Before: Character Guide and Noteworthy Show Information
This is a character guide for Apple TV +’s “Before,” with character descriptions, quotes, names of actors, and more.
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.
General Information
| Network(s) | Apple TV Plus |
| Created By | Sarah Thorp |
| Based On | N/A |
| First Aired | October 25, 2024 |
| Executive Produced By | Billy Crystal, Adam Bernstein, Eric Roth, Sarah Thorp, Jet Wilkinson |
| Genre(s) | Drama, Fantasy, Horror, Mystery |
| Renewal Status | To Be Determined |
Groups & Organizations
Notable Locations & Items
Terminology
Noteworthy Information
- Eli’s Dog (1.1): His name is Larry
Billy Crystal As Eli
Eli is a man who has been a child psychologist for most of his professional career and has been reeling over the sudden and traumatic death of his wife recently.
- Character Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 1
- The actor is also known for their role in “Untogether.”
Additional Information
- (Season / Episode):
Quotes
Judith Light As Lynn
Lynn is Eli’s wife, who was an artist with a focus on making books for children, who committed suicide for reasons unknown as of the series premiere.
- Character Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 1
- The actor is also known for their role in “The Young Wife.”
Additional Information
- Death (Season 1/ Episode 3): Before her suicide, Lynn had cancer that she was fighting
Quotes
Jacobi Jupe As Noah
Noah is an 8-year-old boy who has bounced from foster home to foster home due to seeing shadowy figures about to attack people and him pouncing – thus hurting the person rather than the shadow.
- Character Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 1
Additional Information
- Case File (Season 1/ Episode 1): He has been in 5 foster families in the last 2 years
- Safe Haven (1.2): Noah is a Safe Haven baby i.e. his parents dropped him off at St. Matthews near Battery Park
Quotes
Julia Chan As Eli’s Therapist
While Eli has friends, he recognizes the power and use of a therapist, so he sees one voluntarily weekly. However, it seems that in most of his sessions, he avoids talking about Lynn and focuses on everything else in his life—almost to the point of appearing to want to talk to someone who doesn’t know him as Lynn’s husband.
- Character Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 1
- The actor is also known for their role in “Accused: Season 1/ Episode 11.”
Additional Information
- (Season / Episode):
Quotes
Sakina Jaffrey As Gail
Gail is a lawyer with a professional relationship with Eli, who she uses to do psychological exams.
- Character Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 1
Additional Information
- (Season / Episode):
Quotes
Itzhak Perlman As Drake
Drake is a professor and friend of Eli, whom he goes to when he is trying to decipher what Noah was saying after he attacked Eli.
- Character Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 1
Additional Information
- (Season / Episode):
Quotes
Robert Townsend As Jackson
Jackson is one of Eli’s closest friends, whom he has known since college.
- Character Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 1
- The actor is also known for their role in “Love Is: Season 1/ Episode 2.”
Additional Information
- (Season / Episode):
Quotes
- You’re blinders are both your main strength and your main weakness. — Jackson, quoting Lynn (1.3)
Rosie Perez As Denise
Denise is Noah’s foster mom.
- Character Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 1
- The actor is also known for their role in “Birds of Prey (and the Fantabulous Emancipation of One Harley Quinn).”
Additional Information
- (Season / Episode):
Quotes
Miriam Shor As Sue Ann
Sue Ann is a realtor who Eli isn’t the most fond of, but she does make an effort for his business enough that he recognizes she isn’t a bad person, just a persistent one.
- Character Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 2
Additional Information
- (Season / Episode):
Quotes
Maria Dizzia As Barbara
Barb is Eli’s daughter. For most of his life, she has come second to his work, which has long complicated their relationship.
- Character Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 2
- The actor is also known for their role in “School Spirits: Season 1, Episodes 1-3.”
Additional Information
- (Season / Episode):
Quotes
Rebecca Ruane As Sophie
Sophie is Eli’s granddaughter.
- Character Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 3
Additional Information
- (Season / Episode):
Quotes
Ava Lalezarzadeh As Cleo
Despite Eli wrapping things up with his career, on the verge of retirement after Noah, he still has an office and an assistant, Cleo, who helps with the paperwork and changes his notes into the proper format for diagnosis and likely billing.
- Character Introduced In Season 1/ Episode 3
Additional Information
- (Season / Episode):
Quotes
