AMC’s acclaimed mystery showDark Windsowes at least some of its success to its hugely talented cast. Though the show is built around the relationship between Joe Leaphorn, Jim Chee, and Bernadette Manuelito,Dark Windsseason 3has added quite a few new characters to the police procedural. Some of those new characters aren’t really new, as they first appeared in theLeaphorn & Cheenovels by Tony and Anne Hillerman, whichDark Windsis based on. Luckily, series showrunnerTom Wirth gave some details aboutDark Windsseason 3’s new characters.
Dark Windsseason 3 is an adaptation of the novels “Dancehall of the Dead” and “Sinister Pig,” and as such, incorporates characters specific to both. Most of the main cast ofDark Windsare returning for season 3, aside from those whose characters died at theending ofDark Windsseason 2. The new additions to the show should make for yet another engaging mystery, and given the trailer forDark Windsseason 3, they could put Leaphorn, Chee, and Bernadette in quite a bit of danger.
Zahn McClarnon as Joe Leaphorn
Date of Birth: August 22, 2025
Actor: Zahn McClarnon was born in Denver, Colorado.McClarnon had his breakthrough role in the Steven Spielberg-produced 2005 miniseriesInto the West, where he played Running Fox. Over the decades, McClarnon has starred in a huge number of successful TV shows and movies, likeLongmire,Barkskins, andDoctor Sleep. He’s even appeared in the MCU via the Disney+ showEcho. McClarnon also has experience behind the camera: he serves as an executive producer ofDark Winds, and he also has voice acting experience in shows likeArk: The Animated SeriesandCastlevania: Nocturne.
Longmire
Officer Mathias
Character: InDark Winds, Zahn McClarnon plays Joe Leaphorn, the lieutenant of the Navajo Police. Leaphorn is the main character and hero ofDark Winds, and for good reason. Joe is a good man who wants to help the Navajo community, and though he has his moments of darkness, he’s still a good husband and police officer. However,Dark Windsseason 3 should see Joe come face to face with the repercussions of one of his darkest moments: killing BJ Vines.
Kiowa Gordon as Jim Chee
Date of Birth: July 16, 2025
Actor: Kiowa Gordon was born in Berlin, Germany, though he grew up on the Hualapai Indian Reservation in Arizona.Gordon’s first role was also his breakthrough: he played the shapeshifter Embry Call in theTwilight Saga, beginning with 2009’sNew Moon. Interestingly, Gordon has worked with both hisDark Windsco-stars in the past: he and Zahn McClarnon both appeared inReservation Dogs, and he also appeared inFrontierwith Jessica Matten. Gordon has also tackled everything from actioners likeQuantum Cowboysto dramas likeAccused.
Blood Quantum
Lysol
Character: InDark Winds, Kiowa Gordon plays Jim Chee, former FBI Special Agent turned Navajo Police sergeant. Chee has a complicated history with the Navajo nation, and his past traumas could come back to haunt him inDark Windsseason 3. Additionally, sinceBernadette left for Border Patrol inDark Winds, Chee will likely get even closer to Leaphorn in the new season.
Jessica Matten as Bernadette Manuelito
Date of Birth: Jul 17, 2025
Actor: Jessica Matten was born in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada.Matten notably had two different breakthrough roles in Canada and the United States: for playing Gina inBlackstoneand Bernadette inDark Winds, respectively. Outside of her most prominent roles, Matten has starred in a wide variety of genres, from police procedurals likeTribaltodramas likeRez Balland historical thrillers likeFrontier.
Blackstone
Gina
Character: InDark Winds, Jessica Matten plays former Navajo Police deputy Bernadette Manuelito. At the end ofDark Windsseason 2,Bernadette left the Navajo Nation to pursue a career working for the United States Border Patrol, which is where the premiere ofDark Windsseason 3 finds her. Bernadette is a caring and meticulous officer with a deep respect for Navajo medicine and tradition, as well as a keen sense of justice.
Jenna Elfman As FBI Special Agent Sylvia Washington
Date of Birth: June 03, 2025
Actor: Jenna Elfman was born in Los Angeles, California.Elfman had her breakthrough role in the long-running romantic comedy seriesDharma & Greg, where she played the titular role of Dharma Finkelstein Montgomery. Since her days onDharma & Greg, Elfman has starred in a number of notable TV shows and romantic comedies, includingAccidentally on Purposeand1600 Penn. Elfman’s most notable project in recent years is probablyFear the Walking Dead, where she played June Dorie.
EDtv
Shari
Character: InDark Windsseason 3, Jenna Elfman plays FBI Special Agent Sylvia Washington. Washington is a new addition toDark Winds, as she was sent to Leaphorn’s police station to investigate BJ Vines' disappearance. Washington has also been described as deceptively smart: she appears naive and vapid, but she only uses that to her advantage in the course of an investigation.
Dark Winds Season 3 Supporting Cast & Character Guide
Deanna Allison as Emma Leaphorn: Deanna Allison plays Emma Leaphorn inDark Winds. Allison is best known for playing Marissa inEdge of America, though she also worked as an animator on 2004’sThe Batman. Emma Leaphorn is Joe’s wife and a birthing specialist at the local hospital who looks after Navajo women at risk of being forcibly sterilized.
A Martinez as Sheriff Gordo Sena: A Martinez plays Sheriff Gordo Sena inDark Winds. Martinez is known for movies likeThe Last Airbenderand shows likeLongmire, where he played Jacob Nighthorse alongside hisDark Windsco-star Zahn McClarnon. Sena is the sheriff of Scarborough County, and though he has retired, he’s called in for Ernesto Cata’s disappearance.
Tonantzin Carmelo as Eleanda Garza: Tonantzin Carmelo plays Eleanda Garza inDark Windsseason 3. Carmelo is best known forInto the West, alongside Zahn McClarnon, and the TV showLa Brea. A new addition to the show, Eleanda is one of the officers at the Border Patrol station that Bernadette began working at.
Alex Meraz as Ivan Muños: Alex Meraz plays Ivan Muños inDark Windsseason 3. Meraz is best known for movies likeSuicide SquadandThe Twilight Saga, which had him collaborate with Kiowa Gordon, as well as a very recent role: he played Jimenez in Taylor Sheridan’sLandman. Muños is another agent at Border Patrol, and he and Bernadette have a complicated relationship.
Terry Serpico as Officer Henry: Terry Serpico plays Officer Henry inDark Windsseason 3. Serpico is known for shows likeLaw & Order: Special Victims UnitandYellowstone. Henry is Bernadette’s commanding officer at Border Patrol, and he gives her a hard time on some of her cases.
Bruce Greenwood as Tom Spenser: Bruce Greenwood plays Tom Spenser inDark Windsseason 3. Greenwood is best known for movies likeStar Trek(2009) andThirteen Days. Spenser is a New Mexico oil baron who turns to crime after his drill sites run dry.
Carly Roland as Teddi Issacs: Carly Roland plays Teddi Issacs inDark Windsseason 3. Roland is known for shows likeHappy!andMayfair Witches. Issacs is an anthropologist working on a dig site on the Navajo Nation, and she is somehow connected to the disappearance of Ernesto Cata.
