
Abigail Savage
Abigail Savage
Actor
Abigail Savage
Character
Gina Murphy
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Guest
Constance Shulman
Constance Shulman
Actor
Constance Shulman
Character
Erica "Yoga" Jones
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Guest
Lori Tan Chinn
Lori Tan Chinn
Actor
Lori Tan Chinn
Character
Mei Chang
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Guest
Tamara Torres
Tamara Torres
Actor
Tamara Torres
Character
Emily Germann
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Guest
Lin Tucci
Lin Tucci
Actor
Lin Tucci
Character
Anita DeMarco
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Guest
Tanya Wright
Tanya Wright
Actor
Tanya Wright
Character
Crystal Burset
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Guest
Beth Fowler
Beth Fowler
Actor
Beth Fowler
Character
Sister Jane Ingalls
Seasons
Recurring
Catherine Curtin
Catherine Curtin
Actor
Catherine Curtin
Character
Wanda Bell
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Guest
Seasons
Recurring
Joel Marsh Garland
Joel Marsh Garland
Actor
Joel Marsh Garland
Character
Scott O'Neill
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Guest
Seasons
Recurring
Michael Chernus
Michael Chernus
Actor
Michael Chernus
Character
Cal Chapman
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Guest
Seasons
Guest
Seasons
Recurring
Brendan Burke
Brendan Burke
Actor
Brendan Burke
Character
Wade Donaldson
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Guest
Deborah Rush
Deborah Rush
Actor
Deborah Rush
Character
Carol Chapman
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Guest
Berto Colon
Berto Colon
Actor
Berto Colon
Character
Cesar Velazquez
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Guest
Seasons
Recurring
Tracee Chimo
Tracee Chimo
Actor
Tracee Chimo
Character
Neri Feldman
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Recurring
Matt McGorry
Matt McGorry
Actor
Matt McGorry
Character
John Bennett
Seasons
Recurring
Lolita Foster
Lolita Foster
Actor
Lolita Foster
Character
Elique Maxwell
Seasons
Recurring
Pablo Schreiber
Pablo Schreiber
Actor
Pablo Schreiber
Character
George "Pornstache" Mendez
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Guest
Seasons
Guest
Seasons
Guest
Barbara Rosenblat
Barbara Rosenblat
Actor
Barbara Rosenblat
Character
Rosa "Miss Rosa" Cisneros
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Guest
Maria Dizzia
Maria Dizzia
Actor
Maria Dizzia
Character
Polly Harper
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Recurring
Lauren Lapkus
Lauren Lapkus
Actor
Lauren Lapkus
Character
Susan Fischer
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Guest
Nick Stevenson
Nick Stevenson
Actor
Nick Stevenson
Character
Pete Harper
Seasons
Recurring
Kaipo Schwab
Kaipo Schwab
Actor
Kaipo Schwab
Character
Igme Dimaguiba
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Guest
Seasons
Recurring
Madeline Brewer
Madeline Brewer
Actor
Madeline Brewer
Character
Tricia Miller
Seasons
Recurring
Kimiko Glenn
Kimiko Glenn
Actor
Kimiko Glenn
Character
Brook Soso
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Guest
Ian Paola
Ian Paola
Actor
Ian Paola
Character
Yadriel
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Guest
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Recurring
Germar Terrell Gardner
Germar Terrell Gardner
Actor
Germar Terrell Gardner
Character
Charles Ford
Seasons
Recurring
Hamilton Clancy
Hamilton Clancy
Actor
Hamilton Clancy
Character
Kowalski
Seasons
Recurring
Yvette Freeman
Yvette Freeman
Actor
Yvette Freeman
Character
Irma Lerman
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Guest
Judith Roberts
Judith Roberts
Actor
Judith Roberts
Character
Erica Taslitz
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Guest
Seasons
Guest
Lorraine Toussaint
Lorraine Toussaint
Actor
Lorraine Toussaint
Character
Yvonne "Vee" Parker
Seasons
Recurring
Patricia Squire
Patricia Squire
Actor
Patricia Squire
Character
Jimmy Cavanaugh
Seasons
Recurring
James McMenamin
James McMenamin
Actor
James McMenamin
Character
Charlie "Donuts" Coates
Seasons
Recurring
Karina Ortiz
Karina Ortiz
Actor
Karina Ortiz
Character
Margarita
Seasons
Recurring
Michael Bryan French
Michael Bryan French
Actor
Michael Bryan French
Character
Jack Pearson
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Guest
John Magaro
John Magaro
Actor
John Magaro
Character
Vince Muccio
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Recurring
Blair Brown
Blair Brown
Actor
Blair Brown
Character
Judy King
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Guest
Alan Aisenberg
Alan Aisenberg
Actor
Alan Aisenberg
Character
Baxter "Gerber" Bayley
Seasons
Recurring
Emily Althaus
Emily Althaus
Actor
Emily Althaus
Character
Maureen Kukudio
Seasons
Recurring
Jimmy Gary Jr.
Jimmy Gary Jr.
Actor
Jimmy Gary Jr.
Character
Felix Rikerson
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Guest
Lori Petty
Lori Petty
Actor
Lori Petty
Character
Lolly Whitehill
Seasons
Guest
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Recurring
Mike Birbiglia
Mike Birbiglia
Actor
Mike Birbiglia
Character
Danny Pearson
Seasons
Recurring
Mugga
Mugga
Actor
Mugga
Character
Reema Pell
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Guest
Seasons
Recurring
Ruby Rose
Ruby Rose
Actor
Ruby Rose
Character
Stella Carlin
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Guest
Eden Malyn
Eden Malyn
Actor
Eden Malyn
Character
Erin Sikowitz
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Guest
Jamie Denbo
Jamie Denbo
Actor
Jamie Denbo
Character
Shelly Ginsberg
Seasons
Guest
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Recurring
Danielle Herbert
Danielle Herbert
Actor
Danielle Herbert
Character
Jeanie "Babs" Babson
Seasons
Recurring
Seasons
Recurring
| Actor | Character | Seasons | ||||||
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | ||
| Main cast | ||||||||
| Taylor Schilling | Piper Chapman | Main | ||||||
| Laura Prepon | Alex Vause | Main | Recurring | Main | ||||
| Michael J. Harney | Sam Healy | Main | Credit only | Guest | ||||
| Michelle Hurst | Miss Claudette Pelage | Main | ||||||
| Kate Mulgrew | Galina "Red" Reznikov | Main | ||||||
| Jason Biggs | Larry Bloom | Main | Guest | Recurring | ||||
| Uzo Aduba | Suzanne "Crazy Eyes" Warren | Recurring | Main | |||||
| Danielle Brooks | Tasha "Taystee" Jefferson | Recurring | Main | |||||
| Natasha Lyonne | Nicky Nichols | Recurring | Main | |||||
| Taryn Manning | Tiffany "Pennsatucky" Doggett | Recurring | Main | |||||
| Selenis Leyva | Gloria Mendoza | Recurring | Main | |||||
| Adrienne C. Moore | Cindy "Black Cindy" Hayes | Recurring | Main | |||||
| Dascha Polanco | Dayanara "Daya" Diaz | Recurring | Main | |||||
| Nick Sandow | Joe Caputo | Recurring | Main | |||||
| Yael Stone | Lorna Morello | Recurring | Main | |||||
| Samira Wiley | Poussey Washington | Recurring | Main | Guest | Guest | |||
| Jackie Cruz | Marisol "Flaca" Gonzales | Recurring | Main | |||||
| Lea DeLaria | Carrie "Big Boo" Black | Recurring | Main | Guest | ||||
| Elizabeth Rodriguez | Aleida Diaz | Recurring | Main | |||||
| Jessica Pimentel | Maria Ruiz | Recurring | Main | |||||
| Laura Gómez | Blanca Flores | Recurring | Main | |||||
| Matt Peters | Joel Luschek | Recurring | Main | |||||
| Dale Soules | Frieda Berlin | Recurring | Main | |||||
| Alysia Reiner | Natalie "Fig" Figueroa | Recurring | Guest | Recurring | Main | |||
| Recurring cast | ||||||||
| Laverne Cox | Sophia Burset | Recurring | Guest | |||||
| Diane Guerrero | Maritza Ramos | Recurring | Recurring | |||||
| Vicky Jeudy | Janae Watson | Recurring | Guest | |||||
| Annie Golden | Norma Romano | Recurring | Guest | |||||
| Emma Myles | Leanne Taylor | Recurring | Guest | |||||
| Julie Lake | Angie Rice | Recurring | Guest | |||||
| Abigail Savage | Gina Murphy | Recurring | Guest | |||||
| Constance Shulman | Erica "Yoga" Jones | Recurring | Guest | |||||
| Lori Tan Chinn | Mei Chang | Recurring | Guest | |||||
| Tamara Torres | Emily Germann | Recurring | Guest | |||||
| Lin Tucci | Anita DeMarco | Recurring | Guest | |||||
| Tanya Wright | Crystal Burset | Recurring | Guest | |||||
| Beth Fowler | Sister Jane Ingalls | Recurring | ||||||
| Catherine Curtin | Wanda Bell | Recurring | Guest | Recurring | ||||
| Joel Marsh Garland | Scott O'Neill | Recurring | Guest | Recurring | ||||
| Michael Chernus | Cal Chapman | Recurring | Guest | Guest | Recurring | |||
| Brendan Burke | Wade Donaldson | Recurring | Guest | |||||
| Deborah Rush | Carol Chapman | Recurring | Recurring | Guest | ||||
| Berto Colon | Cesar Velazquez | Recurring | Guest | Recurring | ||||
| Tracee Chimo | Neri Feldman | Recurring | Recurring | |||||
| Matt McGorry | John Bennett | Recurring | ||||||
| Lolita Foster | Elique Maxwell | Recurring | ||||||
References
- Harney is credited as main cast in season five despite not appearing in any of the episodes.
- Rodriguez is promoted to the main cast in the seventh episode of season four. In all prior appearances in season four, s
- Weedshttps://deadline.com/2011/07/netflix-eyeing-second-original-series-comedy-from-weeds-creator-jenji-kohan-149314/
- Refinery29https://www.refinery29.com/2015/06/88836/orange-is-the-new-black-season-3-binge-watching-guide#.xvdzzp:8eAJ
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/orange-is-new-black-star-dascha-polanco-reveals-dayas-fate-1227901
- "Orange Is the New Black's Yael Stone on Lorna's Sad and Disturbing Backstory"http://www.cosmopolitan.com/celebrity/exclusive/orange-is-the-new-black-yael-stone-lorna-morello-interview
- Orange Is the New Black'https://www.vulture.com/2014/06/why-orange-is-the-new-blacks-flaca-is-important.html
- Cosmopolitanhttp://www.cosmopolitan.com/entertainment/celebs/news/a42395/jackie-cruz-flaca-oitnb-season-3-interview/
- TVLinehttp://tvline.com/2016/06/21/orange-is-the-new-black-season-4-finale-recap-episode-12-13-poussey-dies-dead/
- The Hollywood Reporterhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/orange-is-new-black-danielle-brooks-final-season-series-finale-1229156
- Robinson, Joanna. "Orange Is the New Black Just Made All Other TV Deaths This Year Look Cheap." Vanity Fair. June 20, 20https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2016/06/orange-is-the-new-black-death
- Vilkomerson, Sara. "Orange Is the New Black actress on shocking season 4 scene." Entertainment Weekly. June 20, 2016. Rehttps://www.ew.com/article/2016/06/20/orange-new-black-poussey
- Bell, Crystal. "Orange Is The New Black’s Heartbreaking Death Will Change Litchfield As We Know It." MTV. June 21, 2016.https://web.archive.org/web/20160622125942/http://www.mtv.com/news/2895219/orange-is-the-new-black-death-season-4/
- Fernandez, Maria Elena. "Orange Is the New Black’s Samira Wiley on Poussey’s Devastating Scene, Black Lives Matter, andhttps://www.vulture.com/2016/06/poussey-orange-is-the-new-black-samira-wiley-black-lives-matter.html
- The New York Timeshttps://www.nytimes.com/2016/06/21/arts/television/orange-is-the-new-black-poussey-death-samira-wiley-oitnb.html
- CNNhttps://www.cnn.com/2019/07/26/entertainment/oitnb-poussey-washington-fund/index.html
- "How the Orange is the New Black inmates ended up in prison ." The Daily Telegraph. June 22, 2016. Retrieved on July 1,https://www.telegraph.co.uk/on-demand/0/how-each-orange-is-the-new-black-inmate-ended-up-in-prison/maria-ruizplayed-by-jessica-pimentelcrime-probably-drugs-related/
- "'OITNB' Star on Maria's "Stomach-Turning" Revenge on Piper: "I Hope People Were Horrified"." The Hollywood Reporter. Juhttps://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/orange-is-new-black-maria-piper-nazi-branding-906797