Love Life Cast and Character Guide
A cast and character guide for the HBO Max series Love Life featuring who plays who, information about each character, and other noteworthy information about the show.
Spoiler Alert: This post may contain spoilers. Additionally, some images and text may include affiliate links, meaning we may earn a commission or receive products if you make a purchase.
A cast and character guide for the HBO Max series Love Life featuring who plays who, information about each character, and other noteworthy information about the show.
Please Note: This content contains pertinent spoilers, descriptions are updated as new information is presented, images changed as better ones are captured, and this is not an exhaustive list of every cast member, guest star, or reoccurring role.
General Information
| Creator(s) | Sam Boyd |
| First Aired (HBO Max) | 5/27/2020 |
Groups & Organizations
- Sutton Court Publishing (2.1): Marcus’ employer
- Wetherlys auction house (2.1): Mia’s employer
- Maeve (2.1): Where Emily works
Other Information
- Where We Begin (2.1): 2016
- Where We End (2.10): Roughly 2022, or 2023
[ninja_tables id=”61122″]
Season 2
Marcus Watkins (William Jackson Harper)
Marcus is a book editor for Sutton Court Publishing who does his best to advocate for people of color, but it doesn’t always go well. Trae Lang, a young man he tries to sign, shows why since Marcus is seen as a translator for more urban people and between being considered similar to Lavar Burton and Barack Obama, he wants an escape.
However, what doesn’t help is one of the few, if not only, women he had a serious relationship with, Emily, whom he is married to and feels disconnected from.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 2/ Episode 1 “Mia Hines”
- Nickname (2.3): He was called smart guy by Destiny back in the day
- Birthday (2.4): October 13th
- Title (2.5): Is an executive editor
Quotes & Gifs
Trae Lang (Jordan Rock)
An author that Marcus loves the work of, for his story focuses on an alternate reality in which Haiti was never colonized.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 2/ Episode 1 “Mia Hines”
Quotes & Gifs
Yogi (Chris Powell)
Marcus’ best friend who is in a committed relationship and pretty much focuses on his job, family and avoids any kind of situation like Marcus got himself into.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 2/ Episode 1 “Mia Hines”
- Job (2.1): Sells luxury boxes at Madison Square Garden
- Job (2.6): Transitions to a more stable position in the front office
Quotes & Gifs
Mia (Jessica Williams & Hailey Clairese Stone)
Mia is one of Darby’s co-workers at Wetherlys auction house who entertains Marcus’ attention until her boyfriend comes home.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 2/ Episode 1 “Mia Hines”
- Lineage (2.1) Her parents are divorced, and her mom is a loan manager at the Bank of Maryland and dad owns 6 Popeyes, of which her mom got him the loan for the first one.
- Also, she is from PG County and went to Spelman
- Apartment (2.1): She lives in 5J
- Shoe Size (2.6): 11 in women and a 9 in men’s
- Abortion (2.6): Reveals she had an abortion at 18 and has a mixed opinion on having kids
- From (2.7): In or around Bowie, Maryland
- Guilty Pleasure (2.7): Minute Maid Fruit Punch
- Job (2.7): Sells Birkin Bags
Quotes & Gifs
Her philosophy has always been, “I should be making more.” Not, “I should be spending less.”
— Mia (2.7)
Emily (Maya Kazan)
Emily is Marcus’ wife who he has been with since college, and who works nights. Which sometimes complicates their relationship.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 2/ Episode 1 “Mia Hines”
- Marriage and Relationship (2.1): Was with Marcus since Grad school and they have been married for 4 years
Quotes & Gifs
Paloma (Aline Mayagoitia)
Paloma is a 22-year-old RA, almost done with her BA, with who Marcus hooks up with.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 2/ Episode 2 “Paloma”
Quotes & Gifs
Ida (Punkie Johnson)
Ida is Marcus’ sister who is lesbian and also lives out in NYC.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 2/ Episode 2 “Paloma”
- Apartment (2.3): 4C
- Marriage (2.9): Gets married 8/20/2020
Quotes & Gifs
Kian (Arian Moayed)
Kian was a lit major, like Marcus, but then focused on a dress shirt designed to be worn untucked, sold that company, and now he is relatively rich.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 2/ Episode 2 “Paloma”
Quotes & Gifs
Keiko (Emma Kikue)
Keiko is one of Ida’s girlfriends that we’re introduced to, who works at a bar, but also makes soaps and lotions.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 2/ Episode 2 “Paloma”
- Sexuality (2.3): Is bi
Quotes & Gifs
Donna (Janet Hubert)
Donna is Ida and Marcus’ mom who lives with her husband, Kirby, in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Also, like her husband, she is a tenured professor.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 2/ Episode 3 “Destiny Mathis”
Quotes & Gifs
Kirby (John Earl Jelks)
Kirby is Isa and Marcus’ father who gets along more with Ida and has a strained relationship with Marcus due to how critical Kirby can be.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 2/ Episode 3 “Destiny Mathis”
- Favorite Poet (2.5): Nikki Giovanni
Quotes & Gifs
Destiny (Yasha Jackson)
Destiny was one of Marcus’ teenage crushes who, despite her being a year older than him, he tutored her in geometry.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 2/ Episode 3 “Destiny Mathis”
Quotes & Gifs
Tina (Nikiya Mathis)
Yogi’s wife and the mother of his kids.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 2/ Episode 5 “Becca Evans”
Quotes & Gifs
Ola (Ego Nwodim)
Born in Lagos, but moving with her family to Houston when she was 6, Ola currently is a playwright trying to get her first NYC production produced.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 2/ Episode 5 “Becca Evans”
- Background (2.4): She originally was supposed to be in the biotech industry and make her civil engineer dad and superintendent mom proud.
Quotes & Gifs
Becca (Leslie Bibb)
At one time, Becca was one of Marcus’ friends with benefits but after a threesome in which he didn’t toss the condom, she almost became the mother to his first child.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 2/ Episode 5 “Becca Evans”
- Divorcee (2.5): Is twice divorced
Quotes & Gifs
Gigi (Briana Marin)
Gigi is Becca’s vocal coach and friend who has a threesome with her and Marcus.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 2/ Episode 5 “Becca Evans”
Quotes & Gifs
Suzanne (Kimberly Elise)
Suzanne is Mia’s mom who, despite working at a bank, has never really been good with money. The way Mia explains it, her mother’s philosophy is “I should be making more.” Not, “I should be spending less.” But, despite money woes, Mia got what she needed and was put through college.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 2/ Episode 7 “Suzanné Hayward & Leon Hines”
- Diagnosis (2.9): Mia reveals her mother is bipolar
Quotes & Gifs
Leon (Blair Underwood)
Leon is Mia’s father who, financially, is better off than Suzanné, but Mia didn’t fully benefit from that. In fact, she would say that while Leon would be willing to pay for things, and had to pay child support, he was rarely physically present. Which Leon owns, but whether he truly wants to do and be better is hard to Mia is hard to say for he remains inconsistent.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 2/ Episode 7 “Suzanné Hayward & Leon Hines”
Quotes & Gifs
Jalessa (Jasmin Walker)
Jalessa is the love of Ida’s life who she did break up with in the past, but she gets back wit her by 2020.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 2/ Episode 9 “Marcus Watkins”
Quotes & Gifs
Anjami (Asra Arif)
Anjami was a short-term girlfriend of Marcus’ who he almost ended up living with at the start of the COVID pandemic. However, her habits led to him ending the relationship and them sharing his space.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 2/ Episode 9 “Marcus Watkins”
Quotes & Gifs
Josh (Steven Boyer)
Josh is Marcus’ boss.
Additional Information
- Introduced In Season 2/ Episode 9 “Marcus Watkins”
Quotes & Gifs
Season 1
Darby (Anna Kendrick & Courtney Grosbeck)
First Noted In – Season 1, Episode 1
Brief Description
When we meet Darby, she is 24, and it is implied she is still affected by her parents’ divorce when she was 4. Thus leading to her not necessarily desperate for meaningful connections but certainly hopeful and open. Our journey with her is through every role a person can play in a relationship – be it something casual or with long term potential.
[adinserter name=”Character Guide”]
Additional Information About Darby
- S1E1: Worked for Bradley doing tours
- Was into musical theater in high school and did a performance of “Cats.”
- S1E3: Has the opportunity for an assistant gig at an auction house.
- S1E4: Wants 3 kids, max
- Had braces until she was 17
- S1E7: Used to collect Beanie Babies.
- Relationship (2.10): She is still with Grant
Notable Episodes
- S1E5: We meet 15 year old (in 2006) Darby and see the braces
- Darby goes to see a therapist (Siobhan Fallon Hogan)
Quotes
Augie (Jin Ha)
First Noted In – Season 1, Episode 1
Brief Description
An employee of Politico and the first man we meet that Darby dates.
[adinserter name=”Character Guide”]
Additional Information About Augie
- S1E1: Gets the opportunity to work on President Obama’s reelection campaign, and it is noted he met Darby in January, so the official start of the show is January 2012.
- Is a Knicks fan
- He has tried long-distance, and he isn’t for it.
- S1E10: Has a son with Darby named Theo.
Quotes
Knowledge is subject to the context of a certain moment.
— Augie (S1E9)
Sara (Zoe Chao)
First Noted In – Season 1, Episode 1
Brief Description
Sara is the maternal figure in Darby’s household, and also the one with the most stable life. She works at Webster Hall and loves her job, and with Jim, her relationship has been going for a few years. Essentially, Sara is a shining example in Darby’s life.
[adinserter name=”Character Guide”]
Additional Information About Sara
- S1E8: We learn she has a sister
- S1E10: Is with a nice man named Angelo (Angelo Lanza)
Quotes
Mallory (Sasha Compère)
First Noted In – Season 1, Episode 1
Brief Description
Darby’s other roommate who is queer and works for a catering company.
[adinserter name=”Character Guide”]
Additional Information About Mallory
Notable Episodes
- S1E8: We meet her wife Taryn (Julia Shiplett), learn Mallory has been friends with Sara since high school, and Sara is one of the first people she came out to.
Quotes
Bradley (Scoot McNairy)
First Noted In – Season 1, Episode 2
Brief Description
Darby’s former boss, when she worked at a museum who, thanks to an app he invested in, is doing quite well – outside of being recently divorced.
[adinserter name=”Character Guide”]
Additional Information About Bradley
- S1E2: Was with Kate 11 years, married for one, and then divorced
- Has collected art since college
- Got rich off of a museum tour app
- Was with Darby 11 months
Quotes
Kate (Maureen Sebastian)
First Noted In – Season 1, Episode 2
Brief Description
Bradley’s ex-wife who, even after their divorce, is beloved by his family.
[adinserter name=”Character Guide”]
Additional Information About Kate
Quotes
Danny (Gus Halper)
First Noted In – Season 1, Episode 3
Brief Description
Danny meets Darby in 2015 at a party Sara brings her to, and they don’t hit it off quickly due to Danny’s insistence on wearing a gold chain. However, after an accident, he offers her the opportunity to clean up in his apartment where they get to talking. Mind you, nothing sexy, at first, but about how hung up he is on his ex – who left him three years ago.
But, with Darby’s encouragement, he tries to move on and does. It is just through Darby treating him like a one night stand despite him desiring a relationship.
[adinserter name=”Character Guide”]
Additional Information About Danny
- S1E3: Notes his family is full of liars, so he picks up when someone is lying to him easily.
Quotes
I’m not a moment, I’m a person.
— Danny | Love Life: Season 1 Episode 3 “Danny Two Phones.”
Emily (Erica Pappas)
First Noted In – Season 1, Episode 3
Brief Description
Augie’s new girlfriend, who is a writer and graduated from Gallatin.
[adinserter name=”Character Guide”]
Additional Information About Emily
Quotes
Jim (Peter Vack)
First Noted In – Season 1, Episode 3
Brief Description
Sara’s boyfriend of at least 4 years whose family is waiting for them to get married and have kids.
[adinserter name=”Character Guide”]
Additional Information About Jim
- S1E3: Is Jewish
- S1E9: Is dating a woman named Laurel (Diana Irvine).
Quotes
Magnus (Nick Thune)
First Noted In – Season 1 Episode 4
Brief Description
When we first meet Magnus he is a sous chef at a place named Maeve where he seems to excel. Alongside that, he is the ideal man for Darby since he falls fast, is family planning with her in no time, but then a life event changes Magnus, and his relationship with Darby, in the worst way possible.
[adinserter name=”Character Guide”]
Additional Information About Magnus
- S1E4: Wants 6 kids
- Pursued art, acting, culinary school and bee keeping
- Is not from New York
Notable Episodes
Quotes
Hunter (Jackson Demott Hill)
First Noted In – Season 1 Episode 4
Brief Description
Darby’s little brother from her mother’s relationship after being with her father.
[adinserter name=”Character Guide”]
Additional Information About Hunter
- S1E7: Is 20, dropped out of NYU, and lives in Brooklyn.
Notable Episodes
Quotes
Claudia (Hope Davis)
First Noted In – Season 1 Episode 4
Brief Description
Darby’s mother who loves to give an underhanded compliment and rarely take on the blame for anything wrong with Darby. She will, however, take credit for her positive attributes.
[adinserter name=”Character Guide”]
Additional Information About Claudia
- S1E7: Is 55
- Her mother, Janet, had her at 16 and emotionally abandoned Claudia when Claudia was 10.
- S1E9: We meet her mother.
Notable Episodes
Quotes
Luke (Griffin Gluck & John Gallagher Jr.)
First Noted In – Season 1 Episode 5
Brief Description
What Darby paints as one of her firsts loves, since her feelings were reciprocated, back when they met in 2006 during Thanksgiving break.
[adinserter name=”Character Guide”]
Additional Information About Luke
- S1E5: Family is from Corpus Christi, Texas and his father a Republican lobbyist
Notable Episodes
Quotes
Larry (James Le Gros)
First Noted In – Season 1 Episode 5
Brief Description
Darby’s dad who has a bit of a drinking problem, but is way nicer than her mom.
[adinserter name=”Character Guide”]
Additional Information About Larry
Notable Episodes
Quotes
Lola (Nadia Quinn)
First Noted In – Season 1
Brief Description
One of Bradley’s friends who become a mentor, and later boss, to Darby.
[adinserter name=”Character Guide”]
Additional Information About Lola
- S1E7: Has a daughter named Ruby, who is 4.
Notable Episodes
Quotes
Grant (Kingsley Ben-Adir)
First Noted In – Season 1, Episode 10
Brief Description
The man who might be the one for Darby, despite not necessarily being Mr. Perfect.
[adinserter name=”Character Guide”]
Additional Information About Grant
- S1E10: Is divorced and had issues with gambling.
- Was introduced to Darby through Sara, at her wedding.
