Happy Face cast and character guide: Who plays whom in the true crime drama?

Paramount+’s Happy Face tells the horrific true story of the titular serial killer who wreaked havoc in the US in the 1990s by murdering at least eight women. The show is told through the perspective of the killer’s daughter, Melissa Moore, which makes it an engaging watch.

The series is based on real-life Melissa Moore’s 2009 autobiography and her 2018 podcast. Most of the characters in the show are based on real-world personalities, all of whom are played by some supremely talented actors. Here are all the details you need about the Happy Face cast and characters.

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Happy Face cast and character guide

The following actors play the main roles in Happy Face:

1) Annaleigh Ashford as Melissa Moore

Annaleigh Ashford plays the lead role of Melissa Moore, the daughter of the serial killer Keith Hunter Jesperson. Melissa lives an ordinary life with her husband and kids and works on a fictional talk show called Dr. Greg Show.

When she gets to know that an innocent man is being charged for a crime that her father committed, she decides to speak up, which changes the course of her life.

Ashford is an Emmy-nominated actress known for her roles in the shows Welcome to Chippendales, Impeachment: American Crime Story, and Masters of Sex. She is also a singer and dancer and earned a Grammy nomination in 2023.

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2) Dennis Quaid as Happy Face

Dennis Quaid stars as the titular serial killer in the series, whose real name is Keith Hunter Jesperson. He is a horrible man who is in prison for assaulting and murdering multiple women and takes pride in his actions. Keith wants to reconnect with his estranged daughter, Melissa, to tell her about a victim no one knows about yet.

Quaid is an Oscar-nominated actor who has been a part of the entertainment industry for a long time. His television credits include Merry Happy Whatever, Lawmen: Bass Reeves, and Full Circle. He has also been seen in the films Reagan, Footloose, Far from Heaven, and The Parent Trap.

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3) Tamera Tomakili as Ivy Campbell

Tamera Tomakili stars as Ivy Campbell, a producer on the talk show Dr. Greg Show, who works with Melissa. When she gets to know about Keith having another victim, she convinces Melissa to talk to her estranged father to get more details about the case.

Tomakili has previously appeared in the shows Winning Time: The Rise of the Lakers Dynasty and Blindspotting.

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4) James Wolk as Ben Reed

James Wolk plays Ben Reed, Melissa’s husband, in Happy Face. Ben is living a seemingly normal life with his family and is concerned about Keith’s reemergence in their lives. In reality, Melissa’s husband’s name is Sam.

Wolk has starred in several shows in the past, including HBO’s Watchmen, NBC’s Ordinary Joe, and AMC’s Mad Men. His movie credits include The Boys in the Boat, This Is Happening, and There's Always Woodstock.

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5) David Harewood as Dr. Greg

David Harewood portrays talk show host Dr. Greg, who works with Melissa and Ivy. He wants Melissa to dig deeper into her father’s past so his show can feature an episode about his ninth victim, which would lead to better ratings.

Harewood is a veteran actor who has appeared in numerous television shows and films. Some of his notable projects include The Agency, The Night Manager, By Any Means, Tulip Fever, and Third Person.

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Supporting cast in Happy Face

Apart from the above main cast, the show also features a stellar supporting cast, including:

• Khiyla Aynne as Hazel Reed, Melissa’s daughter
• Benjamin Mackey as Max Reed, Melissa’s son
• Kathleen Duborg as June Jesperson, Keith's ex-wife
• Jennifer Spence as Renee, Melissa’s neighbor
• Kate Maree as Young Melissa
• Charles Zuckermann as Bassett, a prison guard
• Jenna Romanin as Tabitha, Dr. Greg's assistant
• Philip Ettinger as Shane Jesperson, Melissa's brother
• Damon Gupton as Elijah, a convict facing a death sentence
• Momona Tamada as Eva, Hazel's friend

Happy Face airs new episodes on Paramount+ with Showtime on Thursdays.