The What We Do in the Shadows cast features a who’s-who of seasoned comedy veterans, exciting up-and-coming talent, and scene-stealing supporting players as its vampiric characters. Based on the movie of the same name, What We Do in the Shadows is a mockumentary series about the mundane everyday lives of a group of vampires living in New York. The premise of a vampire-infested mockumentary might not have sustained a sketch in the hands of lesser creators, but Jemaine Clement, Taika Waititi, and co. have managed to make an acclaimed feature film and an equally acclaimed TV show out of that concept.
By introducing different kinds of vampires and entirely new supernatural species, the TV version of What We Do in the Shadows has expanded the world of the movie. The limited cast of the film has been replaced with a sprawling ensemble, played by both promising up-and-comers and prolific comedians. Widely praised by critics and fans alike, the series has been nominated for 17 Emmy Awards, including nods for Outstanding Comedy Series in 2020 and 2022. The What We Do in the Shadows cast has brought the ensemble to life with deadpan hilarity.
Kayvan Novak As Nandor The Relentless
760-year-old Nandor the Relentless is the oldest (and most quotable) vampire in the group and therefore its self-appointed leader, and he's played by Kayvan Novak. Before his role in What We Do in the Shadows, Novak was best known for co-creating and starring in the prank call show Fonejacker, for which he won the BAFTA Television Award for Best Comedy Programme or Series in 2008. He also played aspiring terrorist Waj in the political satire Four Lions. Novak’s other movie roles include Grant the Animal Supplier in Paddington, Roger Dearly in Cruella, and the voices of Dino and Jurgend in Early Man.
Matt Berry As Leslie “Laszlo” Cravensworth
Matt Berry appears in the What We Do in the Shadows cast as the sex-obsessed 310-year-old undead British nobleman Leslie “Laszlo” Cravensworth. Berry is best known for co-creating and starring as struggling actor Steven Toast in the sitcom Toast of London. His previous supporting TV roles include Dixon Bainbridge in The Mighty Boosh and Douglas Reynholm in The IT Crowd. Berry is also a prolific voice actor, having played such characters as Prince Merkimer in Disenchantment, King Poseidon in The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge on the Run, and Boba Fett’s running gag droid 8D8 in The Book of Boba Fett.
Natasia Demetriou As Nadja Of Antipaxos
Nadja of Antipaxos, Laszlo’s 500-year-old Greek Romani vampire wife who originally turned him into a vampire, is played by Natasia Demetriou. Demetriou previously played the supporting roles of Sophie in her brother Jamie Demetriou’s sitcom Stath Lets Flats and Tiff in This Time with Alan Partridge. Her film roles include Eurovision crew member Nina in the Netflix comedy Eurovision Song Contest: The Story of Fire Saga and the voice of Wingnut in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles: Mutant Mayhem. Demetriou and her comedy partner Ellie White wrote and starred in the BBC sketch show Ellie & Natasia.
Harvey Guillén As Guillermo De La Cruz
Harvey Guillén appears in the What We Do in the Shadows cast as Nandor’s sweet familiar Guillermo de la Cruz, who has the patience of a saint. Guillén has appeared in such movies as The Internship as Zach and Werewolves Within as Joaquim Wolfson. He also had recurring TV roles as Cousin Blobbin in The Thundermans and Benedict Fenwick in The Magicians. As a voice actor, Guillén is recognizable for his roles as Perrito in Puss in Boots: The Last Wish, Alton in Archer, and Dick Grayson in the Harley Quinn animated series.
Mark Proksch As Colin Robinson
Colin Robinson, an energy vampire who lives in the basement and drains people’s energy with his incessant boringness, is played by Mark Proksch. Aside from his role in What We Do in the Shadows, Proksch is best known for playing such scene-stealing TV characters as Nate Nickerson in The Office and Daniel Wormald in Better Call Saul. His other TV roles include Mr. Dinkler in Bob’s Burgers, Dan in New Girl, Randy Blink in Dream Corp LLC, and Todd in Son of Zorn. Proksch also appeared as himself in the satirical film review series On Cinema.
What We Do In The Shadows Supporting Cast & Characters
Anthony Atamanuik as Sean Rinaldi: The vampires’ human next-door neighbor, Sean Rinaldi, is played by Anthony Atamanuik. Atamanuik is best known for his impression of Donald Trump, which he performed on The President Show.
Beanie Feldstein as Jenna: Beanie Feldstein appears in the What We Do in the Shadows cast as Jenna, a LARPer that Nadja turned into a vampire. Feldstein has played such movie roles as Molly Davidson in Booksmart, Johanna Morrigan in How to Build a Girl, and the title character’s best friend Julie Steffans in Lady Bird. She also played Monica Lewinsky in Impeachment: American Crime Story.
Doug Jones as Baron Afanas: Baron Afanas, an ancient vampire from the Old Country who wants vampires to take over the world, is played by Doug Jones. Jones is best known for his collaborations with Guillermo del Toro, playing such movie monsters as the Faun in Pan’s Labyrinth, the Amphibian Man in The Shape of Water, and Abe Sapien in the Hellboy franchise.
Nick Kroll as Simon the Devious: Nick Kroll plays Simon the Devious, the owner of the Sassy Cat nightclub who rules over the vampires of Manhattan. Kroll is best known as a co-creator of the Netflix animated comedy Big Mouth, in which he voices Nick Birch, Maurice the Hormone Monster, Coach Steve, and various other characters. He also co-created and starred in the sketch series Kroll Show and played Dean in Don’t Worry Darling, Douche in Sausage Party, and voiced Uncle Fester in the animated Addams Family movies.
Jake McDorman as Jeff Suckler: The reincarnation of Nadja’s former lover Gregor, known as Jeff Suckler, is played by Jake McDorman. McDorman has also played Mr. Bruno in Lady Bird, Ryan “Biggles” Job in American Sniper, and U.S. Attorney John Brownlee in the Hulu miniseries Dopesick.
Kristen Schaal as The Guide: The What We Do in the Shadows cast features Kristen Schaal as The Guide, an ambassador for the Vampiric Council. Schaal is best known for her voice roles as Louise Belcher on Bob’s Burgers, Mabel Pines on Gravity Falls, and Sarah Lynn on BoJack Horseman. She also played Mel, the titular band’s one and only fan, on Flight of the Conchords.