Apple TV+ has launched another thrilling crime show with producer Ridley Scott’s crime drama,Dope Thief. Created by Oscar-nominated screenwriter Peter Craig,2025’sDope Thieffollows two friends who pose as DEA agents to commit house robberies, only to discover that they robbed a massive narcotics operation during their latest job. Based on the novel by Dennis Tafoya,Ridley Scott’sDope Thiefcurrently has an 82% rating from critics onRotten Tomatoes, making it one of Apple TV+’s most promising shows in 2025.
Dope Thief’s cast is helmed byBrian Tyree Henryand Wagner Moura, who bring enough star power to the series as veteran actors and some of Hollywood’s up-and-coming performers. However,this series features many talented but overlooked actors in its cast, who add more than enough life and drama to the harsh world in which Henry and Moura’s leading characters try to survive.
Actor Brian Tyree Henry As Ray
Date Of Birth: July 09, 2025
Actor: Born in Fayetteville, North Carolina, Brian Tyree Henry started as a theater actorbefore moving to television with his role inLaw & Order.After several performances in TV shows and movies, includingAtlantaas Paper Boi, Henry gave his breakout performances in the 2018 filmsWidowsandIf Beale Street Could Talk. His career rose to greater heights after starring inChild’s Play,Joker, andGodzilla vs. Kong. He is most popular for his performance as the superhero Phastos in the Marvel Cinematic Universe filmEternals.
Character:InDope Thief, Henry plays Ray, a grifter living in Philadelphia. Working together with his best friend, Ray unknowingly robs a narcotics ring and jeopardizes the lives of those he cares about. In an interview withMSN, Henry admitted the struggles he faced while portraying Ray, whose character invoked sensitive personal issues due to Henry’s childhood:
“I was always passed off to people. So I always grew up with this feeling of being inconvenient, which then translates into being the caregiver or always needing validation or always making sure people are happy. That’s a big part of why I took Ray because I really wanted to uncloak all that trauma that I was carrying with that.”
Actor Wagner Moura As Manny Carvalho
Date Of Birth: June 06, 2025
Actor:Growing up in Brazil, Moura had several roles in Brazilian film and television,the most notable of them being inParaíso Tropical. Moura broke out in Hollywood with his role alongside actor Matt Damon inElysium. He later became famous for his role as Pablo Escobar on the hit Netflix seriesNarcos. Since then, he has had roles inMr. & Mrs. Smith,The Gray Man,Civil War, andPuss in Boots: The Last Wish, for which he was nominated for an Annie Award for his voice-acting performance as Death.
Character:Moura stars inDope Thiefas Manny Carvalho, Ray’s best friend and partner in their lives stealing from drug rings. Like Ray, Manny grapples with the consequences of their actions as the kingpin they robbed threatens his family. In an interview withComic Book Resources, Moura explained how his character inDope Thiefis emotionally and morally different from Pablo Escobar inNarcos:
“One thing that I loved about Manny - the thing that I loved most about him - is that he doesn’t want to be there. He doesn’t want to be in that situation, whereas Pablo Escobar really wanted to be there. Manny doesn’t. He’s not even good at it. He spends the entire series really trying to get rid of that cycle of violence that he was engulfed with. And he has remorse; we talk about remorse. He’s Catholic. There’s a lot of guilt. So it’s the most vulnerable character that I have ever played. He’s so emotional in every scene that this character is in….”
Actor Marin Ireland As Mina
Date Of Birth: July 20, 2025
Actor:Born and raised in Camarillo, California, Marin Ireland started her acting career in several stage plays before transitioning to film and television. After having roles in projects like theLaw & Orderfranchise and 2004’sThe Manchurian Candidate, Ireland wasnominated for an Independent Spirit Award for her performance inGlass Chin.Since then, Ireland has had more prominent roles in more recognizable productions, includingHell or High Water,Sneaky Pete,The Irishman,The Umbrella Academy, andY: The Last Man.
Character:Ireland appears inDope Thiefas Mina, a real DEA agent working undercover in the drug operation robbed by Ray and Manny. According toCollider, Mina tries to put her case back together after the show’s two leads ruin it after posing as DEA agents to commit a robbery.
Hell or High Water
Actor Kate Mulgrew As Theresa Bowers
Date of Birth: August 19, 2025
Actor:Born and raised in Dubuque, Iowa,Kate Mulgrew broke out into television with her role as Mary Ryan inRyan’s Hope. Having since starred in several shows and movies, Mulgrew is now best known for her performance as Kathryn Janeway inStar Trek: Voyagerand as Red inOrange Is the New Black.
Character:Kate Mulgrew stars inDope Thiefas Theresa Bowers, the maternal figure in Ray’s life. Mulgrew explained the unique dynamic Theresa has with Ray in an interview withUPI,stating that their characters express love in a rough but humorous way that makes their bond special to them:
“Tenderness is not at play here as much but love certainly is. The way [Theresa and Ray] love is through teasing, through badinage, through banter, through a certain kind of understanding that is exclusive to [them] alone.”
Actor Amir Arison As Mark Nader
Date Of Birth: July 03, 2025
Actor:Raised in Fort Lauderdale, Amir Arison began his acting career with small roles in multiple hit shows, includingNCIS, theLaw & Orderfranchise,Homeland,Gossip Girl, andMedium. He notably had arecurring role as Dr. Manning inLaw & Order: Special Victims Unit. He became a household name playing Aram Mojtabai throughout all ten seasons ofThe Blacklist.
Character:Arison plays Mark Nader, Mina’s boss at the DEA, inDope Thief. Considering Arison spent a decade playing an FBI tech specialist inThe Blacklist, playing a leading member of the FBI inDope Thiefseems like a fitting next step in his career. Arison himself claimed that his time onThe Blacklisthelped him prepare to play someone as"hard knocks"as Mark Nader (viaExpress Online).
Actor Ving Rhames As Bart
Date Of Birth: June 16, 2025
Actor:After growing up in Harlem, New York, Ving Rhamesbegan his TV and film career with roles in projects likeGo Tell It on the MountainandMiami Vice. Since then,Rhames has become best known for his roles as Leroy inThe People Under the Stairs, Marsellus Wallace inPulp Fiction, and Luther Stickell in theMission: Impossiblefilm franchise.
Character:Rhames plays a prominent role inDope Thiefas Bart, Ray’s imprisoned father. Since Ray has followed in his footsteps as a criminal, Bart seems to have had a significant role in his son’s life despite his incarceration. Their relationship undoubtedly adds a lot of familial drama to Ray’s chaotic journey.
Dawn of the Dead
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Thunderbolt
Dope Thief’s Supporting Cast & Characters
Dustin Nguyen as Son Pham:Dustin Nguyen has starred in several popular films and shows, including21 Jump Street,Murder, She Wrote,Once Upon a Time in Vietnam,This Is Us, andWarrior. Nguyen portrays the criminal Son Pham inDope Thief.
Nesta Cooper as Michelle:Nesta Cooper is best known for her roles as Carly Shannon inTravelersand Haniwa inSee. Cooper plays Michelle, Bart’s defense attorney, inDope Thief.
Kieu Chinh as Xuan “Grandma” Pham:Well known for her roles inThe Sympathizer,NCIS: Los Angeles,Dynasty,ER, andMAS*H, Kieu Chinh portrays Xuan “Grandma” Pham inDope Thief.
Kaci Walfall as Marietta:On top of playing the titular character inNaomi, Kaci Walfall has starred inPerson of Interest,Power,The Equalizer, andQueen Sugar. Walfall appears inDope ThiefasMarietta.
Idris Debrand as Teenage Ray:Most famous for his roles inKat and the Band,MotherFatherSon,Death in Paradise, andDear Edward, Idris Debrand plays Ray as a teenager inDope Thief.
Bentley Cooper as Young Ray:Bentley Cooper’s first role as an actor will be inDope Thief,playing Ray as a child.
Liz Caribel Sierra as Sherry:With previous roles inBlink TwiceandGod’s Time, Liz Caribel Sierra portrays Sherry inDope Thief.
Will Pullen as Marchetti:Will Pullen is known for his roles inThe Americans,Elementary,The Good Wife,Dickinson,The Unforgivable, andCauseway. Pullen portrays Marchietti inDope Thief.
Phong Le as Duy:Having starred inThe Sympathizer,This Is Us,Dear White People, and2 Broke Girls, Phong Le plays Duy inDope Thief.
Emma Lewis as Izzy Pham:With only one other acting role in an episode ofJimmy Kimmel Live!, Emma Lewis plays Izzy Pham inDope Thief.
Jaba Keh as Lewis Pham:With a filmography featuring roles inSesame Street Mecha Builders,Saturday Night Live, andBossy Bear, Jaba Keh stars inDope Thiefas Lewis Pham.
