‘Poker Face’ Season 2 is Filled With All Your Favorite Comedy Actors

If Natasha Lyonne’s Charlie Cale had a nickel for every mob boss/casino owner she’s ticked off on the Peacock hit series Poker Face, then she’d have two nickels. Which, granted, isn’t a lot, but it’s weird that it’s happened twice now. At the end of the first season, Rhea Perlman’s Beatrix Hasp gave Charlie an ultimatum: join my ranks or die. So now Charlie is back on the run yet again. And since she can’t seem to stop solving crimes along the way with the help of her handy dandy, lie-detection superpower, it seems safe to say that Poker Face’s second season is gearing up to be just as captivating as the first. But just in case that isn’t enough to entice you to tune in, then the guest star roster might just do the trick, given that it’s chock full of the crème de la crème of Hollywood’s finest.

It’s worth noting that specific details (even names) about many of the guest star’s characters are scarce — most likely in an attempt to add a layer of mystery to the newcomers so viewers won’t know if they’re good or bad. But the celebs alone are enough to get pumped for the upcoming season. So without further adieu, here’s everything you need to know about the cast and characters of Poker Face’s second season.

Natasha Lyonne as Charlie Cale

Charlie serves as the central character of the series. Most of her time is spent on the road trying to hide away from all the baddies she’s wronged. She has an unusual knack for knowing when someone is lying, which has proven to be both a blessing and a curse — especially given that her gift is known to draw quite a bit of attention for someone trying to stay off the radar.

Many ‘90s kids were first introduced to Lyonne’s talents when she starred in the American Pie franchise. However, she’s also more recently known for her roles in Orange Is the New Black, Russian Doll, and His Three Daughters.

Instagram: @nlyonne

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Rhea Perlman as Beatrix Hasp

If you thought Sterling Frost was bad, that’s nothing compared to what Perlman’s Beatrix has in store. Beatrix first appeared at the end of the first season and quickly established herself as the newest big bad casino owner in town. Seriously, the seedy underbelly of casino life is wild and should make for a very interesting season, which is great for us — not so great for Charlie.

Perlman has an extensive career in the business, though she’s most notably known for her starring role as Carla on Cheers. She also played Matilda’s cruel mother in the beloved 1996 film, Matilda and recently made a very notable cameo as Ruth Handler in Barbie.

Instagram: @perlmonster

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Simon Helberg as Luca Clark

Helberg’s character popped up intermittently throughout season 1 as an FBI agent and one of the few people Charlie is able to trust (and really, that list is not very long these days). And while we could talk about some of Helberg’s lesser known TV credits on shows like Arrested Development and Studio 60 on the Sunset Strip, let’s be real: everyone knows Helberg best from The Big Bang Theory where he played Howard Wolowitz.

Instagram: N/A

Cynthia Erivo

At PaleyFest LA this year, it was revealed that Erivo would be appearing in the first episode of season 2 and portraying multiple characters, all of whom are siblings. It’ll be a great way for Erivo to showcase her acting chops — not that she really needs to at this point, given how the world has already been wowed by her talents as Elphaba in Wicked this past year. She also portrayed Harriet Tubman in the 2019 film Harriet, for which she earned an Academy Award nomination. One could say that Erivo’s talents are… unlimited.

Instagram: @cynthiaerivo

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Taylor Schilling

Nothing is known about Schilling’s character at this time, however, her appearance will serve as an exciting reunion for Orange Is the New Black fans since both Schilling and Lyonne starred in the popular Netflix series as Piper Chapman and Nicky Nichols, respectively.

Instagram: @piperschilling

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B.J. Novak

Like with most of these guest stars, information is scarce about Novak’s actual character on the show, though plenty of viewers will recognize him best as Ryan Howard from The Office. Novak’s other notable credits also include The Mindy Project, Inglourious Basterds, and Saving Mr. Banks.

Instagram: @bjnovak

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Awkwafina

Her character may be a mystery, but Awkwafina’s notable mark on the industry certainly isn’t. Her resume includes everything from Crazy Rich Asians, Jumanji: The Next Level, and MTV’s comedy show Girl Code to Kung Fu Panda 4, IF, and The Little Mermaid live-action adaptation.

Instagram: @awkwafina

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Lili Taylor

If you’re a horror buff then odds are you’ve stumbled upon Taylor’s talents in some form or another in films like The Conjuring, Leatherface, or The Haunting. She also starred alongside Julia Roberts in the 1988 film Mystic Pizza.

Instagram: @lilittaylor

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Lauren Tom

Sure, we could talk about Tom’s impressive vocal work on animated shows like Futurama, King of the Hill, and Teen Titans, but any Friends fan worth their salt will recognize Tom for playing Ross’s ex-girlfriend, Julie, during the show’s second season. Isn’t that just kick-you-in-the-crotch-spit-on-your-neck fantastic?!

Instagram: @laurentom9000

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Natasha Leggero

Leggero is most likely best known for her time serving as host of the MTV reality series The 70s House, but she’s also appeared in Hacks, He’s Just Not That Into You, Arrested Development, Superstore, and A Million Little Things.

Instagram: @natashaleggero

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Richard Kind

If you’ve seen it, odds are Richard Kind has been in it. OK, maybe that’s overexaggerating a bit, but the guy has seriously been in a ton of recognizable stuff. The list is super long, but some of his most prominent credits include Spin City, Inside Out, A Bug’s Life, Mad About You, Toy Story 3, Gotham, Only Murders in the Building, The Watcher, and Everybody’s Live with John Mulaney.

Instagram: @realrichardkind

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Alia Shawkat

Most will recognize Shawkat instantly for her turn as Maeby in Arrested Development. However, she’s also popped up in other shows like Search Party and even the second season of Severance. But who she will end up playing in Poker Face, still remains to be seen.

Instagram: @__mutantalia__

David Alan Grier

Grier has made a name for himself, particularly in comedy circles, having starred in the popular sketch comedy series In Living Color for several years in the early ‘90s. He then went on to play Reverend Leon Lonnie Love in the Fox series Martin and is currently starring in St. Denis Medical. Meanwhile, his film credits include Jumanji, Bewitched, and The Color Purple.

Instagram: @davidalangrier

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Geraldine Viswanathan

Viswanathan may not be as much of a household name as some of these other guest stars, but many viewers are sure to recognize her face, having appeared in projects such as Blockers, Miracle Workers, Bad Education, You’re Cordially Invited, and the newly released Marvel movie Thunderbolts*.

Instagram: @yoyogeraldine

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Adrienne C. Moore

Moore is yet another Orange Is the New Black alum to join the ranks, having played the role of Cindy Hayes throughout the course of the series. You may also recognize her from Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt, Search Party, 30 Rock, and Juror #2.

Instagram: @acmoore9

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Ben Marshall

Saturday Night Live fans are sure to recognize Marshall from his recurring appearances in the Please Don’t Destroy skits on the sketch comedy series, which he’s featured in alongside Martin Herlihy and John Higgins. But Marshall will be flying solo on this project, though who will he play along the way? You’ll just have to watch Poker Face season 2 and find out.

Instagram: @benmarshallstyle

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Carol Kane

Older movie buffs might know Kane from her roles in Annie Hall and Hester Street. However, later on she won over younger crowds as well for her portrayals of Oswald Cobblepot’s mother in Gotham and the kooky-yet-lovable Lillian Kaushtupper in Unbreakable Kimmy Schmidt.

Instagram: N/A

Cliff Smith aka Method Man

Smith is a well known American rapper who goes by the name Method Man and is a member of the hip hop group Wu-Tang Clan. Smith has also dabbled in the acting world as well, nabbing credits on shows like CSI: Crime Scene Investigation, The Wire, Oz, and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit.

Instagram: @methodmanofficial

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Corey Hawkins

Fans of The Walking Dead will recognize Hawkins for his portrayal of Heath in the AMC series before he was taken by the Scavengers, never to be seen again. Let’s hope his fate on Poker Face is a little less unsettling. At the very least, there should be less zombies. (Probably?) Hawkins also starred in 24: Legacy and the 2015 film Straight Outta Compton.

Instagram: @coreyhawkins

David Krumholtz

Buddy the Elf may get all of the attention these days, but he isn’t the only one of Santa’s helpers who’s been able to capture our collective hearts. That’s thanks to Krumholtz’s portrayal of the sarcastic yet somehow super charming Bernard in The Santa Clause. Some of his other credits include roles in 10 Things I Hate About You, Numb3rs, Addams Family Values, and Oppenheimer.

Instagram: @davidkrumholtz

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Ego Nwodim

Like so many other great comedians that have come before her, Nwodim’s claim to fame comes from being a cast member on Saturday Night Live, which she continues to be a part of even today. She’s also made appearances on Shrill, Brockmire, and Miracle Workers.

Instagram: @eggyboom

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Davionte Ganter

Ganter is a professional rapper who goes by the name GaTa. He first tried his hand at acting in the FXX series Dave and has also appeared in Self Reliance and Anyone But You.

Instagram: @gedgata

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Gaby Hoffmann

As a former child star, Hoffmann’s IMDb page is chock full of impressive projects that stem all the way back to the late ‘80s, including Uncle Buck and Field of Dreams. In addition, she starred in the widely popular coming of age movie Now and Then and years later went on to appear in shows like Transparent, The Good Wife, and Girls.

Instagram: N/A

Giancarlo Esposito

Esposito has attached himself to a lot of great projects like The Mandalorian, The Boys, Malcolm X, and Kaleidoscope. But he will always be best known for playing the quiet yet terrifying villain Gus Fring in Breaking Bad. This guy knows how to immerse himself into a role like no other, which makes his upcoming appearance in Poker Face all the more intriguing.

Instagram: @thegiancarloesposito

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Haley Joel Osment

From playing Forrest’s adorable son in Forrest Gump to playing a terrified kid who sees dead people in The Sixth Sense, Osment has been charming viewers for decades. Now, as an adult, he continues to pop up all over the industry, landing gigs in What We Do In The Shadows, Goliath, The Boys, The Kominsky Method, and even an undisclosed role in the second season of Wednesday.

Instagram: @hjosment

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Jason Ritter

Between being the son of the late actor John Ritter and being married to the amazing Melanie Lynskey, Ritter is definitely no stranger to the spotlight — but not just because of his connections. Ritter starred in the CBS series Joan of Arcadia and appeared in numerous other projects, including Parenthood, Girls, Gilmore Girls: A Year in the Life, A Million Little Things, Superstore, and Frozen II. He is currently working alongside Kathy Bates in the CBS series Matlock.

Instagram: @jason_ritter

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John Mulaney as Special Agent Daniel Clyde Otis

Mulaney is yet another Saturday Night Live vet (anyone noticing a pattern here?) where he’s served not only as a six-time host, but he was also a former writer on the show as well. Since then, Mulaney has gone on to create several stand-up specials, including The Comeback Kid, Kid Gorgeous, and Baby J, the last of which won him an Emmy. He also made a surprise appearance in that star-studded Christmas episode of The Bear.

Not much is known about his Poker Face character, but given that he’s a special agent, it seems likely that he, like Agent Luca Clark, will be one of the good guys trying to help Charlie (we hope).

Instagram: @johnmulaney

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Sam Richardson

Richardson first made his mark on the small screen as Richard Splett in the HBO comedy series Veep. Since then, his credits include appearing in New Girl, Ted Lasso, The Afterparty, Ghostbusters, and Hocus Pocus 2.

Instagram: @thesamrichardson

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John Cho

There are a lot of reasons to love John Cho, but his most iconic role hands-down has to be playing Harold Lee in Harold and Kumar Go to White Castle. But Cho’s list of accomplishments doesn’t end there (though if it did, that would still be pretty epic). He’s also been in the FOX series Sleepy Hollow, Selfie, The Exorcist series, New Girl, The Afterparty, and Cowboy Bebop.

Instagram: @johnthecho

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Katie Holmes as Greta

Nothing is known about Holmes’ character apart from her name, but given Charlie’s ability to know when someone is lying, if this Greta is up to no good, it should get snuffed out quickly.

As for Holmes, the actress shot to stardom playing Joey Potter on Dawson’s Creek. She then went on to star in films like Teaching Mrs. Tingle, First Daughter, and Batman Begins.

Instagram: @katieholmes

Justin Theroux

Sure, he was formerly married to Jennifer Aniston, but Theroux had made a name for himself professionally long before any vows were exchanged. He starred in the popular HBO series The Leftovers as well as the 2001 film Mulholland Drive. His other credits include a brief stint on Parks and Recreation, Wanderlust, Running Point, and Beetlejuice Beetlejuice.

Instagram: @justintheroux

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Kathrine Narducci

Recognized most for her role as Artie Bucco’s wife, Charmaine, in The Sopranos, Narducci has also appeared in films like Capone, A Bronx Tale, and The Irishman.

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Margo Martindale

Everything Martindale is in turns to entertainment gold, which makes her addition to the Poker Face roster extra exciting. Martindale is best known for her roles in shows like The Americans, BoJack Horseman, The Good Wife, Dexter, Impeachment: American Crime Story, and The Watcher. Her film credits include Cocaine Bear, Million Dollar Baby, and August: Osage County.

Instagram: @margomartindale

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Kevin Corrigan

Many viewers will undoubtedly remember Corrigan for playing Uncle Eddie in the sitcom Grounded for Life. However, he also has credits in Goodfellas, Superbad, and The Departed.

Instagram: @kevinfcorrigan

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Kumail Nanjiani

Nanjiani’s breakout role came from playing Dinesh in the HBO comedy series Silicon Valley. From there, he’s popped up all over various Hollywood projects, including Broad City, The Boys, Only Murders in the Building, The Big Sick, and Eternals.

Instagram: @kumailn

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Melanie Lynskey

From charming us with likeable characters in Two and a Half Men, Ever After, Coyote Ugly, and Sweet Home Alabama to terrifying us in shows like The Last of Us and Yellowjackets, there’s no end to Lynskey’s talents. But will she charm or terrify us with her new Poker Face character? (Perhaps both?) Only time will tell. Either way, it’s bound to make for great entertainment.

Instagram: @msmelanielynskey

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Patti Harrison

Harrison has attached herself to projects like Shrill, The Lost City, and Together Together.

Instagram: @party_harderson

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Sherry Cola

Cola first made her acting debut in the Amazon Prime series I Love Dick. She then went on to star in Good Trouble and has appeared in several other projects, including A Family Affair and Nobody Wants This.

Instagram: @shrrycola

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Simon Rex

Many people recognize Rex best for playing Jeff Campbell in The WB sitcom What I Like About You, starring alongside Amanda Bynes and Jennie Garth. His other credits include stints on Everwood, NCIS, and Felicity as well as several appearances throughout the Scary Movie franchise.

Instagram: @simonrex415

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