Did you notice this Severance star in You? Actor revealed

Zach Cherry, best known today as Dylan from Apple TV+‘s hit show Severance, had a recurring role in Netflix’s psychological thriller You years before he became a breakout star.

In the first season of You, which aired in 2018, Cherry played Ethan Russell, a bookstore employee at Mooney’s where Joe Goldberg (Penn Badgley) worked.

Although Ethan appeared in all ten episodes of Season 1, viewers may have forgotten his character, as he wasn’t given much development beyond that season. The connection between the two hit shows resurfaced when Cherry made an unexpected cameo in Season 5, reprising his role as Ethan in Episode 7, titled “#JoeGoldberg.”

The final season of You featured several familiar faces from Joe’s past, and Cherry’s return was a reminder of how far he’d come—from a supporting role in a Netflix thriller to a main cast member in one of the most acclaimed shows of the 2020s.

From bookstore clerk to Severance star

Zach Cherry’s transition from Ethan in You to Dylan in Severance is a notable career development. When Cherry first made an appearance in You in 2018, he was fairly unknown within the acting industry, mostly receiving small roles in different productions.

His character, Ethan, was a friendly colleague of Joe’s at Mooney’s Bookstore, appearing consistently throughout the first season but never developing into a major player in the storyline. After Joe left New York at the beginning of Season 2, Ethan’s character disappeared from the narrative entirely, with no explanation of what happened to him.

Fast forward to 2022, when Severance premiered on Apple TV+, and Cherry’s career reached new heights. As Dylan, one of the lead characters in the office thriller, Cherry received major recognition and critical acclaim.

Severance soon became one of the most talked-about shows of the decade, catapulting Cherry from a supporting actor in a high-profile production to a regular cast member. This is an example of how an actor can grow from smaller roles to larger ones in the entertainment industry over time.

The unexpected comeback in You Season 5

Cherry’s surprise return to You in its fifth and last season was a nostalgic moment for longtime fans. In Season 5, Episode 7, “#JoeGoldberg,” there was a segment where different characters from Joe’s past uploaded TikTok videos recounting their interactions with the then-hidden serial killer.

Among these familiar faces was Ethan Russell, Cherry’s character from Season 1, who spoke about his boss. In contrast to many other returning characters who outright accused Joe of being guilty, Ethan’s TikTok was more diplomatic. He explained that although he never had problems with Joe, he chose to listen to and believe victims.

This relatively tame remark still managed to upset Joe, illustrating how paranoid the character had become by the last season. Ethan’s visit, though short, was a nice nod to the series’ start and showed how far things had come since the early days at Mooney’s Bookstore.

The cameo was especially significant considering Cherry’s growing popularity since his first appearance on You. What could have been just another returning character became a meaningful moment for viewers who recognized the actor from Severance, creating a rare connection between two top-rated but very distinct television shows.

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Zach Cherry’s path from performing the minor role of Ethan in You to Dylan in the popular series Severance illustrates the trajectory of an actor’s career in television.

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