The CBS network aired Beauty and the Beast during the 1980s, when the show transformed the classic fairy tale into a deeper and more frightening, and emotionally powerful story than audiences expected. The story revolves around love and safety between two distinct societies, with both societies attempting to understand each other. View this post on Instagram Instagram PostThe first society exists as an open community that displays continuous activity and loud noises. The other exists beneath the surface, where it remains concealed while showing both its fragile state and its delicate nature.So who actually brought this version of Beauty and the Beast to life? In simple words, it was a cast that made every emotion feel real. Ron Perlman gave the Beast a soul. Linda Hamilton turned Beauty into strength instead of softness. Around them, a full group of characters shaped the tunnels, the city above, and the space between fear and hope.Ron Koslow was the brains behind it, and it had a moderate run from 1987-90, gaining a cult following. George R. R. Martin was a staff writer and producer (before dragons). It drew from the folklore and even referenced La Belle et la Bête, but didn’t bother to ape it. Rather, Beauty and the Beast went for the heart, over the dazzling spectacle, and for the characters, over visual pyrotechnics.What made it special was the cast. Every actor felt perfectly placed, like they belonged exactly where they were, and we're here to tell you all about it!CBS's 1987 Beauty and the Beast cast and character guide1) Linda Hamilton as Catherine Chandler:Catherine Chandler is the reason Beauty and the Beast feels human. Played by Linda Hamilton, Catherine starts out living a very comfortable life. She works at her father’s law firm, wears nice clothes, and believes the world is mostly safe. That belief shatters in one brutal night when she is attacked and left for dead in Central Park.Her survival changes everything. Catherine does not just heal physically. She rewrites her whole life. She walks away from comfort and steps into danger by joining the Manhattan District Attorney’s office. In Beauty and the Beast, she becomes someone who asks hard questions and refuses to look away.What makes Catherine stand out is how grounded she feels. She is scared, but she keeps moving. She is kind but not naive. Her bond with Vincent is quiet and deep, built on trust instead of grand gestures.In Beauty and the Beast, Catherine becomes the bridge between the world above and the world below, and that role shapes the entire show. When she is gone, the absence is loud and painful.Linda Hamilton is also known for: Dante's Peak & The Terminator2) Ron Perlman as Vincent:Vincent serves as the heart of Beauty and the Beast, while Ron Perlman delivers his performance with unexpected gentleness. The outside appearance of Vincent shows him as a frightening figure. He has claws, fangs, and the face of a lion.The figure stays hidden in dark areas while he navigates through the city during its nighttime hours. He maintains a soft nature that combines his reflective personality with his intense emotional responses.The tunnels became his home after someone left him as a baby, and he spent his childhood among books, musical sounds, and narrative tales. He devotes his time to reading poetry. He spends more time listening than he does talking. His power becomes visible only when Catherine faces any kind of threat. The Beast's side emerges at this point to deliver a quick and unrelenting attack.Beauty and the Beast presents a unique decision by maintaining Vincent's beastly form instead of transforming him into a human. His inner beauty is what matters. His love is protective, patient, and loyal.Ron Perlman brings Vincent to life through his acting, which makes him seem like a human being instead of a monster while showing his struggles to survive in the world above.Ron Perlman is also known for: Sons of Anarchy & Pacific Rim 3) Roy Dotrice as Father Jacob Wells:The hidden community in Beauty and the Beast depends on Jacob Wells, who goes by Father, for their emotional support. Roy Dotrice’s character, Father, is defined by three key traits: his strict and uncompromising nature, his deep capacity for love, and his unwavering determination to protect his people.The doctor used to practice medicine in the world above until betrayal forced him to move into the underground, where he rediscovered his life's meaning.Father takes care of Vincent throughout his life in Beauty and the Beast. He teaches him to be kind while also showing him how to be disciplined and how to understand others. He believes rules matter because they protect everyone in the community.He shows no trust toward Catherine during his early days because he believes she might reveal their secret existence. The conflict between these two characters appears authentic because of their natural disagreement.Over time, Father softens. He sees Catherine’s respect for the tunnels and her willingness to protect them. His relationship with Vincent feels like a true parent-child bond, full of pride and fear. Without Father, the world below would fall apart. He is the quiet force keeping everything from collapsing.Roy Dotrice is also known for: Dickens of London & The Cutting Edge4) Jo Anderson as Diana Bennett:When Catherine dies, Beauty and the Beast change forever. That is when Diana Bennett steps in, played by Jo Anderson. Diana is a criminal profiler, sharp-minded and observant. She is brought in to investigate Catherine’s murder, and her path leads straight into Vincent’s grief.In Beauty and the Beast, Diana is very different from Catherine. She does not stumble into the tunnel world by accident. She follows clues, instincts, and patterns. At first, her presence feels cold and professional, but slowly she becomes something more. She listens. She believes. She helps.In the final episodes of Beauty and the Beast, Diana becomes a crucial ally. She helps expose Gabriel and plays a direct role in stopping him. Her character shows that the world above can still produce people who care, even after so much loss.Jo Anderson is also known for: Season of Change & Fat Rose, and Squeaky5) Jay Acovone as Joe Maxwell:Beauty and the Beast features Maxwell as one of its least recognized yet most important characters. The character Joe, played by Jay Acovone, serves as Catherine's boss, who supports her work at the District Attorney's office. He follows his principles to perform ethical actions regardless of the expenses involved.Joe exists outside the tunnel world, but he upholds its principles, which he displays throughout the city. He defends Catherine while he investigates official misconduct and maintains his resistance against strong opposition from powerful foes. Joe makes sure Catherine's case remains active after her death. He advances to bring Diana Bennett into his investigation to uncover the truth.His character grounds Beauty and the Beast in reality. He reminds viewers that bravery does not always come with claws or secrets. Sometimes it comes with paperwork, persistence, and a strong moral spine.Jay Acovone is also known for: Born to Run & The Magician View this post on Instagram Instagram Post6) Edward Albert as Elliot Burch:Elliot Burch, played by Edward Albert, adds emotional tension to Beauty and the Beast. He is wealthy, charming, and deeply in love with Catherine. But loving Catherine also means standing in the shadow of Vincent, a truth Elliot struggles to accept.Elliot’s feelings push him into risky territory. He wants to protect Catherine, but also wants control. His connection to Gabriel pulls him into a deadly deal that spirals out of control. By the end, Elliot’s choices cost him everything.What makes Elliot interesting in Beauty and the Beast is that he is not purely evil. He is human, flawed, and driven by jealousy and fear. His story shows how love, when mixed with ego, can turn dangerous fast.Edward Albert is also known for: The Greek Tycoon & The Yellow Rose7) Stephen McHattie as Gabriel:Every story needs a villain, and Gabriel fills that role with chilling calm. Played by Stephen McHattie, Gabriel is a crime boss with power, money, and zero mercy. He is responsible for Catherine’s death and the kidnapping of Vincent’s newborn son.Gabriel believes he is untouchable. Courts cannot touch him. Rules do not apply to him. That arrogance becomes his downfall. His presence pushes Vincent into his darkest place, forcing him to confront rage, grief, and sacrifice.Beauty and the Beast does not soften Gabriel. He represents the worst of the world above, unchecked power and total cruelty. His end feels earned and heavy, closing one of the show’s most painful chapters.Stephen McHattie is also known for: Seinfeld & The X-Files8) Tony Jay as Paracelsus:Paracelsus is one of the most unsettling characters in Beauty and the Beast. Played by Tony Jay, he is brilliant, manipulative, and obsessed with control. Once a friend of Father, he turns against the tunnel community when power becomes more important than people.Paracelsus hides behind philosophy and science, but his actions are driven by ego. He even tries to pull Vincent toward his side by disguising himself and twisting trust. His connection to Vincent’s past makes their conflict deeply personal.His story ends violently, fitting for someone who believed intelligence gave him the right to rule. Paracelsus proves that danger does not always roar. Sometimes it whispers and smiles.Tony Jay is also known for: The Golden Girls & Star Trek: The Next Generation9) David Greenlee as Mouse:Mouse is pure survival energy. Played by David Greenlee, he is a young tunnel dweller who steals from the world above because he believes it owes him. Loud, clever, and impulsive, Mouse adds chaos to Beauty and the Beast.Underneath the stealing and jokes, Mouse is lonely. Vincent offers him something he has never had: a place to belong. Mouse’s love for building gadgets and caring for his raccoon shows his softer side.He represents the children of the tunnels, shaped by hardship but still full of imagination. Mouse reminds the fans that hope can come from the most unexpected corners.David Greenlee is also known for: Slumber Party Massacre III & Fame10) Beah Richards as Narcissa:Narcissa is quiet, strange, and unforgettable. Played by Beah Richards, she lives deep in the tunnels and knows paths even Vincent does not. Nearly blind and elderly, she pretends to be fragile, but that is just another layer.In truth, Narcissa is powerful. She understands magic, fate, and the hidden rhythms of the tunnel world. Her words often sound like riddles, but they carry truth. She sees more than anyone expects.Narcissa adds myth and mystery to Beauty and the Beast. She feels like a living legend, reminding everyone that wisdom does not need noise.Beah Richards is also known for: The Amen Corner & Guess Who's Coming to DinnerEvery character in Beauty and the Beast felt lived in, shaped by pain, love, and choice. From Catherine’s courage to Vincent’s quiet strength, from Father’s guidance to the danger of Gabriel, each role mattered.The actors did not just play parts. They built a world that felt real, even when it was hidden underground. That is why Beauty and the Beast still feels like a great story even today. It was never just a fairy tale. It was a story about seeing beauty where others refuse to look.Stay tuned to SoapCentral for more.